“When you bring out a new CD you get noticed. I have read a lot of things about me this year. One was that I had disappeared. So excuse me during tonight’s performance if I go ‘poof!!’ and disappear!!” …Read More.
“BOOM!” Marker pen on the front of a white bucket-hat is reclaimed from advertising by Supernatural, who is now using it as a prop for his punch lines. The dense crowd at the edge of the stage are holding up random objects as the MC tiptoes freestyle rhymes incorporating a digital camera, a flyer, a blackberry with ‘I Love Hip Hop’ as its screensaver and then … “I bet you’re eyes jump out the socket/as I take your ten pound note and slide it in my pocket”.
13th November marks the last Vinyl Exchange of the year. Held between 2pm and 8pm at the The Silver Bullet, 5 Station Place, (and run by Chakra Sounds) it’s a day where nimble fingered obsessives get to swap and buy black slabs of aural goodness while shooting the breeze with fellow producers, DJs and record collectors.
Barter over dusty gems with the likes of Evil Ed, Sensie.fm DJs, Rarekind Records and TY before standing back and nodding your head to performances from Konny Kon, Cyrus Malachi, Chima Anya and Jon Phonics (peep our recent interview).
In the vibe of Edan “MCs let’s chill, let’s be friends…”
To launch his upcoming album, Mood Swings, the ever entertaining Stig of the Dump brings his lyrical heaviness to the live arena. Alongside a plethora of UK talent including Dr Syntax, DJ Nonames and MC Zani, Stig will be repping his new work including I Got Game on Monday 11th October at the Vibe Bar, Brick Lane from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. Entry is free and as the flyer states, arrive early and then get the last train home. And start the week with a blinding headache no doubt.
UK hip-hop legend, Big Dada repper and Banana Klan badman Roots Manuva and the Dub College will be opening up shop near Kingsland overground tube station on the 6th Sept. Celebrating the release of his LP, Mr Manuva will be selling his wares, DJing, signing and performing. Roots Manuva doing all that in a shop! In a shop I say! A spectacle not to be missed!
For more Banana Klan goodness check out Groovement’s interview from last year. The man from Del Monte says yes!
“I bet you look good on the dance floor”. I somehow think that Matt Helders would never have thought, when he was working on Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Not, that down the line that he would end up dressing people on the dance floor. Alongside Metalheadz’ Goldie, he is releasing a capsule collection, informed by musical culture, for British label Supremebeing.
To kick off the look, Supremebeing will be holding a launch party at Urban Outfitters, Oxford Street, on 8th September from 6pm to 8pm. Expect goodie bags and DJs bringing the noise.
It’s time to dust down your shell toes people…
OG hip-hop revolutionaries Public Enemy – Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and Professor Griff with DJ and security entourage – are to bring the noize at the indigO2 venue at The o2 on the 14th November for one night only.
Meanwhile Diamond – will you make me a beat – D will be DITCing at The Doctor’s Orders On the Real @ Plan B, Brixton Road, Friday 17th September. Well bad meaning good.
Bonafide sent Prof C Renwick out-and-about to Lovebox this weekend and after a few false starts he eventually landed an interview with the one and only Grandmaster Flash.
We were also invited down to cover the work of Create the agency responsible for cultivating the arts and the creative sides of the five boroughs that will host the 2012 Olympics. The Create10 festival is currently up-and-running with the Young London: Into Music strand showcasing their skills during Friday at Lovebox, as well as Indig02 and Theatre Royal Stratford East. Acts featured included UD Vocal Collective directed by Matthew ‘Excalibah’ Xia, Shola Ama, novelty act but still seriously skilled MC Mr B Gentleman Rhymer, Kele le Roc, Mz Bratt and Mikill Pane – check out this hugely innovative promo for the Re:Definition 2010 gig.
Picturehouse Cinemas Present Isolation from Institute For Eyes on Vimeo.
And now for some different ish…Isolation, a critically acclaimed British documentary that explores the lives of ex-soliders as they attempt to integrate themselves back into everyday society, is currently on a tour of Picturehouse cinemas. The film is being shown alongside an live atmospheric soundtrack performed by musicians Michael Garrard (famed for Chips for the Poor but someone I know from studying at Lancaster University where his musical taste varied from hard core hip-hop to New Order) and David Stephens (Stained Glass Heroes).
Tuesday night saw a small section of West London’s Portobello Road awash with the sound of splitting skinny jeans and squeaky air bubbles, as the hipsters and rudeboys of London’s ever-growing street-art scene descended upon Graffik for a three day exhibition, featuring five NYC writers, currently plying their trade by defacing (hey, that’s the point, remember?) MTA maps with their favourite throw-ups, dubs, characters, and tags.
Graffik, having opened its doors to the public in August 2009, has been pushing the latest art-crack to trendy West Londoners and tourists alike, by offering affordable art to the discerning urban nerd, for the best part of a year, and to celebrate the NYC Subway Battles event, threw an invitation-only party at Acklam Road’s former Subterranea, now known as Supperclub. …Read More.
