Christmas is a time for giving, and thankfully beatmaker Clams Casino has joined in the Yuletide spirit by offering up the critically acclaimed Instrumentals LP from his Facebook page for free. In what was originally released as a free online mixtape and then pressed onto vinyl by the label Type, this new gift heralds a “previously unavailable high quality 320kbps digitally remastered version of Instrumentals“. And what better way is there to celebrate the festive period than experiencing Clams’ heady beats in all of their high quality glory? …Read More.
All City Records, the Dublin based independent label specialising in electronic leaning hip-hop, continues to defy the odds in a David v Goliath type fashion with the type of releases that make other labels (with far bigger budgets, dare i speculate) green with envy. …Read More.
Love this short with Ice Cube celebrating and considering the work of design deities Charles and Ray Eames. Cube draws a parallel between the shared production values of rap and the Eames, highlighting the resourceful and innovative nature of both styles. But as Cube notes, the Eames were ahead of the game ’1949 style’. A compelling piece of film.
Bonafide set out with the aim to celebrate hip-hop. Our aim was to explore ‘old-school, mid-school and new-school creativity’, five issues on we’re proud to present the old school x new school issue. In hip-hop chronological order we speak to the Godfather of it all, Grandmaster Flash, profile EPMD, the funky Long Island duo from the golden age of rap and get crazy with ‘the lazy hustler’ and fourth Beastie Boy, Ricky Powell. …Read More.
In 2006 Spank Rock’s channelling of Miami Bass hedonism and dayglo hipsterism made his debut album Yoyoyoyoyo a refreshingly dangerous – even unhinged – break from rap’s standard macho scowl. It was filthy, bass-heavy, and fairly unrepentant about its fixation with drugs and x-rated dancing. Cycling forward to 2011 and it is probably safe to say that not a great deal has changed for Spank Rock, at least in terms of lyrical content. …Read More.
Dusting off some material that we stored for a rainy day.
With the first snowfall happening around my neck of the woods, Christmas finally seems upon us. Santa Claus is something I definitely don’t expect to see coming down our chimney (he’d have a job as it’s gas anyway) but in the ‘I don’t believe it stakes’ this kinda trumps it. RZA busting out Deck the Halls…
Ever since since I clapped my eyes’ on Eric Colman’s and Jeff Jank’s Blue Note riffing cover for MED’s Classic LP I’ve been wanting to know more. When I peeped lead single Blaxican it was obvious that this was a piece of work pitching to be classic in a holistic sense.
With the album just released MED (aka Medaphoar) took five to extol the virtues of the Classic things in his life. …Read More.
News has recently been broken of an EP-length collaboration between Madlib and Freddie Gibbs. Still untitled, it will consist of six tracks, Thuggin’ and Deep being two, and be released through Madlib’s Madlib Invazion label at the start of 2012. …Read More.
What is it with rappers and acting? The tangible line of success between hip-hop and Hollywood has strengthened through the nineties and into the noughties, with countless examples of successful money-grabbing rappers trying to convert their lyrical talent into acting steel. What is it that prompts this change in field? The money? The ego? Probably both. The on stage persona that is seen as part and parcel in the hip hop industry appears to feed the musicians’ egos to the extent whereby they believe that they have the ability to cut the mustard in front of a camera.
I’ve been itching to listen find out more about MED’s Classic LP ever since it surfaced on Stones Throw and I caught sight of Eric Colman’s and Jeff Jank’s Blue Note riffing cover. As MED puts it when asked about the album’s moniker:
“I called the LP Classic because thats the approach I took: create music that has the potential to be played by every generation. This album deals with current issues, personal and within the community. Good-feeling music will always last and allow hip-hop to grow.”
With contributions from Aloe Blacc, Talib Kweli, Oh No and Kurupt, Madlib on production duties and beats by Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow and The Alchemist, it seems like it the LP may well live up to its name.
