Yup, that’s right kids, for a limited time only you can read all back issues of your favourite art design and music magazine (or ‘a fucking hip-hop guide book’, according to Raekwon) online at Issuu.
We enjoy wasting the day away on the Internet whilst pretending to do work as much as the next person, but Bonafide is essentially a print magazine and in order to keep it that way we need to sell it. And to encourage you to buy it we’re giving away a free album from the legendary BBE records with every 2 issues ordered via our online shop. And that’s what we like to call bullshit free marketing. …Read More.
Courtesy of the good folk over at Black Dog Publishing we have 3 pairs of copies of the first and latest instalment of the piously good Labels Unlimited series up for grabs. The collection includes editions on UK Indie music royalty Rough Trade and Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate Records but in WarpandNinja Tune Blackdog have nailed 2 of our favourite electronic labels, and you can get a 40% discount on the books by quoting ‘Bonafide’ at checkout. …Read More.
Having spent the past few weeks bolted away pouring over the print proofs of Bonafide issue 04, I thought it time to get some air and get back on the digital wagon.
On this tip, with Halloween approaching, it seemed fitting to do a post on Brainfeeder, a label who quite frankly operate out of another world.
First up check out Flying Lotus’ recent cackling cracking cameo on Annie Macs’ show.
Like all good labels Brainfeeder also have a distinct idea about their visual identity. Artists and agencies involved include musician Teebs with his beautiful record cover collages, illustrator Theo Ellsworth, Paulo Rafael and agency We Are Build who did the f*cking lush art direction (excuse my French) for Los Angeles.
Check out our interview with Flying Lotus in issue 02 and keep your eyes pealed for our feature on the Gaslamp Killer in issue 04.
Charlie Fracture – the dude responsible for our helladope Milk ‘n’ Anchovies mixtape has made an awesome clip detailing the production of his new LE sleeves for a limited run of his new release on co-owned Astrophonica records – created by none other than Bonafide collaborator Emilski, the guy responsible for servin’ up the red hot Nike x Bonafide tee. Hot cakes ain’t got nuthin’ on these… PS peep the single, The Limit, currently doing the rounds courtesy of Zero T’s FabricLive mix.
Unless you’ve been living under a fairly huge ninja shaped rock for the last 20 years, it would be difficult to deny the influence of one of the UK’s most seminal labels in modern music history – Ninja Tune. Started in 1990 by Coldcut, two pioneering DJs of the then emergent bleeps and bass scene, the label has since gone on to provide discerning punters with a plethora of instrumental hip-hop goodness, more leftfield acts than you can shake a stick at (with your left hand), as well as introducing us to splinter labels such as Big Dada and Mr.Scruff’s Ninja Tuna. With the UK positively running through its veins, Ninja Tune is a cornerstone of British independent music, well seasoned with some exotic foreign flavours. The roll call across the board runs from Amon Tobin to Zero dB, via Bonobo, DJ Vadim, Juice Aleem, and Roots Manuva. Wow. …Read More.
Speaking of super-fresh project’s, Madlib’s Medicine Show 05 features a comic devoted to fictional, early-90s-era gangsta MC, Rapper X. Written and illustrated by Benjamin Marra of Traditional Comics, Stones Throw dryly comment: “The comic is so over-the-top in it’s extreme violence, it is likely only to appeal to immature audiences, and almost certainly serves no social purpose – perfect for Madlib Medicine Show.”
The Infesticon trilogy is set for its denouement with Bedford Park. Following the earlier installments, the Infesticons resistance and underground informed Gun Hill Road and the bling-decadence of Beauty Party,the Majesticon’s nouveau riche reply, Bedford Park is the sound of the aftermath of the battle. An exploration of musical styles, all set to an ‘anthem’ theme check this exclusive for an insight into the aural handgrenades that are being thrown out in Bedford Park.
Bonafide caught up with Infesticons figurehead/ringleader Mike Ladd. A man of many guises, Ladd is a seriously talented individual dividing his time between musical collaboration, writing and lecturing on Black American literature and producing documentaries. Always against the grain. Always worth listening too. Checkit. …Read More.
The 1980s inspired artwork shouldn’t work and yet it does. Warp’s latest boy-wonder Hudson Mowhawke is making a name for himself as someone who doesn’t stick to the safe option. His debut LP Butter is out shortly but in the meantime try these tasters; Opps is fantastic, an ode to club hedonism and a perfect slice of urban electronic soul that melts in your ears like butter spread over hot toast. Nice if you like sort of thing.
A recent promo that grabbed my attention was the Eyedea and Abilites By The Throat LP. The release caught me by the eye, as it were, thanks to the fantastic watercolour illustration by Michael Gaughan. Modern subject matter + old-school techniques x painted with a guy who shares a surname of a master = a recipe for success.
The LP it promotes isn’t too shabby either. This is the Minnesota-based duos first release since E&A. MC Eyedea is perhaps best known for his prowess as a battle rapper, he won HBO’s Blaze Battle. DJ Abilities, meanwhile, is a futuristic sonic landscaper, who contributed to El-P’s outstanding Fantastic Damage. Throughout By The Throat the combination plunder many genres including punk, turntablism and straight-up hip-hop. Guitars and hip-hop normally remind me of Limp Bizkit and bring me out in a cold sweat, but thankfully this record strains more into grunge terrority. Well worth a listen. For more information head over to Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Super-fresh artwork for Gift of Gab’s new LP Escape 2 Mars. It looks like the art director has been spending a lot of time checking out 1980s legend He-Man and Ralph McQuarrie’s artwork for Star Wars. Musically, I’m not sure what direction the album will take, though I am sure it will feature The Gab’s trademark rapid delivery. Check out the free download El Gifto Magnifico as a taster.
