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HHC DIGITAL #002
35 FREE
EMUSIC
MP3s!
RAEKWON
‘ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN LINX 2’ IS GO!
GHOSTFACE, SPEECH DEBELLE, TANYA MORGAN, PAUL WHITE
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4. RAEKWON FEAT. METHOD MAN & GHOSTFACE 11. PAUL WHITE ‘ALIEN NATURE’ (ONE-HANDED)
Even better, we’ve gone and got the masterful hands of The ‘WU OOH’ (EMI) 12. COOKBOOK ‘MOLLY RINGWALD’ (LA SYMPHONY)
Last Skeptik to stitch all of this month’s free new musical 5. MICALL PARKNSUN ‘TODAY’ (YNR) 13. FUJAKO FEAT. SENSATIONAL ‘SULPHUR GOAT’
goodness into snazzy mixtape form for you. Now check the 6. GHOST FEAT. DJ IQ & JEHST ‘ELEVATE (REMIX)’ (WORDSOUND)
running order... (BREAKIN BREAD) 14. SAVATH Y SAVALAS ‘LA LLAMA’ (STONES THROW)
AND HIS MASTERFUL HANDS... Which tracks had you never heard before but ended up liking
after listening to them?
Having mixed, blended and sautéed together all the best “I hadn’t heard anything from Speech Debelle before – and
tracks given away with this month’s issue of HHC Digital, we to be honest I was really put off by all the PR hype telling me I
hollered at The Last Skeptik to explain himself... should like her. But hearing ‘The Key’, I was really impressed.
The song is massive, and she has a lot of talent. I got to get
How would you sum up the mix in one sentence? some beats to this girl...”
“Definitely not something you would want playing in the
background of a bat-mitzvah; I mean you could, but it might If you had to recommend a sandwich to eat while listening to Is your voice really that deep and disturbed in real life?
be a bit loud...” the mix, what would be on it? “Even deeper. I have a team of scientists in the studio
“[Thinking very deeply] I’d say humous, avocado, thin tomato continually creating the best voicebox that will make me
For listeners with ADD, which section should they skip to? slices and feta cheese. Then add some red pesto and cucumber sound normal.”
“‘Wu Ooh’ by Raekwon The Chef. That is as close to classic Wu to the mix. Serve on wholemeal bread. Pinch of salt and chili, (Stalk The Last Skeptik at www.twitter.com/thelastskeptik
as any of them have done for years.” and you’re done.” or www.thelastskeptik.com)
Feb 1994 (I think Ice Cube had a ‘fro on that cover!), and I was Love the mag. That DOOM piece was really thorough – I feel
absolutely gutted to read on Fat Lace that HHC had folded after like a lot of interviews I read these days cover the standard
READERS RESPOND all these years. I’ve bought every single copy since then, and
even got the issues prior to Feb ‘94 off eBay! It’s been a highlight
questions, but you guys are clearly fans too. That’s what’s
up! You got a new reader and I’ve been talking up what
of each month for the past 16 years going to a news agent or you guys are doing.
HMV – I even bought the Mariah Carey issue, even though I was Peace,
cringing, with buttocks clenched, when I went up to pay! Tommy (from Philly)
Kind regards,
DOOM!
THE SUPER-VILLAIN
Stephen Lewis Truth be told we simply sat down with ol’ Metal Face and let the
ON BUKOWSKI, BEER
AND BECOMING A pints do the talking. Incredible beer-belly on the Villain, too!
GAZZILLIONAIRE Thanks for the props. Unfortunately, it’s just not feasible to
www.hhcdigital.net
HHC DIGITAL #001 WILLIE ISZ, CHARLES HAMILTON, DANTE ROSS & MORE!
continue the good ship HHC as a print mag in the current climate.
Oi!
To paraphrase Million Dan’s words last month: We’re sure artists
I can’t read the digi-mag on the toilet! Sort it!
Hi there, would love a return to the days of big album sales, and we’d all
DJ Carrot-Top
Just wondering if there were any plans to offer the new digital love to find a way to keep HHC on the physical newsstands, but it’s
magazine in paper format? I was thinking people could pay a just not the era we’re living in. We will, however, be going all out Apparently the first bod to invent an electronic reading device that
subscription in advance and have it printed out, so only printing to drop a printed anthology of the best of the year’s content at the prospers on the bog will make a mint.
out copies for people that have paid up front. If it was any other end of ‘09, so stay tuned. Wanna rant? Holler at us on info@hhcdigital.net
GENERAL STEELE
that’s making these young underprivileged individuals say, ‘We
need to get our guns and have four little men take this ship...’?
GETS TOPICAL...
There’s a reason for it. Let’s talk about you using the waters as
a dumping ground and stealing fish and cleaning out natural
resources. But instead we’re talking about what? The 16-year-
THE SWINE FLU EPIDEMIC... old that got snatched because he was a pirate? Come on!”
“I’m a conspiracy theorist myself. I tell you, right before this
swine flu thing, something else was going on in Mexico and MOOTED NYC SUBWAY AND BUS FARE INCREASES...
now we’re not really paying attention to that. The war’s still “Let’s borrow something from my European family here:
going on out there. It’s just like hip-hop, man: the way to When I go to the UK or Amsterdam and I see the bikes parked
make people buy into your story is to make it realistic. So you up, I think that what we have to do is rely on the best resource
have cases that’s now poppin’ up in places like Long Island that we have in the world, which is human resources. When
and Queens and everybody’s suddenly like, ‘Hey! Where’s this you get them two legs to pumping, you can go a long way, you
coming from?’ Now suddenly we’re all focussed on this one know?” Richard Watson
thing. But I tell you, it’s a lot of theatrics but war is the greatest (General Steele’s ‘Welcome To Bucktown’ is out now.)
COLUMN
shame – he’ll release an album and nobody will give a rat’s ass
what it sounds like because they’re addicted to the immediacy
of his weekly show. You’re talented and funny, but you’re a
rapper. Rap.
STOP WITH THE The US are the worst culprits of Twittering their careers
MICRO-BLOGGING!
into oblivion. I love Q Tip (NH) but if I see him write another
message to his fucking ‘tweedies’, I swear I’ll burn every Tribe
record I own.
What I hate about this business is how immediate everything hope, but a barrage of quick strike singles is already spoiling
has become. Everyone is so concerned about immediacy, the party. An album is supposed to be a body of work you
When will rappers get the message that we want music, we
there’s no focus on the music. Every other genre is pumping consume from start to finish – not skip through until you hear
want great albums, we want to support them for years and
out classic album material, leaving hip-hop dead in the water. something that hasn’t already been leaked. As we all micro-
years? We do not want a tidbit of information about your
blog ourselves into oblivion, the art is taking a big loss.
mundane promotional schedule. Likewise, we don’t want your
The only two albums people seemed to be anticipating so far
crappy free tracks. We want to pay – yes, pay! – for wonderfully
this year are Asher Roth and Eminem. The former was an utter Here’s two other examples. Charlie Sloth, who I rated (and
crafted music that will last a lifetime, period.
disappointment, but we must have been delusional to think still do) before his World Star Hip-Hop-distributed weekly web-
it was going to be a classic. Will Em deliver? We can all but show found him a new global fan base, hasn’t offered up an (Check www.fatlacemagazine.com for more.)
MELODY
been consistent since ‘88, from two albums with NWA, two
solo sets, launching the careers of Eminem and 50 Cent, and
blessing Jay-Z, Busta and many more. Dre’s the hit factory of
hit factories, and the doctor you go see when your sales ain’t
doing so good.”
DJ VADIM’S MUSICAL PICKS… SLY & ROBBIE FEAT. INI KAMOZE ‘WINGS WITH ME’
“It’s not an easy list to make,” says the producer about to “Foundation legends creating the original reggae drum-n-bass
release his ‘U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun’ set. “A lot of people production team from Jamaica, working with Bob Marley,
I used to like I don’t like as much now, or perhaps don’t even Peter Tosh, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Grace Jones and practically
make music, or fell off. You’ve got to ask: Who has the longevity every other artist to date. If anyone would give James Brown a
and has changed the game, not just made a couple of dope run for his money, it’s these guys.”
beats?” Here’s his answer...
BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS ‘THE P IS FREE’
JAMES BROWN ‘STONE TO THE BONE’ “From listening to BDP come out with ‘Criminal Minded’ all the
“RIP – I can’t imagine a music scene without James. He played way to 2009, KRS-One has been straight ripping – on stage,
a huge hand in the birth and groove of hip-hop. The amount in the booth, in the street. That’s some real hip-hop there.”
of times he’s been sampled is retarded. The reason? He’s the Corin Douieb
king, the godfather, the ultimate master of the groove.” ‘Start Of The Show’ feat. Pugs Atomz
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR of emcees suddenly started climbing up on the stage, jumping
around with some ‘Slam’ type shizzle. It was crazy hype! Then
EXPERIENCE?
the centre of the stage collapsed! I climbed out first, face and
clothes covered in dust and dirt, but yo, the show must go on,
so I picked my verse up and carried on spitting!”
LOWKEY KASHMERE
“It was in Bethlehem, during the seven show “Obviously when I was on tour with Michael
tour of Palestine and Israel I took part in. There Jackson. Everything was cool – wine was drank,
were at least seven acts on the bill; I was about fifth. As soon cocaine was snorted, slut features were fondled, then Tito
as I came on and said, ‘Listen,’ everything cut out: the sound, Jackson bust in looking pissed. I said, ‘What the fuck, nigga?!’
the lights... So I did my set completely a capella with no mic. He went, ‘Michael is buggin’, keeps talking about lil’ horsey...’
Additionally, a lot of the audience couldn’t understand me. It I’m like, ‘Where’s bubbles?’ He says, ‘At the strip club.’ I go,
was a weird one. As soon as I finished, a group called Bad Luck ‘Sexual deviant ass motherfucker!’ So anyway, halfway through
came on and everything started working again. They ripped it. my set a giant horse ran on stage, grabbed the mic and started
I guess I had a bit of bad luck myself that night...” beatboxin’...” Corin Douieb
ON ROCKIN’ OUT...
ON A ROLL WITH THE Dynamite to Fugazi. Basically, just the good bands!”
“I left that day with blood all over my leg! There’s a scene in the
With an undeniable swagger running through his electric-guitar- video where I fall down and the camera pans up and you see
addled ‘Never Better’ project, Rhymesayers affiliate P.O.S. has Minneapolis in flames. I bashed my shit up real bad. Plus a bit
crafted his strongest body of work to date. Here’s his musings... where an explosion happens and the guy goes flying in the air:
ON POSITIVE MESSAGES... expecting some banging and bruising, but he took a chunk out of
“The plan of the new album was to make something that was his arm...” Corin Douieb
very challenging. It’s a little bit dark, and definitely a bit heavy, (‘Never Better’ is out now on Rhymesayers.)
but after you break down the lyrics, I wanted you to get a vibe ‘Goodbye’
Widely associated with his designs for plastic toy figures for
the Silas brand back in the late-’90s (a dalliance which led to
the creation of his own Amos toy company in 2003), Jarvis’s
work is influenced by everything from Asterix comics to the As for the chances of seeing any Willie Isz toy figures in the
stylings of Judge Dred. For the Willie Isz escapade he tapped near future? “Well, I got to draw some new characters that
into, “Imagery on the record that was really up my street, in were just in my head,” he says coyly, “so who knows if they
being kinda apocalyptic, plus going with the good versus evil might end up as toys...”
vibe in there.” (Check James Jarvis’s work at www.studiojarvis.com)
N E 1 S T
OUT JU
in my ‘Lark On My Go-Kart’ video. Knew I shoulda gone with
Glo-Worm.
5:05 PM yesterday, from web
wave of UK talent with cats like Kyza and Sway, eMusic’s digital Detroit’s the new home of underground rap. Whether paying In these blog-rap days it’s easy to forget about the impact
racks have ’em all. Better yet, as their daily operation’s legit it tribute to Dilla or introducing hardcore composers like Phat of stone-cold rap classics. Here’s five to refresh your mind,
means that you get the music you want while the artists get Kat and Fat Ray, the Motor City is running things. including a dope cut from the recently passed Tony D.
paid – can’t say fairer than that. Black Milk feat. Royce Da 5’ 9” ‘Losing Out’ Tony D ‘Check The Elevation’
Slum Village ‘The Look Of Love Pt. 1’ Boogie Down Productions ‘Criminal Minded’
As an introductory bonus to loyal HHC Digital readers, eMusic Fat Ray & Black Milk feat. Phat Kat & Elzhi ‘Get Focus’ Ultramagnetic MCs ‘Give The Drummer Some’
are giving you 35 rap tracks for free. Simply head over to their Illa J ‘All Good’ Young MC ‘Know How’
site by clicking here, take a second to register, and then right- Jay Dee ‘Nothing Like This’ Cold Crush Brothers ‘Feel The Horns’
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MF Doom & MF Grimm ‘No Snakes Alive’ Kyza ‘Love & Music’ Ghostface ‘Charlie Brown’
Company Flow ‘8 Steps To Perfection’ Stig Of The Dump feat. RA The Rugged Man ‘Braindead’ Camp Lo ‘Feelin’ It’
J-Live ‘Braggin’ Writes (Domecracker Remix)’ Two Fingers feat. Sway ‘That Girl’ Stack ‘Win Jesse Win’
Latryx ‘Say That’ Skreintax feat. Dubbledge ‘6 Bitters’ Brand New Heavies feat. Q-Tip ‘Sometimes’ (Jay Dee Remix)’
The Arsonists ‘Session’ Dr Syntax feat. Stig Of The Dump ‘A Dose Of Godzilla Slang’ De La Soul feat. SPD & KAN ‘Live In Tokyo’
Download your indie fix now! Download five home-front standards now! Download these up-from-the-vault tracks now!
THAT GANGSTA SHIT THE NEW INDIE CATS at any time. You will automatically become a paying member
Back in the early ’90s Dre gave gangsta rap a g-funk-propelled Proving that the independent rap world is still strong, cuts unless you cancel your subscriptions before the end of your
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Limited time offer. Music offer and eMusic’s prices are subject
Dr Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dog ‘187um (Deep Cover Remix)’ Mr Lif feat. Metro ‘Gun Fight’
Lady Of Rage feat. Snoop ‘Afro Puffs (Remix)’ Rapper Big Pooh ‘The Comeback’ to change and are subject to eMusic’s terms of use. eMusic
2Pac ‘All Eyez On Me’ Edan ‘Rap Beautician’ and the eMusic logo are either registered trademarks or
Dr Dre feat. Snoop, RBX & Kurupt ‘Stranded On Death Row’ General Steele feat. Shabaam Sahdeeq ‘Bucktown Affiliates’ trademarks of eMusic.com Inc. in the USA or other countries.
Young Jeezy ‘I Am Back’ Dagha ‘The Remedy’ All rights reserved. eMusic is not responsible for products,
Download your gangsta anthems now! Download the new indie sound now! services, or claims made by HHC.
NOT A PROBLEM
Rick at a show. I was excited to come spend my little $25 just know it’s not a problem to just say something real quick or
to be in the mix, because you get inspiration from seeing your whatever, whatever.”
greatest hip-hop artists. You wanna see that shit? Spend that
TO SAY SOMETHING
REAL QUICK
little bit of money, man, and go have a nice time, man. Bring a What about other people online claiming to ‘be’ Raekwon?
friend or two.” “Well, you know, after I found out a long time ago – like maybe
three or maybe four years ago – that it was like two or three
Just like a lot of rappers these days, you’re doing your thing other ‘Raekwons’ acting like they was me, I had to really step
on Twitter. Do you see that as another way for you to reach “Somebody may call me and be like, ‘Yo! Tomorrow’s my in and really fix that shit. I mean, I would hate for fans to be
out to your fans? birthday, kid!’ When that happens, I wanna hit a nigga back led by somebody else and not know that they talking to the
“It’s just all about interacting. I want my fans to know that and be like, ‘Happy birthday, man! Enjoy your day, this is what wrong person. So, you know, I had to come in and really fix
outside of music y’all can still be close to me. There’s so many you should go do.’ Or if you just having a bad day, or if it’s that situation.”
You’ve always been known for bringing that new slang. Have
you got anything fresh for us this time around?
“I mean, whatever comes out my mouth, man. I don’t sit there
all day and say, ‘Yo, I’ma come up with this new word!’ Shit fly
off a nigga tongue on some crazy shit sometimes. It’s just hip-
hop, man. I feel like hip-hop is an expression as well as about
the music. It’s a lifestyle, it’s a culture, it’s the way you rock
your pants, it’s the way you rock your sneakers. Some niggas,
BULLSHIT LYRICS
named ‘Run Ya Garments’. What happened to that track? You got artists that fade ’cos they stop believing in they self.
“That shit was almost like saying, ‘We coming to get you, My sign is a Capricorn, and Capricorns is basically go-getter
nigga! We robbin’ you!’ The song didn’t make the album, but motherfuckers. We can’t take a loss – even if we are catching
it was something that we felt like a new word – ‘garments’. A Do you feel that you’re maintaining the advanced vocabulary a loss, we won’t accept it, ’cos we know we could do better.”
lotta kids wasn’t saying ‘garments’ back then, they was saying that T La Rock and Treacherous Three brought to the table?
either ‘gear’ or ‘clothes’. We was saying ‘garments’ because “I’m always gonna continue to be a strong-content, lyrical You mentioned Slick Rick earlier. I’ve heard it said that
anything that costs a lotta money to us is a garment. artist ’cos that’s the shit I grew up under. Regardless of today’s Cappadonna was the Slick Rick of Staten Island. Was that on
music not really capturing a lotta people and not influencing account of his dress sense or his flow?
“I mean, we was more educated back then as well because people, I’m from that certain grain that I have to do this. I have “When you really look at Cap from back then, he kinda
we all had knowledge of self, so we would say certain things to make sure that you know that I’m going all the way in. I’m resembles Slick. Real slim fly cat – Kangols, Ballys – fashion
that we would only be able to relate to – not the world. But not gonna give you no bullshit lyric. What I am gonna do is put was our thing back then. To me, fashion had a lot to do with
then it became a kinda slang type of aura that we started to my passion and my soul in to every rhyme that I make. You our writing skills, because if we felt like we was fly and we
come with, so it’s all good. It was just anything to really let y’all can bet your ass that I want people to be like, ‘Yo, rewind that was emcees? It only made us a better emcee. Watching Slick
know how we talk – we from Staten Island, we from the ‘lost shit again! What the fuck he say?’ These are the things that Rick come up from the gold era, from the jewelry era, it’s like
ON MESSAGE WITH (“12 hours and counting!”) or in front of the idiot box
HIP-HOP’S TWITTERATI... an excellent job! chk out the original documentary, one of the
It hardly seems like yesterday that the humble pager was at the debate: “Ptwitty question of the day: vanilla or chocolate????
pack iPhones and Blackberries in their billowing Karl Kani jeans Follow the Puffster here!
(what? They’re rocking skinny designer denim now? Damn, the 2. PHONTE
world is moving fast!), and micro-blog about their every snack Whether sarcastically linking to a Guru solo joint
and ensuing bowel movement on Twitter. Promoting narcissism, (“Dear Guru: You’re a legendary MC with nothing
humour and a complete disregard for spelling and grammar, it’s more to prove. It’s okay to just quit now”), trading spam-themed gospel singers using Autotune is sacrilegious and revealing that
little wonder that the social networking service has proved a hit puns with Babu (“Spamson and Delilah”) or coining his own he’d rather watch a Helen Mirren sex tape than a Kim Kardashian
with hip-hoppers, and the following ten rap types are among reggae name (“Mad Walrus”), Tigga’s out for laughs. He also one. Takes all sorts, as they say.
those with the strongest Twitter games. Follow The Tweeters! tackles the big issues though, pondering at large on whether Follow the LB man here!
“Fuck sharks, lions, tigers, bears & shit,” opines “Just raced frm westchestaer such a thrill exit was
Detroit hip-hop’s answer to Ari Gold. “With bird flu, close we took the street grand conkourse got pulled
swine flu & mad cow disease seems all the hoe-ass animals are showd my face said jimmy slow down :)” That’s actually one of
tryin’ to kill us, too.” Away from current affairs, Hex critiques the the more coherent tweets from Jones, who also posts slang
rap game (“I wish JUST-ICE would come bak & shoot every rap saturated nonsense like “twitters be twagger jackin” and “wher
nigga under 25 in the face”) and drops tweet-of-consciousness twoppin tweople”, and encourages followers to “hit oprah n tel
gems like “Fuck shit hoe bitch damn cunt muthafucka buckeye her Im tryn to gt a convo wit her very important lol.” Don’t hold
slut felcher fluffer goat-monkey”. Hey, we’ve all thought it. your tweath, Jimmy.
The Weatherman engages in a pleasing mix of “Got off the phone wit Kane. He wanna do another
fielded queries (favourite line on ‘Illmatic’? “The ‘Symphony’ wit Dre. If he can make it happen, and locate G Rap
buck that bought a bottle could have struck the lotto”) and I’m down.” News like this may have heads salivating, but it’s on
celebrity sightings (“Just seen Tony Hawk at Starbucks...gave us consumer advice that the Masta really excels: “Got my Powerbook
big propS. Wow!”). Oh, and he also fools the web into thinking G4 fixed today at a little shop on 145th St called Harlem Apple.
he’s made a movie with Leo DiCaprio, the japester! Paid $275 to change the screen. Apple store quoted $900.”
You’d expect a rapper named after one of the Ice is more charitable than Jean about Wolverine
X-Men to have an opinion on Wolverine. Jean’s (“Dope if you love Hugh or Comic Book movies!”),
verdict is “ehhhhh,” although she admits, “I give Hugh Jackman although exchanges with his Law & Order co-star Diane Neal (“Oh
and his workout regimen an A+”. Elsewhere, Jeannie endures a Shit! SVU is in the house!”) remind us that Tracy’s now part of the
master cleanse, quotes Michael Scott from The Office and raves Hollywood scene. That’s not to say that Ice is blasé about the
about Grey Gardens (“Brilliant jobs by Drew Barrymore & Jessica spoils of his success: “Hung a Chandelier last night by myself! I’ll
Lange”). Damn, is this shit the new Scarface or something? never try that again! But I did iT!! I almost crashed twice!!!”
Constantly enflaming the imaginations of his When rap’s foremost go-karter isn’t tweeting himself
followers with the Vs game (sample conundrum: into trouble with ill-advised Imus impressions, he’s
“Would u rather pick tomatoes vs. housekeep for a racist?”) and endorsing oatmeal, “wondering what Montel Jordan is up to”,
even a book club, ’Fest’s real tweet-de-resistance is: “riding jetskis and keeping us abreast of his talk show itinerary: “Jimmy Kimmel
with Lady Of Rage on the back I made a sharp turn at 39mph and tonight – Wolverine premiere is going on across the street and
she went flying. Afro puffs a perm now...By the way we got video hugh jackman might be rocking a fake tan...” Quick, somebody
of her trying to climb out the water.” Wow, watch out TMZ! tweet Jean Grae!
Never one to bite his tongue for no one, Tony Starks gave up
to “drive the bus” that is the Theodore Unit for the next seven
months on tour.
“I’m working on an album right now – I don’t have no name for dumb and ignorant and know it’s time to talk about grown-man
it. It’s an R&B album. Remember ‘Ice Cream’? An album like that. situations. Shit that happen in the real life, inside your household,
Like you know how I did that Ne-Yo joint and ‘All That I Got Is You’ your love life, your personal life, that’s just like, ‘Damn, it’s hard
and stuff like that? It’s my last album [for Def Jam] so I wanted to for a nigga to get some money!’ It might be so hard to get some
do the album I always wanted to do, man. Soul music describes money that your girl might wanna leave you someday because
me, before hip-hop and everything. If you go back to the early you ain’t get no money like you used to be getting money!
’70s and late ’60s, that music is the essence of me. After that it’s
break-beats, then comes rap music and other stuff like that. “Those are real situations. I think it should start going back to
songs that mean shit. All that other shit is gonna keep us dumb,
“You gotta tell fans that you not getting no younger here – we deaf and blind, yo! And we ain’t never gonna get nowhere.”
don’t sell crack, yo. I ain’t moving no bricks or none of that other 2. IRONMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE...
shit. I ain’t shoot nobody in like… since the early ’90s, man. How “They took me, Samuel Jackson, a few other artists outta there,
long you gonna be 40-years-old and acting like you still selling because I think it didn’t go with the theme of what they doing.
crack and you on the block and you doing this and you doing that ‘Cos when they called me and I got into it, it was just something
when times is more serious, man? We in a fuckin’ recession, B! that they made for me like on-the-spot. I wasn’t never planned to
Ain’t nobody getting no money, man! We gotta stop lying to our- be in it, it was just a on-the-spot thing, so when I got there it was
shit like that, so I respect them for that. So if it didn’t make the
whatchamacallit, it was all good. They still paid me and all that so
“A tour’s about having fun, doing what you gotta do, get to your
destination safe, get back safe, and just rocking the people, man.
We had a lotta fun, a lotta things you can’t even talk about…
younger – me, Method Man and all of us, we’d play tricks on
we went to his room, put it under his door and just let the whole
we could’a killed him! He was breathing all of that in, and he came
out the door, coughing, and his whole head was white!
remember that was kinda like crazy, but you learn from that. “You’ve got people on Staten rhyming that haven’t made it, but
I would never do that again to nobody, because you could’a certain things ain’t meant for everybody. I was just around the
choked on that if you was a hard, hard sleeper. Meth prolly was right people at the right time, and that made it successful for me.
choking in there, and that’s what probably woke him up!” I took a piece of something from everybody [in my crew] and ap-
plied it to myself, and I think that’s why I’m here today. There’s
4. SHADY BUSINESS... a lot of ’em who never got they exposure, but, ‘Many shall be
“There’s this guy called James Richardson in London, he’s trying called, few shall be chosen.’ I was one of the chosen ones.
to book shows and he’s saying that he works for me and he’s my
manager. He’s getting the money from these promoters and he’s “The golden era is from like ’86 to ’89 of rap music right there. I
running off with it. I never met James Richardson in my life. He’s was rhyming back then but I’m glad that I didn’t come out back
a thief, he’s a crook! So anybody that James Richardson comes in then ’cos I kinda would’a been [considered] ‘old school’. It was
contact with – speaking for me or nuttin’ like that – I don’t know all good, with my peoples, just doing what thugs do. We was out
him! Matter of fact, call the cops on him, because they looking there, whylin’, doing whatever to get that money. We did the
for him! He said I was gonna be over there sometime last year, he Wu-Tang thing later on in ’93. Came out with that and we rocked
took the money from the people and then said, ‘Ghostface got the world, man! We dropped a bunch of classics… ‘Impossible’
arrested for child-support.’ Just tell the fans I said, ‘Be careful of off the ‘Wu-Tang Forever’ album – that shit was one of the best
Life has begun to move faster for Speech since we last met.
“It’s getting a lot more real for me,” she says from the sanctity
of the boozer. She’s been featured in the national press, played
pretty heftily on Radio One, and is booked for a number of
festivals this summer following the June release of her debut
LP, ‘Speech Therapy’. “I’m excited to go as a crowd member
With UK rap’s Marmite status, this collection from the YNR up bumpy, progressive productions, while Kashmere, Sir
all-stars will probably provoke one of two reactions: ‘Yawn, Smurf Lil’, Joker Starr, Mystro, Kyza, Micall Parknsun and
backpack rap...’ or ‘Finally, some decent hip-hop in a grime- Cappo bless the 15 tracks with their astute verbals. Taking it
addled scene!’ Assuming you don’t think you’re mistakenly out of the capital city, Sonny Jim and Kelakovski’s ‘Flying To
reading the downloadable version of the Angling Times, The Moon’ beams large as a stand-out, while Dubbledge’s
we’ll assume you’ll plump for the latter reaction, and ‘Alphabets’ is comically maverick and Verb T’s ‘Overworked’
here Jehst and company have certified their alpha-male brings the serious balance. With each hungry beast on the
status, showing a renewed vigor and confidence (no, not mic representing their own breed to the fullest, feeding
‘swagger’) and suggesting that their wares are exactly time is most definitely in full effect down in the YNR
the shot in the arm the UK scene needs. Beats come from menagerie. Cee Banger
the likes of Beat Butcha, Chemo and DJ IQ, who all serve Micall Parknsun ‘Today’
Premier and Poet’s chemistry is ridiculous – add NORE into the equation LONNIE MAC ‘RIDICULOUS’
and it’s outta here! Just check the all-star line-up in full effect here: Gucci, Juicy, Gotti, Lonnie,
Marco’s amped beat matches Tor’s aggressive delivery perfectly. The 2. DONNIS ‘UNDERDOG’
new Gang Starr for 2010! I wasn’t sold on ‘Party Works’ but dude just keeps growing. Each record
3. DJ MUGGS FEAT. LA COKA NOSTRA ‘DO IT’ he drops seems to just always sound better then the last one. Keep an
Muggs and LCN have worked on a few joints together and this one here eye on him...
is off Muggs’s new Soul Assassins project. The perfect blend of lyrical 3. THE COOL KIDS ‘CHAMPIONS’
4. FINALE ‘WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME’ 4. JADAKISS FEAT. SWIZZ BEATS & OJ DA JUICEMAN ‘WHO’S REAL’
M-Phazes is definitely one of the hottest up and coming producers out The type of people that I hate are the people who can’t do adlibs like
there right now and Detroit’s own Finale laces the track in typical ‘D’ Yung Ju Man. And listen out for Swizz Beats’s dope production under-
CHARTS
rhyme fashion. scoring the whole shebang!
5. THE THREE AMIGOS FEAT. SADAT X ‘YOU DON’T OWN ME’ 5. ALCHEMIST FEAT. THREE 6 MAFIA & JUVENILE ‘THAT’LL WORK’
This gotta be my favorite joint at the moment: the beat is crazy, and it’s It’s fuckin’ Juve! Dude can rap! From Alan The Chemist’s new project,
always dope to hear material coming from every part of the world. ‘Chemical Warfare’.
The masked magician back to his old tricks with his best work for a while, Taken from the excellent ‘Confuse A Few’ 12-inch and featuring Akbar,
and it’s as crazy and wild as you can imagine! this is pure distorted illness!
2. BUSTA RHYMES ‘HUSTLER’S ANTHEM ’09’ 2 JOHN ROBINSON FEAT. LEWIS PARKER ‘A PLACE CALLED HOME’
That man Busta back on form with a beat-heavy piece of boom-bap that A truly top notch United States to United Kingdom collabo from two of
3. SAIGON & STATIK SELEKTAH ‘THE REASON’ 3. BLAQ POET ‘AIN’T NUTHIN’ CHANGED’
The beat sounds like Prince doing hip-hop – which is alright by me! Saigon This track has been about for a bit but I still can’t get enough of it.
is raw as ever and Statik is fast becoming the go-to beat-man of the day in Premo’s beat kills it and Poet’s raw as ever. Truly, ‘Blaq Print’ could well
4. CLIPSE FEAT. KANYE ‘KINDA LIKE A BIG DEAL’ 4. J DILLA FEAT. BLACK THOUGHT ‘REALITY CHECK’
This is just a phenomenal leftfield beat from Khalil – equal parts psych If the rest of the album is half as good as this then we’re all in for a very
rock, African drums and space funk – with Clipse and Kanye doing their tasty treat.
CHARTS
best over it. 5. VARIOUS ARTISTS ‘FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO’
5. REDMAN & METHOD MAN ‘DANGEROUS MCS’ An amazing compilation from the YNR all-stars – just check the artists and
Vintage Red and Meth, with heavy beats, funky bass, and two classic producers involved if you need persuading, from Jehst and Sir Smurf Lil’
emcees trading off like kids with Panini swaps! to Kyza and Kashmere.
UK RAP ON THE MAP… As always, Dented come back strong with Kyza’s ‘Sin City’.
Produced by Chemo, the track has Kyza’s trademark dark
First of all I’d like to thank everyone who emailed in to say how lyrics telling tales of London’s seedier side. The flip, ‘Go’, is
much they enjoyed the first digital Home Style. My inbox was a dance floor filler produced by Bless Beats of ‘Wearing My
stuffed with ten times the usual amount of correspondence. Rolex’ fame.
as I’m falling asleep. Know’ by J Simple (pictured). Huddersfield’s rising star has
a vocal dexterity rarely seen these days and his delivery is as
Before I start with this month’s gibberish I’d like to try an punchy as the Jack Flash beats that underpin him. Check the
experiment: Stephen! If any of you know what I’m referring to b-side ‘Breathe Control’ for a darker posse cut seeing Simple
please email me and I’ll send you something nice. trade verses with Flash and Chief Wiggum.
Sometimes albums come out of nowhere and take you by Elemental & Tom Caruana bring the circus to town with their
surprise. One such release is Homecut’s ‘No Freedom Without ‘Rebel Without Applause’: head to ‘Pay Me A Visit’ for a dose
Sacrifice’ on First Word Records. This is a fully-rounded of Count Bass D and ‘Livin In The ’90s’ for a bit of nostalgia.
concept album from the Leeds emcee with a roll call of guests The CD also has a bonus video for ‘Cup Of Brown Joy’.
HIP-HOP AND BEYOND… reggae/rap/drum & bass-fusing duo Black Canvas (pictured).
Despite sharing dubious provincial UK shithole origins with
this very writer – Gloucester, if you must know – their first
Back in the house reprising HHC’s premium left-leaning beats
LP, ‘Rise’, backs deep wisdom with slick, eclectic production.
and bars distillation, let’s get to it. First up, Dizzee Rascal
Vaguely related: succinct Down Under dancehall-fronted 12-
achieves the seemingly impossible, coaxing a decent tune
inch ‘Peace And Love’ by Resin Dogs.
from superstar dance deejay Armand Van Helden on well-
titled single ‘Bonkers’, young Dylan’s excitable vocals sonically
stupendous as ever. Prefuse 73 returns rocking latest set ‘Everything She Touched
Turned Ampexian’ (an analog tape ‘gag’!), maintaining his
The warped post-Dilla psych-scape thing has mushroomed head-wrecking arrhythmic patchwork steez. Look also for P73 Anticon mini-blast: get Tobacco’s meatily fuzzed-up abstract
since Open Up last graced these pages. Lovers of Flying side project Diamond Watch Wrists (craftily-skewed name!), boom-bip fest ‘Fucked Up Friends’ and label stalwart Odd
Lotus and ilk should definitely peep whacked-out featuring mad talented US rock drummer Zach Hill. Nosdam’s skater soundtrack ‘TIME’. Also worth a butcher’s
samples-jammed ‘The Strange Dreams Of Paul White’, elsewhere: loony Diplo bashment sideline Major Lazer.
the top debut album of south London’s Paul White, The hip-hop equivalent of turning it up to 11, Brooklyn soul-
dropping on One-Handed Music. Did somebody say DJ funkers El Michels Affair traverse the outer limits re-imagining Finally, seek South Wales selectors Chrome Kids for all your
Shadow does wonky? No? Good. Similarly, try fresh Warp the Wu on ‘Enter The 37th Chamber’. ‘hulk-hop’ and ‘crunk-rock’ needs... Adam Anonymous
BACDAFUCUP!
Dog listed the trends they set off in Ego Trip, including wearing
Versace sunglasses, Tim’s sideburns, cutting your head bald,
porno rap and wearing straw hats with feathers in them.
There are several things that can be expected when
reading an interview with an established rap chap. Other 3. K-Solo declared in a HHC feature that during his time at
than the obligatory abuse of the phrase “You know what Death Row he influenced Snoop to lose his braids and grow
I’m sayin?” approximately one in every three Q&A sessions an afro similar to the one Solo was sporting at the time, as well
will feature some kind of outlandish claim involving as inspiring Dre to name his next label Aftermath after he used 5. Mobb Deep’s sometime-G-Unit soldier Prodigy prepared a
either innovations they haven’t been given credit for or unique the term in the song ‘Wolf Tickets’. huge list of the things he has pioneered in the infamous blog
techniques that have been shamelessly plundered by their he wrote (in ALL CAPS) prior to his incarceration, all of which
peers. Here are some of my favorites... 4. DJ Muggs claimed on ThaFormula.com that “‘Black was gold. Highlights of his firsts include, “RAPPING WORDS
Sunday’ gave birth to horrorcore hip-hop. It gave birth to the THAT DON’T ALWAYS RHYME,” “HOW I FOLD MY BANDANA,”
1. During a Rap Pages profile of J Sw!ft (Pharcyde, The Wascals), Gravediggaz. We invented a whole style of rap. Who came out and “WEB SITES, I HAD INFAMOUSSTORES.COM AND WAS
his production partner Lamarr mentioned that after J told at that time? The Flatlinerz too. That’s all off ‘Black Sunday’.” He WRITING BLOGS BACK IN ‘99 LONG BEFORE IT BECAME
Pete Rock that he used the Fender Rhodes on ‘Bizarre Ride…’, also insisted that RZA and Mobb Deep followed his footsteps POPULAR IN HIP HOP TO HAVE A WEB SITE”. Rap dudes, bow
“That sound popped out of nowhere on everybody’s records”. with their raw, gritty production sound. down to your new leader. Robbie Ettelson