You are on page 1of 50

www.hhcdigital.

net
HHC DIGITAL #002
35 FREE
EMUSIC
MP3s!

RAEKWON
‘ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN LINX 2’ IS GO!
GHOSTFACE, SPEECH DEBELLE, TANYA MORGAN, PAUL WHITE
ADVERTISEMENT

HHC DIGITAL #002 2


CONTENTS MAY 2009 HHC DIGITAL#002
05 THE LISTENING
06 MIX MASTER!
07 BITE BACK!
www.hhcdigital.net
08 NEWS FLASH!
www.twitter.com/hhcdigital
09 PAUL WHITE info@hhcdigital.net
10 THE DAN GREENPEACE
COLUMN EDITOR Phillip Mlynar
(001) 347 731 1288 | phillip@hhcdigital.net
11 CHECK OUT MY MELODY
12 THE PANEL DESIGNER April Hill | april@hhcdigital.net
13 SUPERSTAR QUAMALLAH WRITING Adam Anonymous, Cee Banger, Arsenio Billingham, Corin Douieb
15 P.O.S. Robbie Ettelson, David Kennedy, Mike Lewis, James McNally, Tom Nook
Doc Nostrand, Lucy Van Pelt, Richard Watson
16 THE HIP-HOP GALLERY
17 HOMECUT PHOTOGRAPHY Juliette Dalton, Sam Hicks, Kristina Hill, Mike Lewis
Alexander Richter
18 TWITTERISHLY
19 EMUSIC DOWNLOADS FRONT COVER The vaults of Shaolin
22 RAEKWON ADVERTISING Adam Anonymous
29 RAPPERS ON TWITTER 44 011 (0)7765 633 737 | adam@hhcdigital.net
32 GHOSTFACE EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER AND HEAD OF
MICROWAVE OVEN PROGRAMMING Andy Cowan
36 SPEECH DEBELLE
PUBLISHED by Just One More in association with Infamous Ink Ltd.
41 ALBUM REVIEWS All material (c) Just One More 2009. All rights reserved. HHC Digital may not be reproduced or transmitted in
any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the publisher.
Hip-Hop Connection is a registered trademark of Infamous Ink Ltd. All rights reserved.
45 CHARTS
DISClAIMER While every effort is made to ensure the information in HHC
47 HOME STYLE Digital is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, for
which HHC Digital holds no responsibility. Contributors’ opinions do not
necessarily bear a relation to those of Just One More or Infamous Ink Ltd
49 OPEN UP or HHC Digital’s staff. The publishers disclaim any liability for those impressions. And only
32 GHOSTFACE Bill Cosby eats for free...
50 THE UNKUT COLUMN

HHC DIGITAL #002 3


HHC DIGITAL #002 4
THE LISTENING
THIS MONTH’S FREE
MP3 STASH...
Starting with this month’s issue of HHC Digital you’ll notice a
little ‘play’ icon at the end of interviews and record reviews.
‘What ever could it be?’ you ask with a quizzical look on
your face. Why, just a fancy, technologically-inclined way to HHC DIGITAL MIX 002 7. DJ VADIM FEAT. PUGS ATOMZ ‘START OF THE SHOW’
Click the play button to download! (BBE)
soundtrack your month in hip-hop! Simply click the icon to hear
1. TANYA MORGAN ‘SO DAMN DOWN’ (INTERDEPENDENT) 8. POS ‘GOODBYE’ (RHYMESAYERS)
a fresh new MP3 from the artist being profiled or put under
2. SPEECH DEBELLE ‘THE KEY’ (BIG DADA) 9. SUPERSTAR QUAMALLAH ‘88 SOUL’ (COTTER)
the review microscope – then sit back and relax in complete
3. GENERAL STEELE FEAT. BUCKSHOT 10. DR BUTCHER ‘1-800-BUTCHER’
reading-and-listening heaven.
‘A TOAST TO BROOKLYN’ (DUCK DOWN) (DOMINATION RECORDINGS)

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)

HHC DIGITAL #002 5


MIX MASTER!
What’s the best blend on the mix?
“Wu-Tang into Micall Parknsun’s joint from the new YNR LP.

MEET THE LAST SKEPTIK


Or the Vadim blend.”

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)

HHC DIGITAL #002 6


BITE BACK!
mag I wouldn’t bother to ask, but I’ve been getting HHC since Wadup fam,

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 7


NEWS FLASH!
SOMALI PIRATES...
“What are they dropping off in Somalia and taking from Somalia

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.)

platform for theatrics.” ‘A Toast To Brooklyn’ feat. Buckshot

HHC DIGITAL #002 8


PAUL WHITE
says, are largely crafted by, “Finding some good drums and
using them as the backbone – then you can start to experiment
more on top of that.

DREAMY DAYS... “I hope people will see it as something slightly different,”


he continues of the set that will come in a limited-edition
“I met these beat nuts,” begins south London producer linen-pillow-style packaging with hand-stitched title. “I love
Paul White, picking up his story after he got back from a spell creating different atmospheres through beats, so I hope that
at university. “They would just get together, sit there and listening to it is an experience where you can just sit back
listen to this Madlib, Dilla and Kankick beat tape. I mean I and relax and have lots of different moods and images come
always liked hip-hop, but it was along with other music. These into your head.”
guys though, they’d constantly listen to this tape and go nuts.
So I’d say those three artists really kick-started me to make Keeping with the visualisation thread, when asked about his
hip-hop music.” own most out-there dream, White plumps for a recurring
scenario that’s been affecting him of late: “I have one about
Having dropped a smattering of 7-inches and the impressive being by the sea and grabbing a surf-board and running out
‘One Eye Open’ EP a couple of months back – a collection of to the water.” Then he adds, “But there’s always a million
five tracks that thump and thud in the heritage of Dilla while reasons why it won’t happen – like, you know, there won’t be
cocking an ear to ’Lib’s leftfield sample tendencies – White’s any actual water there...” Phillip Mlynar
now about to bless the world with his ‘The Strange Dreams Of (‘The Strange Dreams Of Paul White’ is out June 15th.)
Paul White’ project, a set of 21 instrumental outings that, he ‘Alien Nature’

HHC DIGITAL #002 9


THE DAN GREENPEACE actual track for over a year. I know what will happen and it’s a

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.)

HHC DIGITAL #002 10


CHECK OUT MY
DR DRE ‘LET ME RIDE’
“Hands down the best hip-hop producer of all time. Dre’s

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 11


THE PANEL
MILLION DAN
“I did a show in east London a few years ago, a
launch party for one of my fellow artist bredrins
in the industry, and while performing ‘Dogz N Sledgez’ loads

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

FUNNIEST LIVE GIG


I notice one of the stage engineers waving his hands in a
gesture of panic – 15 seconds later we all disappeared when

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 12


SHINE
SUPERSTAR QUAMALLAH
IS BRINGING ‘88 BACK...
In 1999, a vinyl EP started popping up in the racks of
independent records stores across the world. Titled ‘Don’t
Call Me John’, it was credited to a cat going by the name of
Superstar Quamallah, was filled with jazzy and soulful vibes,
and stamped with the quality guaranteed ABB logo. (The
title was in reference to his father, jazz musician ‘Big’ John
Patton.) Now, almost a decade to the day, the man’s back on
the rap radar, dropping a new album that he promises to be
characterised by “positive energy and mature and intelligent
lyrics.” Headed up by the first single ‘88 Soul’, we went back
to the golden era with him...

HHC DIGITAL #002 13


What was your favourite hip-hop label back then? didn’t quite know how to control and manipulate the art;
“Without a doubt Cold Chillin’!” mainstream videos hadn’t quite happened yet until late ’88;
the large number of incredibly gifted artists; the diversity of
If you could go back in time to that era, what live hip-hop artists; the number of classic albums that came out that year;
show would you most like to see and why? the creative spirit that was in the atmosphere; the evolution
“DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince performing live in Union from break-dancing that had taken place with cats like Peter
Square when Jazzy did the transformer scratch. I heard it on a Paul, Stretch, Dedan, The Soul Brothers – and the list goes on
tape and I went bananas! I thought that was the greatest shit and on!”
I had ever heard. I kept rewinding the tape trying to figure out
how he did that shit!” Describe New York in 1988 in one sentence...
“I’ll do one word: Energy!”
On ‘88 Soul’ you reference Big Daddy Kane and Rakim. How do What was your favourite ’88 anthem?
you think they’d fare if they came out as new artists today? “I was never into anthems, but my favourite NY anthem is the So will it be another decade after this album before people
“Interesting question. It reminds me back when Mike Tyson call and response: ‘Heeeey, yo!’ ‘Aight!’” hear from you again?
was on top and cats in the barbershop would always debate “Nah, I drop something once or twice a year but you have to
who would win between Tyson and Ali. Ali at his prime in my What was it about hip-hop music in ’88 that made it sound so be from the neighborhood or know me to get a copy. Some
mind would never even fit into the energy field of the ’80s special to you? joints I’ve done like the ‘Godfood’ and ‘All Souled Out’ albums,
and ’90s with Tyson. Same with Rakim and Kane, without “Man, ’88 was special ‘cos of the times (from crack to black I make them available online. I’m all about the culture so I
them existing prior to this era, the cats shining now would be political movements and the Nation of Gods and Earths); the haven’t stopped doing my thang since I first fell in love with
different themselves. There wouldn’t be the legacy that Rakim way people interacted with one another (from gang-bangin’ hip-hop culture.” Phillip Mlynar
and Kane laid for others to build from.” to cram-packed house parties to racial tension); record labels ‘88 Soul’

HHC DIGITAL #002 14


P.O.S.
of hope: If there’s something you really want, and you put your

head to it, there’s nothing stopping you.”

ON ROCKIN’ OUT...

“I’m not influenced at all by today’s rock or indie scene, but by

the rock scene of the mid-to-late-’90s – everything from Kid

ON A ROLL WITH THE Dynamite to Fugazi. Basically, just the good bands!”

RHYMESAYERS MAN... ON THE HAZARDOUS ‘DRUMROLL’ VIDEO...

“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:

he got hurt pretty bad! He was hired as a stuntman, so we were

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’

HHC DIGITAL #002 15


THE HIP-HOP GALLERY
14. JAMES JARVIS
“I’ve turned down lots of music jobs before because the
music has been crap,” says London-born illustrator James
Jarvis of taking on the task of creating an album cover for
Jneiro Jarel and Khujo Goodie’s Willie Isz project. “With Lex
Records though, they approached me as an artist and wanted
me to do my own thing. And as the music was really creative,
progressive hip-hop, it was a deal.”

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)

HHC DIGITAL #002 7


16
HOMECUT
UP NORTH TESTIFYIN’...
When a friendly cuppa becomes one third of a collaboration
and a case of stalking adds to the mix, you might expect some
pretty remarkable results. So it was that London-born, Leeds-
dwelling Homecut – the alias of emcee, beatboxer and singer
Testament – came to create his ‘I Don’t Even Know’ track, after
chart-topper Corinne Bailey Rae heard the production while
popping into the studio for a drink and demanded to sing on
it, while Brummie jazz cat Soweto Kinch was hijacked during
a radio interview and persuaded to part with a sax solo and 16 about the reality theme running throughout ‘No Freedom With side projects including being part of Shlomo’s Vocal
bars. And that’s just for starters, as Homecut’s debut album Without Sacrifice’, he says, “Life can be tough – I think everyone Orchestra, performing with a six-piece band, and running
also includes guest raps from TY and J-Live. can identify with that, so this is my attempt at expressing this.” music workshops in prisons, Homecut’s all set to carve out his
But in case you’re about to get it twisted, he adds, “I’m also own groove in hip-hop’s 30-year-strong history. Cee Banger
“J’s really on it, he always comes correct,” he says of a collabo expressing the sense of hope and perseverance that got me (‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’ is out May 18th.)
hooked up after supporting the Live One at a show. Talking through it all.” ‘Time Difference’ feat. J-Live

HHC DIGITAL #002 7


17
X S TO RY
Asher Roth is Using Twitter
A B RO N
Wasn’t confident with English coins, so did beer pong again.
Westwood wanted me to freestyle over ‘Brimful Of Asha’.
I refused.
12:14 AM today, from web

Setting off for Westwood. Sick of demonstrating beer pong on


radio shows – may catch a stack of coins off my elbow instead.
9:45 PM yesterday, from web

Damn! Mattel suing me ’cos I gave Teddy Ruxpin a pistol

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

Leafing through the Cotton Traders catalogue in a cafe.


The pique ruggers are dope – perfect for next XXL cover.
12:27 PM yesterday, from TweetDeck

It’s cool. Dude apologised – he thought I was Prince Harry.


11:12 AM yesterday, from twitterific

@RickDaRuler Last day of UK trip, visiting your hometown


Wimbledon. WTF? Someone just called me a racist prick!?!
1:10 AM yesterday, from twitterific

HHC DIGITAL #002 7


18
EMUSIC
35 FREE DOWNLOADS!
Want access to over five million downloadable tracks? Check
out eMusic’s online vault. Whether it’s archiving certified
classic acts of the calibre of Public Enemy and Boogie Down
Productions, unearthing indie rap gems from icons like MF
Doom and Company Flow, or showcasing the best of the new STRAIGHT FROM THE D CLASSIC MATERIAL

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’
click away. Now check our personal choices... Download the best of the D now! Download a batch of classics now!

HHC DIGITAL #002 19


INDIE RAP GEMS UK SURESHOTS UP FROM THE VAULT
A decade ago cats like J-Live and Co Flow were at the crest Reppin’ the home-front, chaps like Stig and Syntax are The rare and unreleased tracks movement is blooming in the
of a new creative hip-hop movement – here’s five era-defining punchline animals, while Sway’s leading the way in blazing digital age: check the Camp Lo demo that Jay-Z nabbed and
joints to make you remember what all the fuss was about. new trails through the mainstream. Back of the net! the pre-Obama black President proclamation ‘Win Jesse Win’.

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!

HHC DIGITAL #002 20


THE SMALL PRINT
Get up to 35 music downloads free with a 14-day eMusic trial
subscription. Offer available to first-time eMusic customers
only. Your free trial will expire 14 days after registration. You
will NOT be charged during the free trials unless you exceed
your free trial downloads. You can cancel your subscriptions

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
and gin-and-juice-fuelled push into the spotlight – as these like Edan’s previously 7-inch only ‘Rap Beautician’ and Mr Lif’s free trials or before your exceed your free trial downloads.
classics prove, while Jeezy keeps the faith in the oh-niner. storming ‘Gun Fight’ are keeping indie idealism alive. Internet access, registration, and credit or debit card required.
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.

HHC DIGITAL #002 21


THE MAIN INGREDIENT
THE CHEF’S FINALLY READY TO SERVE UP THE
NEXT COURSE IN HIS ‘CUBAN LINX...’ PLATTER.
HOLDING COURT LIVE FROM STATEN ISLAND,
THIS IS WHAT’S ON HIS GRAND MENU...
BY ROBBIE ETTELSON

HHC DIGITAL #002 22


Back in ’95 the Wu were at the peak of their creative powers ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2’ is on par with ‘Detox’ as most Is putting out a lot of material in the interim the way that you
and on the crest of world domination – a position capped anticipated. How do you deal with that pressure? keep your verbal technique on point?
by Raekwon’s magnificent ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album “I’m just ready to bring it, man. It’s always gonna be some kind “Yessir, no question. That’s all I know how to do, baby – just
dropping to universal rapture. Now, after 14 years of false of peer pressure at some point, but when you really love this rhyme. I come from that era where lyrics is really important
starts (‘RAGU’ (Rae And Ghost United) anyone?), graveyard and you do this for a living and you have the passion for it, it and your hustle game is really important, so I’m just making
talk (head of Aftermath Dr Dre losing interest and getting becomes part of your hustle. I’m ready to show people what I sure that I stay on that side of the table and just really bring
distracted by the ‘Detox’ saga), a slew of slated tracks leaking out the best in me. You know, I’ve been surrounding myself
via the Chef’s numerous mixtapes (‘State Of Grace’, ‘Baggage
A LOT OF MY SHIT with nothing but good energy lately, so I’m just on my A game
right now, man. Fo’real, I feel good.”
CAME FROM LISTENING
Handlers’, ‘Blu Eaglez’, heaters the lot of ‘em), and the
imminent feeling that the flames of anticipation were about
to flicker to ash, its architect has finally readied a sequel.
TO BROTHERS On Mobb Deep’s ‘Nighttime Vultures’ you said, “Word to me,
son – the uniform do mean a lot.” Do you still feel that way?
Officially released on August 11th via the EMI music machine,
‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2’ is, by his own admission, the Chef’s
LIKE SLICK RICK “[Laughing] You was slick with that! Yeah, you know, I’m
a story-telling dude. I vibe off of stories. I love telling them
most crucial career move to date – but it’s one the slang can do. I don’t look at the fact that I’m a cat that’s been around action-packed stories – when I write, I do it like I’m making a
master general claims he’s undoubtedly up for. (“Witness for a minute, because I feel like at the end of the day I didn’t movie. So when you get stuff like that from me, that’s only just
the rebirth” runs the tag line to the set.) So we grabbed the get my nut off the way I want to yet. So I’m kinda anxious to because I’m good at making them kinda records – those really
Staten Island goodfella to talk on the record about ‘OB4CL2’ really see where people is really gonna place they judgment visual kinda records.
business, and then asked him about a few things not related on me with this album. But as far as the way I feel, I’m stronger
to the project just to give the guy a break from the same old than ever. My lyrical content has grew so much that I still feel “A lotta my shit come from listening to brothers like Slick Rick
line of questioning. like I got so much to offer, so it’s still on. Non-stop.” and ’em, so they kinda like groomed me to be a better emcee.

HHC DIGITAL #002 23


“So I’m always gonna pay homage to the cats that done it
before me, but some of the legends… I really feel I’m a part of
them, you know?”

Is tour money more important than ever?


“Yeah, that’s what we work for. We work to make these albums
and go let the people hear ’em, so I think that the least that
a fan can do is spend his little $15, $20 to come out and come
see you perform. Us being artists, we work hard. So when we
get back, when we finish the album, it’s like, ‘Okay, now we
ready to go make some money’. We gotta leave our families
and all of that to come hang out with y’all, so everything has
to be dealt with a certain kinda way to respect the artist and
respecting his fans.

“I love my fans regardless, it’s just that when it comes


to me touring, it’s like, ‘Yo! You gotta pay, B! You gotta
pay, because I’m paying! I’m paying by leaving my family
to do what I gotta do!’ That comes with the territory
of being an artist, whether you Raekwon The Chef or
whether you Luther Vandross – god bless the dead.

HHC DIGITAL #002 24


“People pay to see they top artists do they thing because they different, new, modern-day technology shit that’s going that something that, you know, I could help you on, that’s what
love they music. So why not come through, pay a couple of we gotta coincide with. So to me, I think it’s good, ’cos it gives I’m here for, man. I mean, at the end of the day with it all,
dollars to come see your boys perform? That’s what it’s all about! you a hands-on with your fans – even more closer than them y’all made me who I am, so I feel like it’s definitely owed to do
just waiting to hear you on the radio or them just waiting for that to the fans. And I’d say especially at times they wanna be
“Being honest, nine times outta ten you’re probably just chilling your album. It’s like, ‘Yo, you can catch me in the lab, nigga! heard from – I appreciate that.”
in the fuckin’ crib anyway, waiting for an event to happen so What’s good? I’m making me a turkey burger right now. How
you can go out and spend your money correctly! Right? I mean ya doing?’ I think that shit is hot right there! [chuckles] I think Can you confirm that you’re writing your own Twitter updates?
that’s what I would do! that’s live! Word up!” That you don’t have someone sitting there in an office typing
it out for you?
“I remember back in the days going to see Rakim and Slick
I’M ON TWITTER – IT’S “Nah, all of that shit is in the phones right now anyway, so you

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.”

HHC DIGITAL #002 25


You want the slang editorial? Chef’s your go-to guy. Last year,
he instructed the world to “Respect the hair on his legs” when
referring to DJ Thoro, his co-conspirator for the ‘Heroin Only’
mixtape, while elsewhere he continued the theme of macho
bodily hair by insisting that listeners respect his mustache.
Come to think of it, you could pen a coffee-table book based
on his catch-phrases and off-hand comments. From parlaying
with partner-in-rhyme Ghostface about kids looking like
they’ve got “flowerpot heads” to coining Wu Gambino aliases
and straight making up album titles (‘Immobilarity’!), few in
rap’s richly wordy annals have got as creative as Raekwon The
Chef – and he shows no sign of reigning it in for ‘OB4CL2’.

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,

HHC DIGITAL #002 26


they tie they sneakers up through the first three holes and then borough’ – so we was wanting to make sure that you knew I’m always gonna think about before I make a song. I wanna
lace ‘em; other people tie it another way; some people skip who the fuck we was.” make an impression! I wanna make something that people
each lace, skip each hole. That’s how I kinda look at anything can be like, ‘Yo, that nigga ain’t lose a fuckin’ beat!’ I’m always
that I do, like hip-hop made me who I am, and this the shit that gonna incorporate that in my music and go all the way in.
it got me doing, so I’m just doing what I do.”
I’M NEVER GONNA
GIVE YOU NO
“It’s like trying to be the best soccer player – I gotta kick that
When Wu-Tang first came out there was meant to be a single ball through that goal. I’m just gonna always be that way, B.

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 27


Cappa was the same kinda individual. You would walk down that people don’t know about your town is the more that you
the block, you would see Cappa, man – fresh to death, a mouth feel that you have to represent your town!
full’a gold teeth, always rhyming, saying something slick out
his mouth. He had character. He was labeled the Slick Rick of “Staten Island niggas is like Brooklyn and Harlem niggas all
Staten Island ’cos that was his thing.” in one! I’m originally born in Brooklyn, but Brooklyn niggas is
hungry – if they can’t get it, they gonna take it! And then you
Did Cappa help you guys develop your styles? got Harlem niggas – Harlem niggas is money makin’ niggas. So
“We was a crew back then. We all went to school together, so we kinda became more than one borough – far as mentality is
we became this crew from the neighborhood. We made sure concerned, far as our minds is concerned – because niggas out
we was recognised as a crew more than solo emcees. Me and there in Staten Island is quick to get you, or they either trying
Cap go all the way back from cookies and milk; like rhyming in to get some money.
the hallways, beatboxing and rhyming over a brother’s beats
and all of that. We all learned from each other and that’s what “But you can go anywhere – you can go to fuckin’ certain parts
made us stronger. We had that confidence within one another of London and that shit look like Brooklyn too! You see the
to be like, ‘Yo, nobody can’t fuck with us! Not just me – us!’” same shit you see back home; motherfuckers’ mentalities are
the same all over. You’re gonna have crooked motherfuckers,
Staten Island and Long Island display a lot of innovation since you’re gonna have money-makers, but that’s what it is, man.
you guys had to work harder to get that shine... We represent all ghettos of America, all ghettos of Europe – all RAEKWON TICKET OFFER!
“Absolutely. That’s true, because a lot of people, they only over the world! When I see these people come out and support It’s always a treat when the Chef comes to town, and now you
knew of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. But Staten us like that, it kinda feels like still being home and shit.” can bag tickets to his London show on May 23rd for a mere £8
Island’s a weird combination of all them boroughs. The more ‘Wu Ooh’ feat. Ghostface & Method Man by entering the code HHC – just click here to order!

HHC DIGITAL #002 28


TWEETS DISCIPLE
1. DIDDY

Whether midway through a tantric sex session

ON MESSAGE WITH (“12 hours and counting!”) or in front of the idiot box

(“Watchin Grey Gardens wit Drew Barrymore & Jessica Lange...

HIP-HOP’S TWITTERATI... an excellent job! chk out the original documentary, one of the

best of all times!”), P Twitty can’t stop, won’t stop tweeting. If


BY RICHARD WATSON he’s not mocking Busta Rhymes’s “midget teeth”, Puff’s busy

galvanising his countless ‘locked in’ followers in high intellectual

It hardly seems like yesterday that the humble pager was at the debate: “Ptwitty question of the day: vanilla or chocolate????

beeping edge of hip-hop-friendly technology, but in 2009 rappers Let’s go people!!!”

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!

HHC DIGITAL #002 29


3. HEX MURDA 5. JIM JONES

“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.

Follow the mighty Hex Murda here! Follow Jimmy here!

4. EVIDENCE 6. MASTA ACE

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.”

Follow Ev here! Follow the original Slaughterhouse man here!

HHC DIGITAL #002 30


7. JEAN GRAE 9. ICE-T

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!!!”

Follow Ms Grae here! Follow Our Tracy here!

8. RHYMEFEST 10. ASHER ROTH

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!

Follow ‘Fest here! Follow Zack Morris here!

HHC DIGITAL #002 31


GHOSTFACE
FIVE FOR FIVE:
THE PRETTY
TONEY OPINION...
BY ROBBIE ETTELSON

HHC Digital recently caught up with Ghostface while he

was chowing down in what sounded like a truck-stop diner.

Never one to bite his tongue for no one, Tony Starks gave up

the goods on the past, present and future, while he prepared

to “drive the bus” that is the Theodore Unit for the next seven

months on tour.

HHC DIGITAL #002 32


1. THE UPCOMING R&B ALBUM... selves and lying to the fans – and the fans gotta stop being so

“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.”

getting older! And everybody don’t sell crack no more, man. I

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 33


just like, ‘Okay, let’s do this and do that.’ Just to pay homage and

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

I can’t even complain.”

3. FIRE SAFETY WHILE TOURING...

“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…

I remember one time when we was in the hotel when we was

younger – me, Method Man and all of us, we’d play tricks on

each other. We took the fire extinguisher while he was asleep,

we went to his room, put it under his door and just let the whole

fire extinguisher out in his room!

“But he started choking, and that wasn’t good. We was young,

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!

HHC DIGITAL #002 34


“That was one of the moments from back in those days that you 5. REMEMBERING STATEN ISLAND...

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

James Richardson’.” stories ever told.”

HHC DIGITAL #002 35


FREEDOM OF
SPEAK
Introducing
Speech Debelle’s
Out-Of-Box Theory...
BY CHLOE MCCLOSKEY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIETTE DALTON & SAM HICKS

HHC DIGITAL #002 36


The last time HHC bumped into Speech Debelle was in the
ladies loo at Jam in Brixton for the End Of The Weak emcee
battle final. She looked like she was enjoying her tipple that
evening and, luckily, exited the toilets before the Ghanaian
attendant went off on an angry tirade about her own perceived
rudeness of Jamaicans – something Speech would not have
let fly. Because in spite of her soft-spoken lyrics and friendly
eyes, the 26-year-old south Londoner carries a big attitude and
is sternly proud of her Caribbean roots, and it’s this dichotomy
of fierce and fragile – “Can we sit over there? I once saw a
mouse run by this table…” she requests as we seek out a
spot in a pub off Carnaby Street – that makes Ms Debelle, Big
Dada’s first and only female signing, such an interesting, fresh
and intriguing artist.

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 37


more than anything – I don’t know how many thousands of there are females that are into it, I’m not that interested in
people there are at Glastonbury,” she wonders. “There are battling – I don’t want anyone to attempt to battle me. I’m
probably hundreds of thousands!” not the type to hear some insults thrown my way and think it’s
cool. I’m sensitive – I’ll be offended by that! It’s not for me. If I
The album’s title alludes to the personal nature of the songs do have a problem with somebody, that’s a real thing. But just
and how putting them down has been a virtual therapy to attend and stand there while someone says this and that
session. But Speech isn’t tired of the stories, saying, “Now it’s about my mum? I’d be like, ‘Stop the music! Just stop every
my job to do the shows and talk about the songs. When I put fuckin’ thing...’”
the words down before going into the studio, it was for me…
But now that it’s recorded, it’s not for me anymore.” As for being a woman in rap’s man-driven world, Speech has
found her own way to deal with the glass ceiling: “It’s been
Much of the album was written when Speech was dwelling a battle to make the album in some ways. All the people I’ve
in the hostel system due to some problems at home with her worked with to make the album have been male, other than
mom. The experience taught her a driven work ethic that the odd female violin player or what not. But dealing with men
prevails to this day. As she says, “I don’t want to be in that as a woman in a work environment is never easy. You know,
situation again, I don’t want to need for anything. And if I do, it you’ve always got to tender to a man’s ego and let him feel
means I’m not putting in enough work in some direction.” like he’s running the shit and not let on that it’s gonna go how
you want it to go. Men like to feel like they’re in control of
And although her sound is undeniably hip-hop, it’s hard to place things, so at times I’ve had to be like, ‘Yeah, cool,’ when in my
it in the aggro atmosphere of an EODub battle. “The battling mind I’m thinking, ‘Is that how you think it’s going down? It’s
scene is very macho and ego-driven,” she agrees. “Although not happening that way...’”

HHC DIGITAL #002 38


Speech’s tough attitude towards men likely has to do with her
own upbringing without a dad. On ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’, one of
the most revealing songs on the album, she touches on the
issue, talking about things stemming from a drive to humiliate
men who don’t take care of their kids. “There are certain men
out there who don’t take responsibility and they fuck off,” she
says. “As a society we treat it like it’s alright because we’re
so used to it. If you’re a thief, everyone treats you like you’re
a thief and they make you feel like it’s shit to be a thief. But
these men are as much thieves as burglars are, ’cos they steal
memories away from people.”

She pauses, then adds, “I don’t have memories of my father


growing up. I don’t know what his favourite colour is, I don’t
know what he likes to eat; I don’t know what he sounds
like when he snores – I don’t even know if he snores! Those
experiences were stolen from me. Really, it’s like being a drug
dealer – they profit from selling poison to people. The men
that don’t hang around for their children – they poison them.
So as a result of my experiences with men, I’m a lot harder on
men than I need to be.”

HHC DIGITAL #002 39


Like many young artists Speech is navigating her own way shit, shouldn’t you be providing a platform? How many other that annoys me about the business, there is something great
through the big bad industry. “I’m lucky I’m on a label that gives rappers are there like me? It’s not like I’m Sugababes and there that makes up for it.”
me creative freedom, but at the same time the industry wants are a hundred Sugababes.”
you to bend over and take it,” she says. “My band and I did a Ms Debelle’s out-of-boxness has likely meant that few
session at one of those big institution type of places and the She suggests it might not be a black or a white thing, but instead comparisons have actually been made between Speech and
attitude we got when we were there was pretty shocking, like, a box thing: “If I don’t fit into a box then some people just other artists. Some have suggested that she could be the ‘next
‘You’re not allowed to speak but you’re allowed to play your Ms Dynamite’ – a parallel that she doesn’t seem to mind being
song for 3.5 minutes.’ It was like we were the entertainment drawn, saying, “I like Ms Dynamite. Where she at? I actually
for the day – that sort of watermelon-eating, tap dancing shit.
Do you bend over and take it? Or refuse and risk messing up
I’m not on bought the first album – it was one of the few UK rapper/singer
albums that I’ve ever bought. I was compelled to hear her and
your career?”
some cheesy I liked what she was saying as well.”

This sentiment follows on to the so-called ‘urban’ channels.


Speech recently proclaimed via Twitter that some white people
R’n’B tip! Finishing off the last round of drinks – and with no cameo
from the mouse – we come back to the two-pronged nature
don’t think her music is black enough: “I’m not black enough of Speech’s music and self. The words ‘Pain is love’ adorn her
for certain black stations – I’ve never been played by Choice can’t deal with it. Choice FM can’t deal with the fact that I’m wrist, and touching them thoughtfully, she concludes: “It’s a
FM – and it was started in Brixton! That’s some local shit! not some cheesy R’n’B or on some gangsta shit either. Choice balance between the two, yin and yang. They are very close
FM was bought by a huge company so a middle-aged white together. It could have said ‘Love is pain’ but that’s a bit more
“I’m young, I’m black, I’m from south London and I’m putting man is likely deciding what’s black enough to be on that black pessimistic – ‘Pain is love’ sounds a bit more optimistic.”
in work to make a career for myself,” she continues, “so why station. So he decides whether I’m black enough! It’s alright (‘Speech Therapy’ is out June 1st on Big Dada.)
wouldn’t you wanna play me? I mean, even if you don’t like the though because I’m still getting a lot of praise. For everything ‘The Key’

HHC DIGITAL #002 40


ALBUM
OFTHEMONTH
VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO’
(YNR)

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’

HHC DIGITAL #002 41


ALBUMREVIEWS
pop music fanatic” side, goes drama and gore side: Opener else today is eschewing rap’s
to town with titles like ‘Vision ‘Timeless’ lops around a guitar usual street-corner setting
Street Wear’, ‘Andre The stab that could be straight for a fantasy world where
Giant’ and ‘The Huxtables’, from Necro’s lab, ‘Pick It Up, the Roman Empire never fell
while also showing that he’s Pick It Up’ is perfect music but instead conquered the
an emcee with a decent turn to stalk prey through shady globe? With talk of robotic
of phrase and a wordsmith concrete streets on a drizzly gladiators and centurians on
not afraid to tackle darker night to, and closer ‘No 1’s hovering crafts set against a
topics when needed (see Home’ is enough to have you suitably space-age sounding
‘Inner Space’). Admittedly, at wondering whether there backing – think the celestial
times it’s a total cheese-fest really is someone hiding in your overtures of the Deltron
COOKBOOK DR BUTCHER DYNAMICS PLUS
– rhyming over Duran Duran’s closet about to pounce. Things 3030 project forged with
‘I LOVE THE ’80s’ ‘RINGTONE MADNESS’ ‘C.H.A.O.S. LEGION 1’
James Bond soundtrack cut ‘A take a dip with ‘The Message’ traditional underground rap
(LA SYMPHONY) (DOMINATION RECORDINGS) (DYNAMICA MUSIC)
View To A Kill’ anyone? – and it (at its best it sounds like a bad energy and you’re not too far
ain’t gonna go down in history G-Unit-era Mobb Deep track), off – it grabs your ear from the
An album themed around as one of the oh-niner’s stone Intended as a stop-gap EP but there’s enough here to The album cover might look go and comes up trumps on
sounds and insignia from the cold classics, but ‘I Love before the Corona, Queens suggest that with the addition like something a World Of the intrigue tip. And if you’re
decade of Rubix Cubes and The ’80s’ sure beats wading producer’s solo album proper of some mentally-unhinged Warcraft fan would knock wondering, the titular acronym
Peter Venkman’s Ghostbusters? through another pesky blog- drops later this year, this is emcees the album could be a up in their spare time, but breaks down as Combat Heavy
Sign us up with the quickness! rapper’s latest totally-fun-free six slices of rugged-never- right slaughtahouse session. you’ve gotta give Dynamics Assault Operations Squad.
Here LA Symphony’s Cookbook mixtape. Doc Nostrand smooth business that proudly Tom Nook Plus kudos for going all out Lucy Van Pelt
airs out his confessed “80s ‘Molly Ringwald’ cocks its head towards the ‘1-800-BUTCHER’ on the individuality tip: Who ‘Iron Fortress’

HHC DIGITAL #002 42


ALBUMREVIEWS
it may be approaching the atmospheric vibe, but unlike intro of the year: two and a
summer season but this dub a lot of trip-hop’s wallpaper half minutes of warped voice
and echo saturated outing music leanings, tracks like codswallop backed by faux
sounds like its two producer ‘Return Journey’ and ‘Way You dramatic synth fanfares. Who
protagonists haven’t seen even Feel’ are shot through with a knows why, in these days of
a fleeting shard of sunlight in tangible sense of drama and 0.3 second attention spans,
years. Warped and twisted progression; elsewhere Ghost you’d chose to alienate 90%
beats threaten to mutilate threads together jazz samples of your click-happy listeners
your speakers, distorted and with a level of sophistication before they’ve even got to the
fractured vocals flit in and out way beyond the average DJ first track proper, but what the
of the mix (including a cameo Cam effort. Vocal hounds hey! Beyond that, the Oxnard,
FUJAKO GHOST ROC C
from one-time Fun-Da-Mental will rejoice at UK stalwarts California emcee brings decent
‘LANDFORM’ ‘FREEDOM OF THOUGHT’ ‘THE TRANSCONTINENTAL’
man Scalper), and just for Jehst, Dubbledge and Verb T weight to tracks, while cameos
(WORDSOUND) (BREAKIN BREAD) (E1)
misanthropic kicks the whole throwing their astute vocab from Chino XL, Mic Geronimo
shebang’s coated in an extra into the mix, plus a cameo from and Prince Po make this less of
Now this is underground. layer of grime and grit a la In what’s turning out to Detroit’s latest underground First up, this pairing between a ’90s throwback session than
On the subterranean-as-muck RZA’s experimental chamber be a bumper month for soldier Finale, but this is all emcee Roc C and the you’d imagine. Competent
WordSound label (past players: on ‘Sub Crazy’. Challenging, instrumental hip-hop albums, about the heralding of a annoyinglyall-caps titled post-Dilla indie rap then, but
fleeting Jungle Brothers intriguing, and guaranteed the UK’s premier New Zealand producer definitely coming IMAKEMADBEATS (some type with few stand-outs (‘Hit The
(
member Torture recording as to scare the pants off small holidayer has churned out a into his own. Mood music at of Madd Rapper-inspired ruse Floor’) it never quite takes off.
Sensational), Prince Paul, and children. Tom Nook borderline epic set. From the its best. Lucy Van Pelt gone wrong?) kicks off with Arsenio Billingham
members of New Kingdom), ‘Sulphur Goat’ get-go things brood with an ‘Elevate (Remix)’ no doubt the most annoying ‘Warriors’

HHC DIGITAL #002 43


ALBUMREVIEWS
work to date. A belated wall growing up, such is the ‘Fantastic Vol 2’. Which ain’t
sequel to 04’s ‘Apropa’t’, degree his whole presence is necessarily a bad thing, but
‘La Llama’ dips generously so cringe-worthily based on let’s not get it twisted: Other
into Herren’s heritage (his ‘2Pacalypse Now’-era Shakur. than the one guy here whose
father is Catalan), flush with And while Sona sure doesn’t vocal inflection occasionally
acid acoustic folksiness and lack the balls to tackle wider resembles Pos, the Cincinnati-
strains of Tropicália reigned issues (‘Africa’) and obviously to-Brooklyn Tanya Morgan trio
into sonic shapeliness by the has hip-hop’s welfare at heart, ain’t particularly adding on to
breathy vocal evocations what should be a knock-you- those rich Tribe vibes. But what
of Eva Puyuelo Muns. The off-your-feet blast of rage like they do bring to the table is a
satisfying overall result is a ‘Monkey See Monkey Do’ – sound that’s heartily soulful,
SAVATH Y SAVALAS SONA TANYA MORGAN
psychedelic pastoral, strictly where he calls out Soulja Boy, pleasingly catchy, openly
‘LA LLAMA’ ‘AFRICAN JUJU’ ‘BROOKLYNATI’
designed for head not hips – in Ja Rule and Jim Jones by name throws in nods to the early
(STONES THROW) (INTERCESSION) (INTERDEPENDENT)
strictly hip-hop parlance it’s – instead comes out sounding ‘90s (whether on the lyrical
about as banging as a duck- like some sort of Saturday or musical tip), embraces
These are prolific times for down floor cushion – and Want proof just how far Night Live parody ditty. Sona’s These days, being fingered the everyman persona, and
Guillermo Scott Herren. With several continents away from 2Pac’s – ahem – reach was? sentiments may be heartfelt, as the latest to pick up the isn’t afraid to show a sense
a glut of Prefuse 73 material the pesky day job. Our sagely Milwaukee by way of Roger but he needs to find some Native Tongues baton means of humour to the whole rap
dropping on Warp, Stones advice? Consume in sunshine Miller’s Cameroon rapper individuality quick sharp to only that you sound a little bit world. The good time indie
Throw have lucked out with the with a mellow potion of your Sona for sure had a poster of stand out from the – double like ‘The Listening’-era Little hip-hop sound of the summer?
glitch-hop pioneer’s warmest prejudice. Andy Cowan Janet Jackson’s least favourite ahem – ‘Pac. Lucy Van Pelt Brother and were definitely Just maybe... Doc Nostrand
and definitely most satisfying ‘La Llamas’ rapper-slash-actor on his ‘It’s All About Money’ influenced by Slum Village’s ‘So Damn Down’

HHC DIGITAL #002 44


DJ ECLIPSE (The Halftime Show/Fat Beats) DJ ELEVEN (The Rub/DJEleven.com)
1. BLAQ POET FEAT. NORE ‘HATE’ 1. DJ DRAMA FEAT. GUCCI MANE, OJ DA JUICEMAN, YO GITTI &

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,

2. TORAE & MARCO POLO ‘PARTY CRASHERS’ Dramy – ridic!

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’

styles mixed with that angry head-nod music. Ditto.

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’.

HHC DIGITAL #002 45


SPIN DOCTOR (TheDoctorsOrders.com) DJ CRO (MainIngredientRadio.Blogspot.com)
1. DOOM ‘BORN LIKE THIS’ 1. FREESTYLE PROFESSORS ‘JUMP ON IT’

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

even covers some of T-Pain’s sins! my favourite artists.

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

my book. be the album of the year!

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.

HHC DIGITAL #002 46


HOME STYLE
that includes Corinne Bailey Rae, Soweto Kinch, Kidkanevil,
J-Live, TY and sweet soul newcomer Andreya Triana.

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.

So much so I’ve had to hire two members of staff to print off


the emails and read them to me in the bath, while I shop, and Klinik Records keep their output on point with ‘They Don’t

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’.

HHC DIGITAL #002 47


HOME STYLE’S TOP TEN
As soon as I heard The Amnesiac’s ska-driven ‘Top Yourself’
my thoughts returned to the two tone days so it’ll come as
no surprise to hear ex-Specials member Neville Staple on the
track. Look out for their full length ‘Forget To Remember’.
FOR THOSE TOO LAZY TO READ THE COLUMN...
1. Ghost ‘Freedom Of Thought’ (Breakin Bread) 6. Elemental & Tom Caruana ‘Rebel Without Applause’
Finally, we’re still bigging up Ghost and this month it’s his Masterful production and Ghost’s best work to date. (Tea Sea Records)
Old school styles, monkeys, and the charms of Count
full length version of ‘Freedom Of Thought’. Weighing in at a
2. J Simple ‘They Don’t Know’ (Klinik Records) Bass D – cashback!
heavy 18 tracks it could easily be chopped in half and released
The north is where it’s at and J Simple is the rising star.
as two separate albums. The hip-hop heads will be happy to 7. Delegates Of Culture ‘Bad Guys’ (School Bully Records)
hear vocals from Jehst, Dubbledge and Verb T while Ghost will 3. Kyza ‘Sin City’ (Dented Records) Ten years of experience under their belts, they ‘belt’
attract new fans with his epic beats and quirky style. Apparently it’s a “dark audible effigy of London these ones out like troopers. Don’t like my lame joke?
as a crime ridden dystopia,” and I’m too lazy to say Up yours!
any different.
Again I’ve run out of space before getting through my
8. The Kemistry ‘The Core’ (Promo)
enormous pile of promos so if I missed you out I can only 4. Homecut ‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’ Bare Beats, Kemi and Smokey make up this trio of talent.
apologise – unless you’re Clappers Crew from Dudley. You (First Word Records)
guys were left out for a reason and it isn’t a good one. I only The sound of Leeds in full effect! 9. Philly Whizz ‘Inside The Axe Wound’ (Go Wise)
hope you’re not ex-convicts built like brick shit-houses and Includes a track called ‘SHIT CITY’!
5. Resin Dogs ‘More’ (Hydrofunk Records)
have a vengeful streak… and my home address.
DJ Katch and Dave Atkins are joined by the talented 10. Monkey Sons – Water Off A Monkey’s Back
likes of The Nextmen’s Brad Baloo, Abstract Rude, (Naked Ape Records)
(All records mentioned in Home Style are available from Yungun, and Mystro. Seven-piece party primates in the house!
www.RapAndSoulMailOrder.com)

HHC DIGITAL #002 48


OPEN UP
signing Bibio’s ‘Ambivalence Avenue’ and Yppah’s
‘They Know What Ghost Know’.

Prefer your forward-thinking platter with a side of toast? Check

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 49


UNKUT PRESENTS:
2. Although anything involving Kool Keith is best taken with
a grain of salt, it was hard not to chuckle when he and Tim

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

HHC DIGITAL #002 50

You might also like