New Skepta Release Today!

Skepta featuring Jay Sean
Lush

Skepta of grime wonder-group Boy Better Know is back with his second
single from the sophomore album Microphone Champion; Lush. Following
on from the hype of Too Many Man, this takes us back into the dance
for a smoother rendezvous with the ladies.


British pop singer-songwriter Jay Sean sings the smooth chorus,
bringing a sexy RnB vibe to the Skepta-produced anthem. As Sean sings
over the electro sounds, Skepta confides; ‘its not the champagne
dance, it’s the champagne tour…’ as he talks us through a tale of lust
at first sight across a club.

Hype-hunters needn’t worry; a remix courtesy of H20, Fuzzy Logik and
Rudekid featuring Boy Better Know band mates Jammer and Frisco will
also be doing the airwave rounds.

As the managing director of Grime movement Boy Better Know, Skepta is
currently enjoying a wave of success at the top of the pile. Behind
him lies a string of sell out shows and the BBK legacy that has
defined a generation of Grime internationally.

Skepta is part of an early set of grime MC’s who defined the genre in
the early ‘noughties’. His peers including Wiley, Tinchy Stryder and
Dizzee Rascal have been enjoying the heights of the UK charts of late,
with newcomers such as Chipmunk setting the standards for the younger
generation of grime MC’s rising through the ranks.

The craze became associated with the mainstream when Skepta gave the
nation the moves with Rolex Sweep. Cue an International celebrity
craze as Hip Hop legend Busta Rhymes and TV’s Paul O'Grady attempted
to recreate the steps. Coldplay's Chris Martin performed his own
rendition during a gig at Brixton Mass and the iconic Timmy Mallett
created the Boy Better Know 'Sweep Show'!

www.myspace.com/skepta

Posted by Anna Nathanson

Bounce Review

Insane in the Brain:
A Street-dance Version of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'
Review by Anna Nathanson
Published on www.britishhiphop.co.uk

An adaptation of the hugely successful film / novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Insane in the Brain is a modern version of the renowned drama, performed almost entirely through dance. Swedish street-dance crew Bounce light up the stage, keeping the audience captivated throughout the hour and a half duration of this colourful, lively and entertaining spectacle.

DJ Krush, Cypress Hill, Punjabi MC and Dizzee Rascal all feature on the uptempo hip-hop heavy soundtrack, but there is also a smattering of dance music, funk and even an 80s sequence, complete with a leotard-clad girl and a well-oiled muscle man to entertain the audience, which was made up of mostly young people.

There are humourous elements to the show, including one scene where the group get caught sneaking out to the cinema, and what follows clearly delighted the audience, judging by the rapturous laughter.

The warning of violence on the ticket might seem alarming, but in fact this is a reference to the very end, which is instrumental to the story and not gory by any measure - no blood and guts in sight. There is also a sex-scene but this too is tastefully done, with the lighting disguising the action, making it suggestive rather than graphic.

The plot is brought to life and translated into dance skilfully, and it is not necessary to know the story in order to fully appreciate this show, as it completely stands up on its own. There is a bit of acting, but mostly the cast do what they do best and that’s dance. The choreography is definitely on-point; the dancing fluid and in-sync, and the sound, lighting and set unfaultable. Definitely a must see.

http://www.insanetour.co.uk

Tour Dates

Nottingham Playhouse – Nottingham – October 6th & 7th
http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Sheffield Lyceum – Sheffield – October 9th & 10th
http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Sherman – Cardiff – October - 13th & 14th
http://www.shermancymru.co.uk
Lighthouse – Poole – October 16th & 17th
http://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Hall For Cornwall – Truro – October 20th & 21st
http://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Festival Theatre – Edinburgh – October 24th, 25th & 26th
http://www.eft.co.uk
Macrobert- Stirling – October 29th, 30th and 31st
http://www.macrobert.stir.ac.uk
Warwick Arts Centre – November 3rd and 4th
http://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
Wycombe Swan – November 10th & 11th
http://www.wycombeswan.co.uk
Northern Stage – Newcastle – November – 13th & 14th
http://www.northernstage.co.uk
Wyvern Theatre – Swindon – November 17th & 18th
http://www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
The Lowry – Salford – November 21st
http://www.thelowry.com

What to do this weekend...

Posted by Anna Nathanson

Markus The Sadist

Jonzi D Productions
presents...

Markus The Sadist

AUTUMN TOUR – OCTOBER 2009

As Hip Hop culture evolves and continues to court controversy,
Jonzi D Productions return with bold new theatre, taking a wry look at celebrity within the Hip Hop ‘industry’ and the manipulative players masterminding urban myths.

Markus The Sadist tells the story of a talented young emcee from humble UK origins,
earning his accolades at local battle championships as he sweeps the board with his raw, precocious skills.

Attracting the attentions of record companies and unscrupulous management, Markus has to agree to certain conditions in order to capitalise on the offer of a lifetime - He must sound American, mention his sponsors and predictably have a gang affiliation. After signing and reaching the dizzy heights of rap superstardom, this story takes an unexpected turn as Markus decides to switch styles at the height of his popularity…

Written and directed by Jonzi D who continues to set a precedent within Hip Hop theatre and dance, this modern rap fable includes brand new music from MOBO award winning jazz innovator Soweto Kinch. With a vibrant cast collectively portraying a diverse array of characters, the lead role of Markus comes courtesy of
Bashy, a rising UK star and critically acclaimed musician/writer who won Most Inspiring Act at the Urban Music Awards in 2008.

With his career in the ascendant, Bashy takes time out of recordings and shows to debut his acting skills and work with Jonzi D Productions on this explosive new work.

Tour Dates

1st and 2nd NORTH FINCHLEY artsdepot, 8pm

6th STOCKTON-ON-TEES Arc, 7.30pm

8th NOTTINGHAM Playhouse, 8pm

10th MAIDENHEAD Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, 7.30pm

13th MALVERN Theatres, 7.30pm

16th - 17th MANCHESTER Contact Theatre, 8pm

19th LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre, 8pm

22nd - 24th BIRMINGHAM The Drum, 7.30pm

26th - 27th LEEDS West Yorkshire Playhouse, 7.45pm

30th - 31st IPSWICH New Wolsey Theatre, 7.45pm

www.jonzi-d.co.uk

Posted by Anna Nathanson

MC Remedee of Cookie Crew interview

Posted by Anna Nathanson

U Takeover

Lowkey and Immortal Technique

One of the UK's heaviest MCs, Lowkey, teams up with New York legend Immortal Technique to bring us 'Voices of the Voiceless' which is available as a snippet on youtube today. The full version comes out on itunes on September 21st.



Posted by Anna Nathanson