Click on the following link to see Anna Nathanson's exclusive interview with Vice and Pro from New York's number one hip hop open mic night, End of the Weak (E.O.W)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnG0L4ELs40
And don't forget to leave a comment!
Monday, 23 June 2008
Wu-Tang Live!!!
WU-TANG CLAN
8 DIAGRAMS TOUR COMES TO LONDON
It's been 14 years since the Wu-Tang Clan took hip hop by the scruff of it's neck and kicked new life into a stagnating genre.
They arrived just as the first flush of gangsta superstars helped shift rap's centre of gravity from its New York birthplace to the barbecues , swap meets and low-rider cars of sun-kissed Los Angeles, a city on the opposite coast with it's own distinct style.
Today, the rap game is on the cusp of a similarly uncertain future. People agonize about rap and it's intergrity and beliefs, record sales are down, panic is setting in, and the audience is confused. Where can a genre in turmoil turn to bring some light to chase away the darkness ?
Enter the rap group that changed everything so completely that the record industry had to tear up it's rulebook and rethink the way it operated. A nine strong, hydra-headed flurry of sparring egos, clashing styles, and ever increasing self belief; a band who wrote their own mythology, and came with an army of acolytes and a surplus of alter egos.
They represented their rap band as superheroes and today, who else but the Wu-Tang Clan can resuscitate a genre that some feel is breathing it's last breath?
The 8 diagrams tour rolls into London this summer with the full crew, in attendance will be original members, Rza, Methodman, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Gza The Genius and Street Life.
15th & 16th JULY 2008
SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
SHEPHERDS BUSH GREEN
LONDON W 12
Tickets (standing) £30.00 plus booking feeTickets (seated) £35.00 plus booking feeVIP Tickets £40 plus booking fee
Credit card booking: Ticketmania 0870-6000-88
Box Office Ticketweb: 08444 771000
8 DIAGRAMS TOUR COMES TO LONDON
It's been 14 years since the Wu-Tang Clan took hip hop by the scruff of it's neck and kicked new life into a stagnating genre.
They arrived just as the first flush of gangsta superstars helped shift rap's centre of gravity from its New York birthplace to the barbecues , swap meets and low-rider cars of sun-kissed Los Angeles, a city on the opposite coast with it's own distinct style.
Today, the rap game is on the cusp of a similarly uncertain future. People agonize about rap and it's intergrity and beliefs, record sales are down, panic is setting in, and the audience is confused. Where can a genre in turmoil turn to bring some light to chase away the darkness ?
Enter the rap group that changed everything so completely that the record industry had to tear up it's rulebook and rethink the way it operated. A nine strong, hydra-headed flurry of sparring egos, clashing styles, and ever increasing self belief; a band who wrote their own mythology, and came with an army of acolytes and a surplus of alter egos.
They represented their rap band as superheroes and today, who else but the Wu-Tang Clan can resuscitate a genre that some feel is breathing it's last breath?
The 8 diagrams tour rolls into London this summer with the full crew, in attendance will be original members, Rza, Methodman, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Gza The Genius and Street Life.
15th & 16th JULY 2008
SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
SHEPHERDS BUSH GREEN
LONDON W 12
Tickets (standing) £30.00 plus booking feeTickets (seated) £35.00 plus booking feeVIP Tickets £40 plus booking fee
Credit card booking: Ticketmania 0870-6000-88
Box Office Ticketweb: 08444 771000
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Anna Nathanson’s Column: Part 4
I’m traveling round
My
The night was put on to honour the cream of the song writing arena, and it didn’t disappoint. Songs that picked up awards included Tanbourine by Eve, Be Without You by Mary J Blige, Omarion’s Icebox and Ayo Technology by 50 Cent.
The venue overlooked the river and
Jack Knight, Bad Boy’s senior song writer, who you can find out more about by clicking www.jackknight.blogspot.com, won for P Diddy’s Last Night and Let It Go by Keisha Cole.
I then headed to Jay Z’s club 40-40, where you can pick up a bottle of
The private rooms however were out of bounds; only those who can afford the $3000 admission fee can enter. If you’re rich enough to afford the $2500 membership, they’ll send you updates on new products and events, and you’ll be treated to VIP entry and guaranteed seating and a whole host of other goodies. For more info, go to www.the4040club.com
Another night I checked out while I was in town was the infamous End of the Weak (EOW) weekly hip hop open mic night. It was founded in 2000 as one of the few weekly platforms in NYC where hungry MCs could showcase and hone their talent.
I got there early and interviewed founders Vice and Pro, who told me all about how the venue started as a small open mic in the back of a restaurant and has now grown into the longest running weekly hip hop show in NYC and an international hip hop movement, with DJ Snuff representing in the UK.
I had a wicked night and even got shouted out on stage during the freestyles, like “we got Anna from the
End of the Weak (EOW) takes place every Sunday night @ Pyramid, 101 Avenue A, between East 6th and East 7th,
Well that’s all for now but look out for the next installment, coming soon and don’t forget to check this blog regularly for upcoming shows and events, as well as all the info on a host of
Take care,
Anna x
Posted by Anna Nathanson
Kidz in the Hall
KIDZ IN THE HALL – ‘THE IN CROWD’
Record Label: Duck Down Records/Major League Entertainment
THE IN CROWD FEATURES APPEARANCES BY BUN B, ESTELLE, TALIB KWELI, THE CLIPSE, COOL KIDS, GYM CLASS HEROES, PHONTE OF LITTLE BROTHER, SEAN PRICE, BLACK MILK, BUCKSHOT, CAMP LO, MASTA ACE, AND GUILTY SIMPSON
Kidz In The Hall (comprised of Naledge and Double-O) are not your average group. Following their successful debut record, School Was My Hustle, the duo teamed up with legendary Mix Tape DJ Mick Boogie, to release Detention, a digital-only album, in late 2007.
Now these Ivy League Graduates of the University of Pennsylvania, co-signed by producers Just Blaze and 9th Wonder, are poised to release their second full-length release, The In Crowd, courtesy of Duck Down Records/Major League Entertainment.
The In Crowd is entirely produced by Kidz In The Hall’s Double-O and will feature some of the most relevant MC’s in the game today. Though Kidz In The Hall’s debut, School Was My Hustle, was universally hailed, Naledge and Double-O have set much loftier standards for themselves with its proper follow-up, The In Crowd, as Double-O states “Fans can expect to hear a tremendous growth with The In Crowd. Our debut was a stepping stone in our movement. The In Crowd is a masterpiece and a concise reflection of our sound, as it’s a bolder and bigger sounding album made for huge shows and cigarette lighters. We have taken our experiences and our year of traveling and performing and morphed it into a true musical experience with some of the best rappers and musicians around---the true In Crowd.”
Naledge takes things a step further asserting The In Crowd is going to solidify us as the best new group in Hip-Hop. Our new album is the re-definition of the Kidz In The Hall sound and our experimentation with artist collaboration. The first album was a lot rawer and showed our potential for greatness, but The In Crowd is our greatness coming to fruition. We went out of our way to create an album that has something for everyone and is air-tight from beginning to end. This is a definite classic for the Hip-Hop lover.”
Kidz In The Hall’s surging success has even caught the eye of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, who has featured their hit song, ‘Work to Do’ in his campaign effort. The song has been posted on Barack Obama’s website as well.
June 17th - Edinburgh (Voodoo Rooms)
June 18th - London - (KoKo)
June 20th - Dublin (Craw Daddy)
June 22 - Bristol (Thekla)
June 23 - Nottingham (Rescue Rooms)
July 11th – London - Kidz In The Hall & Wiley
July 12th – Brighton - Rising Styles Hip Hop Festival
Posted by Anna Nathanson
IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE GIG
Wednesday 4th June
As part of Immortal Technique's 'Guerilla Incursion into Europe' Tour there'll be one concert in London on Wednesday 4th June 2008.
If you've seen I.T perform live before... you know that this is a show not to miss. I.T is one of the few artists with the raw ability to electrify an audience. Scheduled for over 1hr, I.T will perform joints from his soon to drop album (The 3rd World: 24th June).
Can't wait for this one!!
Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique MySpace
www.immortal-technique.com
Buy Concert Tickets
SeeTickets
TicketWeb
Immortal Technique (Felipe Coronel)was born February 19, 1978 in a military hospital in South America, Immortal Technique was brought to the United States in the early 80's while a civil war was breaking out in his native Peru. The US supported puppet democracy and Guerilla factions were locked in a bitter struggle which ended like most do in Latin America, with the military and economic aid of the State Dept. through channels like the CIA. Although he had escaped the belligerent poverty and social turmoil of life in the 3rd world, he was now residing in Harlem which had its own share of drama. Growing up on the streets of New York, the young man became enamored with Hip Hop culture, writing graffiti and starting to rhyme at an early age. Although he frequently cut school and ended up being arrested time and time again for his wild behavior, the kid still managed to finish high school and got accepted to a state university. Unfortunately the survivalist and aggressive attitude that was the norm in New York City caused him to be involved in more violent altercations at school, whether it was with other brothers, false flaggers or the relentlessly racist population of an uncultured Middle America.
Compiling multiple assault charges in New York State and in other states eventually caught up to the uncompromisingly hardheaded actions of one Immortal Technique. He faced several charges for Aggravated Assault in the tri-state area. Realizing his inevitable incarceration, Technique began to prolifically write down his ideas about what he had lived and seen in the struggle back at home in relation to his visits back to his native land. He came to embrace his African roots that stemmed from his grandfather and understood the nature of racism and ignorance in its role in Latino culture, separating oppressed peoples and keeping them divided. He also began to study in depth about the Revolutionary ideas that had caused a history of uprising in the indigenous community of his Native South America. Although pressured to turn states evidence before and during his bid, he refused the DA and lawyers. He was facing a 5-10 stretch, but the hiring of a pittbull attorney helped him compile the cases without turning snitch like his co-defendants. The result was a 1-2 year sentence in the mountains, 6 hours away from the city. There Technique studied, worked out vigorously, began to document his lyrics, and create songs. Besides the creation there was destruction, and the fights were nothing compared to the verbal battles that he engaged in occasionally. This proved to be a foreshadowing of what was to come...
Paroled in 1999, Immortal Technique returned to NYC and began a campaign to claim victory to what he had discovered he had a talent for; battling. One of the rites of passage in establishing oneself in the Hip Hop community is following in the steps of those who made their name in lyrical warfare before you. Immortal Technique quickly became known throughout the underground. His brutally disrespectful style was trademark, and it was not long until he had won countless battles not just on stage and in clubs, but on the streets whenever a random cipher would pop up. From Rocksteady Anniversary, to Braggin Rites, SLAM DVD's and hookt.com's infamous battles, he established himself as someone who could captivate a crowd and who people looked forward to seeing. But it was then that Technique realized what every battle champion had come to terms with before him, battles was just that, battling, and not synonymous with success at making music. Turning his eye to production and touching up some of the songs he had written in prison he now focused on trying to get an album together, but major labels wanted a more pop friendly image and were uncomfortable with his hardcore street style that was complemented by his political views. In response to their lack of vision, Immortal Technique left the battle circuit and released his critically acclaimed Revolutionary Vol.1, which at first moved 3000 copies, but to date has moved more than 12,000. This earned him Unsigned Hype in the Source (11/02) and numerous articles in Elemental & Mass Appeal.
Established in the underground circuit Tech began another round of dealing with record labels unwilling to see the direction of his brutally honest and cultured rhymes. He decided to continue with what had been so successful, his hand to hand out the trunk hustle. In the post 9.11 climate, as the music industry crumbled, Immortal Technique built on the truth with a hardcore brand of street politics. Being featured in XXL, The Washington Post, and having been titled with the Hip Hop quotable in The Source (10/03) for his sophomore independent release Revolutionary Vol.2 was just the beginning.. On Viper Records, where he is the Executive VP, he sold 29,000 copies of Revolutionary Vol.2 to date and has appeared on soundtracks for new movies including the new Mario Van Peebles film "BAADASSSSS". Immortal Technique has also worked with Mumia Abu Jamal and AWOL magazine. His single "Industrial Revolution" released in conjunction with Uncle Howie Records hit #1 on CMJ and #50 on the Billboard charts. Recently back from a successful West Coast tour, Immortal Technique is now booking a European tour in the Fall of 2004 and recording his highly anticipated third album...
SOURCE: ViperRecords.com
Posted by Anna Nathanson
DMC UK DJ Championships 2008
DMC UK DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008
Thursday 17th July 2008
7pm – 12midnight
@ Islington Academy, London
Hosted by Trip and Cutmaster Swift
w/ live PA’s from
Million Dan w/ DJ Skitz & Le Shadow
Hobbit + more acts TBC!
Mixers, scratchers and turntable junkies, the DMC UK DJ Championships are back for 2008 where they’ll be unearthing the UK’s very best in turntable dexterity! The successful turntable wizard will then go on to represent the UK at the DMC World DJ Championships on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September at Indig02.
The 2008 DMC UK DJ Championships final takes place on Thursday 17th July 2008 at Islington Academy, London and follows a series of nationwide heats which started on the 25th April in Plymouth and ends in London on 21st June.
This year the winners get £500 worth of clothes from Drunknmunky for each battle – the UK Final and UK Supremacy. Our friends over at CK are providing CKIN2U fragrance goodie bags. This is all in addition to the regular prizes of the Golden Technics Turntables and a $10,000 cheque from Ortofon. These prizes will complement the accolade of being crowned the DMC World DJ Champion for 2008.
Past DMC UK Champions have included The Scratch Perverts, BBC Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Blakey and Plus One, who went on to be crowned DMC World Champion in 2001. Last year’s UK Champion winner JFB will be participating in this year’s event defending his title.
This year’s event is hosted by DMC favourites’ MC Trip and Cutmaster Swift, who’ll be joined on stage with live PA’s from Million Dan with DJ support from DJ Skitz, and Le Shadow as the microphone hype man. Hobbit will be performing a standalone beatbox set.
MC Trip was awarded the Time Out accolade of ‘Best Live Show of 2004’. He is explosive on stage and is Killa Kela’s official MC/right hand man. To date he’s shared the stage with Busta Rhymes, Outkast and N.E.R.D.
Cutmaster Swift, the legendary UK scratch-mix DJ won the UK/World DMC title in 1989 and is a frequent presenter at the DMC DJ Championships.
Ex-Demon Boyz MC, Million Dan will be performing live with DJ Skitz on the decks, and Le Shadow hyping up the crowd on the mic. Million Dan has been bigged up by Busta Rhymes when he was quoted as saying: “Million Dan is the Shizzle on stage!!.” He launched his Million Dappa Records last year and has just released his album ‘Spektrum’ to critical acclaim. Beat master DJ Skitz is now known across London for his hip-hop production skills. Expect a performance of some of the very best in UK hip-hop.
Meanwhile, Hobbit, who at the age of only 20 has carved out a successful career to date, is showing no signs of running out of breath. His videos featured on YouTube have received over 1 million hits and he has appeared all over the UK and in the USA with the likes of Nizlopi, Zulu Nation, Kenny Mohammad, Cutmaster Swift, Killa Kela, Ugly Duckling, Herbaliser, and DJ Yoda.
So, whether you want to enter, or simply witness the nation’s best DJ talent, make sure you’re down at the Islington Academy on Thursday 17th July!
Remaining dates for the UK DJ Championships heats
(which all include exclusive performances from current DMC World Champion DJ Rafik and DMC World Champion Cutmaster Swift):
Tuesday 27th May – Northampton
Venue: Roadmender, Northampton College, 1 Lady's Lane, and Northampton, NN1 3AH.
7pm – 3am £5
Tickets available from: The Roadmender Box Office or over the phone on 01604 60 40 20
www.newroadmender.com
www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk
Thursday 29th May – Bristol
Venue: BREAK!!!, Walkabout, 40 Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1HQ.
Tel: 0117 9300 181
Featuring: Matman, Bunjy & Joe Peng, Dazee & MC Foxy, Ruttler, Asbo.
£6 advance more on the door.
www.breaktheworld.com
Tickets available from
www.bristolticketshop.co.uk & Rooted Records
Friday 30th May – Birmingham
Venue: Heducation Custard Factory, Gibb St, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA.
Featuring: Dj Rafik (Dmc World Champ), Cutmaster Swift (DMC World Champ 1989)
Hosted By: Mc Trip (Killa Kela's Spit Kingdom), Dj Mylz (Hedz)
ROOM 2 (The Kitchen) Bass Operations – Drum N Bass
The Doctor, Malicious, Cleancut, Sammy B-sides (rumble in the jungle) & more
Tickets: £7 + Booking Fee
Before 11: £9-members/NUS; £10-others.
After 11: £10-members/NUS; £12-others.
www.heducation.com
word@heducation.com
Friday 13th June – Bournemouth
Bad Biznezz Present
Venue: Crank Club, 6 Hinton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2EN
Featuring: Bizzy,Storm and Bob Baker
10pm - 5am price: £5
www.crank-club.com / www.badbiznezz.com
Saturday 21st June – London
Venue: Urban Nerds Save The Vinyl Special @ 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.
Featuring: Goldie (Metalheadz), DJ Blakey, DJ Tubby (FWD>>) + The Newham Generals, Rattus Rattus (Urban Nerds) VS Klose 1
(Special 4 deck mix!)
Bar: Hosted by Step:One & The Audio Revolution
The Farm Yardies, Dusty Lungs, Littleboselecta
Outside: BBQ all night, Live 4 Crew Graff Battle Hosted by One Trick Pony Crew!
6pm-LATE
FREE before 7pm, £8 thereafter
www.urban-nerds.com
www.myspace.com/urbannerds / www.wegottickets.com/event
UK World Championship Final
Thursday 17th July @ Islington Academy
World Final Weekend 2008
Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September @ Indig02
Excalibah's DMC Chart- May 19th
EXCALIBAH - DMC HIP HOP CHART: 19th / MAY / 2008
(Printed in next week's UK DMC Update, posted online @ www.dmcupdate.com & broadcast live on Pyro Radio)
ARTIST - TITLE (LABEL)
1. The Roots ft Peedi Crack – Get Busy (Def Jam)
2. J Live ft Posdunous – The Upgrade
3. Kidz In The Hall ft Pusha T, Bun B & The Cool Kids – Drivin Down The Block Remix (Duck Down / Major League Entertainment)
4. Dynamite MC – What!!! (White)
5. Outkast ft Raekwon – Royal Flush (MP3)
6. Baby J / Mark Ronson – Baby Version (Ant/Sony)
7. The Elementz – Crush Mode (OYM Records)
8. Pro Green – Trunk Shit (MP3)
9. Ludacris – Stay Together (White)
10. Asaviour & IQ – Beefy (Saving Grace)
11. Little Vic – If You Go Away (White)
12. Hezikiah ft Freeway – 4 That Filling (White)
13. J Rawls & Declaime – Dank & Jammy (Illmindmuzic / Polar Ent)
14. Jay Z ft Timberland – Ain’t I (Def Jam)
15. Estelle – Shine (Home School)
16. Riz MC – Radar (White)
17. Lupe – Hip Hop Saved My Life (Warner)
18. Example ft Tinchy Strider & Frisco – Loud (All The Chats)
19. Black Grass ft J Live – Set It Straight (Catskills)
20. Sonny Jim – The Mission Statement (Dented)
Check out EXCALIBAH "Tales From The Legend" live, every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm (GMT) on PYRO RADIO
(Download / Stream from the Archive @ www.pyroradio.com)
*** Also check out EXCALIBAH'S regular columns in HIP HOP CONNECTION & BIG SMOKE MAGAZINE
&
"TAKE IT BACK" London's brand new but classic Hip-Hop night @ Herbal, Shoreditch every 1st Sunday of the month ***
Posted by Anna Nathanson
(Printed in next week's UK DMC Update, posted online @ www.dmcupdate.com & broadcast live on Pyro Radio)
ARTIST - TITLE (LABEL)
1. The Roots ft Peedi Crack – Get Busy (Def Jam)
2. J Live ft Posdunous – The Upgrade
3. Kidz In The Hall ft Pusha T, Bun B & The Cool Kids – Drivin Down The Block Remix (Duck Down / Major League Entertainment)
4. Dynamite MC – What!!! (White)
5. Outkast ft Raekwon – Royal Flush (MP3)
6. Baby J / Mark Ronson – Baby Version (Ant/Sony)
7. The Elementz – Crush Mode (OYM Records)
8. Pro Green – Trunk Shit (MP3)
9. Ludacris – Stay Together (White)
10. Asaviour & IQ – Beefy (Saving Grace)
11. Little Vic – If You Go Away (White)
12. Hezikiah ft Freeway – 4 That Filling (White)
13. J Rawls & Declaime – Dank & Jammy (Illmindmuzic / Polar Ent)
14. Jay Z ft Timberland – Ain’t I (Def Jam)
15. Estelle – Shine (Home School)
16. Riz MC – Radar (White)
17. Lupe – Hip Hop Saved My Life (Warner)
18. Example ft Tinchy Strider & Frisco – Loud (All The Chats)
19. Black Grass ft J Live – Set It Straight (Catskills)
20. Sonny Jim – The Mission Statement (Dented)
Check out EXCALIBAH "Tales From The Legend" live, every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm (GMT) on PYRO RADIO
(Download / Stream from the Archive @ www.pyroradio.com)
*** Also check out EXCALIBAH'S regular columns in HIP HOP CONNECTION & BIG SMOKE MAGAZINE
&
"TAKE IT BACK" London's brand new but classic Hip-Hop night @ Herbal, Shoreditch every 1st Sunday of the month ***
Posted by Anna Nathanson
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