Growing Proud

Well I've gone and done it. I've made my first (and second) official broadcast on my new station, Melody One. I've experience as a DJ that goes back many years and have done many shows on many stations but, for me anyway, the first show on a new station is always a nerve wracking thing and this was no exception. However, I was given fortitude in no small part by the inclusion of two new albums in my musical arsenal.

'Make You Proud' is the new release from Mentalist and, as Frank Carson would have said, it's a cracker. Featuring production from Loudmouth Melvin, K-Nite and Goodchild, the album displays a level of maturity that, thankfully, is becoming more prevalent in UK Hip Hop these days.

Available as a free download, some of my highlights from the set include '4 My People', 'Head In The Sky', 'Mirage'... just download it and play it all the way through, it's a proper album in the traditional sense and is already a contender for album of the year (and it's only January!)

The other recent release is something I've been anticipating since last summer, when I had the opportunity to spend some time with the very personable Jimmy Jitsu during a video shoot. 'Growing Pains' is the young man's new "Official Mixtape" and, like Mentalist's effort above, is well constructed and of far too high a quality to be given away for free. And yet it is also available as a free download.

From it's introduction 'Pain Grows' by True Bess, to the collaboration with Oliver Sudden 'Dirt In The Ground', to the Morfius produced 'Achieve', this album puts Jimmy's heart and soul on display in the form of entertainment. Prepare to be moved.

Before I go, please enjoy this new video from Loudmouth Melvin and Pyro Barz in anticipation of new heat coming from each of them before 2011 is up.

Track list:

Friday Night Raw 14/01/11

Raw - Big Daddy Kane
How's Life In London - London Posse
Rainy Dayz - Raekwon
Scared - The Left
Tunnel Visionary - Str8face
Head In The Sky - Mentalist
Blue Planet - Mystro
Brothers In Africa - Big Cakes
Get By - Talib Kweli
Two Step Blues feat. Darien Brockington - Little Brother
Me feat. Erik Rico - Ty
Why? - Creamo
Why? feat. Cyrus Malachi - M9
Why? - Fashawn
Arabia feat. Mystro & Maseo - Black Einstein
UK Rap Up 2010 - Mystro
Time's Up - O.C.
Kick In The Door - B.I.G.
Who Do You Believe In - 2Pac
Can't You See - Boombox Saints
Achieve - Jimmy Jitsu
Spritual Scrolls - M9
Worst Nightmare - Mentalist
Autobahn - H.I.S.D.
Jus Cuz I - Ashy L Bowz
Steadily Trying To Flow Like - Breeze
Epic - Jon Connor
Cookout Music - I Know Brasco
Stay On Your Grind - Grand Central
Eagles feat. Scorzayzee, Cyrus Malachi, Lee Ramsay & Iron Braydz - Endemic

Spy @ The Control 15/01/11

Yardie - Buju Banton
Press Up - Poison Chang
Can't Tek It No More - Papa San
Wuk Yu Body - Major Bones
Keep On Movin' - Soul II Soul
Never Had A Love Like This Before - Barbara Mitchell
Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd
Gone Baby, Don't Be Long - Erykah Badu
Stay Here With Me - Evan Rogers
Forever Yours - 101 North
The Jones' - Temptations
I Like Your Style - Bubba
Love Thang - Intro
Honey Love - Junior Dan
Love Is Alive - Janet Lee Davis
What You Won't Do For Love - Michael Gordon
Baby I've Been Missing You - Trevor Walters
In Love - Arema
In The Mood - Christine Lewin
In The Mood - Tyrone Davis
Don't Say Goodnight - Isley Brothers
I Wanna Get Next To You - Rose Royce
Pretty Wings - Maxwell
To Have Love - Kyra Simone
I Remember You - Michelle Escoffery

One Love, Spy!

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