Heat

No, I'm not referring to the recent improvement in the weather pleasant though it's been. I'm talking about the new video from Configa featuring the vocal talent, and I do mean talent, of Jaz Kahina. The track's called 'We On Fire' and is taken from Configa's 'Calm Before The Storm' project, as mentioned last week, which proves that whatever, whoever says Hip Hop ain't dead.

Late as usual, I first happened upon Jaz on her combination with Illaman 'Talkin' 'Bout God' and have been one of her fans ever since. If you feel the same way, don't miss out on 'DJ Slademan Presents Gone' (feat. Agallah) for more goodness.

On a different tack for a minute, allow me to remind you of a prodigious singer/songwriter who celebrated her Earth Strong this week, Leontre. You already know that I grew up with Reggae as much as (if not more than) Hip Hop and will love it till I die, so it's always a pleasure to hear real authentic Reggae still being made. Everything I've heard from the album (not that it's finished yet) so far has been stellar. So, Ms Roberts, there's no point in wishing you the best as you already have it.

Back to the Hip Hop, this week's seen the release of J Live's 'S.P.T.A.', pronounced "spitta", it's short for said person of that ability, which aptly describes this educator to a tee. It's still possible to get a signed copy of the album on CD. How's that for reaching out to your fans?

Also new is Charity Starts At Home by Phonte of Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange fame. Once again this is further proof that Hip Hop is far from the Reaper. Don't hesitate, just buy this shit now!

Back to the UK, here's the latest video from People's Army veteran Genesis Elijah. Known for producing more bangers than the Wall's factory on bonfire night, Genesis spectacularly fails to disappoint us once again.

Next week the NHS is teaming up with ACLT in a drive to promote donating blood and bone marrow. If you're in London West End, Croydon, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol or Leicester and you're able, please feel free to call ACLT office on 020 8240 4480 to book an appointment.

If you're one of those people that changes your mobile on the regular, please consider assisting ACLT by donating your old phones in an envelope marked 'Free Post ReCyclewise ACLT'. All phones (not stolen, of course) regardless of their condition will be gratefully received.

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Feed your mind

You're probably aware by now that I'm a fan of the Associated Minds crew and their philosophies on Hip Hop and music in general. Well it seems that I'm not the only one (of course I'm not, but I'm just making a point here) as their recent collaboration with Eatgood Records shows.

'The Highball EP' features, as you would expect, just about every emcee, composer and producer from both cliques in a concentrated mass of musical mayhem.

Another, smaller, but equally potent crew that I'm a fan of is the Quaranteam, of which Skillit is a member. Taken from his 'As Seen On TV' EP, 'Tom Shanks' is Skillit's latest single and, to my ears at least, is a parody of the violence so often promoted in Hip Hop and Grime these days. Maybe I'm reading too much into it? Maybe Skillit is just a violent motherfucker? But, having met him and seen him performing, I don't think so.

This is a previously unreleased track from M9 who, literally, gave us the excellent 'Orion's Stencil' last year. Fortunately, for me at least, there were some physical CD's to purchase of this project too but they don't seem to appear as on option on the download site anymore. I'm glad I bought mine when I did.

Not exactly new (released in August) but still worth a mention, especially given my absence from the blog world in recent months, is Configa's 'Calm Before The Storm'. Once again this Toon producer adds boom to baps and comes up with a tasty sandwich with all the trimmings. Unlike his previous release, 'Pac To The Essence Vol. 1', this one is only available as a download but I'm hoping his upcoming album 'Inside The Echo Chamber' will be available in a physical format. We shall see.

Before I go, a quick heads up on a forthcoming event; ELZHI will be appearing at the Jazz Cafe on Thursday, 3rd November with a live band plus support from Yungun, Mr Thing and Spin Doctor. For more details and/or to register your interest check out the Facebook page for the event.

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So Hot I Should Be Fanning Myself

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There's so much going on this week that I'll be retraining the spotlight on previously featured artists as well as focusing it for the first time on Loudmouth Melvin whose quartet of free EP's are available for digital download; EP 1, EP 2, EP 3 & EP 4.

Loudmouth composed and produced all the tracks on the four collections and has built as a big name for himself in that respect as he has for his spitting. Indeed he regularly provides beats for the likes of Pyro Barz, Mentalist, and many others.

Check out his music at YouTube or SoundCloud and his personality at Facebook or Twitter.

In other news, three former spotlighted figures have each released something significant this week. I'll start with Lowkey, whose new video was released on Saturday, and he asks us who (or what) is a terrorist? If you weren't sure before, by the end of about six and a half minutes you'll find out... Powerful stuff!

Mystro's new Digmund Freud EP is released today and includes the 'Around My Way' single produced by Kiss FM's DJ Swerve, which I've been playing in my shows over the last few weeks. Read exclusive reviews of it at Soul Culture and Certified Banger and order the CD from Suspect Packages.

Also released today, in commemoration of the anniversary Tupac Shakur's passing, is Configa's latest production masterpiece Pac To The Essence Vol. 1. Available as either a digital download or CD (remember those things?) direct from the man himself or, in a couple of weeks time, via iTunes and Amazon.

Track list:

Friday Night Raw 10/09/10 Pt. 1 - Hip Hop

'Breakin' In Space' - Key-Matic
'Biz Is Goin' Off' - Biz Markie
'Rebel Without A Pause' - Public Enemy
'Play That Beat Mr. D.J.' - G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid
'A.F.R.I.C.A.' - Stetsasonic
'Ain't No Half Steppin' - Big Daddy Kane
'Stop, Look, Listen' - MC Lyte
'Gangster Nine' - MC Tee & Lord Tasheen
'Criminal Minded' - Boogie Down Productions
'The 900 Number feat. Lakim Shabazz' - The 45 King
'The Godfather' - Spoonie Gee

Friday Night Raw 10/09/10 Pt. 2 - Hip Hop

'Stay On Your Grind' - Grand Central
'A Scenario Called Life' - Loudmouth Melvin
'Devil In A New Dress' - Kanye West
'Devil In A New Dress Freestyle' - Journey Brave
'Grind Mode' - Nipsey Hussle
'Hope Is Gone' - Ecomog
'Villematic' - J Cole
'Late' - Ashy L Bowz
'Y'All Niggas Can't Rap' - Nyty
'Fill The Air feat. Mentalist, Mystro & Skandal' - Loudmouth Melvin
'Speaking In Tongues' - Poe Picasso
'China White' - Ransom
'Free Mason feat. Jay Z' - Rick Ross
'The Corner' - Capone & Noreaga
'Maybe She'll Dream Of Me' - Foreign Exchange

Friday Night Raw 10/09/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

'Shake It feat. iamCAM' - Fredi Kruga
'Around My Way' - Mystro
'Soul Search feat. Malik MD7
'Heart Is Breaking feat. Sway & Roses Gabor' - Ty
'Hot Like Summer feat. Andreena Mill' - Saukrates
'Come Back Home feat. P & V' - Dres
'She's Gone' - Tanya Morgan
'The Return Of DST' - De La Soul
'Traitors' - LineForLine
'Let Em Know' - Bun B
'Ripping Up The Industry' - Black Radical Mk II
'The Message' - Cymande

Spy @ The Control 11/09/10 Pt. 1 - Reggae

'Wild Fire' - John Holt & Dennis Brown
'Hold Tight' - Dennis Brown
'Guidance' - Nerious Joseph
'Open Your Heart' - Mike Antony
'You Alone' - Gemini
'Forbidden Love' - Tami Chynn
'Over Come Dem' - Lutan Fyah
'Bogus Gallis' - Copper Cat
'Just Like That Clock' - Natel
'Walk & Talk' - Mr. Vegas
'Quint & Kotch' - Busy Signal
'Burn Badmind' - Tornado
'Dutty Badmind' - Da Professor
'Prosper' - Busy Signal
'How U Bad Suh' - Busy Signal
'Done Wit De War' - Anthony B

Spy @ The Control 11/09/10 Pt. 2 - Soul

'Secret Rendezvous' - Rene & Angela
'Just A Touch Of Love' - Slave
'Live It Up' - The Isley Brothers
'Last Time' - Keri Hilson
'Kisses In The Morning' - Nadine Charles
'Borrow You' - Eric Roberson & BlackEinstein
'Repercussions' - Lauryn Hill
'Green Eyes' - Obenewa
'Umm Hmm' - Erykah Badu
'Back To Your Heart' - Raheem DeVaughn
'Bad Habits' - Maxwell
'Lady' - The Whispers

Spy @ The Control 11/09/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

'ObamaNation' - Lowkey
'Land Of Promise' - Nas & Damian Marley
'Blown' - Ashy L Bowz
'Wednesday' - Saukrates
'Wednesday feat. Mystro & Loudmouth Melvin' - Saukrates
'Call Me Anytime You Like' - Grand Central
'1st Class Ticket' - Show Tufli
'Ayo feat. Oddisee' - JC
'Shake It feat. iamCAM' - Fredi Kruga
'My Attribute' - Capone & Noreaga
'Maaad Tight feat. Sonny Jim & Skamma' - Metabeats & Mudmowth
'15 Minutes feat. Scorzayzee & Atlanta Smith' - Configa
'Glimmity Glammity' - Demon Boyz

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14 minutes and counting...

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Configa, is a producer/composer & rapper of international renown. A founder member of the Slept On Fam, who's album 'Audio Crack' is still available, Configa is probably much better known in New York & London than he is in his native Newcastle.

If you're familiar with this blog and/or my radio show you will have read/heard his name on several occasions by now (in the track listings at the end of each blog). I think it's fair to say that I'm a fan of his production/compositional work, whether it's him spitting or the likes of F.Dot (a.k.a. Floriginul), Scorzayzee, etc.

His latest release, 15 Minutes, is a departure from the 'boom bap' he's better known for and even includes a tasty contribution from singer Atlanta Smith. However, it's no less Hip Hop than his previous offerings and Scorzayzee's lyrics are on point as usual.

There's talk of a new album in the ether and I will happily give you the heads up as soon as I have more information on that. In the meantime, keep up with his moves and news by following his Twitter page.

Track list:

Saturday 29/05/10 Pt. 1 - Soul

If This World Were Mine feat. Luther Vandross - Cheryl Lynn
This Masquerade - George Benson
Free - Deneice Williams
If You Were Here Tonight - Alexander O'Neil
You Used To Hold Me So Tight - Thelma Houston
Hot Wild Unrestricted Crazy Love - Millie Jackson
I Do Love You - Brass Construction
Ladies Choice - Stone City Band
Keeping Secrets - Switch

Saturday 29/05/10 Pt. 2 - Reggae

Coca Cola Shape - Simpleton
Heat - General Levy
Love The Woman - Poison Chang
Come & Talk To Me - Singing Melody
Two Places feat. Shaggy - Hezron
Dread - Protoje
Ready To Go - Courtney John
Lucky Man - Courtney John
Win Some - Courtney John
That Place - Denyque
Coming Right Back - Pressure
Say A Prayer - T.O.K.
Nobody Knows - Tarrus Riley
Young Heart - Tarrus Riley
Let Peace Reign - Tarrus Riley
Jamaica - Leontre

Saturday 29/05/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

15 Minutes feat. Scorzayzee & Atlanta Smith - Configa
Your Chick - Fredi Kruga
On The Real - Nyty
Didn't I Tell You feat. Von Pea - Jermiside & Danny Diggs
Soldiers Survivors feat. Nas & Sheek Louch - Jadakiss
The Ghost Of Christopher Wallace feat. P Diddy - Jay Electronica
Next Time - Common
I Never Knew feat. Loudmouth Melvin & Mentalist
Road Rage feat. Triple Darkness - Jon Phonics
Wolf - KRS One
Streets Won't Let Me Chill - Diamond District
Wednesday feat. Mystro & Loudmouth Melvin - Saukrates
Holla - Rodney P
So Cold feat. Chaundon - Little Brother

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