Foundation

Here in the UK, October is designated 'Black History Month'. Personally, I'm quite ambivalent about the whole thing. On the one hand, I totally understand the reasoning behind it. As an Afrikan (my preferred expression for 'Black people') myself I am well aware of the injustices and disparity suffered by Afrikans throughout the ages and that things have hardly improved even today. I also have personal experience of the so called 'education' shitstem in this country and, from this experience (and I accept that this was a good few years ago), I know that in History lessons Africa and its inhabitants were only referred to in connection with slavery and the 'Scramble for Africa'. Perhaps things have moved on since my school days but I seriously doubt it.

On the other hand, by adopting this one month per year to highlight the historical achievements of Afrikans, we're almost giving permission for 'Black History' to be ignored for the other eleven months. Also, those that have a genuine interest in 'Black History' will seek it out regardless of what the calendar says, and those that have an interest in keeping Afrikans down will use 'Black History Month' as fuel for their Fascist fire - "Why do the niggers get their own month?" "What have they done to deserve it?" et cetera, et cetera...

Anyway, regardless of my personal misgivings, I'm still pleased to see a group of (comparatively) young folks making the effort to change history back to mystory. I would have been even more pleased if they'd managed to include contributions from some of our sisters but you (or me in this case) can't always get what you want.

On a completely different subject, you may recall me telling you about Dray Delta and his Flow Reel Two mixtape earlier this year. One of the tracks on it was an amusing beseech by Dray to the women who wear ill fitting Ugz (or however it's spelled) to stop it. Fdot1 took it upon himself to inject a layer of quality into the production that was lacking from the original mixtape version, which leads us neatly to the video above.

I confess to being very ignorant when it comes to Scottish Hip Hop, so I have no clue whether Madhat Mcgore is a big name, small name or no name at all up there. However, I don't really give a fuck about a person's reputation, especially in the music game. While I don't think that this is the best thing I've ever heard, it is very far from the worst and, IMO, is at least worth a listen or two.

Enough from me for another week, but please feel free to keep me up to date with whatever project you're working on by hitting me up on Twitter or Facebook.

One Love, Spy!

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Reasoned argument

This week let me start by reminding you to please #HelpSaveACLT, they're only £20,000 away from the £80,000 needed by 31/03/11 to remain in existence. Please visit the Virgin Money Giving page, send a text to 70300 or, if you're on Facebook, try the Gimme 10 - Save the ACLT page instead. Thank you.

Straight out of The People's Army, this week the spotlight falls on Logic a serious character whose music is full of serious character as demonstrated below. If you want to catch up on some of his music, you can pick up his 'Listen' mixtape and/or album and for further insight into his way of thinking, check out his Twitter page.

It might seem like I have a fixation on Associated Minds but it's just that I find them very entertaining. For example, here we have Ruffstylz along side Homeboy Sandman spitting lyrics like his life depended on it, which in a way it does.

I should be conducting an interview with Ruffstylz's long time collaborator Insane Macbeth this week and am hoping that Ruffstylz will make an appearance too before he hot foots it back to Cardiff.

Looks like I'm going to have to start recording my shows independently again. Listening back to the recording of Saturday's show it keeps skipping as if I was playing dodgy CD's. This wouldn't be an issue except that this was an all vinyl show this week, which means that the problem is with the recording. Ah well, at least I know now. Anyway, you can listen for yourself here or on the Melody One website.

And again, if you're a producer/beat maker/composer who wants free exposure for your music please send it to me for inclusion in the 'Beat Shop' with as much information as you can about you, your tracks and what you want done with them to my e-mail or use the Dropbox on the right hand side of this page. This week I played more tracks from Angered Rebel, Killah Trakz and Ill-it Beatz.

And before I go, please accept my apologies for there being no 'Friday Night Raw' last week. I was feeling very ill and had all but lost my voice, so sorry about that and about not having a blog post last week either.

Track list:

Saturday 12/02/11

Breezin' - George Benson
Giving You The Best That I've Got - Anita Baker
How About Love - Chocolate Milk
It's Alright - Chante Moore
Kisses Don't Lie - Evelyn 'Champagne' King
Ready Made Love - Lizz
Trust Me - Aged In Harmony
Rock To Sleep - Horace Andy
Bucket Bottom - Prince Alla
Investigator - Cornel Campbell
Brave Ones - Kymani Marley
Take Control - Protoje
Rise Up - Cecile
Love - Sophia Squire
System - Cen'C Love
True Friends - Gappy Ranks
Save Yourself - Jah Cure
Letter To My Heart - Obenewa
Rings - 100 Akres
It Ain't Love - Kay Tunes
You Are The One - Nadine Charles
Regrets feat. Ludacris - LeToya
Keeping Secrets - Switch
I Do Love You - Brass Construction
You Used To Hold Me So Tight - Thelma Houston
It Seems To Hang On - Ashford & Simpson
Say You Love Me Girl - Breakwater
What About This Love - Mr. Fingers

Friday 18/02/11

South Bronx - Boogie Down Productions
I Got Ta - Masta Ace
Jack The Ripper - LL Cool J
Rebel Without A Pause - Public Enemy
You Gots To Chill - EPMD
Head Banger - EPMD
Never Seen Before - EPMD
15 Minutes feat. Scorzayzee & Atlanta Smith - Configa
Golden Axe - Scorzayzee & K-Nite 13
Velour - Line For Line
All Rise feat. El Rae - Mentalist
Giant - Dray Delta
Greatness feat. Supar Novar & Big Frizzle - Jimmy Jitsu
Young Men - Pyro Barz
Beast Mode - Pyro Barz
Cold Rain - Talib Kweli
Hurt - Rewd Adams
As I Ever Been - Freeway & Hezekiah
Let It Flow In You - Cyclonious
Hard Music - Fred The Godson, Starsky, T-Rex, Bully, Cory Gunz, Dutch & Murdah Mook
Built For This feat. Ike Eyes - Agallah
Miracle Worker - Big Cakes
Love Has Never Lived Here - Kinetik
Blizzard feat. Toby Hill - Nicolay & Kay
Total Eclipse Of The Art - MC Mell 'O'
Won't Be Long feat. Tracey Horton - Rakim

Saturday 19/02/11

The Fruit Song - Jeannie Reynolds
Secret Rendezvous - Rene & Angela
Big Time - Rick James
Never Let You Go - Savanna
Special Lady - Second Image
Never Stop - The Brand New Heavies
Runnin' Around - The Chi Lites
Sweeter As The Days Go By - Shalamar
Give Me - I Level
Surprise Surprise - Zushii
Never Been In Love Like This Before - Maxeen
So Fine - Howard Johnson
Big Thing - Blue Zone
This Is For You - The System
Busy Body - Luther Vandross
Forever Yours - Mason
Something Special - Earth, Wind & Fire
Get In Touch With Me - Collage
Love's Gonna Last - Jeffree
Love Don't Get No Better - Gavin Christopher

One Love, Spy!

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