Dirty Babylon

This past week's seen the loss of yet two more artists at ages that are below average for the species. Nate Dogg passed in hospital in a manner that is as yet not public knowledge but is said to be related to previously ongoing health problems. I send my sincere condolences to his family and friends at this time of sorrow.

The other loss is much closer to home, in more ways than one, and one that needs to be examined in detail to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done. Smiley Culture was a UK Dancehall pioneer who went on to become the first UK emcee to get into the UK Pop charts as well as the first to record an entire track in the then new 'Fast Style' that was originated by Peter King. I never met Smiley, I've seen him perform live but never been introduced or exchanged anything more than a cursory nod with him. Therefore, I'm not gonna gush about what a great personal loss this is for me. However, I can and do empathize with what the Emmanuel family is going through and consequently urge everyone to join the official Campaign for Justice for Smiley Culture and to follow @merlinemanuel on Twitter.

Video streaming by Ustream

I really hope you took the time to watch that video all the way through because a lot of important points were made and, if we really want the truth, we can't allow the police to 'investigate' the 'mysterious' circumstances surrounding Smiley's death. This is not a new phenomenon. Deaths in police custody, especially of young Black men, is an alarmingly regular occurrence. However, the death of someone of Smiley's international status and renown is new and, for a while at least, will put this practice into the limelight. How and how often the 'news' reports will be presented remains to be seen, but I expect the mainstream press to continue with their smear tactics as usual.

Let us remember these artists for what they contributed to us in their music and feel glad that we've been blessed with their presence at all.

I also want to make you aware that the Red Cross have launched the Japan Tsunami Appeal to fund their efforts in supporting victims of the disaster. While it's true that Japan has a stronger infrastructure and economy than Haiti or, perhaps, even Pakistan, nevertheless, it has been a tragedy for the people of Japan and my heart goes out to them.

The track list for this week's shows is below and if you missed them or want to hear them again you can find them here and/or at the Melody One website. Thank you.

Track list:

Friday 18/03/11

Can't Truss It - Public Enemy
Livin' In A Zoo - Public Enemy
Like A Throttle - Boogie Down Productions
Sound Of Da Police - Boogie Down Productions
Freestyle - Jus Badd
Give It A Rest - The She Rockers
Have A Nice Day - Roxanne Shante
The Plan - Da Goldminerz
You Got It - Rah Digga
Xxplosive feat. Hittman, Kurupt, Nate Dogg & Six-Two - Dr Dre
Call Me Anytime You Like - Grand Central
1st Class Ticket - Show Tufli
Gone Baby, Don't Be Long - Cyclonious
'Beat Shop' feat. Apollo Brown, Killah Trakz, MFG, Jukeboxx & Pseudo
Strong Island - J.V.C.F.O.R.C.E.
Because I Got It Like That - Jungle Brothers
Can U Dig It? - Def Squad
The Makings Of You - Journey Brave
Self Savior feat. Chance Infinite - Talib Kweli
Give It To Me feat. Raheem Devaughn - Saigon
Wish Myself Away feat. Graziella - Rewd Adams
6th Sense feat. Bilal - Common

Saturday 19/03/11

There's A Better Way - Jermaine Jackson
I Really Want To Be With You - Rick Clarke & Emma
Read My Mind - Tashan
Step Out Of My Dreams - The Strangers
New Love - Rose Royce
Never Like This - Two Tons a.k.a. The Weather Girls
When Love Calls - Atlantic Starr
The Night I Fell In Love - Luther Vandross
Slam Bam - Smiley Culture
Shan A Shan - Smiley Culture
Cockney Translation - Smiley Culture
Fast Style Origination - Asher Senator
Police Officer - Smiley Culture
Mek Dem Come - Nitty Gritty
Not As Happy - Freddie McGregor & Cynthia Schloss
Love's Gonna Last - Dennis Gregory
Tonight I'm Staying Here With You - Dennis Gregory
All My Love - Patrice Rushen
Love Or Physical - Ashford & Simpson
Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) - Mint Condition
Heaven Knows - Jaki Graham
Genie - BB&Q
Beautiful Love - Adeva
Promise Me - Dayton

One Love, Spy!

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Put Your Hands Together

This week's spotlight is focused on someone who no self respecting head above walking age should be unfamiliar with, either as a solo artist or as one of half of the duo known as Organized Konfusion. I refer, of course, to Pharoahe Monch a legend in his own lifetime and the bringer of new heat in the form of his soon to be released album 'W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)'.

Being an ordinary, working class bloke and not a superstar DJ, I don't have any special privileges in terms of obtaining or even hearing new material before anyone else does, so I can't guarantee that this album is the raging fire that I expect it to be. However, when an album is preceded by a visual and, more importantly, aural masterpiece of the ilk of 'Clap' (see below), one can't help but be hopeful for the entire project. At least, this one can't anyway.

Pharoahe is a big star, and rightly so, but I will forgive you if you're not so familiar with Brooklyn, NY rappers Ashy L Bowz.

Now, I'm not a religious man and even if I was I doubt that Christianity would be my religion of choice, but I am aware of the tradition of Easter and know that last Wednesday was what is referred to as Ash Wednesday. The significance of this is that that's when Ashy L Bowz chose to officially release their album 'No Lotion 2: The Great Repression'.

If you want to hear rappers spitting verses about how much/many money/cars/girls/jewelery they've got, then this is not the album for you. On the other hand, if you want to hear music about the everyday ups and downs of life in the big city, told from a humourous but not piss taking perspective, you might just find this album right up your street. Learn more about the lotion-less ones and their takes on life via their Twitter page.

Due to technical difficulties, I'm not sure that this week's shows actually broadcast. However, I do know that they recorded and that you can listen to them here and/or, when the management gets around to uploading them, at the Melody One website. No interviews this week, just me chatting shit and playing good music.

Speaking of which, here's another poor attempt at a segue into reminding you producers, composers and beat makers to submit your music for display in the 'Beat Shop' window via e-mail and/or through the Dropbox. If you send me the tracks on a Friday, it's highly unlikely that they'll make it into that night's show, so please send them at the beginning of the week wherever possible. Thank you.

Track list:

Friday 11/03/11

Derelicts Of Dialect - 3rd Bass
Lick A Shot - Redman
Movement feat. Sweet Pea - S.L. Troopers
Rougher Than An Animal - Demon Boyz
The Invitation feat. Q Tip & Fatman Scoop - Saigon
Palookas feat. Sean Price - Talib Kweli
Winning feat. Loudmouth Melvin & Postman P - Pyro Barz
Young Men - Pyro Barz/K-Nite 13
Salute feat. Pharoahe Monch - Slaughterhouse
One Shot - Joell Ortiz
Butter Knives - Raekwon
'Beat Shop'
Garveyism (Home) - L.A.
The Upgrade feat. Oddisee & Posdanous - J-Live
The People - Journey Brave
4 My People - Mentalist
For My People feat. Jody McIntyre - Logic
Turn On The Stove - Skillit/K-Nite 13
Talkin' Bout God feat. Illaman - Jaz
Got That Vibe - Skilf
Bad Actors - Ecomog
Black Rose - Has Lo
Who Do You Think You're Fooling? - Cyclonious
King Of Britain - English Frank
Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos - Public Enemy

Saturday 12/03/11

Just Like Dreamin' - Terri Wells
It Must Be Magic - Teena Marie
Every Little Bit - Millie Scott
Falling In Love - Surface
Encore - Cheryl Lynn
(Fallin' Like) Dominoes - Donald Byrd
Still Your Number One - Mike Anthony
Pretty Brown Eyes - Singing Melody
Extra Classic Supa Fantastic Love - Vivian Jones
Best Of Me - Neville Morrison
Game Of Love - Frankie Paul
Israel - Dennis Brown
Raggamuffin - Freddie McGregor & Dennis Brown
I Like It Like That - Dennis Brown
True Rastaman - Fred Locks
Black Is The Colour - Brown Sugar
How Can We Ease The Pain? feat. Beres Hammond - Maxi Priest
Things Are Not The Same (Without You) - First Love
Make It Better - Obenewa
I Remember You - Michelle Escoffery
All In My Head - Avery Sunshine
Dreamz - Zshatwa
Just A Little More - Fifth Of Heaven

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Prendere Coraggio

First let me apologise to my regular readers (if indeed I have any) for the lateness of this week's post. No excuse really, I just fancied a Sunday off for a change.

Also, before I get to the spotlight, may I express a genuinely heart-felt thank you to everyone that contributed to the #HelpSaveACLT campaign. Between us we've managed to raise a total of £85,630.10, exceeding the £80,000 that was required by 31/03/11 with 20+ days to spare. Having said that, I'm sure that they will be happy to continue accepting donations so please feel free to continue visiting the Virgin Money Giving page, the Gimme 10 - Save the ACLT page or sending texts to 70300. Thanks again.

Back to the task at hand, allow me to introduce you to Journey Brave, a rapper from Loganville, Georgia in the United States. I first was made aware of his existence through Twitter and his version of 'Devil In A New Dress', which I featured during my stint on the previous station.

Since then I've been keeping an eye/ear on his progress and was more than happy to share his latest video with as many people (no pun) as possible via tweets and, now, here on this blog. Those of you with any sense of history will, I'm sure, recognize what this video represents. Powerful stuff.

Speaking of power, let's have more to the elbow of bigCAKES another member of The People's Army who is also a featured artist on K-Nite 13's 'The Drawing Board' (listen out for 'Miracle Worker', a big tune). Cakes has a seemingly ravenous appetite for hard graft and, consequently, has a large back catalogue of mixtapes and features for you all to explore. He may be exceedingly good but he's not fattening. Catch up with him on Twitter for fun and informed opinion.

The last video in this week's trio is from a dude called English Frank, yet another People's Army affiliate, who recently connected with me on Facebook. Whether he's the Frank you're supposed to talk to when you have a problem with drugs, I couldn't say, but he's certainly someone you should listen to. As is customary for me in this blog, here's the young man's Twitter link.

As I leave you for another week, please remember to submit your music to me for the 'Beat Shop' by e-mailing me and/or by using my Dropbox. Remember also that you don't have to send me the whole track, just a 30-60 seconds snippet will do with as many tags/watermarks as you feel are necessary.

Track list:

Friday 04/03/11

Fuck Tha Police - N.W.A.
What's Goin' On - Jungle Brothers
Poetry - Boogie Down Productions
Hip Hop - Dead Prez
Bulldozers feat. Ruste Juxx & Killa Sha - Cyrus Malachi
Godsunz feat. Jus Allah - Infinite Mind
Untouchable feat. Kokane - Nipsey Hussle
Last Call feat. Malarchi - Insane Macbeth
A Dream Within A Dream - Malik MD7
Miracle Worker - Big Cakes
Lemme Think - Rapsody
Built For This feat. Ike Eyes - Agallah
Better Way feat. Layzie Bone - Saigon
Life's Never Enough - Mudmowth & Metabeats
Make You Proud - Mentalist
Interview with Insane Macbeth & Ruffstylz includes:
True Heart feat. Ice Pick - Insane Macbeth
Case Closed - Ruffstylz

Saturday 05/03/11

Mama Feelgood - Lyn Collins
Get On The Good Foot - James Brown
Talking Loud And Saying Nothing - James Brown
Funky President (People It's Bad) - James Brown
I'm In Love - Evelyn King
Moment Of My Life - Inner Life
Runaway Love - Linda Clifford
Fool's Paradise - Meli'sa Morgan
Sleepless Weekend - Frankie Paul & Trevor Sparks
Tonight - Carlton Livingston
Come Again - Cocoa Tea
Big Bamboo - Thriller U
Dangerous System - Pad Anthony
Nuff A We Ah Rude Boy - Scion Success
No Money Today - Matic 16
Let Off Supm - Gregory Isaacs & Dennis Brown
Open The Door - Trevor Hartley
Call On Me - Trevor Hartley
Runaway Love - Natural Mystics
I Don't Really Care - L.V. Johnson
Catchin' Up On Love - Kinsman Dazz
Madamoiselle - Foxy
Time Is Right - MCB
Southern Freeez - Freeez

One Love, Spy!

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Tell Me Another...

Thank you to everyone who has donated time and/or money already but they're not quite there yet, so please continue to #HelpSaveACLT. Now only £12,000 away from the £80,000 needed by 31/03/11 to remain in existence, although if you count all the money that's been pledged it's only £8,000 remaining so let's get that last 10%. 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. Thanks again.

By the time that this post is published I should be on my way to see Obenewa live at The Tabernacle in West London. It is there that she will be launching her new E.P., 'Once Upon A Time' to an adoring public with support from Nadine Charles and Michaela the Poet. Want to know more? You know the routine by now, just follow her on Twitter.

Not a lot else to say this week, in part due to my preoccupation with unexpected studio tasks including; recording and editing an interview with Insane Macbeth and Ruffstylz (to be aired on next week's 'Friday Night Raw'), re-mastering a track for my friend and being asked to build a track for my nephew. Combined with the pressures of my day job and preparing and delivering my radio shows, as you can imagine I haven't got around to doing everything yet. However, the interview is ready to be transferred to a CD, so I'm a third of the way there at least.

Anyway, here's another friendly reminder that if you're a producer/beat maker/composer and you want 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, via my e-mail or by using the Dropbox on the right hand side of this page. Have a listen to the podcast of this week's show to see/hear how it works.

Track list:

Friday 25/02/11

Funky Child - Lords Of The Underground
Deeper - Boss
Monie In The Middle - Monie Love
Miracles - MC Duke
Black & Proud - Dismasters
The Champ - The Mohawks
'Beat Shop'
After Dark - True Mathematics & The Invisible Empire
Give It To Me feat. Raheem Devaughn - Saigon
Pain In My Life feat. Trey Songz - Saigon
Concrete Buttercup - Mudmowth & Metabeats
Freestyle - Ruffstylz
U Don't Kno' feat. Malarchi - Insane Macbeth
Not Like U - Fdot1
Bad Boys - K9 & Creamo
The Strongest Survive - Harry Shotta & Five The General
For My People feat. Jody McIntyre - Logic & Agent Of Change
Oh Yeah (Our Babies) - Saigon
Be A Father To Your Child - Ed O.G. & Tha Bulldogs

Saturday 26/02/11

Just As Long As We Have Love - Freddie McGregor & Sandy Star
Give It Up - Beres Hammond
Under Pressure - Beres Hammond
Preacher Man - Beres Hammond
Create A Sound - Everton Blender
Bloody City - Dennis Brown
Live & Learn - Delroy Wilson
Dancing Mood - Delroy Wilson
Conquer Me - Delroy Wilson
Ready To Go - Courtney John
And God Said To Man - Earl Zero
Rasta - Doniki
Long Way - Capleton
What We Gonna Do - Sophia Squire
Zinc Fence Real Life - I Octane
True Friends - Gappy Ranks
Forbidden Love - Tami Chynn
Love Like This - Toi
Over Come Dem - Lutan Fyah
All About You - Chevaughn
Dry Your Tears - Richie Stephens
Round & Round - Marcia Griffiths & Queen Ifrica
Saving The Best - Duane Stephenson
System - Cen'C Love
Precious Gift - Sizzla
The King's Son - Lutan Fyah
Who Feels It Knows It feat. Etana - Romain Virgo
Fight Dem Off - Doniki
Your Love's Changed - Al Campbell
Need You Beside Me - Leroy Sibbles
Shub In - Frankie Paul
Music Lesson - Original Wailers
Keep It Like It Is - Louisa Mark
Love Between A Boy & Girl - Chosen Few

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

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Better By Design

Something wicked this way comes. I refer, of course, to 'The Drawing Board' the new album by K-Nite 13, which will be released tomorrow. So how do I know it's gonna be wicked? Well, actually I don't, I'm just being presumptuous due to my prior experience of his works, not least his recent contributions to Mentalist's 'Make You Proud'. I have heard one track from it, 'Salute' (see below), which is certainly a tantalizing morsel. I intend to take a big bite tomorrow so expect to hear it in next week's show.

Something else that is yet to be released is Mudmowth & Metabeats 'Sledgehammer Kisses'. I've been eagerly anticipating this since first hearing 'Maaad Tight' almost a year ago. Associated Minds have consistently pushed the boundaries both in terms of lyrical content and musical direction for many years now and this set promises to be no exception. Again, expect it to get featured in my show as soon as it arrives in the post.

Unlike the albums above, Rewd Adams' new album, 'Rewd Awakening' is out right now, although it was only released yesterday, which coincidentally was his Earth Strong. Formerly known as Skandal, Rewd is, well, rude (as in rudebwoy) on tracks from the likes of Beat Butcha, Sivey, Loudmouth Melvin, etc. and in collaboration with Black The Ripper, Klashnekoff and more. And to top it all, it's available for free.

Genesis Elijah has been working hard, as usual, and is seemingly releasing a series of new videos at the rate of one a week. This week's offering is his version of Joell Ortiz's 'Battle Cry' and it's creating quite a buzz among his loyal fans and others who might previously not have heard of him. Could this be a big year for Genesis Elijah, finally? Let's hope so, but in the meantime enjoy the video.

Listen to this or previous weeks' shows here or on the Melody One website. As promised, I brought back the 'Beat Shop' last Friday, playing clips from Angered Rebel and Killah Trakz. I'll be continuing with it next week, so please keep sending me your tracks with as much information as you can about them and you to my e-mail or use the Dropbox on the right hand side of this page.

Finally, yet another reminder to please #HelpSaveACLT, who need to raise £80,000 by 31/03/11 to remain in existence, by visiting the Virgin Money Giving page or, if you're on Facebook, try the Gimme 10 - Save the ACLT page instead. Thank you.

Track list:

Friday 04/02/11

A Chorus Line - Ultramagnetic MC's
The Funkiest - Funkdoobiest
Cold Gettin' Dumb - Just Ice
We Can Do This (Ain't No Half Steppin') - Majestic Productions
Moral Of The Story feat. Shizzle & Benjii - Cyclonious
Forever Luvlee - Dres
Wishing Myself Away feat. Graziella - Rewd Adams
Rap Game Needs Me - Spoda
G Shit - Big Cakes
Let It Breathe - Metabeats & Mudmowth
Move - Dray Delta
The Plan - Da Goldminerz
Warning Shots - Rah Digga
4 My People - Mentalist
Lando - H.I.S.D.
Ligthworks - M F DOOM
Guard Your Grill - Cyclonious
Hearda You - Dray Delta
Boom Bap - Line For Line
Stayin' Busy - Silent Knight
Front On This - Boom Box Saints
Sleep feat. Tru Omega, Benjamin A.D. & Pyro Barz - Esskay
Pack The Pipe - The Pharcyde
She Said - The Pharcyde
Who Got The Props - Black Moon

Saturday 05/02/11

Dare To Dream - Viola Wills
Come And Get My Lovin' - Barbara Fowler
Funky Sensation - Gwen McCrae
Don't Knock It (Until You Try It) - Bobby Nunn
Music Is The Answer - Colonel Abrams
Emergency (Dial 999) - Loose Ends
When You're Hot You're Hot - Ingrams
How Yuh Bad Suh - Busy Signal
F.Y.I. - Busy Signal
Baby You're All - Luciano
Still Going Strong - Beres Hammond
Just Call My Name - Anthony Smith
Read Out Wi Rights - Heavy Beat Crew
No Can Do - Kashief Lindo
Politics - Jahmali
Like Mountain - Sizzla
Homeless - Sizzla
This Feeling's Killing Me - The Jones Girls
Feels Like I'm Falling In Love - Bar Kays
Body Fusion - Starvue
Can't Turn Me Away - Sylvia Striplin
You're Special - Commodores
While I'm Alone - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Sunshine Lady - Willie Hutch
Pretty Little Girl - Maxi Priest
Fight Dem Off - Doniki

One Love, Spy!

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Nuff Suction

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to actually play any of this week's artist in the spotlight's works due, in part, to my day job and also because I haven't been as diligent with my 'spare' time as I should have been, so apologies to Cyclonious for that. However, I'm gonna get my shit together and make sure I've put 'Escape To Reality' on a CD before next week's show.

'Verbal Affair' is the first video from the mixtape and clearly illustrates Cyclonious' lyrical dexterity and almost effortlessly smooth flow. The video itself attempts, it seems, to be reminiscent of those early Wu Tang shoots but, for me personally, doesn't quite hit the mark. Decide for yourself below.

The overall quality of the lyrics and lyricism is matched by the quality of the beat selection, which is exactly what one wants from a mixtape. So if you're into hard hitting, but not cliched Hip Hop and like it even better when it's free, this is very worthy of your consideration.

In other news, if you're a fan of old school UK Hip Hop and you live in London, chances are that we'll be brushing shoulders at the Jazz Cafe on Monday as MashUp Films presents ZAN featuring Blak Twang, Banana Klan Sound System & Roots Manuva, Skinnyman, Rodney P & Skitz, Klashnekoff, MC D, Mr Ti2bs, Big Ted and DJ Twin B. So if you see me, holla.

You can catch up with this or previous week's shows on the Melody One website and please feel free to post comments, dedications or requests up on the Shoutbox. I'll be bringing back the 'Beat Shop' next week, so listen out for that and send me any tracks you'd like to be featured in the shop window.

Finally, a quick reminder of the plight of the ACLT who need to raise £80,000 by 31/03/11 to remain in existence. You can donate by visiting the Virgin Money Giving page or, if you're on Facebook, try the Gimme 10 - Save the ACLT page instead. Thank you.

Track list:

Friday 28/01/11

Symphony - EPMD
Mad Mad World - 7A3
Line For Line - Line For Line
Kill Em With The Flow feat. Klashnekoff & P Money - Skandal (Rewd Adams)
Fill The Air feat. Mentalist, Mystro & Skandal - Loudmouth Melvin
Wednesday feat. Mystro & Loudmouth Melvin - Saukrates
Hand On The Glock - Cypress Hill
Cha Cha Cha - MC Lyte
A Penny For My Thoughts - Common
Lil' Brotha - Floriginul (Fdot1)
Fyaah - Fdot1
Let It Breathe - Metabeats & Mudmowth
Dirt In The Ground feat. Oliver Sudden - Jimmy Jitsu
Ready 2 Light - Skillit
Dett - Sirus
Oh Yer feat. Loudmouth Melvin - Mentalist
Built For This feat. Ike Eyes - Agallah
Get It Poppin' feat. Un Kasa - Agallah
Hey Joe - Atypical
It was A Good Day - Ice Cube
Vapours - Biz Markie
Son - Line For Line
Glow - El Zhi
Happiness feat. Vula Malinga - Ty
Unbreakable - Eagle Nebula
Get In Line - Diamond District
Bad Actors - Ecomog

Saturday 29/01/11

Love Has Arrived - Everis
Anyone - Smith & Mighty
Tell Me Why? - Sindecut
Get Loose - Aleem
Magic Man - Rochelle
Slow Down - Loose Ends
Let's Start Over - Miles Jaye
Doctor's Orders - Beres Hammond
Cupid - Leroy Gibbons
Rewind - Johnny Osbourne
It's Magic - Dennis Brown
Here I Come - Dennis Brown
Get To Love In Time - Dennis Brown
Key To The World - Ruddy Thomas
I Love You - Sanchez
The Comforter - Morgan Heritage
It's Over - Thriller U
The Day We Met - Anthony Hamilton
Far Away - Kindred The Family Soul
By Your Side - Sade
Catch 22 - Goapele
Whisper Of The Heart - Body
I've Got Your Image - Cameo
You Are The One feat. Yungun - Nadine Charles
Today - Phillip Leo

One Love, Spy!

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Mouth Of The River

Before I start, please let me draw your attention, once again, to the plight of the ACLT who need to raise £80,000 by 31/03/11 to remain in existence. You can donate by visiting the Virgin Money Giving page or, if you're on Facebook, try the Gimme 10 - Save the ACLT page instead. Thank you.

This week we'll take a look at a couple of young emcees with differing, but equally brilliant styles. I was introduced to one by the irrepressible Fdot1 (more about that upon the release of 'Money MusicK') and the other by his connection to Quaranteam.

Dray Delta has just released his new mixtape Flow Reel Two a 22 track banger covering many musical bases from Hip Hop to Grime to Dub Step.



A young man with a lot to say and a very powerful way of saying it, if you're a fan of lyrics and flow you can't help but be a fan Dray. His talent seems to be as unlimited as his imagination and I'm sure that he will make a significant mark on the industry in the months (and years) to come.

Skillit is known for, among other things, his comedic definitions of words on the BBC2 'youth' programme 'No Hats, No Trainers'. However, I prefer him in his role as a refreshingly humourous, yet not unskilful emcee.



His mixtape, 'As Seen On T.V.' has been around for a while now. Featuring production from and collaborations with the likes of Loudmouth Melvin, Pyro Barz, Mentalist, etc., Skillit's personality still shines through on every track. And, if anything, his personality is even bigger and shinier on stage, as everyone at the recent On The Real event will testify. It was there that I finally got to meet Skillit in person and show him my appreciation for his works.

Finally, a quick reminder that if you missed my shows or just want to hear either of them again, you can easily download them from the Melody One Podcast page.

Track list:

Friday Night Raw 21/01/11

Pain Grows - True Bess
Crooked Nigga Too - 2Pac
The Fallen (Gen. 15.13) - Juice Aleem
Higher Level - KRS One
4 My People - Mentalist
Renegades Of Funk - Boom Box Saints
Clap - Mobb Deep
Gotta Do What I Gotta Do - Public Enemy
Mountain's World - Tuff Crew
Light It Up - Cypress Hill
Don't Worry feat. Baby Sol - Mystro
1st Class Ticket - Show Tufli
Chuuch! - Bun B
New Wu feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man - Raekwon
Psycho - Lords Of The Underground
It Ain't Hard To Tell - Nas
Come Out And Play - H.I.S.D.
Warrior's March feat. Chino XL - Slept On Fam
When Brothers Die - M9
My Way - Mentalist
Off Switch - Pugs Atomz
Come Back To Me - Jimmy Jitsu
Doowutchyalike - Digital Underground
Get Pepped - Skinny Boys
You're All Welcome - Agallah
Goodfellas - Vado
Traitors - Line For Line
Award Tour - A Tribe Called Quest

Spy @ The Control 22/01/11

Love Won't Come Easy - The New Jersey Connection
Love Will Bring Us Back Together - Roy Ayers
Bustin' Loose - Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
Come Back Lover - Fresh Band
Searching - Change
I Should've Known Better - Mica Paris
Family - McKoy
She's My Lady - Administrators
Party Nite - The Undivided Roots Band
Nuh Try - Leontre
Love Again - Lukie D
My Everything - Sanchez
Dial My Number - Barry Boom
I Have Been In Love - Delroy Wilson
Sandy - Sugar Minott
Doin' Alright - O'Bryan
Hard To Get Around - BB&Q Band
Your Spell - Bobby Glover
Do You Love What You Feel - Rufus & Chaka Khan
This Place Hotel - The Jacksons
Loving You - Donald Byrd
Move Me No Mountain - Love Unlimited

One Love, Spy!

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