A lot of artists will appreciate, especially those who have their roots in a country that isn't the UK or US, that it is hard to get that balance between represting your roots and at the same time keeping it relateable to the masses. Airis, the songstress born to Nigerian and Egyptian parents, who has come up under the tutelage of eLDee the Don, seems to have maintained this balance perfectly. Her new video for the single Without You demonstrates this well, as she expretley intertwines some beautiful classic R&B notes with a Nigerian look and dialect.
It was last year, that eLDee told me I had to be listening to Airis, "Her genres a little leaning towards the pop-ish kind of sound, but then you know we bring it back home with the lyrics and the content and the vibe of it". If you needed any more proof, check the video...
I'm sure you've seen already, there are a couple of BIG mixtapes out (not the Notorious kind). Both Tip and The Chef have just dropped new joints; Fuck A Mixtape and Cocainism Vol.2 respectively. These will be on download the minute I get home, but you guys enjoy...
Yeezy is back in the heezy, with a new track called Power. After 808's this sounds a little more old school Kanye; the kind I love the most. What do you think?
Want to know the key to weight loss? According to 50 Cent, who has slimmed down to 11st 7lb for his new movie role, all you have to do is live on a liquid diet and do 3 hour sessions on a treadmill. Simples.
The transofrmation took place ahead of his new movie Things Fall apart, in which he plays a cancer stricken football star. The above picture was taken on-set, so he has been made to look worse than he is; I don't think I would have recognised him if he walked past me on the street.
Mr Folarin is due to perform at the Jazz Cafe (London), on Monday 5th July. Tickets will set you back a mere £17.50 adv, well worth it in my opinion, because who knows when he'll do a UK tour.
Terry G, Naeto C and 9ICE are set to bring some 'street credibility' to London this summer as they are set to perform live, at Troxy London, on Sunday 6th June 2010.
Hosted by MC Jazee Phizzle, and with DJ's Xclusive, Krixx and Jam Jam; the artists are expected to perform all of their most well-known songs.
For further information and to get tickets, visit the Starmix website.
I've got a lot of time and a lot of love for Slick Rick, so it's nice to see him doing his thing. Ricky recently appeared on The Mo'Nique Show to drop some knowledge, and declare that we need to bring the soul back to hip-hop; i'm sure there's plenty of people willing to give it a go.
When the likes of 50 cent and Jay-Z have about 10 XXL covers each, it may come as a suprise to hear that Diddy has never graced XXL's glossy front cover. Sure, he may not match the lyrical and commercial success of the fore-mentioned - but not even one! With all the entrepreneurial, and yes, musical contributions he's made to Hip Hop; I think he deserves this one. Should be a good read.
As someone who rates pretty highly in my 'top lyricists of all time' list, it's refreshing to hear something from former 'The Firm' group member AZ. As Nas's long time rap-partner, AZ has always been in somewhat of an Esco-sized shadow, but none-the-less his contributions to rap cannot be ignored.
This is an interview he did recently with Canadian-based Montreality, in which he speaks on several areas including; Do Or Die II, the possibility of a reunion with The Firm and his views on Nas and Damian Marley's collaboration, Distant Relatives (released tomorrow).
He really seems quite nonchalant when it comes to the question of Nas and Damian Marley, but then again, the sound track to this interview really reminds you of the chemistry that NaS and AZ have on a track; maybe it's hard for him to see Esco with a new rhyme-partner?
So, I guess, it's a case of watch-this-space for any new releases from Mr. Cruz...
Just had to put these up, becuase I hardly ever see pictures of Jay with his family. None-the-less, he took Grandma - Hattie White - to the Yankees Vs Minnesota Twins game at the Yankee stadium.
Really feeling this video for Chippy's Superstar single; it's like a trip down Chipmunk lane. Is it me, or is he on a bit of a Hov vibe when he's in that warehouse?
The video is directed by Ben & Vertex from Marvell, and the song features on the deluxe edition of Chip's I Am Chipmunk album.
eLDee set the bar for professional production with his last video for Bosi Gbangba, leaving expectations high for the video to accompany Ota Mi. The Don earlier released still shots straight from the set...
Ota Mi appereaed on eLDee's last album, Is It Your Money? Vol. 1, the title of which, spawned a particularly good twitter trending topic.
If you haven't yet heard the track Ota Mi....you can go and buy Is It Your Money? on itunes now!
If you're wondering where you know the name Vocal Slender, it's most likely because you saw him in the BBC documentary, Welcome To Lagos. Well, now it's time to say 'welcome to London', as it has been announced that Slender will be performing at the Coko Bar music festival. A few posts back, I talked about the festival - held this year in memory of Da Grin - and below, comedian Basketmouth reps the new found fame of Vocal Slender.
Been out of the country for a few days, and was pleasently surprised on my return to see my favourite Philly boys had released a video to accompany the Pass Out remix off of their Air Swell mixtape.
Heading back to the UK on the plane, I had to play 'Hey London' on the ipod, this may be sad but meh!
If you still haven't got the Air Swell mixtape then check my 'Mixtape of the moment' section >>>
