Month: June 2007

Spida Lee boasts on his MySpace profile that he's "got that mad old skool 94-96 sound" and it's with a deep sense of ambivalence that I report that he's telling the gospel truth. Hailing from Huddersfield, Spida's take on the street experience is so deeply influenced by his heroes - Black Moon and the Wu being obvious reference points - that it threatens to overwhelm his own perspective.

The Urban Shop are sponsoring the only UK gig of EMC the crew from hip hop legend Masta Ace and featuring Punchline, Wordsworth and Stricklin, there will be a full support line up on the night provided by Crusada with Fyaman, Deadly Hunta and New World Order made up of Lowkey and Logic. The Urban Shop are giving away one pair of tickets to this gig, this venue is OVER 18'S ONLY.

HoodGrown Records CEO Christopher English today announced the official release date of June 19, 2007 for the digital label’s debut LP, Cartel - Prepare For Glory. Originally scheduled for release on June 28, 2007, overwhelming demand from the online music community prompted English to provide the full collection of music that has gained significant popularity behind video singles posted on myspace.com and youtube.com.

Ever since emerging as a member of Black Star in the late 1990s, Talib Kweli is one of the few artists making commercially viable music that matters. The Brooklyn bred rapper's hard-hitting music has been able to educate and entertain simultaneously. So it is no wonder that at the peak of their fame, both Jay-Z and 50 Cent named Talib Kweli as one of their favourite rappers.

The crème de la crème of UK talent gathered in Nottingham on Monday for the fifth annual Takeover. The UK Takeover has quickly generated a reputation for being the Mecca of UK hip hop, and will probably be the biggest show in any artist’s calendar, and rightly so.

The first official single release from the ‘Urban Kaoz’ camp titled ‘Addicted’ is straight off their new mixtape ‘Rhythm and Business’.