Month: January 2008

Chicago rapper and Kanye protégé Lupe Fiasco releases sophomore album after the success of last year’s “Food and Liquor”, which accompanied a UK tour, to much acclaim…

It is with great regret that we inform you of the passing of Carl ‘50/50” Fearon, original member of The UK's World Famous / Imfamous Hip Hop Supergroup, The 57th Dynasty. His funeral has is scheduled for 25th of January, with a reception to be held at The Harry Caddick Hall, Lilford Road, Brixton.

"The Circus" moved up twenty five spots in just seven weeks on the US Urban / Hip-Hop Top 30 charts. The single rocketed from #41 to #16 like a bullet, putting Deaji in the same company as Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Alicia Keys and others. "Diary Of A Starving Artist" is shaping up to be one of the hottest records of this coming year.

Say what you will about her, Amy Winehouse's newest single, "Love Is a Losing Game" is one of those classics that will be copied for years to come. To mix things up a bit, Truth & Soul Records has created a remix of the song that effortlessly blends Winehouse's distinct vocals with a super smooth accompaniment that includes a far more driving beat than the original.

We would like to reintroduce you to One Be Lo, an emcee from Pontiac MI, who is also known as OneManArmy. And like Rambo, he’s back for more. Formerly one-half of of the brief but brightly burning duo Binary Star, he dropped his solo debut, S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. on Fat Beats Records in 2005.

In other disappointing news, Iran has declared hip-hop illegal - anyone performing or recording rap, as well as anyone not traditionally dressed, will be arrested. While it may just be anti-American posturing by the Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance, it could also mean a serious crackdown on an underground hip-hop scene that brought issues of Iranian politics and culture to light.

Central City are here to bring the fun, not to mention the funk, back into hip hop. The duo from Long Beach, California release their second album, Floss, on their very own Plush imprint. And, like all the greatest artists, they are motivated by their desire to create the sort of music they love.

Donny Goines has been diligently carving his name into the wall of Hip-Hop having garnered extensive press coverage in the last year. The New York based wordsmith has delivered three solid projects to Hip-Hop fans, his last, The Excerpt achieving solid reviews from journalists and Hip-Hop tastemakers. Donny has achieved all this in just fifteen months.

Brothers Akim and Dumi Right are Zimbabwe Legit. Previously signed to a subsidiary of a major label which was home to Organized Konfusion, Lifers Group, Booya Tribe and Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf; poor marketing of their first EP did them no favours. It actually took 13 years for ‘Brothers From The Mother’ to see the light of day. I mean, you hear about an album being put back but…

Asaviour is a unique proposition with a very identifiable and individual style. Having released classics on Low Life and YNR, he now has his own series of mixtapes being released on his own imprint - Saving Grace. Sam Bradshaw caught up with him to find out what has been going down with Asaviour...