Tag: estelle

The Kidz In The Hall are currently on tour with Murs and have dropped their sophomre LP on Duck Down Records. It has been quite a while since Britishhiphop.co.uk spoke with them, so check out what they had to say to Rebecca Lindsay about life on tour, recognition and working with Estelle.

Surely the UK success story of recent times, Estelle has gone from Skitz to hits, fleeing the Domestic Violence of the London scene to shack up with her American Boy. But am I the only one thinking this transformation from underground rapper to pop singer remains unconvincing?

Ten years deep into the game and veteran UK rapper Blak Twang is still making bangers. Twang aka Tony Rotton has consistently delivered album after album to much critical acclaim and relative commercial success.

Twang’s back again (‘…Although I never left, I’m takin’ my seat back / Back with a spring in my step, back in my element…’) with his fourth album release, fifth if you count the never-released-due-to-label-problems, promo only ‘Dettwork SouthEast’. ‘Speaking From Xperience’ is an aptly named volume of work, and a hefty tome at that. Frankly, I recoil at the thought of reviewing an album with 18 tracks proper (24 counting skits). How can I possibly listen to that much music and assess it all at once? ‘Tis pretty hard, but I’ve started now haven’t I?

This year’s Vodafone Live Music Awards shortlist announcement sees Duffy go head to head with Kate Nash, Estelle and last year’s winner, Amy Winehouse, in the coveted Best Live Female category. Elsewhere, Mark Ronson, Dizzee Rascal, Paul Weller and Morrissey will battle it out for Best Live Male whilst Arctic Monkeys will have to hand over their crown of Best Live Act to one of this year’s nominees; Kaiser Chiefs, Muse, The Verve and Primal Scream.

Hugo Urban Rules - the urban music initiative endorsed by HUGO Fragrances to uncover and invests in new talent- has found a new star. Following two days of intensive master classes and auditions at Sankeys on the 4th and 5th June, the luck finalist received expert tuition on: Vocal coaching, Stage-craft, Artist and industry Q&A sessions.

Estelle has come along way since the 1980’s; culminating a string of hits, being out spoken about some of her rivals and leaving Britannia behind in search of her American Boy. Not only is she a champion of the underground, but is fast becoming a general of the mainstream; her single American Boy topping the chart for a staggering four weeks at the no.1 spot.

As always Britishhiphop.co.uk supports upcoming UK talent and we've been supporting HUGO URBAN RULES since the beginning! This time around Estelle - whose single American Boy has just spent four weeks at number 1 - is the latest artist to sign up to the music programme from HUGO Fragrances that uncovers new urban music talent.

This Cincinnati based artist needs little introduction. Hi Tek is one of the hottest producers on the planet with his soul influenced beats that can bring a tear to your eye, a smile to your face or movement to your feet. Sometimes all three. I chatted to him about the C3OOO, his best album to date, and the Hall Of Fame collaboration list.

Revered by the Hip-Hop industry and music lovers throughout the world, Hi-Tek the production mastermind responsible for hits from the likes of 50 Cent, Common, Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks and more is poised to unveil another classic with December 11th's Hi-Teknology 3 on Babygrande Records.