Tag: hip-hop

Song of the Day: Justin Bieber – Smoke Boys (ft. Dizzee Rascal)

The most prolific, innovative and defining British acts of the past ten years sadly announced the news that their forthcoming project “All The Smoke” due 23rd October will be their last.

After Dizzee dropped track ‘Act Like You Know’ the Smoke Boys single off of his forthcoming album ‘E3AF’, SMOKE BOYS have now announced their new single ‘Justin Bieber’ featuring the Grime legend off of their new and last ever project. With the whole EP produced by MK The Plug, this track combines both the strength of drill & grime for a futuristic style beat, track and video.

Their lyrical energies ride with ease over the vibrant production, with it’s skippy drums, garage-esque vocals, big 808’s and metallic eastern samples, with Dizzee Rascal gliding in for the final verse on top form, adding his charm, charismatic delivery and effortless flows. Smoke Boys and Dizzee Rascal have both shown how two genres can fit so fluidly and gracefully together.

Although this will be their last project as a group, there will be more to follow from Deepee, Swift, Sleeks, Littlez, Inch, and Knine as solo artists, and their last project together promises to end with a bang.

Check out the Smoke Boy’s final video for single, ‘Justin Bieber’.

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Song of the Day: Champagne – ThBenj

Italian rapper, THEBENJ‘s fifth single for the year, Champagne’, is – in his words – A” song to celebrate everything and nothing to”.

The hazy number follows his most recent singles, ‘2020’, ‘Reasöns’, ‘Y’ and ‘Flip IT’.

Check out ThBenj’s ‘Champagne’ below, available now on all download and streaming sites.

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Song of the Day: Coll – The Keys

Taken from his anticipated EP, ‘Blue Magic 2’ – out now on all download and streaming sites – Norwich-based rapper/producer COLL‘s latest slick soulful number, ‘The Keys’,  touches on the topics of self-love and motivation in a witty, assured and intelligent manner.

“’The Keys’ is all about self-resilience, believing in yourself and making the right decisions in life to ensure happiness for yourself and your family”, explains COLL.

Born in Zimbabawe, COLL and his family moved to the UK when he was eight years old, where soon after, he became obsessed with the music of hip hop godfathers, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac, inspiring him to start his own musical journey. Since then, he’s released a plethora of well-received singles (including ‘Rockstar’ which is fast approaching 100,000 streams), performed at festivals such as Latitude & Sundown, and even set up his own label, True Music Records.

This Norwich-based imprint aims to offer a platform for local artists to kickstart their own careers. The label recently secured funding from the Arts Council England, and in collaboration with Pirate Studios, a studio and recording space based in Norwich, they’ve been able to provide free studio time to their roster as well as other local musicians.

Have a listen to COLL’s ‘The Keys’ below…

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Song of the Day: Moving – John Dole

Hailing from Newcastle, alternative hip hop and electronic artist JOHN DOLE‘s single, ‘Moving’, is a reflection of his own personal
battles.

The latest release opens to paranoia-drenched synth strings, lending a tense and uneasy feel that sets the
scene for the bars to come. Dole’s vocals enter alongside hard-hitting percussion which
immediately ups the intensity levels further with an itching, fervent energy.

With regional and national support from the likes of Nick Roberts (BBC Introducing North East),
Huw Stephens (Radio 1), John Kennedy (Radio X) and Tom Robinson (BBC 6Music), ‘Moving’
follows in the footsteps of earlier releases, ‘Rolling’ and ‘Collective Thoughts’.

This one’s a true banger…have a go at ‘Moving’, out now via Snide Records

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EP Review: Summer ’98 – Zee

Hailing from Canada now based in L.A. artist/producer ZEE‘s new EP is definitely a throwback to the late 1990’s, paying homage to hip-hop and R&B of that era. Although this is a nostalgic collection – which evidently draws influences from 90’s R&B heavyweights including Usher, Destiny’s Child and Aaliyah – I couldn’t help but hear some influences of fellow Canadian artist/rapper Drake, particularly in introductory track, ‘Amazing’.

Further along the EP, Zee makes use of samples from some of the R&B classics, such as Kelly Rowland’s/Nelly’s hit ‘Dilemma’, putting a lick of a misty urban/hip-hop bass to the original through fourth effort, ‘All I Need’.

There’s also an air of the late 1980s included in the EP, when Zee put his stamp on Brenda Russell’s classic, ‘Piano In The Dark’ through concluding track, ‘Letting Go’, by dropping a modern R&B/pop version, giving off a summer hazy feel.

Documenting the events of his first summer love (presumably back in the late nineties), Zee encourages us to re-immerse into our most treasured memories – or create new ones – with his feel-good mini collection. Check out the song recommendations and EP below:

Must Listens: Amazing, Crazy Enough, Mean It  

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