Acclaimed Rapper Blacksmith Taps UK Hip-Hop Legend Skinnyman To Question ‘The Price Of Love’ In Latest Video

Embodying all that is Hip Hop, Bristolian based artist, producer, radio host and hip hop event director BLACKSMITH, releases long awaited new music in the shape of ‘Price of Love’ featuring UK legend Skinnyman (pictured left) and production by New York’s Statik Selektah.

Already a constant within the depths of UK Hip Hop, Blacksmith’s CV reads as a rundown of some of the biggest accolades an artist can boast of. From performances at Glastonbury to Fusion Festival in Germany, he has also supported the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Common, Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Evidence, Brother Ali and many more. As an MC and producer, he can also include Jeff Wooton (The Gorillaz), Hodgy (Odd Future), Dilated Peoples, Carasel, Stamina MC and Dynamite MC, as fellow artists he has worked with and produced music for, and his love for hip hop doesn’t stop there. A self-made events promoter and radio host, Blacksmith is a key component to UK hip hop, giving both established and upcoming artists a platform through his regular hip-hop events and radio shows.

Check out the video below…

Tilly Valentine Delivers New EP, ‘Half Empty/Half Full’

BBC 6-approved singer-songwriter TILLY VALENTINE‘s new brand EP, ‘Half Full/Half Empty’ symbolises love and loss, with each song is written from a different perspective taking us on a journey from hope to heartbreak.

Pop and soulful soundscapes set the tone for the EP, with hints of jazz and R&B. The optimistic narratives in opening tracks ‘Plus One’ and ‘Gin & Tonic’, tell the story of meeting your perfect match. Valentine’s love songs have been added to playlists such as New Music Friday, Riffs & Runs, Low-Key, Winter Moments, Starbucks and more. The EP later includes the sassy break-up singles, ‘XOXO’ and ‘Thinking of You (Déjà Vu)’.

The newest EP track, ‘Birthdays & Funerals’, is co-written with Easy Life’s producer, Ben Matravers, and samples real voice notes of Valentine’s loved ones. It’s about a relationship that has gone full circle; from growing together to grieving the loss. “Birthdays can be as hard as funerals when the ones you love aren’t there”, Valentine says. “Realising that you’ll never see someone again after a break up can be so heavy. It’s grieving a loss that feels like a death”.

Released last Friday (21st October), ‘Half Full/Half Empty’ is an honest and reflective EP that touches on both the good and bad experiences of love. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: XOXO, Thinking of You (Déjà Vu)

Listen To Nia Chennai’s Debut Single, ‘Players Part.’

Hailing from South London, NIA CHENNAI presents her debut single, ‘Players Part’ which possesses a soulful down-tempo vibe where Nia’s hypnotic tone takes on the influences of Amy Winehouse and Erykah Badu.

The multi-talented artist began her musical journey at the tender age of six when her dad had bought her a Sing Star set, and she couldn’t stop singing Tina Turner’s hit, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ . Growing up in a household with the likes of Mariah Carey & Toni Braxton playing through the speakers, it wasn’t too long before Nia picked up a microphone of her own. After years of honing her craft, Nia Chennai is now ready to show us what she’s made of and is currently working on her EP set for release in 2023.

But for now, get a taste of her EP and listen to ‘Players Part’…

Rapper Props 2.0 Drops Video For Track, ‘Purple Dress’

As he’s putting the finishing touches to his EP (release date TBC), London based rapper/ singer-songwriter/producer PROPS 2.0. slips a brand new video for his single ‘Purple Dress.’

The four-minute production reflects the piano-led melodic joint, which chronicles a breakdown in relationship, where the guy just didn’t care enough to make the effort needed to balance the love that existed between him and his partner.

‘Purple Dress’ is the first single from Props 2.0’s upcoming EP. Why not check out the video below, shot and directed by the man himself…

OUT TODAY: Listen To Qbanaa’s Debut Single, ‘Truth and Desire’

Citing Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote, Kali Uchis, Khruangbin, Amy Winehouse and Greentea Peng as inspirations, Cuban/Irish jazzy neo-soul singer-songwriter OBANAA – pronounced Cubana- has released her debut single ‘Truth and Desire’.

With a catchy bassline and soulful vocals ‘Truth and Desire’ mixes Qbanaa’s Spanish and English native tongues to create a flirty song celebrating the euphoria of re-discovering love after long periods of loneliness and includes choir like sections resembling the honeymoon period of new lovers.

Qbanaa explains the inspiration of ‘Truth and Desire’: “The song was inspired by 1989 and 2008 movie ‘The Little Mermaid’ – I’m sure people will think ‘oh that’s a bit weird’. But if you look into it, there’s some insane soul and beautiful ethereal sounds in there that I took inspiration from. The movie is all about the unconditional nature of pure love, and the universal power of music, which really resonated with me growing up and carries the theme of Truth and Desire, it was the first thing I thought of when I opened the track.’

Qbanaa’s collaboration ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘New Day’ with Absentee was well received, featuring on BBC Across The Line, Hot Press, Peter Curtin RTE 2XM and Nialler9’s Best New Music playlist. With such warm feedback, she took to South East London by herself to immerse herself in the jazz/soul scene. Sharpening her skills with live performances at multiple jazz venues in London and venues in Dublin, Qbanaa has finally decided to take the plunge and write her debut single with R&B and hip-hop producer Mickzart – Truth and Desire.

‘Truth and Desire’ is out today (7th of October) across various music platforms. Have a listen below…