VIDEO: Akala "Find No Enemy"

I found out about Akala via an article on the Independent's website about British hip hop. There were many artists who were mentioned throughout the article, but Akala stuck out for me. Here's one of his quotes from the article:

"I think rappers have found our voice within the UK to some degree, but we have to be very careful with what we label hip-hop and what we label rap music," says Akala.

He goes on to say:

"A diluted derivative of the culture can be paraded as the culture and then people lose the essence of what it really is and actually think hip-hop is about trying to sell people champagne and jewellery."

The article also included three tracks from Akala's recently released project. This is where I got pulled in.

The first was "Peace" and it caught me off guard because the article was talking about hip hop and grime music and what not. So I expected something uptempo. And you guessed it, "Peace" is not uptempo at all. As a matter of fact, it was nearly beatless. More like poetry w/a piano in the background. That's how I figured, well, this ain't your regular hip hopper.

"Yours and My Children" provides that tempo that I thought would be in "Peace". Akala comes hard on the lyrics: "Muslim, Christian ... all of our sons"; he goes on to name countries where there's war and strife and says "yours and my children".

The last track was "Find No Enemy". Incredibly cool track. It's melancholy w/the guitar as the pleasant backdrop. It's thought provoking too. It's six minutes of 'I've got something to say'. It's the kind of lyrics that's missing too often from music these days. I mean, I don't want every song to be socially conscious and political, but I also don't want every one to be that other thing either.

So check the vid hip hoppers ... and please know that fat meat is greasy. kfox.

Lady Sovereign "Jig-Raw!"

Lady Sovereign's next cd is "Jigsaw" and it has an April release date. The first single "I Got You Dancing" is already out there.

Since her first release, "Public Warning" heralded "Love Me or Hate Me", "Random" and other tracks, I think that there is some build up for this Lady Sov project.

I've had the pleasure of listening to "Jig-Raw" - a mashup of Lady Sov material by Jack Beats.

It's pretty cool. I don't know that I can hear much growth in her as an emcee and her style pretty much remains the same. I can dig that. It's a damn if you do and damn if you don't kind of thing. If she changes or adapts her style, people get critical and the same if she doesn't change a thing. What's a girl to do? I'm hoping down the road that she does go in a different direction or she will be here today and gone tomorrow.

I know that I should save my comments for when the full project drops, but I think I have a pulse on this one hip hoppers. kfox.

The Lady is Back ...

... and that Lady would be Lady Sovereign. Nice to have a female emcee on the block. Some folks think that she is just a lot of hype. I think she has some skills and that there is room for her in this ever expanding arena called hip hop.

This first track is called "I Got You Dancing!" and has some of the signature craziness heard previously on Lady Sov projects. Just kinda quirky. Her style will not be digestible to some. Especially on this particular track it's missing a heavy bass line; has more of a techno, airy - well, dance vibe to it.

At any rate, you can judge the young, British hip hopper for yourself. Rolling Stone has the song for download on their site:

• Lady Sovereign "I Got You Dancing!" download on Rolling Stone

The full disk won't drop until April '09. So get ta gettin hip hoppers. kfox.

Hip Hop is plentiful!

You know just a few days ago, I mentioned that there were very few hip hop disks on my desk. Well the hip hop gatekeeper has granted me a pass and filled my mailbox with goodies in that short period of time.

So I will make this brief because I don't know about you, but I need to concentrate when I listen to hip hop - NOT! But I have lots to do.

Right now I'm listening to THE COUP. I absolutely love the politics that proliferate on "Pick a Bigger Weapon." And some of the stories are delivered in such humorous form.

MURS & 9TH WONDER are back at it. I've only listened to about half of this cd. It did not jump out at me, but it did pique my interest. The promotional material sez that Murs "doesn't swear or use the n-word on the whole record." But even in my preliminary, multitasking listening session, I caught an n-bomb....I like MURS & 9TH WONDER; I will be reporting back on this one shortly.

The new cd from SPANK ROCK caught my attention (and the attention of my colleagues - I usually open my music mail during our weekly department meeting) because there is a nice sized label on the front that sez 'Tipper Gore APPROVED Clean Version'. Well, guess who had to edit "Bump"? Now, keep in mind, I'm no prude, a bit conservative, yes, but on the real, I am listening to see if I can put the cd in the studio for all the djs to play, but one "ass" and a cd is stuck on my desk in the semi tall edit pile. The SPANK ROCK cd, titled "Yo Yo Yo..." is really nice though. Totally unique in lyrics, beats and production. Some true hip hoppers may squawk it, but I like the innovation.

I get the feeling that I am going to really like MADLIB's "The Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2." There are 35 track listings - though it seems that they are realitively short tracks. I must admit that I only listed to a few tracks, but I enjoyed "Open" and "Tape Hiss." They are both instrumentals and fit the Madlib profile.

It just dawned on me that the west coast is really reppin on this week's hip hop blog. So far, all but SPANK ROCK are from Cali.

I finally received a copy of DMC's "Check Thugs and Rock and Roll." I had a bit of anticipation about this one. It's different and I feel indifferent about it at this time, so I am going to reserve comment until I can fully listen to it. Oh, but you know this is DMC from the legendary Run DMC...? Yeah. Run released a cd last year as Rev Run. Just sharing...

PARIS presents "Hard Truth Soldiers" is crazy packed established artists. I'm talking about MC Ren, Public Enemy, Dilated Peoples, Conscious Daughters, Everlast, Mobb Deep, KRS-One, The Alchemist and so many more. If you are getting the impression that I like this one, then you are freaking genius!

Finally, BORDER CROSSING's "Ominious" is the latest project a trio from across the pond. I am such a sucka for the British accent. These guys have been around and they know hip hop intimately. They infuse some other genres including reggae on this disk, but I say all that to say that it is pretty daggone good! I like the first three tracks, but truthfully, it is all good! Really, really good. Much more mellow than the hip hop that I am generally attracted to, but - love it!

Until the next time...stay true, kfox