Jessie Ware’s debut single “Strangest Feeling” is out now through PMR Records.

 'Rough, Smooth, Fast, Slow'

Welcome to the world of one the most animated music artists in UK Hiphop, Red...STAAR!!

"Creating music is what I enjoy and will being doing for the rest of my breathing days . To me, music is priceless... For everything else there is master card." Redstaar

Redstaar is not new on the music scene, and has collaborated with many of the undiscovered rappers, singers and songwriters who are now also emerging as well-rounded and experienced artists from Birmingham.

Redstaar observes and empathises with the people and environment around him and sends out the messages in a musical format. And always aims to produce something innovative and avant-garde to represent the world and its hidden treasures.

The name Redstaar is no accident in fact there is not a day in the year he is not wearing red.

Red swagger, red shoes, red coat red hat! Red's the colour of my life. The colour and that stands out!

In love with perfection Red...staar is a determined individual with a tough mind and a tender heart.

www.soundclick.com/Redstaar

www.twitter.com/redstaar28

www.youtube.com/redstaartv

www.reverbnation.com/redstaar

www.facebook.com/redroberts

Embarking on his musical journey in 2000 Redstaar has performed at numerous venues around Birmingham and the West Midlands including New Year concert 2000 at Centenary square, "Mischka's Got Talent" Club Mischkas, "The National Mentor Conference" Crown Plaza Manchester and numerous open mic nights at infamous venues like the Yard Bird, Cox's Yard, and The Hare and Hounds.

Fast forward to the present and REDSTAAR has now completed his solo album titled 'T.M.T.H', and three MIXCD titled 'THE SECRET' containing samples from 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne which boasts industry instrumentals remixed lyrically by REDSTAAR and various talented artists from Birmingham. 'SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST' and 'RED REVOLUTION' with instrumentals produced by REDSTAAR, JIMMY DAVIS, and SIMSEE and features many of the artists he has created music with. Survival of the fittest is a compilation of some of the best songs he has had the privilege to be a part of during his music development. A man with zest who believes WILL POWER WILL WIN!! So you can expect to see and hear more of him in the coming years.

MIXTAPE

Artist Name - REDSTAAR

Mixtape Name - 'Rough, Smooth, Fast, Slow'

Release Date - 23rd October 2011

Link to music - http://www.mixconnect.com/listen/Redstaar+-+Rough%2C+Smooth%2C+Fast%2C+Slow-mid14187

Email : redstaar28@yahoo.co.uk

THE MERCURY PRIZE 2011

The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Nominations are chosen by a selected panel of musicians, music executives, journalists and other figures in the music industry.

The Mercury Prize has a reputation for being awarded to outside chances rather than the favourites, so with that being said we have a look though this years nominees.

Mega-selling Adele and Tinie Tempah share a place on this year’s shortlist with Ghost Poet & hot favourite PJ Harvey. But who on earth is Ghostpoet? I hear you cry, Below we weigh up the contenders for UK music’s top award.

PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

Genre-bending, multi-instrumentalist & bookies favourite Polly Jean Harvey turned in a career-best performance with eighth album Let England Shake this year – some achievement considering her back-catalogue which includes 2001’s Mercury Prize winner, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea..

Anna Calvi

Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi

Anna Calvi’s debut album was released in January 2011 on Domino Records. Recorded in France and Worcestershire, it features a guest appearance from Brian Eno. The album was produced by Rob Ellis and Anna Calvi and includes the singles ‘Blackout’ and ‘Desire’. While everyone from the NME to the BBC went mental for her debut album, this, ultimately, is music for edgy Daily Mail readers.

Elbow

Elbow deservedly took the Mercury Prize home to Bury in 2008, reward for two decades of dedication and criminally underrated albums. After the runaway success of The Seldom Seen Kid – propelled by One Day Like This – fans feared a delayed onset of second album syndrome:

No such problems for the Elboys. Build A Rocket Boys! is the musical equivalent of one long, life-affirming cuddle – with a pithy word of encouragement in your ear for good measure. While they’re unlikely to win again this year, they’re still more than worthy of a nomination for one of the albums of the year.

James Blake – James Blake

WRETCH 32 - ALBUM REVIEW

Of all the proposed jumps from grimy street rhymer to polished, radio friendly ‘superstar’, the expected transformation of Jermaine Scott better known as Wretch 32 was always going to be intriguing. For the north London rapper’s immense lyrical performances and fondness for conceptual material seems vacant within many of the successful acts from the urban pop market. But with three exceptional chart singles, an abundance of festival appearances plus receiving the nod of appeal from both the underground and mainstream radio platforms, Wretch stands in a position which very few have been able to reach. But can Black and White, the second album from Mr 32 paint a more vivid picture than the current hoard of paint-by-numbers projects on offer from the rest?

Taking a more mature mantle to the electro-rap sounds of his rhyming peers, Wretch chooses to immerse his bars in more deeper instrumentals with classic samples. The first successful outing, “Traktor,” borrows Dick Dale’s “Miserlou,” (made famous in the 1994 classic film Pulp Fiction), and finds the 26 year old remaining in cruise control, speaking with confident freeness about the ever revolving/contradicting world of a young adolescent enjoying life regardless of the circumstances.

Reaching out to the indie kids of the past and present, “Unorthodox”‘s wicked/abhorrent use of the Stone Roses‘ “Fools Gold” provides an uplifting charge, with guest Example‘s choral proclamation of today’s generation being the real leaders and trendsetters of today.

Wretch’s renowned lyricism, thankfully, remains intact. Cramming in as many punchlines as possible (even to the point where it sometimes tires) the prolific styling of the towering emcee isn’t watered down for the masses. What’s more impressive is that his storytelling approach also is on hand. Even though spouting the same nothing-to-something parable on “Never Be Me,” 32?s slick approach to the matter is fine-tuned to match the R&B vibe, rhythmic drums and impressive vocals from singer Angel.

“Forgiveness” is a powerful, diary-like transcribe of the guilt which plagues Black and White‘s protagonist, whilst the haunting, somewhat operatic structure of “Long Way Home” (alongside Daley) tackles the harsh, unfair dealings which life brings.

Black and White however, does hang on to many Hip Hop clichés; from narrating about his past dealings alongside Chipmunk on “I’m Not That Man” to the somewhat sickly sweet musings on “Anniversary.” But Wretch’s lyrical execution and dry wit ensure that the material is passable. The best example of a rehashed formula done right is on the chart-topping single “Don’t Go,” featuring Josh Kumra. A typical plea for his love to stay, Wretch removes his cool front to subtly show his feelings; all to a mature, engulfing score.

Black and White offers much more than its album would like to suggest. Its depth in verses and production is a welcome change from the instant success-chasing sounds which many from Wretch’s surroundings have adopted. Make no mistake, Wretch 32?s second album also exhibits a number of overly tried and tested formats – the over reliance of big hooks, somewhat mushy material and more – but in Black and White, the Wretchroboy delivers a more grown up offering of the ever growing sound of UK urban pop. Capturing the rugged spirit which was on display on Wretchrospective and channelling it within the more structured boundaries of the mainstream, Black and White stands as a true example that there is room in the market for those who have a way with words.

Visit Wretch32.Com

THE WEEKND

Welcome To Thursday!

After capturing the world’s attention with the amazing House Of Balloons mixtape earlier this year, the enigmatic Canadian singer/songwriter Abel Tesfaye better known as The Weeknd returns with his follow up mixtape Thursday. Featuring the previously leaked cuts “The Birds (Part 1)” and “Rolling Stone” alongside a heap of brand new material.

Download HERE

AKALA @ THE SOUTH BANK CENTRE

A weekend of events celebrating hip hop at the Southbank Centre in Central London kicked off on July 14 with a presentation by UK rapper and poet Akala breaking down the musical history and origins of hip hop music,joined by  Sona Jobarteh who is a member of one of the five principal kora playing, also known as Griot families from West Africa and the first female kora player to come from this prestigious musical family.

Akala schooled a strong audience in the Clore ballroom beginning with a historical tour through of images showing the architectural and cultural innovation of African history, citing writers and historians such as Olfert Dapper and Basil Davidson, before going onto the Griot tradition in Mali, West Africa and the significance the Griot’s had on the Malian empire.

To explain in brief, Griots are historians, praise singers, musical entertainers and African historians who would speak drawing upon a practised and memorized history, that had been passed on from Griot to Griot for generations which was constant throughout Africa and integral in the development of the culture.

Sona Jobarteh joined Akala to elaborate on these points, speaking on her personal experiences as a member of a Griot family and spoke of the main points of the traditions of passing on the teaching of history, genealogy and religion through the power and gift of speech, the practice of music through song and musical instruments and understanding history and identity.

Continuing, Akala spoke on the history of African descent in musical expression in Congo Square, New Orleans – a place of African expression in the the 18th century – to the sounds in what was to be jazz music in Haiti and demonstrated the elements of music influenced by its African origins across jazz and Hip Hop by showing clips of 1930?s musician  Cab Calloway on James Brown and Ella Fitzgerald‘s scatting.

He also touched on the production of Hip Hop and it’s practice of sampling, demonstrated by Pigmeat Markham on “Here comes The Judge” and comparing that to some of the first publicly acclaimed rappers such as  The Last Poets and the late great  Gil Scot-Heron.

What seemed to be the most informative and currently relevant part to the presentation were the examples of recent musicians and their influences and cultural ties to Africa and the evolution it has taken. This was demonstrated by showing reggae music and its pride in its roots, as with Yellowman and Bob Marley, but also showing the deterioration of the pride and respect in and for black music.

With the influences of slavery and the appeal in black culture Akala brought up the topic of Jamaican patois or what he explained to be Africanized English (calling it a representation colonized people trying to hold onto their culture) and its place in current black or ‘urban’ music.

The point he really left the watching crowd with is the popularisation of claiming black culture and black music, embracing elements of it and often disrespecting it, making the point that white artists in America (using the example of Eminem) could never and would never represent the stereotypes of white people at their worst for the purposes of a music video as is often done in black culture.

However, he used the example of rapper Giggs, who has lived and represents what could be classed as the ‘worst’ in black culture having tours and shows constantly cancelled by the police. To validate this, he used the example of Professor Green and Maverick Sabre‘s music video for their collaborative single “Jungle” which caught heat on Twitter the following day, amongst those who were unaware of the talk that took place.

All in all, the presentation was said to be thought provoking, informative and educational and Akala brought about debate on a topic that questioned the messages portrayed by the mainstream media of black culture, specifically music and ultimately largely the exploitation and which is often thought of but not discussed in a public forum – and why not? In it’s context and when you’re able to see the evolution throughout history it does, if nothing else, encourage you to see that to really embrace and celebrate the origins of a culture you have to respect it above anything.

The presentation ended on this piece by Akala:

Visit Akala.Com

DRAKE x JAMES BLAKE

They might seem strange bedfellows, but Philly DJ and producer Bombé has decided to combine the talents of Drake and James Blake for this mash-up project. Blake’s ‘tortured-soul’ vocals and production sit surprisingly nicely alongside Drake’s angst-ridden, vice-fuelled-emo-rap. It’s slightly surreal (but if we’re being honest, most of James Blake’s music is that way inclined) and definitely won’t be to the taste of most of Drake’s more recent admirers, but if you’ve been with him since So Far Gone, this could be up your street.

James Drake Mixtape - Bombé & Mr. Caribbean by Bombé

Download HERE

COLDPLAY

Coldplay have unveiled the video for their comeback single 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall'.

The clip, which you can watch below, shows the band playing across various backdrops sprayed with colourful graffiti.

The single for the track was released earlier this week on the band's new EP with b-side 'Major Minus' on various formats.

The band have not yet revealed whether 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall' or 'Major Minus' will appear on their forthcoming fifth studio album, which they have been working on with producer Brian Eno for the last 18 months.

Coldplay recently headlined Glastonbury alongside U2 and Beyonce.

Following their performance at Worthy Farm the band enjoyed a spike in record sales which went up by 1290%.

They are also due to headline T In The Park on July 9.

The band are also confirmed to play a free show at London's Roundhouse as part of the iTunes Festival on July 22.

JAMES BLAKE

Twenty-two-year-old Londoner James Blake makes dubstep music, but he's not your typical dank, dark dubstep dude. His songs creep forward and there's lots of heavy bass, yes, but there's also a unique and playful soulfulness to Blake's tracks, which often feature his own singing voice slowed down by intense digital effects. The result is a bit like a futuristic, lurching take on Moby's Play.

 The Deptford based artist started singing and studying piano at the age of six, a tutorage which eventually led to Blake's attendance of Goldsmiths University to study Popular Music. Early listening came in the form of his parent's classical and jazz collections, in addition to US Soul and R 'n' B from the likes of Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo and Sly & The Family Stone. Blake's love of electronic music came much later when the artist discovered dubstep duo Digital Mystikz a few months prior to his Goldsmiths enrolment.

Club nights at the University followed, before an appearance on Rinse FM's new producer segment saw Blake signed to fellow dubstep producer Untold's label Hemlock.

Blake claims he was influenced to add more of his own vocal to his work by Joni Mitchell's Blue and Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago, and this style has become increasingly evident in subsequent releases on respected Belgian label R&S. Recent single, a cover of Feist's Limit To Your Love, would seem to be his most refined to date. This was singled out by Radio 1's Zane Lowe in his "Hottest Record in the World" segment, which only added to growing anticipation for the producer's self-titled debut, which was released on Atlas/A&M in early February.

FRANK OCEAN

Frank Ocean is a 23-year-old New Orleans-born, Beverly Hills-based singer who's in the gleefully hedonistic hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. Frank Ocean is also known as Christopher "Lonny" Breaux, a songwriter who has helped pen tracks for John Legend, and Brandy over the last few years. He's the latest example of why the major label system is crumbling at the knees of Twitter and Tumblr, too. After getting signed to Island Def Jam about a year ago, the label proceeded to ignore him. Until February 16, that is. That's when Ocean decided to give away his debut album, Nostalgia, Ultra, for free on his Tumblr.

The record is held together by tiny interludes named after 1990s video games in which the unmistakable sounds of a cassette player rewinding, fast-forwarding, and stopping are heard. The old-school touch lends Nostalgia, Ultra the feel of a personal, friend-to-friend mixtape rather than one made by a name-dropping hip-hop DJ.

On the whole, Nostalgia implies that there’s nothing new under the sun. Yet for all his reverence for the past, Ocean confidently adds his own musical stamp.  Ultimately, his successful collision of cultures suggests that pop music is headed for an odd, yet familiar, future.

DOWNLOAD HERE

THE WEEKND

 "You wanna be high for this." So goes the opening chorus to House of Balloons, the free mixtape offered up by The Weeknd, and the singer's not kidding. The spaced-out, syrupy productions and tunes laced with ghostly sadness certainly come across as cannabis-friendly, in a spliff-before-bed kinda way. It's forward-thinking and futuristic R&B, and while it doesn't rewrite the book on the genre in the way that some might suggest, it's a meaningful enough contribution towards boundary-pushing that places it alongside acts like James Blake and The xx who similarly deploy a certain stark minimalism as the backdrop for melancholic soul-baring.

"House of Balloons is a remarkably confident, often troubling debut that excels at both forward-thinking genre-smearing and good old-fashioned song craft".

In my own humble opinion this mixtape is hands down one of the strongest I've come across since Drakes 'So Far Gone'. I don’t want to overuse the Drake comparison, and there’s certainly plenty to suggest that The Weeknd’s just as inspired by other artists, but you could easily call House of Balloons the Tyler Durden to Thank Me Later’s Ed Norton. You relate to Drake, but you don’t want to be Drake; to paraphrase Durden, you don’t want to fuck like him. When The Weeknd grubbily whispers “trust me girl, you wanna be high for this”, it’s a whole other story. This is a record that’s as ice cold as it is sad; for those who find Drake too much to stomach it might be off-putting, but for fans of the Canadian, it might just mark the arrival of a brand new obsession.

To get a copy of the album, you can visit the website, or download by clicking the link below.

DOWNLOAD HERE

JAMIE WOON

After coming up forth on the BBC poll at the start of the year seemingly solely off the criticality acclaimed Burial-co produced "Night Air" single with Pitchfork described as "one of the key track of 2010" 28 year old British singer songwriter and producer Jamie Woon has been firmly on the lips of critics and avid music listeners alike as we awaited the release of some music from the BRIT school graduate and Red Bull music Academy alumni to back up his buzz.

Sitting somewhere between R&B, Soul, Electronica and Dubstep, Woon recently put out the follow-up single to “Night Air,” titled “Lady Luck,” to yet another rapturous reception. Laced with lush percussions, sexy dirty bass, glorious jaunts of looped vocals and harmonies and splendid handclaps, the ‘vocal-led’ song (or rather more vocal-led than “Night Air”) lacked the obscurity, the lyrical edge and sheer groove of “Night Air” but did a lot to showcase Jamie Woon’s vocal dexterity, in case that was ever in doubt – and comparisons with the Justin Timberlakes and Jamie Lidells of the world began to be tossed up left, right and center.

Woon released his debut album, Mirrorwriting, on April 18 via Polydor Records. Below, we'll find out then if it lives up the steady “buzz” that has surrounded Jamie Woon leading up to this point.

THE THIRST

Currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to their second album, Brixton based four piece The Thirst aren't letting the recent setbacks dampen their funk laced rock spirit. Used to hustling to make ends meet, driving around the country in rickety tour vans (at times getting towed to gigs) The self-schooled group believe that its the constant shit that fertilises their ever evolving sound.

ED SHEERAN

Today up and coming singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran released, via his website, a free EP. The EP tilted One Take has been called this due to the fact that all songs were recorded in just one take, in my opinion this just further demonstrates how talented this guy is and highlights the confidence he has in his ability to know that he can get the job done in just one take. The small collection consists of three songs, one new, one old and one cover. Anticipation for new material has been steadily building and has almost reached tipping point so this little gift that Ed has given to his fans is being used to keep fans at bay until he is ready to release a full length album.  The recording sessions were filmed and the video of him singing Jamie Woon’s ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ can be seen below.

DOWNLOAD HERE

LUPE FIASCO


"Break The Chain" is one of many explosive crowd moving songs taken from Lupe Fiasco's US #1 Album "Lasers".
The track features the incredible voice of Eric Turner (Tinnie Tempah "Written In The Stars"), alongside one of the UK's leading Rapper/ Lyricist "Sway" with production by none other than European super-producer iShi (Written In The Stars, Game Over).




Follow All On Twitter.....
@LupeFiasco
@Sway_Dcypha
@ericturners
@iSHi_2Stripes

This incredible typography styled video was directed and produced by Guerella Design



LIAM BAILEY


Drawn to “the sound, the heart, the lyrics the history [and] the songs” of soul music, new singer/songwriter on the block LIAM BAILEY fell in love with music – particularly Reggae, Rock and Soul – and began making his own on the eclectic Nottingham scene.




 Liam’s debut album is being produced by versatile producer (Nas, Amy Winehouse) Salaam Remi – and, from what I’ve heard of it so far, the pair are crafting an instant classic. The album is due this year – in the meantime,check out the acoustic version for Mr Bailey’s single 'You better leave me'



PHAROAHE MONCH

Pharoahe Monch W.A.R. which stands for We Are Renegades is out March 22nd on Duck Down Records, below is the single "CLAP" which is a 10 minute short film version of the track. He's also coming back to the UK and performing at Scala on the 8th of April buy tickets HERE.

MAVERICK SABRE

Something fresh for the ipod: a brand new mixtape from London born, Irish raised singer songwriter Maverick Sabre, The Travelling Man showcases the hotly tipped performer emerging from the live London circuit with melodic vocals – along with a few guest appearances by Wretch 32, Macca and Footsie. “Run To The Run” to the roof is an instantly engaging opener from the dramatic introduction, siren-like violins and a dirty bassline, setting the bar for an array of Maverick’s adaptations of underground classics and blog favourites [including The Roots' "What They Do" on "Memories" and Miguel's "All I Want Is You" on "Let Me Show You"].

All in all a solid introductory listen highlighting Mavrick Sabre as one to watch closely among the ascending generation of UK urban artists. Get your free copy below.

DOWNLOAD HERE


JAMES BLAKE

‘The Wilhelm Scream’ will be the artist’s second single off the album after his incredible debut single, ‘Limit To Your Love’ blew us away late last October.


THE DELIVERY 2

RUNAWAY



The Kanye West directed short film accompaniment to his single “Runaway” which is taken from his latest album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

 Inspired by Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and Prince’s Purple rain, Runaway is a concept video clocking in at 35 minutes long, telling an elaborate story through the use of imaginative cinematography and music.

SKREAM