Gatsby The Great - Falling Up

Gatsby The Great is a writer/director/emcee from South Jersey.



This album is incredible.

Although it sounds more like a collection of songs, more of a mixtape than an album - the lyrical quality and consistency of the rhymes alone prevent it from being labelled something as plain as a 'mixtape.'

Right from the intro, it's clear that Gatsby is a very talented and hungry emcee, spitting one verse over a head nodding beat that sounds like a hip hop version of Lawrence Of Arabia.

Although some of the beats, samples, or drum sounds sounded familiar it really is the lyrical precision and attention to detail which shine through especially on the title track 'Falling Up,' which also happens to be one of the albums best, in respect to both the beat and lyrics. The track is basically a list of contradictions, but done in a very clever way that has you rewinding every bar to double check.

Another thing i liked about the album was the variety of hip hop on display. A nice old school feel on 'The Rythm' with a catchy hook, pure underground ferocity on the Intro, and a more mainstream accessible track in the form of 'Feelin Good.'

'Falling Up,' definitely deserves a good couple of listens through and Gatsby desrves a Myspace add, so i suggest that if you don't have the album or you don't have Gatsby as a friend on Myspace, you solve both of those problems here and now -

Get the album HERE

Add Gatsby HERE

Gordon Bennet Records - Promo Mixtape

Gordon Bennett Records is an independent label based in East Anglia, in The U.K specialising in Hip Hop & Electronic music. The label was created in mid 2007, and as stated on the lables Myspace - "has been influenced by many labels & artists from the days when, not just Hip Hop but all music was striving, to today where Hip Hop is supposedly "dead." Many still push to keep music alive, others do not. GBR wishes to help bring it back & reignite the positive energy and provide lots of different sounds from different artists. With a positive yet comical outlook we hope to release some great music from some exceptional artists, with future plans to branch out to some other genres of music."

Up for download in todays post is the labels 12 track Promotional Mixtape, featuring tracks from resident artists -

Crow Stick, Raptilian, Purple Turkey, The Lounge Lizard, Chuck Dangerfield and Diagnostik.

Standout track for me is 'Take The Sun Away' by Diagnostik, a more than ample lyricist over a head nodding beat with a dope bassline and a free flowing hook.

Overall, the beats and general collection of tracks featured fuse nicely and yet are different enough to play to the label of 'mixtape.'

Instrumental tracks courtesy of Lounge Lizard break up vocal tracks nicely and leaves the listener waiting for what's coming next.

An impressive album showcasing this labels blatant talent, can't wait to hear more.

Get it HERE

Gordon Bennett Website

Gordon Bennett Myspace

Mi5 - Jargon, Prince Valiant and Dilligence

Mi5 are a team of professional spitmen made up of Jargon, Prince Valiant and Diligence.
All 3 emcees bring some of the best punchlines to the table...its criminal that their not bigger then they are.


Jargon is one half of Natural Born Spittaz alongside Mystro and when their tunes drop it gonna cause waves in the world of Hip Hop! I can honestly say i haven't been this excited about a groups LP since ... i don't even know when.
The first time i saw Prince Valiant was freestyling at Deal Real Records (the original one) and he SMASHED IT!!
Alas i've never met Dilligence and cant even find a picture of him!

But for now check out the 3 tracks from Mi5 Zshare link HERE

Massive shout to Jargon for blessing us with these tunes.


Jargons Myspace for more exclusives HERE




PLUS - Check out Max Thief featuring MI5 - 'Grimey'


PLUS - Prince Valiant Freestyle

London Posse - Live Like The Other Half Do (Live on MTV)

Oh my giddy aunt, this tune sums up my summer back in 1989 / 1990.
The tune still makes me nod me head and do that silly screw face grin.
From the plunky piano to Bionic chirping a little snigger laugh or hiccup on the first verse.

I chat to newbies who say they love UK Hip Hop but have never heard of London Posse - Hijack - Gunshot - Mc Mell'o before...shame on you.

Live and Learn.

DEAD RESIDENTS AND OPTIMAS PRIME 'BOOGALOO'

Whoop I Forgot to add this video to the Junior Disprol post...


Its the video for their banger tune 'BOOGALOO' from the Drop ep...directed by Ryan Andrews and it stands head and shoulders above most that i've seen!


We aim to add a video a day from a UK artist, maybe a old classic or a brand spanking new one.

If you've got any recommendations give us a shout.

But for now TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS!!!

Firepower - Gunshot, Task Force, Bury Crew, Jhest and Evil Ed

Yet another rare posse cut this time from Disorda's Uk Hustlers Vol 6.
The story goes like this....i was over Mercury's (from Gunshot) house just for a chin wag with the rest of the Gunshot crew and i slipped in a cassette that Evil Ed had sent to me and this beat came on and stopped Mercury mid speech and asked 'Who's this?' i told him about Ed and how he had produced one of my favorite EPs (Blunted Bumpkin Buskers) in 1993, and while telling him Alkaline and Barry Blue both came in and asked the same question...they all wanted the beat! So i gave Mercury Eds number and he phoned him and Ed thought it was me on a wind up. Anyhoo they spoke a few more times and decided that they were gonna use it for the UK Hustlers tape for Disorda.
Then the idea to ask Task Force to jump on it too came up and they blessed it and added the Bury Crews Nocturnal for good measure!
When ED came down to record it he brought along a young man called Jehst, the only time i had heard of Jehst at that time was from a verse he had done on a tape for DJ Supra. I said to the Gunshot boys that they should get him on the track and because hes the bollox and they said ok and Jehst wrote the verse there and then and SMASHED IT!

Its still one on my favorite verses in Hip Hop!

And to top of the final track Farma got his son ( called Man Cub at the time) on the intro.

This tune will make you nod your head like a whore with parkinsons.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Junior Disprol & Evil Ed - Junq Waffle

Evil Ed, Junior Disprol, Jehst, Skelaton and Alkaline

Back in 1999 - 2000 in a flat in East London 5 true school Hip Hop artists got their heads together and (in my eyes and ears) made one of the best posse cuts to come out of the UK scene.

The beats were molded by Evil Ed and the lyrics crafted by Junior Disprol ( Dead Residents ) Alkaline ( Gunshot ) Jehst and Skelaton.

Only released on 7" vinyl and limited to only a few hundred...it was recorded in true low budget style with the mic being attacted to a clothes horse with a home made pop shield and put in the hall way for better sound, the over dubs were done in the living room with me holding the mic up in the circle of emcees!

Twas a good day.

Grab it HERE

Also give props to the artists : Junior Diprol myspace
Evil Ed myspace
Alkaline myspace
Jehst myspace
Skelaton via Designer Anoraks myspace

Dj Pager The Running Man Vol 2

Dj Pager hits us with another banger of a mix cd, part 2 of the Running Man collection is full to the brim with 100% full phat tunes and exclusives.
Check the line up then download this mofo then please leave feedback.



DJ PAGER THE RUNNING MAN MIX VOL: 2
Tracklisting:
1. RUNNING MAN INTRO
2. JIBBARISH – DO OUR THING *
3. STRANGE FRUIT PROJECT – MILK EM (Remix Instr)/ JAY DEE & PHAT KAT – GAME OVER (Acapella)
4. THE ROOTS – GET BUSY 5. KASHMERE – WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?
6. DJ PAGER FEAT: DJ TERROR – LIVE AND DIRECT
7. SKYZOO, COPYWRITE & PACEWON – INSIDE OUT
8. DJ SPINNA – GOAT (Instr)
9. BUSTA RYHMES – DILLAGENCE
10. TERMINOLOGY, ROYCE DA 5’9, CROOKED I, AKROBATIK & CONSEQUENCE – THE INDUSTRY (Remix)
11. BLACK MILK – SOUND OF THE CITY (Instr)
12. IRONBRIDGE – THE MISSION *
13. MR G – CHECK ONE TWO *
14. RZA FEAT: INSPECTAH DEK – YOU CAN’T STOP ME NOW
15. BIG BOI, RAEKWON & ANDRE 3000 – ROYAL FLUSH
16. J-LIVE FEAT: ODDISEE & POSDNOUS – THE UPGRADE
17. ILL-SON – BIGGA (Instr)/ AKROBATIK FEAT: TALIB KWELI – PUT YA STAMP ON IT (Acapella)
18. LMNO & KEV BROWN – THE CAUSE
19. VERB T & FLIPTRIX – ALTERNATE TAKES
20. JEHST & MICALL PARKNSON – THE MISSION

* Tracks 2, 12 and 13 Produced by DJ Pager

Download it HERE

Check out the Major Pager HERE

Evil Ed - The Enthusiast

Evil Ed is a producer, originally from Huddersfield in the U.K. Ed became interested in being a Hip Hop/scratch DJ in 1984 and started making Hip Hop tracks in 1985.

'The Enthusiast,' released in 2004 is flawless. The tracklisting reads like a who's who of the best of British Hip-Hop, with such names as Yungun, Jehst, Asaviour, Kyza, Tommy Evans, Microdisiacs and loads more.

The beats (all of which are made by Ed, who lends his scratching to a few tracks also) flow nicely, each one leading to the next smoothly and none sounding out of place - this really is a perfect album. Everyone involved has certainly done their job, from Ed's well structured and emotive beat for the Microdisiacs track ''Great Expectations,'' to Doc Browns reminiscing of days passed on ''Think Back,'' and The Colony's catchy hook on ''Branded.''

A fine example of a more than valid reason why British Hip-Hop should be out there, marketed, promoted and sold more, because this is music that people need to hear.

TRACKLIST -

01 - Intro (The Enthusiast) Ft. Eddie Scratch
02 - The Ed Zone Ft. Jehst
03 - Nico Suave Ft. Yungun aka Essa
04 - Warm Things Up (skit)
05 - A New Way Of Thinking Ft. Ricochet
06 - Black Stallions Ft. Kyza
07 - Sweeney Todd Ft. Ah Fly (Skit)
08 - Branded Ft. The Colony
09 - The Cavalry Ft. Tommy Evans, Ricochet, Yungun, Jibbarish, Doc Brown and D.Ablo
10 - Alive (Skit)
11 - Have You 4Gotten Ft. Lost Souls
12 - Captains Of... Ft. A-Love
13 - The Audio Obstacle Course Ft. Eddie Scratch and DJ Index
14 - Raw Spuds Ft. Probe Mantis and Junior Disprol
15 - Playin The Game Ft. Asavious
16 - Experts Ft. Mr Thing
17 - Think Back Ft. Doc Brown
18 - Lesson (Skit)
19 - Life's A Struggle Ft. Mic Assassin and Tommy Evans

Get it HERE

Iron Bridge - Toilet Humour

This album is by far my favourite album to come out of Essex and more importantly the UK.
That may sound like a strong statement, and i may be slightly biased towards Essex hip hop, but after a listen to 'Toilet Humour' i'm pretty sure you will share my view.

Produced mainly by fellow South East native, and regular Iron Bridge collaborator Ill-Son, and featuring DJ Pager, 'Ron Compost', Headzache, Tekneek, Blokey, and Shain Caw, The beats are like nothing else you've heard, the lyrics nasty and the concepts dope.

Download it HERE
Add Iron Bridge on MYSPACE

VIDEO FOR ''GET UP''

* Apologies for the poor scan of the album cover..i have no excuse, just - sorry.