Spiewak and RVCA

We been playing it tight to our chests but now is the time to spill the beans on 2 new brands exciting brands we are introducing for winter.

Now in Spiewak
Spiewak has an history in the clothing industry that dates back to 1904. Spiewak ahs an heritage of making quality jackets and workwear that perform supply US fire and police forces who need clothing they can rely on.
Spiewak

Arriving early September
The concept of RVCA was conceived by the company's founder and designer, PM Tenore. PM's vision has been to create a design-driven brand without compromising its roots in an active lifestyle. Somewhere between contemporary and active, RVCA is free from the passing trends of the surf, street, skate and snowboard industries.

As RVCA grew, so did the Artist Network Program - an ongoing program to showcase the talent of establishing as well as unknown artists who inspire our generation. Through the course of this program, RVCA donates partial proceeds from designs sold to each artist's charity of choice.

Another company goes Bang

We heard a rumour at the end of last week that yet another clothing distributor has ceased trading and this was a big company just shows how hard times are. This will effect us we think as that carried two brands that we stock Ezekiel and Circa. Hopefully some company will pick up these brands as once again it means less choice for the buying public. Brands that don’t effect us that they distributed are I-Path, Vox and Osiris Shoes.

The good news is we have just ordered summer 06 Mada clothing and Mada is run by the guy who started a Ezekiel and parted with the company when the money boys moved in

Mada
Ezekiel
Circa

Junk Mail

Royal Mail have been in the news again for not telling us that we can opt out of receiving junk mail, well they do earn a nice living out of delivering it.

Our technique for dealing with junk mail is simple it help Royal mail make an extra few pounds and if everybody did it the senders might just get the idea. So here's the technique, save up all your unwanted junk mail then when some fool unwittingly send you a freepost envelope to reply to their wonderful offer cram it with your saved up junk mail and post it to them, genius.

Or plan b: customers who want to opt out of receiving unaddressed material from Royal Mail can either, go to email optout@royalmail.com, or write to: Door to Door Opt Out, Royal Mail, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX.

Wish it was so simple with email Spam

Mindless Ramberlings

Been a busy last few weeks and we’ve not really kept on top of this blog so what’s been occupying us?

The redesign: The bain of my life this redesign has been going on for years. We need a new colour scheme and the homepage layout that’s all but couldn’t decide on colours and layout forget it, but then finally our old friend Frame jumps in and everybody loves the colours, ideas and design but we start putting it together and it’s not quite right so it’s back to the drawing board but we have a colour scheme and a load of ideas. So plan b and it works nice but the design is in 2 parts the Frame bit and our bit everybody loves our bit and we finally make the decision to go and extent our design trying to incorporate all the best bits of the Frame design. So it almost done the navbar looks wicked and we did pop it up for 5 ins this morning but as with all things it’s not that simple so we took it down again.

Royal Mail: They have just gone through the biggest change in the post system in years and although they had loads of publicity about it our local office had no idea how they would implement it or how it would work. On the change over day things were a bit slow but they soon got in to it and you know it works out cheaper for us so all you UK heads will continue to get FREE shipping for the foreseeable future, we know we are giving free shipping worldwide but this will stop once we have the new code in place and this will allow UK shoppers to have the option of express delivery, not that you need it with our turn around times.

Quick word about Royal Mail as they do get a slagging off, we’ve used they since 1999 due to the fact that they have a monopoly and with the majority of our orders being under1KG it’s the cheapest and fastest way to do it, if you know different tell us. Back to the point they are pretty good they don’t lose that many but when they are bad boy do they excel.


Interesting facts cant remember if it was 500 times per day or per week but this is the number we as consumers are advertised to, got this bit right though we are advertised to more in one year than our parents were in the lifetime. Not quite sure how that works as my parents are still alive and been advertised to?

Yungun & Mr Thing

To celebrate the release of Yungun & Mr Thing’s new album, “Grown Man Business”, Silent Soundz brings you a night of the best hip-hop money can buy. The UK’s freshest record label will be showcasing their roster in this unmissable one-off event, taking place at Cargo in London on September 12th. Yungun & Mr Thing are headlining the night with additional performances from DJ Skitz, Verb T & Harry Love, Deadly Hunta, Blind Alphabetz, Defikew of Part Time Heroes and several other special guests. They will be filming the show for one of their new music videos so make sure you’re dressed to impress and making some serious noise! Tickets are only £5 and are available at silentsoundz!

Tricksta

We've seen a few articles and interviews by Tricksta on The Urban Shop blog now but who is this guy? Read on to find our what make him tick.

Tricksta’s obsession with promoting UK Hip-Hop began back in the late eighties when he started buying records by artists such as Demon Boyz, Duke, Overlord X, London Posse, Hijack, Icepick, Blade, Cash Crew, Gunshot, MC Mell’O’, Katch 22 and Derek B, amongst others. In 1990 he got offered a show on a local pirate radio station called Fantasy FM. The radio then enabled him to start building a rep as a club & mixtape DJ and in 1991 he went on to work at his local shop called Ruby Red Records. He worked there for five years, always pushing everything that was home-grown as well as writing for magazines such as Rap Trade and Jus Vibes and promoting & organising local Hip-Hop events. He left in the winter of 1995 to work for a group of independent record labels. In the four years he worked there he learnt valuable experience in the running of a label as well as making links in the industry on an international level as well as getting into music production and DJ’ing in America and all over Europe. It was January 1999 and it was now time for TRICKSTA to move on and use the ten years experience of working in the music industry for myself. His long time friend and DJ partner LATE was rapping in bands and collaborating with local artists, as well as penning a Hip-Hop album. In May 1999 we got our heads together and officially started the group Villains, the label Wolftown Recordings and the 100% Hip-Hop magazine RAGO. The rest is history… By 2001 he thought it was time for TRICKSTA to give a little something back to the scene so he started an underground mixtape series called UK Runnings. He hooked up with one of Wolverhampton’s best scratch DJ’s Amo who agreed to engineer the mixtape for him and after a year of compiling tracks and gathering together unreleased material UK Runnings "Volume One" was born. It was released for the streets, and was a CD that was given away to try and convert people into the British sound. Now UK Runnings is looked upon as one of the leading mixtape series in the UK as well as being the perfect vehicle for MC’s to get heard and get noticed. UK Runnings represents what is really happening in the scene placing well-known artists next to new artists and placing London rappers next to MC’s from Wolverhampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Glasgow, Coventry and Manchester. In the five years that UK Runnings has been going they have dropped Volumes 1, 2, 2.5, 3 and 4, as well an Old Skool Mixtape on an underground level. Now we set-up the pace with this new series "National Anthems", a collection of the best music the UK has to offer. UK Runnings has just stepped up the pace… please support these artists and be part of the movement. Keep independent music alive!

Siino

How did you come up with the name for Siino Clothing and how do you pronounce that?
You say see-no. When we started we knew what we wanted to do and the crest represented all of that, the name was something to call it but we wanted something real nice, like a real nice word for people to say. We started using siino and trademarked that and the crest. We throw in the clothing there sometimes so people know its not a new make of dish washer powder

What does it mean?
The crest is siino. Explaining the crest: the left shield is what has gone and the right is what's to come. The lions holding the shield there is like old and new brought together- in the present cos everything we do is in the present. We’re giving respect to those before us, who done what we doing now while were still putting this together. We also giving respect to our seeds cos likewise we’re doing this now but they got it all to come. That’s why you'll see 'in nominee patrum' on some things, 'in the name of our fathers'.

How long has the company been running and what's been the biggest achievement in this time?
siino have been putting the crest on clothing since 2003. To me our best achievement feels like getting the spring summer collection on the streets. Getting everything as we wanted it was hard work, we knew this was gonna be the collection where we pushed ourselves out there cos we felt ready. Nothing could be a weak link even down to the fit of the hoodie waist band, we spent time getting it to be the correct tightness so it would hang right and be a nice fit. It was just one piece of a complex puzzle, its hard trying to get all things right.

There's quite a few urban clothing ranges now. What makes you guys different?
I think there’s an originality to what we do and an honesty and quality to the design. Guaranteed is that the work you wear’s refined from 100s of initial ideas and designs. I see a lot of stuff in shops that wouldn't get past the first showing at a meeting of the siino board. That makes me smile. Hip hop’s always played an important part in our lives so naturally when we set to create clothes your gonna see that influence in them cos that’s part of our focus. We didn't go out there from the off like 'were gonna be an urban label' and I don't think that’s what we've created. siino appeals to many people I think because of its diversity its not about one thing its about many things, in that respect its like hip hop. I think people who can see that respect it because they can see that were not trying to be something, were just being siino creating things from our influences.

Tell us about some of the items you sell and what kind of person would most enjoy wearing them.
We keep our eyes open not half shut so there’s a lot for us out there, we don't have to look hard for inspiration an in the same respect a lot of people find inspiration in siino. Everyone likes different things but I believe that everyone has room in the cupboard for a siino garm. If it's a tee it'll be their favourite tee! A shirt then they’ll reach for the siino shirt first, once you’ve checked for the crest, you'll check for the crest


How did your work with L Dot Man and Supernovar come about and how important is supporting music to you?
Working with Supernovar and L Man both came about through mutual friends. Supanovar was feeling our circle range of tee’s which back then came in some crazy colour sets. L Dot wanted to make up some tee’s to go with his Who's that White Kid single, we believed in the project an worked with him on the tees. We'll always support and work with the scene cos that’s our love which we've always had and always will have


What do you look for in an artist to sponsor?
Basically we just gotta have a respect for what each of us is doing if we got that then we can work together

What new items are you currently working on getting into your store?
We’re just still working, pushing things forwards making clothes we'd wanna wear. We don't wait till new season's to bring something out, if we’ve got an idea for something we wanna get it made and out there as soon as, so new things are coming out regular

Siino

Frame - The Urban Shop Adverts

Our old mate LeeFramer, Frame, Frames, Framer has designed 3 adverts for us we have already picked the oone we are using but be good to hear your feed back no which you like. for simplicity we'll call top on 1 middle one 2 and bottom one 3.




You can see the biggest collection anywhere of his work here

Tef-Co interview by Tricksta

Who is in the crew and who brings what to the table?
Big Fize, Trojah, Blaze-I and each one of us has the skills to write and compose songs, it varies from song to song who does the melody, who mixes down, who comes up with the concept or hook and anyway we are three different people so every time we work on a project our individual personalities spice up whatever we're workin on.

Where are you from and what's the scene like there?
Three boroughs across west London (Westminster, Ealing and the Royal Borough) but we rep for the whole of the UK, the scene around west London is building slowly but surely. We've had West/ Northwest spitters doing their thing from day one, like Reveal, Mr Drastic, Dowda, Ruel and many others. Even the fan base is getting bigger as enough heads around here are feelin our movement.

How did the name Tef-Co came about and what's the thinking/ meaning behind it?
Teflon is a man made material strong enough to withhold a bullet shot and that's how we see our bond as a group (unbreakable, impenetrable and that goes for our lyrical ability too, the coalition part represent the wide team of talent we have working with us, from brayers that have criminal records to brayers with financial degrees, ya na mean!

Have radio stations outside London city started supporting yet?
Yeah man we been getting mad love outside London sometimes it feels like we get more love outside London, we recently did a radio tour up north it was nothing but love and appreciation for our craft out there, lots of invitations to return and rip sh*t up. Big up wolf-town, B-ham, Liverpool and Man city for the love.

So what have you released so far?
We've had two underground releases back in 2004 with six tracks each and we promoted those way into 2005, we had support from most pirate stations and even France's biggest urban station rotated our sh*t, we dropped the rumours video in late summer 2005 followed by the single release in Feb 06. It got us recognition UK and Europe wide (Holland, Germany, Greece and France) even hittin Western Australia's premier urban radio station's play list.

What's your connection to stylah?
That's our brother from long time, way back when we only use to sypher in bedrooms and sh*t now we're all treatin our oldskool habit as a serious business, watch out for his Crash Course mixtape it's gonna captivate a lot people.

Tell us about your set up and your imprint Zero Tolerance?
Zero Tolerance was founded by the Coalition back in the late nineties, when our friends saw us grindin hard selling our first release with little or no funds, people started to recognise and then we was blessed with a business/ label deal in 2004, from a close friend who in turn bought on board his partner and Black Pearl Ent was born.

Apart from Tef-co, who else is hot in London?
We are feelin Stylah, Reveal, Swiss, Klashnekof, Mike GLC, Mr Drastic, Kano, Lowkey, Sway and pretty much most artists grindin and putin in work

What American artist are you feelin?
Beanie Seagel, Jadakiss, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Styles P, Sheek louch, Nas, Jay-Z and JR Writer and we could keep on naming names, you've got enough there to run with.

Describe your musical style?
Our music draws influences from a wide range of genres from Motown soul to African, Caribbean and hip hop music, not to mention that we have 100% creative control of everything we put out even songs produced by platinum selling producers like our 1st single "rumours". We have sumthin for every one even if they aint into Hip Hop.

Will there be any UK or US collaborations on the forthcoming album?
Most def, we are currently workin wit a few UK artists for our forth coming project, about US artists all we can say is watch this space.

Who is doing the beats?
We've worked wit so many producers, DJ Snips, DJ Goldfingers (France), Dr Swing (France), Da'vid, DJ Lordie (Arrogant-records) and Buddy to name a few, the original version of our follow up single "Rebel Music" was produced in house by Trojah. Plus any producers out there who wana hear Tef on their beats just hit our website and let it be known.

Anything else you want to add?
Yeah! Big up TRICKSTA for constantly backing this UK Hip-Hop thing, big up UK Runnings and all the Wolftown famo and all those who like hip hop make sure every time you buy a US album, invest in a British one too cuz without your support we're always gonna be trailing behind the Americans. We want at least some US artists to be our supporting acts when they come here not always the other way around as it usually is, ya na mean! Look out for the Tef-Co video on MTV-base and vote for it if you like it, our mixtape "The Road Map" is dropping on April 17th featuring some of UK's finest so make sure you support that. Peace…..

Interview by Tricksta
Tefco
Tricksta

DINO WEST (NO LIMIT) from Los Angeles, USA.

When did you get into the whole rap thing?
I started rapping when I was like 15, but I didn't really get into it till I graduated high school about 2002 I am 21 now so this rap popped of for me fast. I ain't really look for a deal that long.

When did you hook up with Master P and sign to No Limit?
I hooked up with P like late 2004 early 05. I been with the Tank for over a year now.

You're on a sub-label I believe called No Limit West. Who else is on the label?
It's not necessarily another label. It’s still no limit its juss the artist that on the West Coast that rep the Tank just say No Limit West. But it's still No Limit/Gutter Music ENT... and the artist reppin the west is Cognito from the bay area and me and Ruga reppin Los Angeles.

Where are you based and what is the scene like there?
I'm from West Los Angeles. Nice area, comes with the good and the bad though. I moved a few months back out the hood; I'm a few dozen miles away now.

Have you any mixtapes out at the moment?
No current mixtapes. I been getting’ it together I'mma make sure I put out a fire mixtape, not no half heat.

What's Master P like to work with?
Master P is a genius, always great working with him, u can learn allot from being around dude... Best Hustler in the game hands down.

Who else is hot on the West Coast at the moment do you think?
Glasses Malone hot and errybody on westcoastreputables.com and fa sho my homie Ruga... he got serious album cuts.

Have you collaborated on anybodies else's releases?
Just P's and I been on a few mixtapes .

Anything you wanna add?
Appreciate the love shout out to Tricksta at Rago Magazine for holding me down in the UK and a big shout to shout out errybody reppin the Tank, my fans keep supporting me I'mma hold yall down and get at me 2007. Gutta Music Ent

Interview by Tricksta
dinowest.com

Double E

Double E is a new UK hip hop artist hailing from the sleepy town of Dursley, Gloucestershire. Located half way between the cities of Gloucester and Bristol, Double is definitely living proof that hip-hop is universal and not only restricted to the inner cities. Drawing influence from his idols and musical legends such as Tupac, Notorious BIG and Nas, Double began to write rap lyrics to express his thoughts and feelings from as young as 15 years old. As the years passed and his style developed, he began to work with local DJ’s in an attempt to perfect his flow and gain the confidence to support his abilities. In 2005 he completed a mixtape alongside DJ Daz Digler entitled “The Thunder B4 The Storm“. The CD was used as a platform to showcase Double’s lyrical talents and featured various freestyles and verses over an 18 track mixtape of US instrumentals. The mixtape became extremely popular and received many downloads via various websites. It proved a great way to spread the word and Double was soon linking with some of the UK’s finest unsigned emcees and producers which ultimately opened his eyes to the mass of hip hop talent in this country. With an ever growing love for the UK scene, Double now draws inspiration from the likes of Sway, SAS, Lowkey, Doc Brown and many more artists who are setting the standards for UK hip-hop and doing so with little or no financial support, just talent and hard work. Having joined forces with friend and artist Linx, 2006 looks to be a promising year for them both. The pair has worked hard to complete Double’s debut “The Road 2 Improvement”. Under the guidance of Five Eight and Abrasive of High Profile Productions, they have compiled a 16 track CD featuring the production talents of Kelakovski, ESQ, Fyba Optix and Kiss Chase as well as guest appearances from Reload, JSB, Abrasive and Linx. Thanks to the graphic design skills of Linx, they are developing a top quality product, maintaining a professional standard of work from the song quality to the artwork and packaging. With the right approach and dedication, they are hoping the CD will help gain a lot more exposure, not just for Double but for all the talents who have contributed to the CD. Operating with Linx under “Double Endz Entertainment”, Double E could well have a very bright future. More collaborations and new projects are lined up with High Profile productions as well as Kiss Chase and Amzee of the Groundbreakers.

Im with stupid - The Artwork of Jeremy Fish

Illustrator and skateboard artist Jeremy Fish (SLAP Magazine) finally has a collection of his work. The book features a lot of his skateboard and skate-themed art, including the "Big Stupid" pieces for SLAP, plus lots of tattoo/flash inspired pieces, and plenty of plain old weird 'n' funny art. A very clean, cartoony surrealism. "With an earnest dedication to honesty and a crackling sense of humor, Jeremy's work has the rare ability to express the intricacies of our culture with the clarity and salty wisdom of a grandfather's tale." -Tiffany Bozic.?

Jeremy Fish has also in his time designed a number of t-shirt which can be found @ Upper Playground

Last week

As you may have noticed it was a bit slow last week but we have caught up with all the work and above is a clue to why we got very little or nothing done all last week, hey we all need a break.

10SHOTT from Wolverhampton

“One of the best British emcee’s to date” is the words Hip Hop Connection Magazine chose to describe rapper, singer, songwriter and producer 10Shott. Since he debuted all those years ago with the now classic “Bagged Out” album with his crew Vicious Circle, 10Shott has really put himself on the UK Rap map with support on Kiss FM, HHB Radio, BBC 1Xtra, Galaxy FM and Conspiracy Radio. Ever since his amazing solo debut mixtape “Ghetto Brick Road” dropped at the top of the year the interest in 10Shott is just growing and growing! His flow, his style and pure lyrical capacity but him leagues ahead in the race for the UK title! Here we team up with one of Wolftown Recordings leading acts and get the low-down on everything that’s happening with 10Shott, talk about his recent trip to Jamaica, all the collaborations he has been doing as well as getting an insight of what to expect from one from of the UK’s brightest hopes.

Since the release of your mixtape “Ghetto Brick Road” at the start of the year have been doing much other recording?
Fi real! Well I hosted volume four of UK Runnings as well as featuring on all the current Wolftown releases including LATE”s CD “Wreckless In Texas – Hosted by Chamillionaire, Tricky”s UK Runnings “National Anthems Mixtape”, plus had couple tune on “Hustlers, Ballers, Shotcallers” mixtape and I did the “Some’ll Get The Picture” track with producer Juttla. I have just finished recording some new mixtape tracks for Wolftown future releases too.

I have also featured Baby J’s new “F.T.P Mixtape”, I’m also gonna be on Dap C’s album, I’ve done a track for Diveno, material for Trz and Souljah Clique, female rapper Priceless and last week I did the “Smiling Faces” track for “HHB Radio Volume 2”. That track features Size8, Reload, Izzy G, Joe Gutta, Kid Rad and Lunatrix, which I have also just featured in the video for.

Also I went to Jamaica and did tracks with Iya Lazor from West Moreland, Pray Mantice from Montega Bay and Champelli from Kingston. Some Hip-Hop ragga combinations!

That’s mad that you did all that in JA. How did you hook all that up and did you do anything else out there apart from recording?
I was on a trip to Jamdown to my mixtape and other material and showed couple man what I do; I reeled off bars to man who then introduced me to Pray Mantice. From there I went up on Irie FM in Kingston, JA’s biggest radio station and they played my shit on air. Then from there I got chance to go up on Links FM in West Moorland to perform live on air. This is when the buzz started to get around and within days I was booked up in a studio!!! Man was coming up to me and calling me the “Brownskin Eminem”! I took that as a compliment saying Em’ is a top selling artist! I had about thirty people hooked up to do tune with but I was only there for a limited time so I just rapped on about six tunes and shot a ghetto video in a Ganja field!

That’s big man. So back home for a minute, the feature on Baby J’s new mixtape is a big look as there are some real big UK names on there. Tell us more about this.
Baby J got in touch and asked me to rap 16 bars on one of his productions so I chose “4 Walls” the beat he did for Blade, I voiced it up with my boy Tricky Papp we mixed the vocals together and I sent it over. Baby J liked what I did and the rest is history as they say! Baby J is big in the game and is “the new UK Kayne West”. He’ll be doing beats on my album for sure.

And how did the Dap C collobo’ happen?
Again he got in touch and said he was doing an album. The other guests are Kool G Rap, Cannibus, Skinnyman and man like S Kalibre, so I was well interested to get on there. Dap has booked me to play in Leicester before so we kinda tight that way too.

So “The Smiling faces” track how did that all happen and who produced the track?
The track was produced by Kroscene, sick beat!! And Lunatrix got in contact with me asking me to open the track up, and told me they where shooting a video, so I was like yeah man, that’s big!

So are doing a new mixtape?
“Ghetto Brick Road… The Next Avenue” is currently being recorded, I have it all written and all the beats in place so its juts a case of voicing and mixing now. I also finished the album too, so expect a lot more from me real soon.

Can we expect any collobo’s on this mixtape?
I have some guests from outside the Wolftown label on this one. Supernovar, Reveal from Poisonous Poets, MD7, Rukus & The Entourage and some others but I don’t want to give too much away.

What kind of tracks can we expect on “The Next Avenue”?
Expect another classic mixtape that will keep you entertained and educated as well as getting you ready for the album.

How about videos for tracks off the mixtape or album?
I am doing one with Juttla, and then obviously my solo video which will be the jump off for the album. I am always looking for good video producers out there holla at tenshott@hotmail.com or www.myspace.com/10shottwolftown.

Does you going solo mean that Vicious Circle have spilt up?
For now it’s about our solo careers, so we can both explore and find out who we are individually. Me and Size 8 started rapping together, but your solo project will always be a lot more personal, we both have different issues to address. However Vicious Circle will be releasing a mixtape soon, probably in 2007, we haven’t slept on it, and V.C soon bring it come! How u mean!! Ha ha

So where did the title Ghetto Brick Road come from, it’s a big title!
Well I actually came up with the title explaining that there is light at the other side of the hood (council estate) and associated it with “The Ghetto Brick Road” follow it and there’s light, u can do what u want in life, however on the cover I changed the concept by having the ghetto brick road leading to more ghetto explosions! Ha ha

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Go get the mixtape “ghetto”, I’m looking for shows so any promoters get in touch, looking for beats for the album, looking for REAL rappers with the fire!!!! And singers who can sing!!!!!!

Anybody you wanna big up?
Bigg up all the mans reppin for the Midlands – everyone on Wolftown, MD7, Entourage, S-Squad, HHB (Occupy Your Mind Records), C.O.V, Baby J and My DJ’s “DJ Springa and Jamin Dread”.

Interview by Simon Dellar.

For more info check these important links;
Wolftown Recordings
10shott MySpace

Steppin To Tha Streetz Volume 2 – Hosted by JAI BOO

Lynch Presents Mobdesinz Clothing "Steppin To Tha Streetz Volume 2" – Hosted by JAI BOO

UK mixtape kings LATE & TRICKSTA put together another excellent mixtape for Lynch’s cutting edge US clothing company Mobdesinz. Hosted by UK female rapper Jai Boo this mixtape features a whole barrage of street bangers. For those that don’t know Jai Boo is part of the infamous Wolftown Committee and has been working hard on her solo material which is due to drop in the form of a mixtape called “The Lioness Ya Can’t Tame”. Here we get the perfect CD to keep us going and hear some of the best UK female bars spat ever on the super-sick Tricksta produced “My Hood Your Manor”, the Juttla produced “Dangerous” and freestyles such as “Do It 4 U”. Other acts on here worth mentioning from the UK have to be LATE, Reload, 10Shott, Conman and Big Wayne, and from the USA rappers such as Brick Saavy, Geolani, The Jacka, Garcia and Midnyte impressed. This is a tidy mixtape, I was just a little shocked not to see Jai Boo on the artwork. Never mind, as far as the mix goes it’s a killer. Big up Jai Boo and Lynch from Mobdesinz for another banger of a street classic.

Review by Brendan Deane

Lunatrix

How old are you and when did you start HHB Radio and OYM Records?
I’m 25. Occupy Your Mind Records started in 2003 but the initial concept has been around for about 5 years. Hip Hop Basement Radio was started by DJ Vokal over three years ago, I came on board as co owner in 2004.

What kind of acts have you interviewed on the station?
We’ve interviewed all sorts, mainly UK cats check out some interviews we’ve done in the archive section hhbradio.

If any decent rappers / crews are interested in coming and blessing the mic’s at the studio get in touch info@hhbradio.com and tell us all about yourselves and we’ll see if something can be arranged.

The station is 100% Hip-Hop, have you ever been tempted to play other genres?
Well every now and again we’ve dropped a bit of jungle or garage if emcees want to freestyle to something else other than standard rap beats. There have been some funny live shows where we’ve dropped anything from Daft Punk to Kylie instrumentals for people to rhyme over and some of the results have been mind blowing! Grimey with Grammar spring to mind they’re always ready to spit bars over anything, man I may try country and western next. I’ve also been known to drop the odd bit of soul or electro in sets however I would like to stress that most of what we do is UK hip hop / Grime / Rap and the 24 hour playlist is totally UK rap.

So who is on the artist roster at the moment and what does each individual bring to the label?
Kid Radikal is an up and coming rapper and producer, Rad brings a wealth of skill and knowledge that far surpass his years in both his raps and beats, this kid is the true voice of the youth.

Reload is a streetwise young rapper from Wolverhampton, his style is pure gritty realism and he has the flow, delivery and content to excel in this hip hop game with ease.

Izzy G The multi syllable king Izzy can bring that punch line flava to any banging beat, he is also a master storyteller, Izzy is a well-rounded and highly skilled rapper.

DJ Vokal a great mix and blend DJ also the web designer developer for www.hhbradio.com, Vokal is also part owner / camera man / editor for sister company OYM media.

Lunatrix rapper, engineer, beat maker, film director, label owner

Hyzander OYM / HHB technician and beat maker

Kroscene Masterful beat maker definitely one of the best the UK has to offer his drum structures, sample chops and melodies are incomparable.

Would you say the label has 'a sound'? If so, how would you describe it?
Each artist on OYM has a sound of their own, but if I were going to use words to describe the artists in general I would say each artist is individual, unique and original.

What have you released and what have you got coming?
Officially OYM have released two CD’s ‘Boy Wonder’ by Kid Radikal and HHB Mix CD Volume One, however we’ve sold out of all pressed copies of these releases. I must stress that although HHB 1 got some really positive reviews I’m not trying to push that anymore as HHB 2 (which will be out in September) is really in a class of it’s own in comparison.

In 2006 / early 2007, OYM will be releasing "Burning Desire" by Reload, an Izzy G mixtape, The HHB Radio West Mids Mix, a Kroscene EP and an album called "Amalgamation", also a Fundamental Elements album (which is a Lunatrix Kid Radikal collaboration), also Boy Wonder 2 and a solo Vinyl EP by Kid Radikal.

OYM Media is the film production side of the company so far we have produced 3 videos all of which will be available on HHB 2. The media side is something I have always wanted to get into I actually have a film and media degree and Vokal currently studying for his HND and it’s something OYM are really pushing this year.

On top of this Vokal has produced various websites for clients at excellent rates and alongside some highly skilled American web developers has re crafted the whole of www.hhbradio.com which now has much bigger review sections, galleries and general content.


Where will you be able to buy the CD's on-line?
HHB 2 will be available from various online stores including hhbradio.com when it drops in September however keep checking the site for full shop listings.

How are you viewing the UK Hip-Hop scene at the moment?
It’s good, they’res plenty of sick acts about but of course with the good comes the bad I guess it all depends on what your into. My personal taste is not always reflected in hhb’s playlist, however as a station were more than willing to give people a chance to get their material heard.

What you say the major advantages and disadvantages are of running an independent record label and radio station?
The advantages are that you have total control of everything from the music to the image to the packaging, which in my opinion means your artists have room to breathe and be fully creative.

The disadvantages are that money has to be used very wisely because in reality you have to squeeze an awful lot out of the relatively small budgets you are working in and sometimes this can prove a difficult task.

How can people get music to you?
Hip Hop Basement PO Box 4573 WS14 4AX, all material gets listened too and considered for playlisting and eventually reviewed.

Interview by Kut Loose


hhbradio

Shepard Fairey Exhibition Hamburg

Upon release of Shepard Fairey’s monograph “SUPPLY & DEMAND – The Art of Shepard Fairey”, the Gingko Press Showroom is exhibiting original work by Shepard Fairey, a selection of Obey Giant Merchandise, and Helen Stickler’s documentary “Obey Giant has a Posse” beginning August 4th through October 20th, 2006. (Milchstrasse 10, Hamburg – Germany).

On the evening of Thursday, August, 17th at nine o’clock there will be a screening incorporating the themes of Shepard Fairey´s work: Cultural Jamming, Street-Art, Branding and the birth of Fairey’s “Obey Giant” campaign.

Entrance for the exhibition and screening is free.

Obey FREE Competition
Supply and Demand
Buy Obey t-shirts

To Be Seen - Alice Arnold

Alice Arnold’s documentary “To Be Seen” is a study of visual culture, urban culture and an exploration of an age-old urban cultural phenomenon, street art. Sound s very pretentious that to me but suppose they have to big it up and sound all arty farty. I did take a look at the site and found that it does look quite interesting. The film takes a critical look at our consumer society by looking at the practice of street art in New York City. Alice Arnold looks at who is making street art and why and investigates the public's perception of this work. Is it Art or Vandalism?
“To Be Seen” features Interviews with Swoon, Michael DeFeo, Dan Witz, Skewville, Faile, Marc Schiller from The Wooster Collective and you can see clips from the documentary at the link below.

To Be Seen

Culture Jam: Hijacking Commercial Culture

A fascinating rap on the 20th Century movement called Culture Jamming. Pranksters and subversive artists are causing a bit of brand damage to corporate mindshare. Jammers, cultural commentators, a billboard advertiser and a constitutional lawyer take us on a wild roller-coaster ride through the back streets of our mental environment. Disney arch-enemy Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping and Media Tigress Carly Stasko. Culture Jam asks: Is culture jamming civil disobedience? Senseless vandalism? Or the only form of self-defence left? Again we took a look at the site and thought it looked very funny but there’s also the serious message of is graffiti art or vandalism and how corporates try and get in to your mind and dominate the world with their brands.

Culture Jam

DVS - Pints with the Pros

DVS is proud to present Pints with the Pros, billed as more than just a signing, Pints with the Pros gives the opportunity to anybody to share a drink at the local pub with DVS and MATIX riders Micah Byrne, Gony Zubizarreta, Luke Dorrington and Matt Scorringe

The event will be held on Friday, August 4th in Newquay, UK, starts at 6:30pm, with an autograph signing to be held in front of North Shore Surfshop, and will continue from 8pm at Belushi's.

DVS
Matix

Frank Strident - Poet

Frank Strident has been writing and performing his work since the age of 14, at which time he became involved in the punk rock movement, and heavily involved with drugs and alcohol. He subsequently developed a heroin addiction which lasted for over 14 years.

His work has taken on a retrospective and confessional emphasis. Frank grew up and went to school during the 1970s and a lot of his work is inspired by, and captures the essence of this period.

He has written and performed in a television play "Frank Finds Out" has published six books of his poetry as well as performing extensively throughout Britain. Including two award wining plays "Plastic Star Fish and the awesome "Requiem For A Dead Skinhead".

What got a hairy arse bloke into soppy poetry?
As child was bullied by both my father and other kids teachers etc my dad was crazy drunk use me as punch bag I was an only child stayed in my room a lot with rock and roll music Marc Bolan lyrics bowie glam then punk that encouraged bed wetter like me to have a voice the rest is well a god dam rollercoaster ride.

What was the big break?
The big break came with a guy from the BBC hearing me on local radio and getting me to write and direct a play also played main character not bad for 19 and dropped out of school when I was 14 left with out any exams.

You've written a few books how they come about?
The first book was published early 1980s though some of the work was mid seventies it was financed by some anarchist co op come printing place it was called Homage To Maureen Tucker sold well on the underground though still have some under my bed Dragon Heart Press also published one of my books that was called Gemini Bride few other books mostly low key.

What happened, why did it all go pear shape?
Went bad cus I got over me head in drink and drugs loads bin said bout the rock and roll life by bigger and better than me though my play “Tranx and other Lies” pretty much tells it my way.

The rock n roll life style got any stories?
Breaking in the Rainbow(London) with Charlie Harper(lead singer with UK Subs) so he could sing as the bouncers wouldn't let him in doing some real smack fuelled gigs with John Copper Clark one great dude who I love.

Got any life tips?
You gotta be kidding though I wouldn't mind doing uncle franks freaky problem page for you.

Do you think leading life on the edge has help improve your writing?
Living on the edge all me life can only work sing write act when stressed on the edge

So what you up to now?
Never stopped working bin performing and writing acting now 28 years am 42 work it out am old school through and through had some very bad gigs dropping my works outta my pocket on stage during a gig also had some great gigs have been in recovery 12 years relapsed few times still smoke the weed daily wrote performed an award winning play Requiem For A Dead Skinhead am looking for musicians at the moment any gender or age to do some experimental work always looking to work with new people I like working with young people kinda share the vibe.

Frank Strident poetry samples

Danny Sangra

Scrawl Collective artist Danny Sangra is showcasing his new work at the Pineal Eye. This new work represents a complete gear change from Danny as once again he demonstrates his ability to surprise his audience with sudden changes in method and style. On show will be a series of "Patchwork" paintings, a hybrid of silkscreen and hand painting sewn together like a punks ballgown.

Pineal Eye 49 Broadwick St, Soho London W1F 9QR. Friday 4th Aug 6pm-10pm