Tricksta on sturban clothing blog

This month TRICKSTA releases his new UK Runnings mixtape in conjunction with sturban clothing entitled "100% Exclusive". The thirty-track mixtape features fifteen tracks produced by TRICKSTA as well as seeing him produce and direct his first DVD. It’s a massive release and is already causing a stir on the underground. Alex Davello went to find out more from the man who helped to put Wolverhampton on the Hip-Hop map…


So tell us Tricksta how long did this project take to make?
I started it in the summer of 2007 and it was complete in July 2008. I wanted to make a project with sturban clothing that really stood the test of time, and I guess by making all the tracks exclusive I have done that. I also wanted to do a DVD. I've wanted to do a DVD for ages, so I thought why not do it on this project.


So for those that don’t know tell us who features on the mixtape.
Well I always try and rep different endz. From Wolverhampton I got LATE, 10Shott, Jai Boo, Size8, A1, Conman and myself. I got some sick skits cut up by Jabba Tha Kut who also got me an exclusive from Magishan, and they are both from Bournemouth. I got Bristol being repped by Kelz and Trz aka The Souljah Clique, Bungle from Sheffield, Double E from Gloucestershire, Kid Rad from Lichfield, Unfriendly Neighbours from Tamworth, Deadline from Birmingham, Hard Livin from Essex, and London artists Swift It Major, Reain, Big Cakes, Logic, Manny Moscow, Cons from The Colony, Jimmy Raygun, Debonair, P.A.C and Yaeo.

And the DVD?
It features some of the people on the mixtape as well as Blak Twang, Million Dan, Supar Novar, an interview with HHBRadio.Com and a street artist from the Midlands called Matt "The Artist". There are a few unseen music videos too. It’s around an hour long because I didn’t want it to be boring.

UK Runnings has been moulding a string bond with sturban clothing. Tell us more about that.
Glyn is like family to me. He has always understood UK Runnings and what it is all about (promoting and pushing quality home-grown hip-hop music). We hooked up when he sponsored a volume of UK Runnings around 2005. The rest is history... Since then we’ve done a total of three mixtape releases ("sturban clothing Mix", "Music For The MySpace Generation" and now "100% Exclusive"), I also do a monthly radio show which is broadcast on sturban clothing website (to listen go to the website at www.sturbanclothing.com, scroll down and at the bottom left hand corner simply click Urban Shop Radio. sturban clothing sponsor me throughout too, so you can guarantee if you ever see me in some sick garms and want to know where they are from they are from www.sturbanclothing.com.

So do you have a fourth mix planned?
Yes we do, it won’t be out until 2009, but the next release from us will be called "Urban Runnings". It will be a double CD that features different genres such as UK Hip-Hop, Grime, Dubstep and Drum’n’Bass. It’s going to feature some guest DJ’s.


And UK Runnings? Anything else planned there?
Well yeh, I am just compiling "Flying The Flag" which as a collaboration project with Lunatrix from HHBRadio.Com. That’s going to be a double CD with 50 tracks! Massive release with loads of exclusives.

So as a producer and mixtape DJ what else have you been up to Tricksta?
You know me, always got loads of projects on the go! I have just produced LATE’s debut album "Below Street Level" which a tight fourteen track CD that features the likes of Willie D from the Geto Boys, K-Rino and JT The Bigga Figga. Now I am starting to work on tracks for my debut album "Urban Mathematics" which is planned for a release late 2009/early 2010. There are other things I am producing too but I am sworn to secrecy! Mixtape wise, just done mixes with KB Da Kidnappa, Keak Da Sneak, The Jacka, 2025NYC.Com, LATE and many more.


What would you say have been your biggest achievements in Hip-Hop so far?
Releasing over fifty Hip-Hop CD’s on my own record label, all of them official, and all pressed up. No big thing for any USA record label, but for a bloke from the Black Country I think that’s a big statement! Working with some of the biggest names in the scene (both UK and USA), being asked to present the award to best Hip-Hop act at the UMA’s in 2007, Willie D from The Geto Boys rapping on one of my beats, producing a track on K-Rino’s last album that came out in the USA and putting my city on the Hip-Hop map. Big up everyone from Wolverhampton!



So where can you get "100% Exclusive"?
As with all Wolftown Recordings releases you can get them from HMV, Zaavi, iTunes, Play.Com etc, and if some reason they haven’t got it in stock everything is always on www.wolftownrecordings.com.

Okay before you go, anything else you want to say?
Yeh, I run a promotions company. Any UK or US artist looking to get exposure should get in touch www.myspace.com/parkstreetpromotions. Come and see why we got 5000 in three months of launching the MySpace page. There are more details on the website at www.parkstreetpr.co.uk.

Thanks for the chance to do this interview and much love to everyone involved in this project from Glyn at sturban clothing – check www.sturbanclothing.com and get yourself some new garmz, Luna & Vokal from OYM Media who dealt with the DVD and some music videos, all the artists that contributed to it and a massive shout out to the sponsors… Abuze London, Mada, Ambiguous Clothing and Nomis.

Interview by Alex Davello

March Radio show is live

Tricksta’s back once again! Yes folks ‘The Wolverhampton Wanderer’ returns with yet another exclusive radio show mix-up for The Urban Shop and as normal there’s plenty of quality diverse music included. There’s some super soulful American Hip-Hop by the likes Masta Ace, Devin The Dude and Common, as well as some nice breakbeat excursions from the likes of LTJ Bukem, Mr. Scruff, Nu Yorican Soul (Masters At Work) and Bugz In The Attic. MJ Cole, Roots Manuva, Sway, Portishead, Floetry, Jill Scott, Walworth Road Rockers, Akala, Miguel Migs, Kool And The Gang and Maceo & The Macks also feature making this months show an eclectic showcase of new and old music!

01 - Tricksta's Intro
02 - Masta Ace - Beautiful
03 - Roots Manuva - Witness (Walworth Road Rockers Dub)
04 - Mr Scruff - Ug
05 - Jill Scott - Golden
06 - Stereo MC's - Connected
07 - Akala - Dead Prezidents
08 - Devin the Dude - She Useta Be
09 - Maceo & The Macks - Soul Power
10 - Kool And The Gang - Jungle Boogie
11 - Sway - Products
12 - Floetry Feat Common - Superstar
13 - MJ Cole - Sincere
14 - Blue Six - Pure (Miguel Migs Petalpusher Vocal Mix)
15 - LTJ Bukem - Poets of Thought
16 - Madlib - I Love Marijuana
17 - NuYorican Soul - Jazzy Jeff's Theme
18 - Amy Winehouse - In My Bed (Bugz In The Attic Dub)
19 - Portishead - Give Me A Reason To Love You
20 - Tricksta's Outro (Produced by Tricksta)

As always The Urban Shop would like to thank Tricksta for all his contributions and efforts… make sure you check out Tricksta’s related web-links;

Tricksta MySpace
UK Runnings
UK Runnings & The Urban Shop
Wolftown Recordings
RAGO Magazine
Park Street PR

‘National Anthems Part Two’

The UK’s number one mixtape DJ and our main man Tricksta is back once again. Hot on the heels of Tricksta’s last ‘UK only’ mixtape ‘The Urban Shop Mix’, comes Part Two to the success ‘National Anthems Mixtape’ that he dropped last summer. Once again it features the cream of the crop including some unreleased material by the likes of Akala, Conman, LATE, Reveal, Baby Blue, Big Wayne, Swift It Major, Mr. Ti2bs and Size8 from Vicious Circle, as well as contributions from the likes of Sway, Klashnekoff, MD7, Mike GLC, Kyza, Lowkey, Alex Blood and Def1. Tricksta’s selection once again kills it, making this the perfect compilation mix CD to buy if you like home-grown hip-hop. Big up the Wolftown camp for supporting all styles of hip-hop and always reppin the UK.

Wolftown Recordings / MySpace / UK Runnings

Review by Brendan Deane

National Anthems Mixtape

Finally got the National Anthems mixtape up from Tricksta / UKRunnings / Wolftown. I think the track listing speaks for itself so nuff said get listening.

National Anthems Mixtape

Track Listings

1. TRICKSTA – The Intro
2. LETHAL & DESTRUCTION – Exclusive UK Runnings Dubplate
3. MR TI2BS – Shottaz Freestyle
4. BABY BLUE Feat. SWAY, SAS, BIGZ, SINCERE, PYRELLI – I Still Don’t Care
5. P.A.C Feat VALU – Complex Theory
6. RIFF RAFF Feat SKINNYMAN – Oh My Gosh
7. ESTELLE – Too Long
8. 10SHOTT – Haters Freestyle
9. CONSPICOUS Feat. SEANIE T & WILLO – And So I Blessed It - (CHEMO Remix)
10. DEF-1 Feat RUCKUS – Hustle Everyday
11. CRAZE 24 – Young Guards
12. BLEMISH BLACKSTORM – Blood Pressure
13. MOORISH DELTA 7 – Levels
14. MR MANAGE Feat SHAMELESS, LOWKEY, DOC BROWN, ORIFICE of FOREIGN BEGGARS & SKINNYMAN – Speakers Corner
15. RELOAD feat IZZY G – Bars From Da Bassment
16. SUPARNOVAR Feat. WORDSMITH – Move Over
17. GENESIS ELIJAH Feat. WORDSMITH, SKRIBLA, KYZA, KLASHNEKOFF – Gun Talk
18. JUTTLA & ALEX BLOOD – On Da Low
19. LATE Feat. JAI BOO – On The Grind
20. VERB T – The Soul Survives
21. T.B a.k.a TUBERCULOSIS – Bless U
22. RUCKUS feat TY, KLASHNEKOFF & YOGI – Let It Go Remix
23. SIZE 8 – Let It Go Freestyle
24. TRZ feat KELZ (SOULJAH CLIQUE) – Never Ending Fairytale
25. CONSPICOUS, COBANE, 10SHOTT, BIG WAYNE, SUPARNOVAR, BIG BEN, JAI BOO, LATE, CONMAN, RELOAD, IZZY G, DASS – Juice
26. TRICKSTA – The Outro

Urban Shop Radio Show update

There's a new show on site a lot lighter feel than the last show just so you notice the difference and now we also have a tracklisting and now we have a nice new graphic to promote the show.

1. Marvin Gaye – Sanctified Lady
2. Damien Marley Feat Nas – Road To Zion
3. Eric B & Rakim – Move The Crowd
4. The Jackson Sisters – I Believe In Miracles
5. Doug Lazy – Let It Roll
6. Park Street PR Advert
7. 10Shott – All In The Blood
8. Maceo & The Macks – Cross The Tracks
9. LATE Feat K-Rino – I’m A Saint A Sinner
10. Jimmy Hendrix – Voodoo Child
11. Iggy Pop & The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog
12. Dr. Alimantado – Best Dressed Chicken In Town
13. Conman – You Cant Knock Our Hustle
14. Gil Scott Heron – The Bottle
15. ??? – Inna Dance Hall Style
16. Size8 – Golden
17. UK Runnings Radio Advert


Thank to Frame for the graphics and tricksta for the show if you ae feeling the Tricksta vibe check the UK Running show sponsored by The Urban Shop on HHBRadio every Thursdays fro 8-9pm

The UK Runnings Radio Show

Tricksta present “The UK Running Radio Show” Sponsored by The Urban Shop every Thursday 8-9 pm GMT starting 27th March. The show will be 60 minutes of non stop UK hip hop with a mix of exclusive interviews.

HHBradio

Believe the Hype

One of the UK’s leading forces in Hip-Hop mixtapes ‘UK Runnings’ teams up with one of the leading urban clothing on-line clothing stores ‘The Urban Shop’ for an exclusive mixtape sponsored by four of the world’s leading clothing lines. Planet Earth, Mada, Ambiguous and Fly 53. UK Runnings was originally founded by Wolftown Recordings CEO Tricksta and to date has released Volumes 1, 2, 2.5, 3 (hosted by LATE), 4 (hosted by 10SHOTT), 5 (hosted by JAI BOO), 6 (hosted by CONMAN), as well the nationally distributed ‘National Anthems Mixtape’ and the well received ‘The Old Skool Mix’. Always pushing and promoting UK rap through his label, his mixtapes, his club bookings & gigs, or even through the magazines and websites he writes for; Tricksta is fully backing this UK movement and really is one of the hardest working individuals in the UK scene.

The Urban Shop is without a doubt one of the UK’s leading urban clothing stores. You may have recently seen the advert on Channel U or maybe you are already in the know and already shop there! They stock over 70 different brands including labels like Addict, Fenchurch, WESC and Zoo York as well as all the new ranges by the sponsors of this mixtape Planet Earth, Mada, Ambiguous and Fly 53. Whatever you’re clothing needs The Urban Shop has it going on, plus every order comes with FREE delivery.

UK Runnings & The Urban Shop first hooked up at the end of 2004 when The Urban Shop under their previous name of Headstrong sponsored UK Runnings Volume 4 hosted by 10Shott. Since then, UK Runnings & The Urban Shop have both helped each other in numerous cross promotions. Now with the birth of this new mixtape showcasing some of the best UK rap acts in the scene as well a bonus ‘Classic Roots Mix’, these two independent forces have created a future classic.

Kicking off with the excellent BABY J produced ‘Black & White’ by YOGI; there is a definite reggae and soul vibe running throughout the mix. BLAK TWANG’s ‘96’ anthem also features, as does THE BLACKNIFICENT 7’s ‘Stay Black’ and TY’s ‘Closer’. MALIK (MD7), DOC BROWN, SUPAR NOVAR, MR.TI2BS, KYZA and KLASHNEKOFF also feature alongside Wolftown favourites LATE, 10SHOTT, CONMAN, RELOAD, JAI BOO and DASS, as well as some superb tracks by up & coming talent such as BIG CAKES, DOUBLE E, KID RADICAL, TBEAR, SWIFT IT MAJOR, BLAQ I and THE DEVIUS. Roots Reggae fans will love the last twenty minutes of the mix too, as Tricksta drops a Roots Mix featuring classic cuts by U ROY, ISREAL VIBRATION, BIG YOUTH and DUB SYNDICATE rounding the mix off in a true original style!!!

Tricksta presents "UK Runnings Vol 5 Hosted by Jai Boo"

After five years of consistently releasing underground mixtapes, Tricksta’s infamous UK Runnings Mixtape series is back once again with another slamming’ mixtape packed full of the best home-grown hip-hop these shores has to offer. This time around it’s sponsored by one of the UK’s leading on-line clothing stores; The Urban Shop ,who have also teamed up with UK Runnings for a special limited edition mixtape to be released soon. This is a collection of forty tracks mixed and selected by Tricksta and hosted by Wolftown’s first lady Jai Boo (pronounced Jay Boo). Jai Boo first came into the hip-hop game back at the turn of the century when she featured on the classic ‘Welcome 2 Wolftown’ album by Villains. Since then she has featured heavily on Wolftown Recordings releases as well as making appearances on various UK and US mixtapes. Here we get to hear some of brand new superb tracks off her forthcoming ‘Lioness Ya Car Tame’ mixtape as well as some exclusive freestyles and collaborations. UK Runnings Volume 5 is another classic mixtape as it features a barrage of female talent including Jai Boo, Baby Blue, Miss Dynamite, Shystie, Tor and Rawality, as well as heavy hitters Terra Firma, Mr, Ti2bs, Supar Novar, Reveal, LATE, MC Skeme, Blak Twang, 10Shott, Pyrelli, Tef Co, Conman, Souljah Clique, Big Wayne and Yung Gun, next to some real good up and coming talent like Reload, Double E, Swift It Major, Blaq I, Grit, Reain, Kid Radical and Inner Circuit amongst others. This mix is tight so please support and spread the word on UK Runnings and Jai Boo… it is safe to say that the Lioness has finally been let out the cage!! Enjoy.