Hip-hop in England is wack. It’s just corny people on the scene – it’s just a load of bullshit. In my opinion it’s just rubbish. People are just lost and confused, following fashion and trends. They’re not really doing what’s in their heart or following hip-hop – they’re just doing what they think they should be doing in the modern times. The tag ‘UK Hip-Hop’ is a load of nonsense. Hip-hop is hip-hop in my world.
Ripped Open By Metal Explosions comes through again with a rare compilation cd from UK based Big Daddy Magazine (which I believe is no longer around). Word up.
The “Off The Ropes” compilation CD that came with an issue of the late, great Big Daddy Magazine outta the UK was my intro to the P Brothers. That right there is reason enough to check it out. Speaking of P Brothers and intros, their (exclusive to this release) intro to the CD makes Fat Joe’s “Yeah” the warrior call for all swamp dwelling Mantronix drum machines to be hurled through Marshall stacks the world over (check the Roc Marci drop). You would think it would be hard to follow such a bombastic intro (like the Bomb Squad hooking up the intro to a D’Angelo LP), but the crate savvy minds at Big Daddy hand picked some of the tastiest treats they were covering in the accompanying magazine and seasoned them with a liberal dose of UK tunes that were unheard by any of us in the states. The Paul Nice produced Biz Markie track has got to be Biz’s best track of the 2K’s. Rodney P’s “Murderer Style” is like Robitussin drenched dancehall on dust. Shit is evil. Plus you get a bunch of tracks off limited 45’s that have come and gone. Big Daddy eventually became Grand Slam which also included some dope CD comps, but died after a short run. Former editor George Mahood now runs the online shop Concourse Records.
Since the Karma360 joint has been bootlegged over the web and is even for sale as mp3s ( nothing to do with me ) then its best for you to get it from the source and download from my page.
For those keeping it really real and supporting vinyl then be one of the 500 and grab a copy.
Whilst you have the wallet open then the P Brothers ‘Gas’ LP is nearly on us … Vivit Post Funera Virtus … ya get me!
Earlier this month when I ordered my copy of the vinyl I sent Ed an email alerting him to the bootleg sites and asking him about what he thinks. This was his response:
i was going to leave a reply but I wasnt registered so left it. Would have been as follows :
“Nice piece - I sent a few ( like 10 ) CDs out for promotion on Karma360 and one found its way to be bootlegged - now its literally all over the web … I’ve even found sites selling mp3s of the track! I can’t see how sticking to vinyl and download can help - its only one simple step to get them to be mp3 files and then do what you want with ‘em. Even myspace you can record the track if its not downloadable and do whatever. I understand the argument that its ‘promotion’ but, as you said, its not. If it was there would be links to buy the vinyl? to contact the artist? Back in the day the ‘mixtape’ spread the word - copied and copied and copied again - but we wanted ‘proper’ ownership of the music - which meant buying the vinyl - the tape was just the ‘menu’ … vinyl was the main course arriving. Now people accept they are happy to not own anything … just a harddrive with some 0s and 1s on then theres no second step ( other than in the minds of the few ) - you have all you need already on your computer/ipod/whatever - I can’t see that you can call independent artists ‘money hungry’ … shit - if I break even it will be a miracle… but I can’t stop because I owe hip hop for all its given me.
1.ED
And here is my response:
Ed,
I find it very funny that you sent me that link because I wrote that.
It’s kind of strange that you found it on what appears to be a news aggregating blog. Also disappointing as it seems grandgood is being de-indexed from google, but that’s another story I won’t bore you with.
Thank you for sending your feedback. My original post was an attempt at sarcasm and subtle advice. I don’t actually believe independent artists are money hungry. I think bootleggers need to take into consideration that independent artists are entitled to some form of compensation. But I also see that independent artists can’t rely on others for their own benefit. They need to act on their own behalf. My advice isn’t necessarily to stick solely to vinyl. It is to use vinyl as promotional tool (the physical product that many people still want) but also to be “first to market” with mp3 distribution. In other words, from my experience, fans of your music that are willing to pay for your product are very interested in listening to the music, literally, as soon as it is possible. They would prefer not to wait around. If you are the one that makes the mp3s available first, then I believe the fans will support you with money, as long as it is reasonabley priced. But historically it is bootlegging sites that have made mp3s available first. Which I strongly believe is one of the main reasons they are successful in their dealings.
Thanks again for hitting me back. If you don’t mind, I will publish this on our site.
Chill,
This is raw, unadulterated hip-hop. Support if you can. Visit ED209°. Cop that P Brothers when it drops.
Robbie points us to the recently revealed snippets mix for the P Brothers’ upcoming album. “The Gas” is set for release this August on Heavy Bronx. Skip to 2:39 to hear my favorite track, “New Religion”, which I included in my audiocast mix for this past april. Bangin!
Brand new music from a variety of artists we respect. Special thank you to everyone that sent in material. Please go out and support your favorite artists and they will support you. Participation is critical. Thank goodness for contemporary rap.
Dopefiend Beatnigs Feat. Dave Dub - Under the Streets
Third Sight - Baghdad
Jay Electronica - When the Levees Broke
La The Darkman - Doing It Again
Siah and Yeshua - Hairy Bird intro
Zest The Smoker - Micalina and the End
Matt Gamin - No One Rides for Free
K6A - As Tu Vu LHeure - (Smile) beat by Smilé
The Package - Hunt Or Be Hunted
Dashiell feat. p.e.a.c.e. and dj bobba - Automatic Diplomatic
Supa Koopa and Outkome - Fame
Nym - and then it dawned on me
Thoughts - freestyle [Recorded by CV]
Ivan Ives - Back From Amsterdam
L.I.F.E. Long & UG of Cella Dwellas - Skrypt Keepahs
Aamir, 2Mex, Bigg Jus, Xczircles & K-The-I - City Of Lights
Little Vic - Sister Morphine
The Grouch - Never Die
Improv Logic - Missing Piece
Ivan Ives - Love Letter
The Grouch & Murs - The Bay To LA
La The Darkman & Willie The Kid - Hand On My Glock
Smoothe Da Hustler - Way Back (Pioneer Tribute)
Ariano, 2Mex & LifeRexall - All We Have
in order of appearance:
noam chomsky / alaska in winter - balkan low rider anthem
9th prince - vandalism ft. tekitha, prod by freedom
p brothers - new religion ft. boss money
smoothe da hustler - home of the brave
g unit - grimey
l.i.f.e. long - skrypt keepahs ft. u.g. of the cella dwellas
guilty simpson - the american dream
chomskylude / free the robots - the bearded lady theme
living legends - the after hours (extended euro mix)
matt gamin - unknown
portishead - plastic
force mcs - live at broadway international (circa 1983)
