Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

As Christmas Eve begins to draw to a close I thought it only right to wish you all a very Merry Xmas.
All the readers, supporters and listeners to ABU! who've been there throughout the year, from the bottom of my heart - and more importantly - the heart of my bottom, thank you all.

I'm having a bit of a break and flying off to NYC with Mrs Repo on Boxing Day but don't worry, I'll be sharing my holiday snaps soon enough with you asap - is that a threat or a promise? I'm high on Christmas booze so you decide.

Take care and have a good one,

Repo136


P.s.
As a special bonus here is a brief Christmas show from Waxer (Disco Scratch) that he put together yesterday.
It's a collection of all the festive voicemails received recently on the DS Hotline along with some superb Duck Alert beats.
You must check it out!




 P.s.s. while I'm still here, best to let you know that there will not be an ABU show this month. The Podcast returns to burn in 2017. Watch the riiiiiiiiide!

The No Half Steppin' Xmas Jam 2016

Tonight is the The No Half Steppin' Xmas Jam 2016.
On the bill....Chrome and Illinspired (with DJ Super JB), Uncle Mic Nitro, Heavy Links, The Juice MCs, Sinista and Morph (POTF) with DJs Just-1, Repo and Palma. The night will be hosted by Illinspired.

Doors open at 7pm with free entry all night.
It will be dope. Be there!
 

The ABU Polystylism Soundtrack Show

Originally broadcast on Thursday 8th December 2016 on Disco Scratch Radio (http://discoscratch.co.uk).

Polystylism is a monthly, hour long, open-genre music show where anyone can decide where the listening experience takes you with their own playlist.

As I'm a lifelong fan of music and film I decided to dedicate 60 minutes to television and movie soundtracks. The majority of my selection is focussed on my childhood viewing habits so there are a fair few themes from the late 1970s and early 80s.

Plug in some headphones and relax in the nostalgic glow of the ABU Polystylism experience.

The tracklisting is in the comments but I recommend not looking until the show has finished for maximum enjoyment.

Pip-pip!
Squadron Leader Reepz

November Podcast DOWNLOAD (#64)

November's Podcast is now in the bag. If you didn't reach on Thursday night then you can check it out at your leisure - obviously it would be better if you got off your lazy arse and tuned in when it went out live, but I don't mind. Not at all.
Just be aware that I know where you live. I know your secrets. I know you still have Freddie - your childhood bear - in close proximity. Just tune in on the last Thursday of the month and we shall say no more.

Toodle-pip, gang!

Lovemaster Repo B




If you want to know what's coming up in the show instead of waiting for the surprise then here it is. Go nuts, dude.


01  The James Gang - Ashes, The Rain And I
02  Lex Horton - The Theme from Vice City
03  Freshco & Miz - We Dont Play
04  Jorun Bombay - Hip Hop Family Tree Pt 1
05  Divine Styler - Ain't Sayin Nothin
06  The Fabreeze Brothers - All Out War
07  Remark - The Remarkable 1 - Soul
08  Grandmaster Melle Mel And The Furious Five - Beat Street Breakdown
09  Sir Ibu Of Divine Force - I'm The Peacemaker
10  Vic's Club Singer Quiz!
11  A Tribe Called Quest - We The People (We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service)
12  Eric B And Rakim - My Melody
Ads
13  Ice T - Ya Don't Quit
14  ODB - Shimmy Shimmy Ya
15  Jan Hammer - Crockett's Theme (Extended 12'' Mix)

Dope Doubleness
16  Gang Starr -Take It Personal
17  Gang Starr -Jazz Thing (Video Mix)

18   Mister Jason Presents Frankensteez - Mister Jason Has A Posse (DJ Format´s A-Z Of Classic Breaks Remix)

The Funk Trunk
19  DJ Mark N  - Live 7" Throwdown Vol.1 (Breakbeats)

20  Rammellzee - Paint To Pave The Road (Sam Sever Remix)

Roots Of The Roots
21  Colonel Abrams - Trapped (

22  Public Enemy - Shut Em Down (LP Version & Pe-te Rock Mixx)
23  Flipout - Flippin' Bob Part 1
24  Diamond D - Check One, Two


Also check out:

https://theremarkable1.bandcamp.com/album/7-soul-being-human
https://soundcloud.com/k-delight/scratch-club-free-download
https://flipoutmusic.bandcamp.com/

5 Rock Veterans Who Can't Handle Hip-Hop

Gene Simmons: "I am looking forward to the death of rap"

I think we're all aware that not everybody likes us - but we don't care.
Ageing old rockers declaring that they think 'rap is crap' has been going on since the days of the Sugarhill Gang and isn't anything new at all.
However, bucking the trend are 5 rock stars who DO like hip-hop as well.

So read on and let's cheer those with sense and hiss & boo those without.


Click here

ABU Podcast #64 November 2016

This Thursday (24th November) is of course, the ABU Podcast.
At 9pm be sure to be at http://discoscratch.co.uk/radio/

And there is a brand-new, spanky chatroom over at Disco Scratch Chat
which, if you haven't used before, will require you to login. It takes seconds. Do it.

This is probably our bestest show we've ever done. Ever. Honest.
At least until next month.

Love and stuff,

Mister Reeeeepo

Record Review - Remark - Soul b/w Being Human

"Can't Deny It, 'Cos There's More Than Meets The Eye"

There is a sense of heavy urgency with a huge, busy beat helping the song to convey it's message in this full-on sonic assault.
The a-side, 'Soul' is a return to form from Sublime Wizardry MC, Remark aka The Remarkable One as this 7" offering (a self-released, totally independent exercise) shows.
The layered samples are reminiscent of Public Enemy production circa 1990 (the "I know you got soul' vocal sample is a subtle nod) and work well in this isolated aural paranoia where the one lone voice is screaming out a message of sanity.
At points there is so much going on in the mix that Remark's voice is almost enveloped by the production which is a shame as 7" Soul is one of the more salient pieces of wax in this increasing world of fluffy, throwaway rap.

'Being Human' on the flipside begins with more great cuts from DJ Tones as he rips up the legendary pop-ska group, Madness. This is a much smoother track but not easy like a Sunday morning kind of smooth. Still keeping that wicked flow over an almost dub-heavy rhythm with crashing, full-flavoured reverby, as-fat-as-ya-like snares.

As much as I love both tracks I really do like the production on Being Human more and I'm not sure why. It's very subtle but maybe it's just the little touches like the reversed keys at the intro or the extra crunching drums that come in just at the right time.

Remark always has that experimental steez with non-compromising lyrics destined to make you think while you nod your head and clap your hands to what he's doing - always on tempo, Jack.
In the background providing the extra sheen is DJ Tones polishing that wax like Mr Miyagi. Super-quick and clean cuts just elevate Remark's vocals and give the songs that further stroke of professionalism.

As well as producing this fat slab of wax The Remarkable 1 has also overseen a music video for each cut. Taking that Roy Castle approach and bringing the dedication because that's what we need.

This release is available now on limited edition 7" vinyl and digital download. Go HERE to get your copy but hurry if you want the physical.

Ever forward, ever upwards.
Listen, I don't care who you are. Go out and buy. This. Record.
Food for ya cranium lets you see the essential, chomp it all down and release your potential. Don't be another flunky bowing down, deferential, this is what you need to become influential.

Support UK rap.


Being Human
 


Soul
  x

ABU October Podcast - Mouth Breathers Mixtape

Well folks, here is the latest and oh, so greatest, ABU Podcast.
However I must quickly say that ABU is only one-third of this fantastic 2-hour special.
Together with Digging 4 Victory and Disco Scratch this podcast is an homage to Stranger Things with stacks of hip-hop, synth-based soundscapes and all manner of audio delights. All mixed up and served to you in a solid style you just won't hear anywhere else.
Even if you haven't seen this drama series from Netflix you will still enjoy this three-pronged mix.

Please listen and share. It's been getting hot reactions all over the place!

Tonight's ABU Halloween Podcast

This is it!
Tonight at 9pm is the ABU Podcast - The Mouth Breathers Mixtape - a homage to Stranger Things featuring LG of Style Warrior/Digging 4 Victory and Waxer of Disco Scratch and us, Ageing B-Boys Unite! all combining to bring you a 2-hour audio scarefest.

Get over to http://www.discoscratch.co.uk/radio NOW and choose your media player to stream the show.

Also there is a new chatroom being trialed tonight in parallel with the show.
Go to https://discordapp.com/channels/240597410324283393/240597410324283393 and register (it takes seconds) so that you can interact with other listeners.

See you there. No excuses!

ABU Podcast October Super Special

Ladies and gentlemen.....

This Thursday is the ABU Podcast Thursday. I am being welcomed by my fellow music men - LG from Digging 4 Victory and Waxer from Disco Scratch - as we do our second collaboration this year.

Now, over the summer all three of us were enthralled by an 8-part supernatural drama series on Netflix called, Stranger Things. In brief, it is set in 1983 and focusses on a little rural town in Indiana in the USA and a bunch of childhood friends of which one of whom goes missing.
Imagine a spooky tv series directed by Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter back in the early 1980s featuring a great period synth-laden soundtrack and you're halway there.

With Halloween on the horizon we decided to get together and produce a 2-hour mixtape with each of us concentrating on a specific part of the series of no more than 40-minutes long.

Make sure you tune in to hear the results this coming Thursday (27th) from 9pm on http://discoscratch.co.uk/radio. Groundbreaking stuff.

If Stranger Things has largely passed you by then check out the trailer below and see what you think.

Andy Cooper (Ugly Duckling) - It Was James Brown

Fantastic single from Ugly Duckling's frontman, Andy Cooper.
'It Was James Brown' is a great little ditty showing how much of an influence JB has been on hip-hop - not that we needed reminding, but this is nicely-produced using short snippets of the 'Godfather''s greatest hits.
At just two minutes long though it leaves you wanting a whole lot more.

We Got Twitter, Yo

Ageing B-Boys....keeping up to date like it was 2009, yo.
We got our Twitter groove on. Just check to the right of the page - if you're on a laptop/PC.
Those fancypants kids on smartphones don't get this option unless you select 'view web version'.

Keep up to date with all the useless drivel that we're too lazy to write about in the blog.

ABU - we're gifted and we're goin' far.

Pip-pip,
Repo

CrumplStock #5 Festival REMINDER

Just a reminder that it's the CrumplStock #5 DJ Festival starting tomorrow.
Head to the main CrumplStock page then select the RAYCHELLE'S ABU GET DOWN STAGE.

It kicks off at 7pm Friday.
Here's the revised line-up.

http://crumplebangers.com/crumplstock/raychelles-ABU-Get-Down/

Friday 7th October (GMT)

1900 - Dren (http://mixlr.com/33dren/)
2000 - Kevin (http://mixlr.com/fak)
2100 - Jason (http://mixlr.com/mr-jason)
2200 - Repo (http://mixlr.com/repo136)
2300 - Deathhop (http://mixlr.com/deathhop)
0000 - Dayle (http://mixlr.com/the-boogie-down-under-radio-show)


Saturday 8th October (GMT)

2000 - Pom (http://mixlr.com/pomdeter/)
2100 - Garry (http://mixlr.com/garry-andrew-potter)
2200 - Shan (http://mixlr.com/shand/)
2300 - Berty (http://mixlr.com/electroberty)

ABU Down By Law Podcast #63 Sept 2016 DOWNLOAD

Here's the brand-new Down By Law show from ABU.
Check it, it's a cracker!
Some classics as always, a few new cuts, a spotlight on the new breed of 'rappers' ("mumble rappers") as well as my exclusive 30-minute Style Wars megamix (which has only ever been heard once on a previous Guided Minds radio show by SteveB) all shoehorned together in that inimitable ABU fashion.

As always big up to Waxer @Disco Scratch.

01  Run DMC - Here We Go (Live At the Funhouse)
02  Whodini - Freaks Come Out At Night (Jorun Bombay Remix)
03  Lovebug Starski - Live At The Disco Fever
04  Sweet Tee - It's Like that Y'all'
05  Nubian Crackers - Yes Yes Yall, You Don't Stop
06  Leaders Of The New School – Bring That Strong Island Sound Back
07  Grand Surgeon & Spoonie Gee – Yes Yes Y’all
08  Mumble Rappers
09  Big Daddy Kane - Set It Off
10  Kool G Rap And DJ Polo - Poison
11  Eric B And Rakim - Follow The Leader
12  Daddy Freddy On Record Breakers
13  SL2 - On A Ragga Tip
14  Jah Screechy - Walk And Skank
15  Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper
16  Eazy-E - Radio
17  Nas - Represent
18  Repo's Style Wars Mix for Guided Minds Radio Show

THE FUNK TRUNK
19  Stevie Wonder - Superstition (Multitrack Mix by Anton B.)

ROOTS OF THE ROOTS
20  Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic

Telmak Rap Attack!
21  Magic Wand
22  Buffalo Girls
23  The Message
(with special thanks to Dayle for these)

24  DJ Shadow - Nobody Speak (feat. Run The Jewels)
25  Electro Rock Theme Tune (DJ Sugar E's remix)
26  Reeno - Where Is Georgio?

Hip Hop Night on BBC Four

Rodney P

Tonight it's Hip Hop Night on BBC Four from 9pm!

21.00 - 22.30 - Hip-Hop World News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vxmxt)

Embarking on an immersive authored journey, Rodney P reveals a fascinating alternative version of reality as seen from the perspective of a culture which was created in the black and Latino ghettos of 1970s New York, and has since evolved into a world-dominating cultural powerhouse.

22.30 - 23.30 - Rubble Kings (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vxmxw)
Documentary that tells the story of how hip-hop was vital to the truce that ended the near-apocalyptic level of gang violence in New York during the 1960s and 70s.
 
23.30 - 00.30 - Hip Hop At The BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017zrm5)

Hip-hop through the decades from the BBC archives, including the Sugarhill Gang in 1979, Run DMC, LL Cool J and Eric B & Rakim in the 80s, Ice T, Monie Love, Fugees and The Roots in the 90s and concluding with Dr Dre & Eminem, Dizzee Rascal and Jay-Z.

ABU Podcast #63 Sept 2016 - TONITE!

Big Daddy Kane | Nas | Sweet Tee | Stevie Wonder | SL2 | Style Wars | DJ Shadow | Jimi Hendrix | Daddy Freddy & much, much more…!
Listen to the Podcast at 9pm tonight on http://discoscratch.co.uk/
Join the chatroom: https://vector.im/beta/#/room/#discoscratch:matrix.org

Oh, and from now until further notice I dub thee oh Podcast as Down By Law. Ok? Cool!

Marvel Goes Hip Hop

The artists of world-renowned comic book behemoth MARVEL have been having a go at creating classic hip hop albums with some of their comic superhero family.
Dopeness!

CrumplStock #5 Festival

The next CrumplStock (virtual DJ) festival is on the way. This is #5 and the stage you will be interested in is Raychelle's ABU Get Down Stage.
This stage runs on the Friday & Saturday, 7th/8th October.
First DJ is up at 6pm and the last goes on as late as you wish (although usually by 1am).
Each DJ has a STRICT one-hour slot.
You NEED to have signed up with a Mixlr account (http://mixlr.com - it's free). This URL will be unique to you and will be the only way the audience will know where you are and hear you.

Wanna be a part of this? Do it live or pre-recorded it is up to you.

If you want to be involved, comment below and choose your preferred time slot. First come, first served.

N.b. The majority of the names have already been entered from the ABU Facebook group. Join it now!

Friday 7th October (GMT)
1800
1900 - Dren
2000 - Kevin (http://mixlr.com/fak)
2100 - Waxer (http://mixlr.com/disco-scratch)
2200 - Repo (http://mixlr.com/repo136)
2300 - Deathhop (http://mixlr.com/deathhop)
0000 - Dayle (http://mixlr.com/the-boogie-down-under-radio-show)
0100 - Jason (http://mixlr.com/mr-jason)


Saturday 8th October (GMT)
1800
1900
2000
2100 - Garry (http://mixlr.com/garry-andrew-potter)
2200 - Shan
2300 - Berty (http://mixlr.com/electroberty)
0000
0100

No Half Steppin' September 2016

Norwich's NO HALF STEPPIN' returns after the summer break for more blistering evenings of classic hip hop, electro and breaks in the Underbelly of The Rumsey Wells pub in the heart of the city.
A late addition to the lineup is ILLINSPIRED who seems to appear less and less these days so grab him while you can.

Free entry from 8pm until late.
Get on down and partay.

Digging 4 Victory Show #16 September 2016

Get a load of this, ladies and gents. It's the latest show from Style Warrior counterpart, Digging 4 Victory and it's a corker.
Show #16 (September 2016) features music from Brand X, Steve Miller Band, Hammer, Shirley Bassey and MFSB, Stateless, 2 Banks of 4 and Ben E King plus more.

Jump in!

Direct link: https://www.mixcloud.com/digging4victory/digging-4-victory-show-16-september-2016/

Hip Hop Rap Attack - The Telmak Mixtape

Remember those mostly well-meaning but ultimately crappy compilations that hit the High Streets in the early 80s to cash in on the new breakdancing craze?
Remember how they used their in-house artists to recreate popular songs of the time such as Rockit? Or the legendary Alex And The City Crew? K-Tel's classic "Electric Breakdance"?
Can you believe that an even better* series of albums exists? Search the name 'Telmak' and you'll find some truly unique songs.
Relive those great memories with this from Dayle Dickson. The version of The Message is brilliant* and worth the admission price alone with its' surreal lyrical adaptation and crazy MC. And the utterly hilarious versions of It's All In Mr Magic's Wand as well as Buffalo Gals. 

You honestly couldn't write this.
And neither could these 'artists' either - their lyrical substitutions for misheard words are priceless.

*It's not.

Seal Of Approval - Vintage Hip Hop Gig TONITE!

If you happen to be in Norwich tonight then drop into NORTH (7-9 Fye Bridge Street, NR3 1LJ) where DJ MR JASON and myself are playing some vintage electro and hip hop.

Come and say hello! It's free! (the event, that is, not communicating with me. Talking to me costs, and right here is where you start paying).

Record Reviews - DJ Shadow and De La Soul

So here are two huge names in hip hop -  although one moreso in EDM circles these days - both with new-ish albums released this year.
I plonked myself down in my ABU chair and forced myself to listen to them.

Up first was De La's 'De La Soul and the Anonymous Nobody...'.
This was all produced with the help of Joe Bloggs off the street, meaning it was a publicly-funded effort rather than funded by a record company. I remember reading about the campaign to help out and the emphasis on the fact that there would be NO samples and that everything would be created in-house to cut down on any copyright wrangles (cough, 3 Feet High & Rising...).

All well-meaning I'm sure you'll agree. However the finished product comes off sounding rather lacklustre. The beats are by no means as suicide-inducing as Dre's for his Compton album of 2015 but then De La have branched out to the more erm, experimental audience during their tenure and show no signs of changing direction any time soon.
Guest spots adorn the long-player and artists such as Snoop Dogg, Jill Scott, David Byrne, Damon Albarn, 2Chainz and.... Justin Hawkins(!) and splattered all over the place.
Now I'm not a big fan of multiple guests on albums be they singers or producers and prefer less to give it a more focused direction. But hey, more artists means more fanbases being hit, right?

After solid listen I can honestly say that none of the tracks stayed with me afterwards which is a real shame considering the talent that was involved. Would Prince Paul have made it any better? Well, he couldn't have made it any worse.
I remember only a few months ago being sent a link to a "lost" track from the De La Soul Is Dead recording sessions via De La's mailing service. This song was better than anyone on display here.
This quote taken from a Discogs review of 'Anonymous...' sums up my feelings, "...this sounds like someone from Radio 6 music kidnapped De La and made them make an album they could play to the 50 something beard-strokers and wannabe Hip Hoppers".

So, in summary, crowd-funded but not entirely crowd-pleasing album that looks better on paper than listened to on your headphones.


Now onto DJ Shadow....

Since 1996's Endtroducing....., Shadow has desperately tried to distance and reinvent himself from that mid-90s beatmaking 'trip hop' head. Each subsequent album has progressed in terms of ideas and concepts not to mention studio tricks yet has lost a lot of funk each time.
2016's The Mountain Will Fall has some great moments and almost reminds you of how great he can be before everything after The Private Press happened.
The majority of ideas and contributions here are Shadow's with minimal input from other artists although when he does have a guest with him then they feel like they should be there rather than included for pure record sales. Run The Jewels almost steal the album with Nobody Speak and it's bluesy-guitars based hip hop plodder. The video for this is pure brilliance, too.
The Sideshow which features newcomer, Ernie Fresh is a great return to the turntablism tricks that Shadow showed us on The Number Song with crashing breaks and superb scratching.
Audio soundscapes are always on evidence with Shadow's work (Three Ralphs, Ashes to Oceans) and album-closer Suicide Pact is a perfect downtempo, late-night plodder with plenty of delay effects.

Over the years Shadow has shifted from straight up hip hop - not that Endtroducing..... was that at all - to the more EDM crowd and this album features plenty of bass and bleeps, however used correctly they are not cumbersome and feel right and not at all annoying.

ABU Show #62 August 2016 80s Groove Special DOWNLOAD

Here's last month's (August 2016) ABU! Podcast.
It was refreshing to do a mostly non-hip hop one for a change although I'm dying to get back to normality this month.

Enjoy!
And SHARE!

Listen here:


EDIT: Apparently the download link wasn't showing up anywhere which is a complete mystery. If it should happen to NOT be showing above then it has obviously nipped off into town down Cinderellas for the evening where it'll be sipping on some Hofmeister whilst wearing some Farah slacks, Pringle jumper and slip-on Timberland deck shoes. Probably.
In the event of this, please go directly to here: https://hearthis.at/repo136/62-abu-show-august-2016-80s-groove where it can be heard.
Thanks to the literally hundreds of listeners who alerted me to this omission.

That sound you can't hear right now is me pressing my silent Sarcasm Alarm.

Pip-pip!


Tracklisting 

01  The Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
02  Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
03  Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
04  Keni Burke - Rising To The Top
05  LL Cool J - Eat Em Up L, Chill (Chill Remix)

The Empire Strikes Back Trailer

06  Atmosfear - Dancing In Outer Space
07  Evelyn Champagne King - Love Come Down

Iranian Embassy Siege

08  Third World - Now That We've Found Love
09  Midnight Star - Midas Touch
The Long Good Friday Trailer
10  Blondie - Rapture
11  Rene & Angela - I'll Be Good

Ads/Breakin'.. Trailer

12  3V - Heart Of The Beat
13  Gwen Mccrae - All This Love That I'm Giving
14  Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
15  Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)

An American Werewolf in London Trailer

16  Tom Browne - Funkin' For Jamaica
17  Dexter Wansel - Life On Mars
18  The Blackbyrds - Rock Creek Park

Channel 4 Launch

19  Freeez - I.O.U.
20  Eddie Murphy - Party All The Time
21  Maze - Twilight
22  Booker Newbury III - Love Town
23  Meli'sa Morgan - Fool's Paradise

Zola Budd/Mary Decker 1984 Olympics

24  Wish & Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
25  Roy Ayers - Running Away

Kids TV Themes

26  Gibson Brothers - Cuba
27  Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida
28  Change - Searching
29  The Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets

Steinski's Lesson 3 (1985) Unlimited Remix Remastered

For all you Double Dee & Steinski fans this is some good news.
Go to Steinski's Soundcloud page and you will see that he has uploaded a new version of Lesson 3.
There are extended breaks throughout it sounds a little cleaner, too.

Here's Lesson 3 Remixed, Remastered, and Unlimited (actually just a touch). PLAY IT!
Please note, this version is not as loud as the other more compressed version. Take your pick, I think this sounds much better!
I found my original 8 track master tape, so here's my remix. PLAY IT!

Jump on it!

https://soundcloud.com/oubleeeandteinski/lesson-3-1985-unlimited-remix-remastered-2016


Thanks to Dayle for spotting this.

ABU Podcast August 2016 Show #62 80s Grooves Special

Tonight's ABU Podcast is a two-hour trip down Memory Lane.

We're going back to the early 1980s and revisiting a time of unforgettable soul and funk classics in an uncertain era from a British point of view.
Expect some classic tunes from the likes of Gwen Mccrae, Maze, Freeez as well as other sounds of the 80s to remind you of the period. Think Soul Weekender or Notting Hill Carnival (when it was good!) and all the grooves that were exploding on the scene until the middle of the decade.

Make sure you drop in from 9pm tonight (25th) to hear the show at http://discoscratch.co.uk/radio

Slammin' Rap

This is a blast from the past. Before Youtube us Brit kids had to rely on cable or satellite tv to see the latest hip hop videos from the US. Failing that there was a great but rather short-lived series of video cassettes that were released at the beginning of the 90-decker. I remember buying my first one from Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus. Luckily my local HMV began stocking them soon.
Slammin' Rap was a godsend to a lot of us and gave a great insight into a lot of what was going on - even though the freshness of this video series was long gone as they came out a lot later than the singles themselves.
A truly odd choice though to have Bill & Ted star, Alex Winter host the first one.


Slammin' Rap Video Magazine vol. 1 (1990)
Hosted by Alex Winter
Video Magazine Featuring Exclusive Interviews & Performances From The Following Artists: Big Daddy Kane / Ice-T & The Rhyme Syndicate / MC Hammer / Tone Loc / 3rd Bass / Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / Special Ed & DJ Action / Queen Latifah /Chuck D / KRS-One / Lakim Shabazz / Salt 'N' Pepa / Kid 'N' Play / Roxanne Shanté / Chuck Chillout & Kool Chip / Chris Rock / L'Trimm / Harry Allen.




Slammin' Rap Video Magazine vol. 2 (1991)
Video Magazine Featuring Exclusive Interviews & Performances From The Following Artists:
George Clinton / Def Jef / Tony! Toni! Toné! / Ice Cube / C.P.O. / Monie Love / Eazy-E / Father MC / Tairrie B. / Skatemaster Tate / Smooth Ice / '06 Style, The / A Tribe Called Quest / Daddy Freddy / Hi-Five / Three Times Dope / Laquan / Boogie Down Productions.




Slammin' Rap Video Magazine vol. 3 (1991)
Video Magazine Featuring Exclusive Interviews & Performances From The Following Artists:
L.L. Cool J/ Big Daddy Kane/ D-Nice/ Too Short/DJ Quick/Stereo MC's /Eric B & Rakim/Urban Dance Squad/Schoolly D.

Record Reviews: Dr Dre & Public Enemy

 
Before you start scratching your heads, I found this unfinished post in my Blog Drafts list today. I started to write it a year ago before I went away on holiday then promptly forgot all about it. I think that says more about the records than I ever could.

It's 2015 and there is new product from two of the heaviest hitters in the hip hop industry.
These long-awaited long-players each from the East and West coasts of the US made me feel unusually excitable and just like the reason for why I have an abnormal fondness for electric fences, I really cannot put my finger on it.

I gave both Compton (A Soundtrack) and Man Plans God Laughs a listen today in full.
Dre's Compton especially has had more than it's fair share of critical attacks and that was before the album had even been released.
It is important to know that this album is definitely not in the vein of his 1992 debut The Chronic. It is not on the same scale either lyrically nor musically.
Although The Chronic was not exactly Shakespeare there were still great hooks and memorable verses throughout. Compton relies heavily on sung verses. Whilst this is not shocking as this particular trope has become more favourable within rap of late - perhaps a way of getting more radio airplay with a nod to RnB?

And that is as far as I got. PE's album was marginally better from what I can remember but not much. Compton was horrendously bad with some truly awful songs in there.
A shame really but what can you do? Keep creating the same sort of music from 20 years ago or push forward and go with the trends?

Record Review - Paradox - Wax Breaks

I was recently contacted by a musician called Paradox who predominantly makes drum 'n' bass with a heavy propensity for raw funk breaks. He's been flying low under the ABU radar and upon hearing his stuff immediately put a big smile on my face. I think you will all like this.
He has a new album available designed primarily for producers called Wax Breaks - it is pressed on vinyl and contains 16 looped, redesigned beats - which instantly made me recall Simon Harris' legendary Beats, Breaks & Scratches series.
The emphasis here is on funk with the majority of the breaks being mid-tempo instrumentals rather than just fast, ear-bleeding DnB beats (as my blurb above may have led you to believe). The few that are more uptempo just show you how funky drum 'n' bass can be when left in the hands of the right producer.
When listening you can really hear how crisp each snare hit sounds or just how well put-together each loop is. One in particular I liken to an early 45 King production which could easily have Lakim Shabazz rhyming - although it really isn't hard to imagine an MC riding over the top of any one of these.
These would sound great as beds for radio producers as there is no instrument clash - just straight beats.

Available on fat, 180-gram, heavyweight vinyl this is surely a welcome addition to record-collectors with a tendency to produce beats as well as those who just like proper hardcore instrumentals.

Have a listen below to the brief samplers of the tracks so can hear for yourself.
Real hip hop exists out there. You've just got to search a little harder through the dirt to get to the diamonds.


Side X:



Side Y:


Links:
www.twitter.com/paradoxmusic
www.facebook.com/paradoxmusicuk
www.paradoxmusic.com
www.paradoxstore.uk

ABU Podcast July 2016 Show #61

We're doing just what Professor Griff did to his bandmate in 1989 and kicking the flavo(u)r.
Tune in to http://discoscratch.co.uk/radio tonight from 9pm - 10pm to hear some rather fine tunes

The Saucy Summer Mixup - DOWNLOAD

 If you didn't hear the collaboration between ABU, Disco Scratch and Digging 4 Victory on our very own Saucy Summer Mixup Podcast then go to the stream to listen to the whole show here.

Three different takes on a British summer of 40 minutes each. If you listen to it now then you may feel the full benefit as this 'heatwave' won't last forever.

http://www.digging4victory.com/
http://discoscratch.co.uk/

A Little Vinyl Music Mix

I did an impromptu vinyl set on Saturday evening.
Just fired up the Mixlr application and went on live to the world.
Ain't technology grand?

If you're interested you can listen to it here.
Fill ya boots, boys and girls.
 

Tonite - The Saucy Summer Mixup!

Remember those Summer Specials from Whizzer & Chips or Beano or Buster that you used to buy from the Newsagents in the school holidays and were full of your favourite comic characters when you were about 12 or 13? Well this is the musical equivalent of that.
Combining the talents of Digging 4 Victory, Disco Scratch and Ageing B-Boys Unite! in one bumper two-hour show comes the SAUCY SUMMER MIXUP
Tonight it's a super-special of non-stop hot hits to ease you through the British heatwave with some great tunes from the Disco Scratch stable.

Join in from 9pm tonight (Thursday 30th June) for a night of blistering beats and sweaty sounds. Rain will not stop play!

There are various ways to listen in. Make sure you have the right player for your PC/Tablet/Phone first.

http://discoscratch.co.uk/radio/

Join the chat here: https://vector.im/beta/#/room/#discoscratch:matrix.org