New From Haynesy Feat. ddubble - The ddubble EP

Do you remember a UK rap compilation album called Hard Core Volume 1 from back in 1988? One of the best songs on it was Control by DJ Cue Tips & Dashy D.
It turns out that one of this duo (Matt) is a member of the ABU Facebook Group and casually mentioned the fact that he was part of the album. Well, it also turns out that he has made this lovely little two-track beauty (as 'HAYNESY').

It's digital only but he would much rather get a physical release out, too.
Support it here: https://ddubble.bandcamp.com/album/ddubble-ep



Also, speaking of that Hard Core comp, there was a cut called Into The Music by one MC Krazee A aka Nihal Arthanayake.
Some of you might recognise the name Nihal as that guy who presents on the radio (BBC Radio 5 Live, Asian Network) as well as appearances on tv (The Wright Show).
Well, isn't it a Krazee world....

New From REMARK - Book Of Fear

New heat from Remark telling it like it is over a dope, retro synth-led banger!




https://remark.bandcamp.com/track/book-of-fear

#MarketplaceMondays

Over on the ABU Group on Facebook we have a day dedicated to spam. Big old meaty spam.
Yes, for one day of the week you can push any old tat you wish to all the members of the group - DJ mixes, music productions, artwork, gigs, events...
But that is it. After 24 hours the 'No Spamming' rule is back-n-effect.

"Egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam; spam bacon sausage and spam; spam egg spam spam bacon and spam; spam sausage spam spam bacon spam tomato and spam; spam spam spam egg and spam; spam spam spam spam spam spam baked beans spam spam spam, or Lobster Thermidor au Crevette with a Mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and spam".


https://www.facebook.com/groups/ageingbboysunite/

Astrosphearz' 80's Hip Hop Mix

I was just cleaning out my Spam folder over the weekend and came across an email from Astrosphearz.
It's a really, really well put together of 80s rap tunes. The reason I'm giving it props is due to the fact that the selection is top-notch - some lesser-heard songs get shine - and there has been a lot of effort put into producing the whole mix. It's not just a case of blending for an hour but some excellent editing has gone into this as well as some esoteric thought behind what goes where.
Oh, and it doesn't hurt to have some shit-hot scratching, too!
I urge you to check this.

Apologies to Astrosphearz for the slackness.

ABU Podcast #68 Space Funk Special DOWNLOAD

Did you miss the ABU Podcast which was broadcast on Disco Scratch the other evening?
Here's the link. Two hours of space-age hip-hop, electro, funk and rock breaks.

Tracklist in comments.



or go here.

ABU Podcast 'Space Funk' - This Week

We're back this Thursday (22nd) with a themed Podcast.

Broadcasting exclusively on Disco Scratch Radio (http://discoscratch.co.uk/radio/) at 9pm, get over there NOW so you can select which player may suit your device's needs best.

Bring your headphones.

New ABU Podcast 'Space Funk' - Coming Soon

We've been a bit quiet lately but fear not as there's plenty going on here at ABU Towers.

Coming soon - aiming for the last Thursday of Feb - is the latest Podcast. It will have a 'Space Funk' theme and so far sounds pretty good. There's so much that can be categorized under this theme, much more so than anticipated that it will be difficult in deciding what to eliminate to make the show's usual two hour runtime.

More details soon.

The Rise of Graffiti Writing - From New York To Europe

I'll begin by wishing a Happy New Year to anyone who still visits the blog!

What I have for you here is a series of ten videos detailing the rise of graffiti from its NYC roots to its eventual worldwide dominance in this Germany-produced project.
I haven't seen this yet but a quick glance at some of the videos shows figures as LEE, Charlie Ahearn, Futura 2000 as well as some more important European luminaries.

This is the blurb (as translated via Google Translate)

From the beginnings of New York in the 1970s to the outbreak of the paint virus in the mid-80s in Europe: in ten episodes, the documentary series traces the history of graffiti culture. Starting from Graffiti's mother city, New York, early-hour writers tell how the movement sloshed from the United States across the pond to Europe in the 1980s, and from 1983 onwards, from Amsterdam, Paris, and London, like wildfire all over Continent spread. And the story continues...

Here's the link >>>>>
https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/RC-015348/the-rise-of-graffiti-writing/

Many thanks to DAYLE for spotting this.

The Annual No Half Steppin' Xmas Jam 2017

It's the return of the annual No Half Steppin' Xmas Jam live from Norwich tonight.
These always get rammed with plenty of ageing, balding, b-boys throwing their stuff down on the dancefloor whilst the acts do their thang and the DJs provide the soundtrack.

The usual suspects are on offer this evening and I'm looking forward to Waxer and I combining our forces working together as the Dynamic Duo of discs behind the wheels of steel and playing a great selection of 'knees-up hip-hop'.

Free entry as always. Kicks off at 7pm.
Sat-Nav enthusiasts, this is for you; The Rumsey Wells Pub, NR2 4AF.

Hip Hop Connection Magazine - Issues #5 & #6

In Full Effect! Bus' Dis!
Here we go in our continuing saga of digitizing the past with the next next two issues of Hip Hop Connection magazine - issues #5 & #6 from June & July 1989.

More articles focussing in on the who's who of hip-hop of the day (Big Daddy Kane, Lakim Shabazz, Monie Love, Ultramagnetic MCs) and a spotlight on some of the lesser-known acts, too (MC Einstein, Kiss AMC, Prince Lover Dalu, London Rhyme Syndicate).
July's edition has a graffiti special as it covers the Bridlington International Street Art competition with artists from all over Europe.

The sections I'm most interested in though are the Letters and the Connections pages. It's interesting reading some of the names and finding people I now know.
Talking of which, Issue #6's Connections has a certain Mancunian from a certain Mancunian group who had a vinyl release of their album as recent as last year (on Style Warrior Records)
Download issue #5
Download issue #6