ONE TO WATCH // SamueL
When I think of West London, Notting Hill, The Westway and the iconic Hammersmith Apollo encapsulate my headspace quicker than a posse of boozed up footballers spotting a kebab shop post-Mayfair nightclub. All three landmarks are synonymous with the rich musical history of Blighty. From reggae and dub soundsystem culture at the forthcoming carnival; punk rock legends The Clash name-dropping the “new-age” yellow brick road in their song “London’s Burning” and hosting sell-out tour dates to some of the world’s biggest names. For SamueL, the journey to reach such an audio ascendency is still in it’s infancy but the homegrown hip-hop infused MC remains resolute and ready to step up to the M.I.C.
Wat U Sayin recently spoke to the young blood on the battle of being a white rapper,his debut mixtape Pleasant Surprise and resisting the temptation of rhyming with an American twang.
Introduce yourself to the people and feed them with a starter on how you started out.
Sup, my artist and birth name is SamueL and I’m a spitter from West London just trying to put my heart into my art. I started as just being a fan of Hip-Hop, and not just one style, like conscious backpacker stuff or ignant thugged outish, I like a dose of pretty much any sub-genre of Hip-Hop that you can think of, as long as the music is authentic and done well I’m good with it. I still feel like a fan just trying to make the music I love. I’m very fond of a good conceptual solid album and that’s what I set out to do with my first project ‘Pleasant Surprise’, I just wanted to get my debut ‘baby’ out the way and take it from there. Unfortunately there’s no sexy story why I started out, just the pure love I have for the expression.
Which record or musical moment inspired you to take your craft more seriously?
Hmmmmm, I’ve always had a passion for lyrics and words and had the dream of becoming an artist like the ones I admire, but I didn’t have a whole lot of self-belief. I don’t really like to admit and bring race into it but being a British white boy whose favourite rappers, bar the man Marshall Mathers, were predominantly black Americans, I didn’t initially feel like I had it in me to make music with such soul and style as they did. It really took a certain person to come into my life and change my way of thinking for me to get my art off it’s arse and believe in myself, and I will always appreciate them for that.
I’ve been listening to your first mixtape, Pleasant Surprise for the last few weeks now and it’s promising to have another homegrown artist making his way. The title striked me from the off mind. Is it linked to the old saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover’, as some wouldn’t see you as a rapper in the ‘Conventional’ sense?
First off, thanks for giving the project a proper thorough listen, it’s tough to get people to give your album a chance when most folk these days are just looking for a single they can bump for a week until the next hot track drops. I guess the title does refer to that saying, and that probably relates to my last answer, but mainly, by the point I renamed the project to that title, I had gotten over the fact that I’m not the traditional ‘rapper’ looks-wise and had become quietly confident that what we were working on was going to be of a certain level. A level that I don’t think even my friends and family thought I was capable of, which is why I felt ‘Pleasant Surprise’ was such a suitable title. The project wasn’t meant to be mind-blowing, overly innovative stuff, but just good music that would be an enjoyable pleasant listen. Not many people around me even knew that I rapped so that was where the ‘surprise’ came in, I’m just glad that I made damn sure it was a ‘pleasant’ one!
SamueL – BANGER! (Prod. by JZA)
There seems to be a heavy Boom-Bap, 90’s Rap element on the mixtape with the samples and your laidback but potent punchline flow. Was there a conscious element to retain a British feel with the lyrical content or did you want the tape to be accessible as possible?
All I did was try to make music that was to my personal taste, and I’d safely assume the fact that I’m really into so-called ‘old school’ Hip-Hop is why the project has that feel to it, but I wanted to keep it real and that meant repping my home when it came to the substance of the spitting, which is why I don’t shy away from using our slang and sayings, or allow my accent to stray and sound like I’m from the States. There was no conscious effort to be accessible to anyone in particular, more like be accessible to everyone by just trying to produce ‘good’ timeless music that really shows mine and the producers’ love for it. It’s a shame that there haven’t been more Hip-Hop artists from the UK that I could say have influenced me so far because I am actually very proud of where I’m from and I do want that to shine through.
SamueL – Sweet Rapport (Prod. by JZA)
Support the rising MC via the links below and till later…stay F.L.Y
Fresh Produce // HIGH KLASSIFIED (Part 2)
In the second and final part of Wat You Sayin’s interview with rising Canadian Producer High Klassified, he talks about his rapper brothers, his love of The Neptunes and why upping your swag is important in this age.
In the last two years, there seems to be a very strong Southern hip-hop element across electronica and hip-hop itself. What’s your take on it and has it subconsciously influenced your music?
I used to listen to a lot of A$AP Rocky and I had a laidback beat flavour a couple of months ago but now I just go with the flow. I don’t know if I had a lot of inspirations but I used to listen to a lot of Neptunes and use their chords. I don’t really like listening to EDM Trap which sounds like Hardcore. I’m more into keeping that real Trap flavour from the US, as there’s a hip-hop trap and there’s a dubstep trap but I listen to a lot trap artists like Waka Flocka and Gucci Mane.
It’s funny you mention the Neptunes as they’re my favourite producers too. What are your favourite tracks from them?
Yeah it’s kinda recent and it’s called Gone Away by Joe with Pharrell on the hook and it’s a pretty great track. I really love Cot Damn and everything they did with Jay-Z and for Toni Braxton.
Toni Braxton and Loon – On The Freeway?
[laughs] Yeah Yeah!
Toni Braxton & Loon – On The Freeway
That’s a sick track. You know The Neptunes Presents Clones is almost ten years old?
What?!… Wow.
It’s making me feel old man!
[laughs] Word
You’ve worked with rappers BB-Boy and Green Hypnotic and I’ve listened to k-os, K’naan and the more obvious example in Drake. What’s the rap scene like in Canada and is there anyone I should be looking out for?
BB-Boy and Green are my brothers.
Oh really?
Yeah. Actually Green is pretty much doing his thing now. I don’t really follow the hip-hop scene, there are a couple of local artists and don’t know about anyone whose about to blow but there is a pretty good artist in Montreal called I.Blast and he’s doing his thing.
I.Blast – Money Is A Drug
Your recent beattape artwork evokes an ethereal feel almost like you’re a glutton for the galaxy.
I’m more into world stuff that looks like the galaxy and a greater space image.
That personifies itself on the following tape ‘Neo ReFlexion’, which was shorter than Flexury as well. Was that more a case of you wanting to release music or just to keep eardrums fresh about your output?
I had some mixing problems with Flexury, as I had just started using Ableton and there were a couple of problems with the software. There’s a normalizer when I render my beats and shit, so Flexury had some mixing problems concerning the mastering. I just dropped Neo Reflexion to show that there was an improvement in the mixing and to have a tape which was a laidback flavour. As Flexury was a taste of both, there are quick beats, slow beats, hard beats, soft beats and my next one is going to be more aggressive.
High-Klassified – Neo ReFlexion
When you say aggressive, does that entail more rappers being involved or improving the vocal sampling?
I’m gonna do both. I’ve got this track called Scopola which is a really hard upper Calyptic track and I’m gonna do a visual for it and drop it. I’ve got some beats with voice samples too but right now I’m really into faster trap beats.
When will you release something new?
Actually in two weeks, a beat called the BabyFace. It’s a kinda soulful trap and I might drop it, as it’s getting a bit warmer. It’s Summer Trap and hopefully next month drop the visual for my next beat Scopola.
Have you already filmed it?
We just had a meeting last week to film it, so we’re gonna start this weekend and I’ll shortly be doing a 20 min mix for Music Is My Sanctuary.
When are you crossing the pond i.e Flexin’ in London ?
I’m playing in LA at Low End Theory next month with Beat Cinema but it’s not confirmed yet. So from there, I’m gonna peep for bookings in London after that!
Are you doing any festivals in the summer?
I’m doing all the festivals in Montreal and Quebec and that’s about it.
No doubt someone will pick you up.
Word. No Doubt.
The producer is gaining more prominence than a vocalist in recent times and people have a genuine interest in finding out a great deluge more information on those behind the scenes. How do you feel about that?
With the internet now, it’s harder to be an artist as you gotta be a good artist and a good-looking artist [laughs]
[laughs] Is that why you got the swag going on?
Yeah my agent is really making me understand how important it is for an artist to have a good image and to be musically good too, as this is what will make me look different from the others. There are a lot of good artists but there are also a lot of SoundCloud stars too. So you have to show yourself, make visuals for beats and take good pictures for people to relate to me.
Are you still in college?
Yeah
How do you balance the books and the beats?
It’s pretty hard…I don’t sleep a lot. Music is my job too, so I have to finish beats for clients and then wake up and go to school at like 6 in the morning and I come home at 6 at night to work. It’s kinda hard but I’m almost done with college, so I just can’t wait to get done with that.
Are you at all surprised by the reception Kaytranada has received?
He has worked for it and really deserves it for real. He’s a really good DJ and a good producer.
Are you guys going to collaborate again soon?
We collab a lot and we’re playing a night together soon. We’re really good friends and I think he’s doing a Euro tour next month too.
I’ll have to get down to that. Are there any new tunes I should be on the lookout for?
Dilemma by Mr Carmack and LongliveASAP (Lakim Trap Refix)
Dilemma – Mr Carmack
A$AP Rocky – Long Live A$AP (Lakim Trap Refix)
Hopscotch by him is a banger as well.
Yeah he’s good.
Is he from America?
I think so but his Twitter is not so clear.
You’ve got an agent and dress fly too but some producers prefer to be anonymous and let the music do the talking. Do you reckon you’ll ever do that?
I’m really like into having attention and fashion, so I like playing with my image differently from other producers. Some like to be low-key, others like to have good swag but not a super fashion swag like me. I just like to go out and when I play I just like to go nuts and vibe out which is cool.
Thanks for giving me your time after this long Tom & Jerry chase.
Word Man. Take it easy.
BONUS READING: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/booty-bakery-feature
For more info on High-Klass, follow him on Twitter @HighKlassified and check out his SoundCloud
FRESH TING FRIDAY
Mr. Carmack – Hopscotch
J Dilla – Trucks (Gary Numan has never sounded this gooooood)
James Blake – Life Round Here DA FRESH TING
k-os – Mojo On
Daft Punk – Get Lucky (ft. Pharrell)
John Legend – Green Light (ft.Andre 3000) (Annie Starlight Remix)
ItsNate ft. GFrSH,Catch’Em x Phaze One – WSLTA (Remix) Directed by the man like H.Houdini
Fresh Produce // HIGH KLASSIFIED (Part 1)
Montréal. The City of Saints is a musical menagerie built on a healthy harmonic hotbed with the likes of Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, A-Trak and more recently, Lunice, showcasing the firm base and burgeoning breadth of musicality. Yet, the city has been at the forefront of the new age hybrid of experimentalism fused with hip-hop and soul via the rising Piu-Piu beat scene in tandem with the Alaiz crew over the last two years. A marauding myriad of beatsmiths have originated from or assimilated to the francophone fabric such as Musoni, Kaytranada, Bueller, Kenlo Craqnuques and Da-P to name a few. One such native Kevin Vincent aka High-Klassified makes riddims which induce you into intergalactic reverie and ring your sweat-laden t-shirt out (post-skank) in equal measure. In the first instalment of this Fresh Produce edition, Wat You Sayin caught up with the young producer to talk about his breakthrough beat, the Piu-Piu movement and his home city.
Introduce yourself to the novices and knowledgeable folk.
I’m High-Klassified, real name Kevin and I actually started making beats about three to four years ago making beats as my brothers are rappers, so I was kind of into music at that moment of time. I actually started how to learn on FL Studio then started to learn my keys via YouTube Videos and by ear. So now I’m here in 2k13 working on beats again I guess!
What record did you first hear which made you want give producing a go?
I’ve been doing beats for a moment and never took it seriously. My state of mind was like the minute I start college, I’m just going to drop everything and just do my shit at school but since I started being a part of the Piu-Piu Movement, people have been fucking with my music a lot. So around 2k11, I was really into this and thought I should do it as a living.
I’ve been listening to mixtapes by yourself, Kaytranada and Da-P for a while now. What’s the whole back story about the Alaiz collective and the Piu-Piu movement that have helped the experimental hip-hop scene in Montreal grow?
In 2k11, I started to chill with Da-P, so he was like my partner in crime and we used to make a lot of beats together and then I met Colin Musoni. He’s a member of the Piu-Piu movement and made a beattape with him called 90’s Babies. After that, we just chilled together and went downtown to music festivals then we met Kaytradamus [which is Kaytranada now] and we started making beats together. It was more about meetings in music festivals and hip-hop karaoke’s.
90’s Babies Vol.1 – High-Klassified x MusoNi
It sounds like it grew organically from friends making music for fun to the present. Did you ever think at any point that it would go global?
Actually, I had no idea. When I dropped 90’s Babies, it was nice as some people from the US added me and others from the UK. Then Lunice dropped this beat I made called Drama Trap in a couple of his sets and that was kind of a huge start for me, as more people started to get in contact and asked for some beats.
That’s the first time I heard your music in one of his sets at Notting Hill Carnival.
Yeah then Baauer played it in his Rinse FM mix.
High-Klassified – Drama Trap via BBM Vol.1
Previously your city had artists such as Leonard Cohen and Arcade Fire emanating or coming to the city to showcase their talents originally and now there is a burgeoning wave of hip-hop related folk. We’ve talked a little bit about you guys coming together as part of Piu-Piu but how would you describe Montreal as a rich musical setting?
Actually it’s kinda recent that Montreal has been into that beat scene because people used to be scared about producing beats and being different. So since the Piu-Piu movement started around 2k11 and 2k12, people have started to come out of the basements and be more creative musically.
Is the Booty Bakery one of the main parties people from the scene play at?
Well I played a lot at the Booty Bakery as the founder of the movement is a friend of mine.
Would you say those nights have a similar vibe to a Low End Theory night in Los Angeles?
I’d say it’s not that huge but it’s a nice place for us and our community to showcase our new sound. In Montreal, there are a lot of clubs but they are playing a lot of Dancehall, Hip-Hop and Reggae but the Booty Bakery really gave us the chance to go out there and do what we really do. So this is what makes it different from all of the other nights in Montreal.
Cool. Flexury was your first solo beatape, what was the inspiration behind the title and how you compiled those tracks together?
I usually describe my music as music to flex to and it’s about going nuts on it.
Spazzing out and shit?
Yeah and my character has a luxury image to it, as a lot of beatmakers here are really grimy and I’m actually one of the most physically cleanest producers [laughs]
Are we talking in terms of swag, beats or just the whole shebang?
My swag, like the way I dress is just seen as luxury. I wear designer clothes and people..
I think I clocked you wearing some Jeremy Scott’s and thought there must be some fly shit going on!
[Laughs] Word. I wear a lot of Jeremy Scott and Givenchy, that’s why I have that kind of luxury image and mentality, so I just mix the luxury and flex.
What made you name your track “London Flexin” on the tape?
Actually a guy from Mad Tech Records (Owned by deep house honcho Kerri Chandler) came to me and asked if I was down to remix a song of one of his artists and I said yeah for sure. MadTech Records is a label from London and they suggested let’s call it Europe Flexin and I was like “No, No, let’s call it London Flexin, since it’s flexin’ music and it’s a London voice sample from Kashii’s Make This”.
I’ve heard your recent smooth Rihanna Stay remix. Do you have plans to do any more soon?
Yeah sure. I’m just searching for acapellas at the minute. Since Flexury, I’m more into using vocal samples for refixes and remixes.
Rihanna – Stay (High Klassified Trap Remix)
Stay primed for part two of the High Klassified interview next week.
FRESH TING FRIDAY
The thirteenth edition of Fresh Frost Ting Friday is by no means an unlucky affair, so buss up the speaker and let it roll (a la Crazy D) with the selection below.
Da-P– Pandora
Kendrick Lamar x Drake x Djemba Djemba – Poetic Justice (Duncan Gerow Refix)
Kidkanevil x Tehbis – Saturday Cartoons
Mono/Poly – Voyage On
Jessie Ware – If You’re Never Gonna Move (T.I.P Remix) Cascading Aquadrops…Woooooi!
Mary J Blige – Real Love (Shash’u Remix)
Yoin – Digits
TLC – Creep (Kaytranada‘s Creepier Edition)
TOKiMONSTA feat. Kool Keith – The Force
Q-Tip – Go Hard
Mr.Carmack x Arnold – Muney (Gimme Dat) DEFROSTING
Nokia – Kick
Fresh Produce // TRC Interview (Part 3)
In the third and final part of the chat with homegrown producer don TRC, he talks about calamitous DJ sets, the recent Trap music obsession and wishing he produced a seminal Joker riddim.
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you so far?
One time I was playing back to back with Apostle but we had two separate bookings. I was about 100 miles out and he was the same too. We were going to the same place after our individual sets and he phoned me saying that he’s left his CD’s. By this point, I’ve finished my other booking and driven home to my house. I then jump back in my car and drive all the way back up the M1 to Barnsley. I then open my boot and I’ve left my CD’s at home!
What happened in the end?
He didn’t get paid and I put fifty pound petrol in my car for no reason. It was just a joke! [laughs]
Are there any homegrown or US producers you’d still like to collaborate with?
In Grime, all the people I speak to now are the ones I’ve always looked up to and they’ve had a big influence on my music. People like Dexplicit, J-Sweet, P-Jam and Terror Danjah. Now I’ve had my little releases in the scene, they’ve started speaking to me and I’m cool with them. In America, I’d love to work with T-Minus and ‘40’, even Just Blaze too but out of all of them, it would probably be J.U.S.T.I.C.E League and T-Minus.
K-Os – Faith ft. Drake (prod. by J.U.S.T.I.C.E League)
Are there any particular tunes you wished you produced?
Pffft. There are a lot of T2 Bassline tunes as he was just an absolute monster and was too sick. I think Joker as well. I used to listen to Joker a lot and when I started speaking to him, I couldn’t believe he was younger than me (only by a week) but I told him “You were making those tunes, when I was in school?!” I wish I made Gullybrook Lane.
Joker – Gullybrook Lane
At the moment, there’s this obsession with trap. What’s your take on it?
I think Redlight tweeted the other day that Trap is turning into put a donk on it and I thought that was very true, as since Lex Luger has leaked his sounds everybody is using the same snare, the same bass and it’s becoming really rinsed. I loved it at first but now everyone is using the same sounds and chords, it’s become really predictable and bland.
I recently spoke to some producers from the US and Canada and I was really conscious of using that label to describe the music but then you go onto Soundcloud and there are a million and one people trying to replicate that sound.
Loads of people just wanna sound like Lex Luger. When he first did it, he was so sick as nobody sounded like him but now it’s just the end. Even well-known massive producers in America were copying his sound and I’m like what’s going on? It was almost like cheating and I couldn’t rate it, even though I got deep into 808 hip-hop, I could never get deep into trap as it’s too like cliché. Hudson Mohawke and them man are sick, they are completely different from Lex Luger.
TNGHT – Obsession
What do you have coming up in the pipeline?
I don’t really like talking about it but I’m in the process of sorting out management at the moment but I’m keeping things wrapped up ready for the new year. I never really like gassing like others and then nothing comes out. You have to be humble until everything comes out.
It reminds me of the classic lines you get from people on social networks in the run up to the new year, “ 2013’s gonna be my year bruv. Me and ma dags are gonna go HARD”
[laughs] I was having the exact same conversation the other day about all this bullshit. I was thinking “This year’s gonna be my year” and all this bollocks. “I was shit this year but this year’s gonna be mine ya get me” Come on man, you’re supposed to go in regardless what time of the year it is. That’s all gas man and I’ve even seen a few people tweeting already… f**k all of that!
Follow TRC on Twitter @TRCproducer for information on releases and DJ sets and check out his Soundcloud
STOP PRESS: A snippet from his forthcoming mix CD Legs 11
Rihanna – Diamonds (TRC 4×4 Remix)
Fresh Produce // TRC Interview (Part 2)
As part of the new Fresh Produce series, the second instalment of the TRC interview sees the West Midlands beat-smith talk about MC’s using his Grime instrumentals, the Leak EP series and his connection to the Stay Fresh collective.
So what made you switch back to making Grime? Did you feel more confident after your Bassline exploits?
To be honest, I never stopped making Grime but at the time I was doing it, there were no open doors to get involved and nobody would support my songs as I was unknown. At that point, Bassline was buzzing and I had a lot of attention from DJ’s on BBC 1Xtra and a lot of airplay, so I thought maybe my Grime might take off a bit. So I started to push out some of my Grime tunes and even though the Oo Aa Ee tune only came out in 2010, I made that in 2007. So that tune was four years old before it started blowing up and everyone was like “Where’s this tune come from?!” and I made it just as I started doing Bassline. A lot of people don’t realise most of my grime tunes are three or four years old.
What was different at the time which made you more comfortable to release those riddims?
I think it was my position which was different. I knew that if people liked it they would support it, so it was another doorway to do something I always wanted.
The same instrumental was used for Boo You too. What was it like having different MC’s from across the country jumping on that and also the Butterz crew helping out?
It’s good to see that artists value your music and they rate it. It’s nice to know that and inspires you to keep you going as well. It reaches out to more people and when they hear a big artist has used your instrumental, they wanna know who made it and then next thing you know someone else is knocking at your door and the work just keeps expanding. Having the releases on Butterz as well has helped raise my profile in Grime.
After that you had Trim jump on ‘Skipping Rope’, what was it like to work with such a revered figure from the early epochs of Grime?
It was massive as these are people I’ve listened to since I was like 13. It was a big thing for me and an honour to work with these kind of people. I’d never dreamed of working with him…I’d love to work with Trim again.
You’ve been releasing your Leak E.P series of late. How long have you been working on all those tunes for?
Some of them for a long time and others a couple of days. Most of the tunes I pitched out and they weren’t getting anywhere to be honest. I think the first Leak EP was a bit of a dark period in my career, as I was getting frustrated that things weren’t getting out there quite as much as I wanted to and I didn’t even promote it. I just pasted a Sendspace link on my Twitter and it happened to do really well. It got about 2,000 downloads in a couple of days and it was a shock.
Do you think it’s better for the listener to make a natural choice rather than force feed it?
Definitely. If there’s a demand for it then that’s good but some people go over the top with spamming. If you’ve got a little fan base where people are interested in your music and they are not aware that things are coming out. Sometimes I’ve had people pop up and say “Have you not had any new releases?” and I’ve just put some out!
This year you’ve had the two sequels to the first Leak E.P released. On the 2nd one, there seems to be a bigger Southern Hip-Hop influence. Where did that come from?
With the second EP, I was trying to show people that I was versatile and can do almost any genre. At the time Leak E.P 2 came out, I got a lot of interest from A&R’s at the major labels and I thought it was a good time to show them I could do anything. I think that’s where the influence came from and a lot of people did contact me about beats and I got a lot of remix work off the back of it. So it did help a lot.
You recently released the third E.P. What does that release signify now in terms of your position as a producer?
That’s a hard one to answer as I’m in a bit of a funny position at the moment [laughs] I think it’s more of what I’m trying to aim it towards and it was quite hip-hop prominent [Leak EP 2]. So I’m trying to aim for that direction but at the same time a lot of the feedback I was getting said that the beats were good but we didn’t expect you to move away from your old style so much. It was a bit too much for people to take in the last Leak and I almost forgot what people kind of know me for. A lot of the beats did get used like P Money for his freestyle and that got 50,000 hits in a few days. A couple of other people have put vocals on the beats for their EP’s and it has opened a lot of doors in unusual departments.
I scrolled through your Soundcloud page and saw that a few remix clips for Aiden Grimshaw and Josh Osho. Are those out now or have they been put on the backburner by the major labels?
Well when the Aiden Grimshaw one first got played, I got loads of requests asking when that’s coming out and they accepted it which got released eventually. I know the Josh Osho one came out as well. I think the Aiden Grimshaw one was initially intended just for promo use but it got battered on radio!
Aiden Grimshaw – Is This Love (TRC Mix)
You’re from Wolverhampton?
Yeah.
Bar the football team, what’s poppin’ off in your hometown that people might not know about?
Urm…well [tumbleweed] If i’m being totally honest, nothing is popping off round here! There’s a lot of talent round ere not just in music but obviously you’ve got S-X as well who has just soared in the space of a couple of years. Wolves gets puts in a box with Birmingham and people don’t realise that Wolves and Birmingham are both totally different places. I wouldn’t say it’s popping off as it’s a quiet city.
Does it help you get inspiration if there’s any distractions whilst making tunes?
I suppose so but I’m more inspired when I go out of town. I’m more inspired by things that are happening, some action and the only thing which happens here is the odd big rave once in a while.
Do you have a connection to any of the Stay Fresh guys?
I’ve grown up with a lot of them and we use to be in a group called TYG when we were like fifteen. It was a little Grime group and I’m quite close with most of them. I used to be best friends with Menace aka Stay Fresh Don Menna Do you know who that is?
No, I don’t but they may have been around when I went to a Woo Riddim launch about three years ago.
They are all branching out into their own little thing now and they are all getting credit for it which is great to see people from the ends blowing up as well. I’ve been friends with them before Stay Fresh up until the point where some of us used to be in the same group and we used to play grime sets. We’d be upstairs and my mum was shouting off downstairs!
Check back to the site for the third and final part of the TRC interview next week.
FRESH TING FRIDAY
Jonwayne – Back Home
CAS – All Hallows (Skywlkr on the one’s and two’s)
Katy B – Aaliyah Please (Clicks & Whistles Re-Rub)
Skywlkr – Childish Gambino Feat. Danny Brown – Toxic (Instrumental)
Vol.36 of weekly L.A based beat cypher Team Supreme. This particular edition sees Shai’s classic 90’s slowjam ‘If I Ever Fall In Love‘ regurgitated into many a special form.
Kelis – Mars (from the criminally underrated Kaleidoscope LP)
Outkast – Knowing
Benji B and his string ensemble…Levels…need I say more. THE FRESH TING.
Enjoy!
Fresh Produce // TRC Interview (Part 1)
Belated Happy New Year to anyone who stumbles upon this and wonders a) Why are there no regular posts? and b) Why does it ages to load this homepage a la This Is Football on the original Playstation? I would divulge and bore you but it’s plain and simple…Good things come to those who wait (A pint of the black stuff isn’t forthcoming maybe in two months time) That being said I’m starting a new in-depth insight into producers or creatives who have caught my attention called Fresh Produce.
Credit: Sonic Router
First up is West Midlands producer Jason Lee aka TRC who is arguably well-known for providing the Skipping Rope instrumental to Trim’s breezy I Am (off the Monkey Features Vol.2 mixtape) and Oo Aa Ee for P Money and Blacks garage hark Boo You. The versatile 23 year old has been producing grime and hip-hop beats since the age of 16 but of late has been on remix duty for Josh Osho and Aiden Grimshaw as well as releasing his popular Leak EP series of instrumentals and unreleased dubs.
In the first of a three part series, I caught up with the man himself just before Christmas to chat about his early dip into the proverbial music mire, the Bassline scene and quality control in the age of the Internet.
How you doing man?
I’m cool man. Just been chilling and that. Working on a couple tunes. What you sayin?
Not bad at all. When I was doing some research and googled your name. The first thing which came up was a random rock band.
Yeah there is a rock band called TRC but it stands for The Revolution Continues. They’ve been around since I started producing (probably even before to be honest) and they’ve been blowing up for a few years now.
Have you had any issues of name rights or anything?
Nah. I even spoke to one of them and he was cool. They used to be known under that name but they just abbreviated that and ran with it in the end.
So you started producing at the age of 16, what sort of tunes were you making in the beginning?
Just straight grime and hip-hop beats all around the 140 tempo. I was just doing that but I was never any good at it at the time [laughs]
How long did it take for you to be in a position where you were comfortable to send people your stuff?
Sometimes you just send some of the tunes out for constructive criticism. When I was that age, I probably didn’t realise how rubbish some of the tunes were and I was just sending them out to local people anyway. I never sent anything to anyone big or anything but obviously when people come back with their criticism, you start to progress. I don’t really think there should be a time when people should wait and decide whether they should send out their tunes if they are just starting, as you need to get that criticism to improve.
Is it harder now in this age with people putting up tunes so readily on Soundcloud as they just want people to hear the music? Do you think quality control is imperative?
I dunno to be honest. I think it depends on how confident you are in yourself. There’s a thin line between cocky and confident and there’s much more easy access to upload songs, so anyone can just listen for themselves. You also know how people are like on the Internet now…they’ll just say anything and don’t care. It’s a bit of a reality check for some people but I think it also tarnishes the exclusiveness of your music [if you’re] banging everything up on Soundcloud or YouTube. For example, you know when you hear a track for the first time and MistaJam plays it, “you’re like I’ve never heard this before, who’s made this?” and then there’s a big demand for the song.
How do you react to that pressure when there’s an immediate demand after such airplay?
I don’t really get swayed by things like that if I’ve already got a plan for the song which is already being promoted by a number of DJ’s.
I mentioned before how you started off making Grime and then you switched over to making a lot of Bassline where you were quite successful. What sort of impact did making that genre have in terms of honing your production style and gauging reaction to your riddims in raves?
It was good, as doing Bassline helped me find my sound and what people recognised my songs for. It was a good learning curve not just in terms of making music but meeting and working with different people in the industry. In 2007 and 2008, Bassline was massive, so being involved with that was great.
What was the reaction to Bassline from people across the globe?
When I put out the EP’s and checked the sales, I was shocked to see people from the US, Australia, Japan and China. It was just a shock to me as you don’t think your songs reach out that far.
The Breakup V.I.P. How would you rate that as a personal landmark?
That was my first Bassline tune that really put me on the map and made people turn their heads toward me and say who’s this guy? That was actually the second Bassline tune I ever made, so it was really fresh and then I followed on straight after with Lately.
What impact did DJ Apostle have on you?
He had a massive impact and being my best friend before Bassline too, as we worked together on a lot of things. He was the one who told me about it in the first place, gave me different vinyls asking my opinion and to be honest if he had never told me about it, I’d probably never had made it. He also recorded a lot of the vocals as well, so all these songs that people are hearing were courtesy of him in the studio and not me. He would send me an acapella and say see what you can do with this. If it took off…..it took off.
Have you got a nickname for him in your close circles?
Not really. [laughs] Just bossy! As whatever he says, most people have to deal with but he means well.
Would you say he’s a father figure in the scene?
Yeah he knocks sense into people and makes you realise what position you’re in. He also reminds you to pick up the pace and when Bassline was at it’s most intense, he was keeping the circle together and ensuring things were active. He was also expanding it for other people too and reaching out to people like Caliber and Burgaboy who were blowing up in the UK for Bassline. He’s really important to the scene.
Part 2 of the new Fresh Produce series will be available next week. Danke for getting down this far.
NEW MUSIC // BOOTY BASED MOB (VOL.ONE)
Montreal’s Booty Bakery was based on a harmonic bed of beatsmiths who wanted to showcase a simmering sonic that has sound-tracked their bass-laden club nights in the City of Saints.
Alas the BBM crew (Note well. The only Blackberries these cats roll with are those of the handheld Vitamin C variety) which consists of the talented triumvirate of Phil Sparkz, Compton Chic and Victor Bongiovanni has released their long awaited and anticipated Booty Based Mob Vol.1
The trio have sifted the flour,beat a few eggs and whisked some buttermilk into a smooth consistency that will make you want to hit the bakery and sample some of their daily bread.
Percy’s include Hesk’s Baltimore club inspired riddim Couldn’t Be Alone which samples Ray J’s One Wish and latterly used by Burial on Archangel. (Slight Sidenote – It’s been five years since Untrue dropped….BUM-BA) The low-slung glitch bounce of Bongiovanni’s Zmell Gud , the Alaiz affiliated Da-P’s reserved but rising refix of Kid Cudi’s Memories. Tommy Kruise’s Art Of Noise inspired Hypnotize and the long-awaited dancefloor danger Drama Trap from High-Klassified.
Download via here or listen below
NEW MUSIC // HIGH-KLASSIFIED – FLEXURY
Stop the press. The young Montreal native High Klassified has just dropped Flexury his debut solo beattape on the bubblin Alaiz label and as per usual his dexterity for dense drums meshed with mellow brass soundtracks galactic reverie. The theme slyly recalls Starkey’s Universe EP for me and this Corot 9b riddim too.
In other words, this beatsmith is a predicament in the sickest/baddest/illest colloquial sense. If you know about his previous credits, then you’re fully aware that High Klassified is another star on the rise from the Piu Piu movement.
Listen above and grab the download here.
If you wanna listen to his full audio arsenal,follow him on @HighKlassified
MUSIC // FRESH TING FRIDAY [TRAP MUSIC EDITION]
Thank the big man it’s finally Vendredi (cue a game-show audience woooo) and in homage as Mertesacker (Per for you slow lot)
Here’s a Trap Music Special for you listening ‘masses’. Enjoy the Indian Summer this weekend and all.
Djemba Djemba – Get Slow [taken from the quality comp Atlantics Vol.2 by Astro Nautico Free D/L]
Baauer – DumDum (Forthcoming on Lucky Me)
Da-P- Light (From the Innovation LP on Alaiz [Free D/L])
A$AP Mob – Y.N.R.E (Feat. A$AP Twelvyy) A$AP MOB – Lord$ Never Worry Mixtape Free D/L
King Henry – Donald Trumpet (from the Easter Compilation Vol.1 by Rabbit Records)
Birdman – Born Stunna Remix (feat. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj)
DJ Sliink – Stop Me Now
M.I.A – Bad Girls (Kaytradamus Remix) Free D/L
Trap Arnold – Cuff PERCY
One Moe Time – Daft Punk (Rami.B Remix)
Meek Mill – Face Down
FRESH TING FRIDAY
In the immortal words of Mr Mos “It’s been a long time/I shouldna left you”. Heeding those bars, Man like Fresh is back from ANOTHER break abroad in his trusty fake Havaianas and he has a wholesome selection of riddims from the underground and overground.
Drank. Be Merry and Enjoy Le Weekend.
Draw X Janet Jackson (Obey City Edit) Free D/L Large up Astro Nautico in Brooklyn…We sees ya.
Chi – Don’t Wake Me Up (prod by OB-i and danny.t) Free D/L Fresh Single from the Liverpool based singer’s forthcoming EP – Unburden Me
Mikky Ekko – We Must Be Killers Free D/L
¥oin – Drop Out
King Krule – Rock Bottom
Ab-Soul – A Rebellion (Ft. Alori Joh) First Kid Cudi on ‘50 Ways To Make A Record‘ and the classic drum snare arises again Paul Simon….#rudumb
Nardo Ranks – Burrup (New York Dancehall Vocal Remix) Carnival Soon Come
Kaytradamus – Mountains The Fresh Ting
Mala – Education PERCY (N.B – No longer will I refer to an impeccable riddim as a Van Percy for 232,000 reasons)
Brandy – Should I Go
NEW MUSIC // Kashii – Make This (High Klassified ‘London Flexin’ Remix)
For the last six months, I’ve been revisiting and reintroducing some definitive Southern inspired riddims into my mixes in the homestead and when I get the chance to play out.
This one producer High Klassified is one of a new wave of producers who aren’t taking part in rehashing two-step with transexual vocals for posh lost ones to mosh inna di dance. The young Montreal native has a gluttonous back catalogue which parallels his musical maturity along with fellow talented ‘Treal native Kaytradamus (BEAT BEAST) and Halifax brother Ryan Hemsworth.
His unreleased Drama Trap which still resonates my eardrum from Lunice’s set at last year’s RBMA at Notting Hill.
Listen to his recent fitting London Flexin Trap refix of Kashii’s Make This below.
Kashii – Make This (High Klassified ‘London Flexin’ Remix) Free DL
In the meantime, big up all the Montreal Mandem and watch out for more insight into this talented bunch of beatsmiths within the Piu Piu scene shortly.
Coast Coast Records!
MUSIC // Beware Of The Trap
In this age, a combination of sounds have been released from Pandora’s box which merge the analogue and the digital. For most genres, the audio ascendency is organic but there always remains an artificial element to the manner in which our fast-food culture readily consumes and throws away music like a cheap piece of gum from your local Turkish supermarket.
Trap Music is the latest IT genre which is threatening to be consumed in it’s new hybrid form by hungry hipsters not mindful of the early roots. Born out of The Lone Star State – Texas, more succinctly Houston. It’s proximity in the Gulf State to other major drug importing nations makes it an enticing location to push dope and sell kilos. Such a lucrative trade was a primary source of income for one of the early purveyors of the scene, Robert Earl Davis Jr. better known as DJ Screw.
The late Screw was a central figure in the H-Town hip-hop community with his Screwed Up Click crew and his Chopped & Screwed DJ technique (where he would dramatically slow down the pitch was) reportedly led to a rise in the consumption of Purple Drank, Syrup, Sissurp, Tinky Winky Drinky and Barney The Dinosaur dissolved in a cup etc to enjoy the ‘Screwtapes’ he sold for $10 a pop.
Back in July 2005 once my GCSE’s were done and dusted (feels like a hella long time ago) I travelled to Las Vegas on my larry lonesome for a month and half to stay with some relatives in Sin City. As soon as I had my retina scanned, I got my Christopher Columbus on and walked around the airport taking full advantage of my new found independence abroad even buying a banana muffin from Starbucks (It was f***ing digusting). About two hours later passed and my attempt for an adventure came to an abrupt halt as
1) My shitscared parents across the Atlantic staying up into the early hours waiting confirmation that I had arrived.
2) The aunt who was late picking me was doing doughnuts with her motor at another terminal waiting for an epoch or two.
3) The local 5-0 had been on the lookout for me and I wasn’t even wearing my best tracksuit.
Alas,I wasn’t able to partake in any debauchery (bar sipping on a few 40’s and sneaking into a 24 hour bowling alley) due to my young age but I will never forget riding in my cousin’s whip listening to this sound which spread to Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. The lyricism was raw yet real, but anyone that knows me is aware that I’m a big fan of instrumentals more than anything. The trap template of slurred rising brass chords, pounding 808 bass kicks and pitched down transsexual vocals all had an infectious quality which still hasn’t been cured to this day.
Here are some tasters that formed the soundtrack of my trip:
Paul Wall – Sittin’ Sideways (ft. Big Pokey)
Boyz N Da Hood – Dem Boyz (Clock Diddy trying to look like a roadman)
Youngbloodz – Presidential
T.I – U Don’t Know Me
Mike Jones – Still Tippin
Webbie – Gimme Dat (ft. Bun B)
Three 6 Mafia – Stay Fly
T.I – Rubberband Man (David Banner on the 1’s and 2’s)
UGK – One Day (Chopped and Screwed by the man himself)
In the last few years, this sub-genre of hip-hop has taken on a new form for mainstream hip-hop artists and dance music producers. Diplo is an early champion of the sound through his Mad Decent label and working with artists like Paper Route Gangstaz on this (probably the most bawse sample of Careless Whisper ever) and that evolution can be heard via the clicks and telling timbre on his production of Usher’s sonic slow jam Climax.
Paper Route Gangstaz – Bama Gettin’ Money (Diplo Remix)
His enthusiasm for lending his ear to the niche communities has enabled him to develop an understanding of each scene with those part of it (recording at the legendary Tuff Gong studios founded by Bob Marley as part of Major Lazer) and exposing them to a wider congregation rather than homogenizing a sound which lacks authenticity rubberstamped by past masters.
The trap virus has even spread to grime with producers such as Darq E Freaker, TRC, Faze Miyake and S-X evolving the sound away from his East London base to create instrumentals which are synonymous with Stateside rappers as well as have crews spit 16’s over from concrete jungles across the UK.
Darq E Freaker – Next Hype Instrumental
TRC – 155
Faze Miyake – Take Off
S-X- Motorway Music
Influential electronic labels such as Warp, 4AD also release output with southern sensibilities at the core through TNGHT (Hudson Mohawke and Lunice), Rustie, Girl Unit , Bok Bok and Purity Ring. Lex Luger is also a new relatively new beatsmith on the block responsible for this spotlight via his work on Waka Flocka Flame’s’ Hard In Da Paint’, Rick Ross’s (the seizure boss) ‘Blowing Money Fast’ and Kanye West and Jay Z’s “H.A.M”. Moreover, this Southern hospitality has spread north to Drake and The Weeknd in Canada and on the Eastside via A$AP Rocky.
Festival season is in full swing here in Europe and no doubt your eardrums will sample some tracks which will make you wile out or sway like a pendulum.
Listen to some further hybrid riddims below:
RL Grime – Trap On Acid
Clams Casino – Leaf
Baauer – Harlem Shake
XXYYXX – About You Ft. 2 Chainz (DJ Fergie Ferg Trap Edit)
Hudson Mohawke – Lambo Furnace avec Mercy
YC – Racks (Instrumental)
Major Lazer – Original Don (Flosstradamus Remix)
Kirko Bangz – Drank In My Cup (Instrumental)
Lunice – The Good Kids
Juicy J – Who Da Neighbors Remix (Ft. Snoop Dogg)
Sinjin Hawke & Morri$ – One Kiss
Chief Keef – I Don’t Like Remix (prod by Young Chop)
Clicks & Whistles – Cranberry Goose
Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River (Brodinski Edit)
Foreign Beggars ft Donae’o – Flying to Mars (12th Planet’s Martian Trapstep Remix)
Drake – Uptown (Ft. Bun B & Lil Wayne)
Enjoy and beware of the trap.
NEW MUSIC // SINJIN X DIZZEE – I’M ON GRAFTIN (KWAM3 REFIX)
Here’s one I made earlier:
Ingredients
1 Sinjin Hawke bootleg of Khaled…”Lissssten”
1 Dizzee Rascal riddim on the Big Smoke
Preparation method
Put both ingredients through a musical blender, finely chopped.
Place them in a pan and bring to boil gradually over some bass heat.
Take them off the stove, beat lightly for another few minutes and then serve.
Enjoy.
NEW MUSIC // RAX – THE PICKPOCKET [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Following the conclusion of the innovative and visually inspiring #TBCP which received support from BBC Radio 1 and 1XTRA DJ Charlie Sloth, the man like Rax didn’t find some decommissioned underground bunker to hibernate in until September. He got back on his grind to complete a new mixtape in the space of three weeks,no Blue Peter “here’s one I made earlier nonsense” this shit is frrrrrresh.
Far from spitting on popular instrumentals throughout like most compilations, this is his first official mixtape with original production (Lights Out,Yeah Man!) to name a few,bubblin’ freestyles (Oatmeal) and interludes inspired by the famous Oliver musical.
I’m yet to catch this brother perform but from what I heard he was buggin’ on stage with his band at ILUVLIVE on Monday and people forgot Tinchy was even there too (well the wee boy is a borrower)
Support hardworking homegrown talent and download the mixtape with original artwork here
Follow Rax on Twitter @RaxOfficial #THEPICKPOCKET
B-B-B-LAAOOOOWWW
RIDDIM WATCHER // TWO INCH PUNCH – PAINT IT RED
I first found out about this talented and homegrown beatsmith after listening to his remix of Birdy’s People Help The People on Balam Acab’s mixtape for Vogue France. The saccharine slowjam vibes transformed the original bland cut for me.
Since then then he’s released his own Love You Up EP,producing riddims for fellow PMR Records labelmate Javeon McCarthy (formerly MC Shadz who sung on this Brizzy Van Persie back in the day) and further remixing the likes of Metronomy and Lianne La Havas.
In light of his forthcoming 2nd EP Saturn: The Slow Jams, the man like T.I.P has dropped a fresh track titled “Paint It Red” featuring Nashville native Mikky Ekko.The cosmic air on this one has me wrapped up in a warped galactic chasm.
Paint It Red (ft. Mikky Ekko) by Two Inch Punch
Watch out for Saturn: The Slow Jams out in late June via the rising indie PMR.
NEW MUSIC // SOUTH LDN ORDNANCE – ‘SANCTUARY’/’ROOFY’
Recently wrote some sleevenotes for the forthcoming debut 12″ release of South London Ordnance for 2nd Drop Records.
Read and listen to the promos below:
The constant carousel like shift of unreleased tracks on his Soundcloud and sporadic Twitter sessions, South London Ordnance relishes his clandestine, shady persona, keen to allow his craft to act as spokesman instead. Following early support from electronic music’s matriarch Mary Anne Hobbs, a marauding mixtape for Glasgow’s LuckyMe earlier this year and big support from Mosca, Hackman, Dark Sky and Tessela, the amount of hype surrounding this South London (obviously) based beatsmith has been ridiculous. And we’re very pleased to say this is his debut release, and a killer 12” to pop his recording cherry!
Sanctuary hurtles along from the off: a tight key line precedes a subversive and deviously grimey sub line, powerfully cajoled by an off kilter horn and a banshee-like wailing vocal which drives the track along. The influences on this track constantly migrate between house, techno and garage, be it the ricochet snares, grime-esque basslines or swing that’s pervades every beat. This is very much his sound.
Roofy is a laid-back soulful technoid roller that wraps itself around grumbling snares, brooding synths and a ricocheting robotic vocal, which acts as a pumping precursor to inducing your shoulders to sway like fauna in a light summer breeze. Fans of the deep tech triumvirate of Boddika, Joy Orbison and new boy Visionist will nod in appreciation to the intricately crafted bassweight and percussion of the subterranean variety.
This release’s artwork was curated by South London Ordnance himself, after finding Boya Latumahina’s Tumblr whilst browsing the internet. This very talented graphic designer, illustrator and photographer showcases a kaleidoscope of geometric shapes and psychedelic influences for this 12” artwork in all its Technicolor glory. Check the rest of her work out here: http://www.zipporalux.com/
A: Sanctuary
AA: Roofy Released by: 2nd Drop Records
Release/catalogue number: 2NDRP12019
Release date: May 14, 2012
RIDDIM WATCHER // KWES – LGOYH
After performing and producing with the likes of the XX, Joe Goddard, Speech Debelle and Micachu. (If you have nay heard of the collaborative effort Kwesachu mixtape,stop sleeping and get on it)
The recent signing to Warp Records has streamed ‘Let Go Of Your Hurt’ (lgoyh) – the second track from his forthcoming Meantime EP which is out later this month.
Big love for my brother Kwesi who I first found on MySpace back in the day via CockNBullKid.
Watch out for information on his Kwesachu 2-Mixtape Launch Night shortly.
Mi Dase for Meantime Kwes.
NEW MUSIC / / RAX – BEST DAY EVER
In the words of Nelly Furtado (ghostwritten by that fella from Coldplay who loves to draw equal signs in permanent marker on his hands) All Good Things Come To An End and that goes without saying for the man like Rax.
The last installment of the well-received and Charlie Sloth acclaimed TBCP project from the versatile South London artist is just another chapter to add to his burgeoning tale.
No doubt you’ll be hearing from more him shortly as the brudda is on his grind.
Big up and follow @Raxofficial on Twitter for further audio ambrosia.
FRESH ISH // NEW SPRING ISSUE OF LIVE MAGAZINE
The New Spring Edition of LIVE Magazine is currently out in the Big Smoke and distributed up north in Liverpool, Manchester and Brum.
I’ve written a few words on ‘Ethics In Athletics’ regarding the notion of nationality in athletics,interviewed a few cast members from Plan B’s forthcoming debut film ‘Ill Manors’ and a few other likkle bits.
Read the online version here if your pupils dilate upon seeing a glossy page in reality and have a look at the behind the scenes cover shoot video below.
INTERVIEW // DE LA SOUL’S PLUG 1 AND PLUG 2 AKA FIRST SERVE
I recently had the p-p-pleasure of interviewing Plug 1 and Plug 2 from the legendary Hip-Hop trio De La Soul. The duo talk about their new project First Serve, “fuckin” with the glass jawed hood terminator 50 Cent and the pitfalls of lapping up fame quicker than a piece of silver being scrabbled in an inner-city school playground.
Peep the LIVE Magazine interview here: http://www.live-magazine.co.uk/2012/02/music-de-la-soul-first-come-first-serve/
and the video for ‘Must B The Music’, the first song off the First Serve LP below:
Enjoy
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