Style 43

We love P.O.S. Here is the video for 'Drumroll' from his new album 'Never Better' which is released in the UK on April 27th. Dope. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfo-EGDBEAY[/youtube]...

‘Epic’, that’s what I call it, ‘Epic’. BLOC 2009 is over. Travelling seven hours forth and eight hours back was well worth every second of what seemed a never ending journey at some points. If there were people praying to God for a good festival, I thank them along side the organisation of this massive underground electronic music festival, held in the beautiful countryside of Minehead. What a nice place to live that is, green hills, the sea, strong breezes, little lambs, pretty houses, lovely people, and BLOC!

P.O.S returns with “Never Better”, the follow up to 2006’s critically acclaimed “Audition”. Written mostly in a moving car, P.O.S raps at full clip to ride rolling drums and revving distortion. There’s an urgency that he keeps in careful check, and then unleashes for spring-loaded verses that represent his best work. “Never Better” enters a room like a bombshell with a black eye, badass, noisy, and impossible to ignore. Feedback and relentless drum rolls are only occasionally tempered by sung choruses and clean, chiming guitar lines. With an unlikely punk rock past and an ever growing loyal hip hop fan base, P.O.S proves he is a rapper with range, a real musician and an unstoppable performer. Don’t mistake “Never Better” for some hybrid or some contrived crossover project because for P.O.S, genres are as they ever were: permeable.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw[/youtube] I know the last years more and more films like this have been made, Alex Jones is the master in this genre though. He released ...

Summer is on the way folks, I can feel it in me bones. But if you needed more proof, just look at the abundance of sunny sounding rhythms that are being released just at the right time to be heard blaring out of car stereos and wide open windows, when the sun does eventually put his hat on properly. I reckon one of the biggest singles to drop will be "Hidden Treasure" by the original white Russian, DJ Vadim. The reason for my predictions? The infectious Ska samples and velvet smooth vocals for a start. The voice comes courtesy of Sabira Jade, who comes from the jazz school of singing, and what a voice it is. I see BIG things coming from her in 2009.

Style43 favourites Strung Out are to release their album 'Prototypes and Painkillers' on March 27th. ...

You might hate on the accent, you might hate on the style. But I've got resperct for these cats, that's why they end up on here. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx7cPx89YTA[/youtube] "what what can I say? I wouldn't be here today if the old skool didn't pave the way"

Yeah ya heard right. Legendary emcee, producer, deejay and founding member of legendary New York crew, Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) Diamond D has contributed his trademark style to some of the most iconic records in hip-hop including The Fugees' "The Score," and A Tribe Called Quest's "The Low End Theory" and many more. In 1992, he recorded his first solo album, the hip hop classic, "Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop" which shifted upwards of 105,000 units. Following this success Diamond D lent his production skills to A-list independent talent as: Mos Def, Xzibit, Pharaoh Monch, KRS-One, House of Pain, the Pharcyde, Sadat X & many more. His second solo offering, 1997's "Hatred, Passions & Infidelity" featured appearances from such luminaries as Busta Rhymes, Phife Dawg and Pete Rock.

2 hero's of mine, Matty and Jason in Sainsbury's [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/3793433[/vimeo]

One of the most accomplished lyricists in this country, Kyza has blessed both stage and song with his scene stealing verses. With an impeccable flow, and the ability to interweave intelligent story telling rhymes whilst keeping it road, Kyza is a force to be reckoned with.

Baltimore: Home of The Wire and an emcee called Wordsmith. UK heads will be familiar with that name already, of course. We have a Wordsmith of our own from London town and he's dope. But this isn't him. This is a dude from Baltimore, just to make that clear. He's linked up with an emcee from Holland who goes by the name of I.N.C. The Poet, and they've released this little number, "Take a Walk In My Shoes".

Anyone seen Joaquin Phoenix recently? Anyone want to shed a little light on what the fuck is going on there? I heard a couple of months ago that since he made "Walk The Line", he had been singing with his band and planned to hang up his acting shoes to pursue a professional career behind the mic. Fair enough I thought. Juliette Lewis did okay with The Licks and Jared Leto did... actually, lets leave him out of it. But we know it can work in theory.

so i wake up this morning at my girlfriends house, go outside to go home to make some phone calls, when........ i see the sun shining where there should be a shadow from my Vespa awaiting me to give it some love and attention.. it's gone!!!! I'm so gutted and its probably being cannibalized as i type and organs being hung drawn and quartered..... all this as it starts to turn to lovely English summer weather, prime time for the Vespa... here is a video i did from when i went to Germany on my Vespa at the end of last year... if anyone can spare anything and make a donation to help me get back on the road that would be like amazing seeing as the insurance and the police are having a very limp response.... much love to you all except the thieving bastards...

Fresh from a US tour with Redman & Immortal Technique, one of New York's most gifted MC's, Hasan Salaam returns to the UK for the first time in two years. Teaming up for an exclusive combo set with London's own mighty Speakers Corner Quartet at the 100 Club THIS Saturday, March 21st is guaranteed to be an unforgettable show. Hosted by EODUB UK, concert ticket holders will receive free entry to the official after party, celebrating Jack Flash's recent world crowning championship victory. The All-star line-up includes DJ Jazz T & DJ Snuff, Jack Flash, Kingpin & Stig Of The Dump. Guest MC's on the night include Reveal, Dubbledge, Logic, Manage, Reain, M9ine, Mic Righteous, Big Cakes, Frantic Frank, Mohammed Yahya, Masikah & more surprise guests to be announced! The club session will also feature End Of The Weak, Peoples Army & Rebel Muzik Fam. DJs will take the set in to the early hours with a blend of Hip Hop classics past, present and future, alongside a healthy dose of original Funk Breaks and Reggae Dancehall.

So you finally get your 'career' back on track after a stint in the hell hole that is the Celebrity Big Brother house, and what do you do with your new dose of fame? Just ask no one's favourite rapper, Coolio.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_bZCv79VDI[/youtube]

Every so often, two entities from the hip hop world come together to collaborate, and the result is either genius or just plain craziness - Ice-T and Kool Keith as The Analog Brothers, Blockhead and Jer as The Party Fun Action Committee, Cee-Lo and Dangermouse as Gnarls Barkley... the list goes on. Well ladies & gents, it's crazy collabo time again and we're definitely in for one weird ride. Willie Isz is the creation of Goodie Mob veteran, Khujo Goodie, and fellow emcee and multi-instrumentalist, Jneiro Jarel. There won't be many of you out there who aren't familiar with Khujo, but Jneiro might be a bit of a stranger to some of you.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/3452684[/vimeo]

Today marks the official digital release of Lowkey's single 'Tears to Laughter' through iTunes. The single was first heard when he performed it as a poem at the London protests against the Gaza massacre at the beginning of the year. It has already become the unofficial soundtrack to many protests, university occupations and fundraising events for Gaza and Palestine across the UK. Lowkey and the single have already received support from the likes of Palestine Solidarity, Tony Benn (Stop the War) , Lauren Booth (Aloha Palestine) and George Galloway MP (Respect Party/Viva Palestina). Lowkey and his record label SO Empire Recordings will be donating all their profits from the sales of the single to the DEC's Gaza appeal.

I was scanning through the ultra-boring and mind numbing bulletins on Myspace last week, and in amongst all the shout outs for badly spelt blogs and unfunny Youtube clips, there was a little announcement from everyone's favourite producer Blockhead. Apparently he has put the finishing touches to his new album and it will (hopefully) be released in the summer.