Listen to Magnetic Man’s first live radio interview from my show here

Everyone knows the story of Zinc now, don’t they?

Turning his back on Drum & Bass in 2007, Zinc returned to music in 2008 to play a new hybrid of house sounds. The sound he calls Crack House.

In late 2009 came the release of his Crack House Volume 1 featuring ten massive tunes. The stand out tune from that EP was Blunt Edge which was the genesis point of his Wile Out collaboration with Ms Dynamite. The tune made its way into the UK Top 40, peaking at 38.

Zinc Feat. Ms Dynamite – Wile Out

Fast forward a year and Zinc’s back and he’s gone in harder than ever on the follow up EP, aptly named, Crack House Volume 2.

No confirmed news yet regarding how many tracks but from the sampler, there’s at least seven tracks including Nexx, Gimme Dat Camera Ft. Angela Hunte, Let’s Go Ft JME and Feel This Way Ft. Jamie George.

Zinc – Crack House Volume 2 Sampler

Stand out tune for me has got to be his collaboration with Jamie George.

On his MySpace, he blogged, “Recently I took a journey into London to work with legendary Producer DJ Zinc. We hooked up at the Red Bull Music Academy, and recorded a track together.”

Crack House Volume 2 12 Inch Sampler is out 19 July.

Tracklisting

01. Gimme The Camera ft Angela Hunte
02. Nexx
03. Lets Go ft JME

Pre-order it now.

Toddla T’s given fans a taste of his follow-up album to Skanky Skanky in the form of a stunning collaboration with Jamaican raggae artist, Wayne Marshall.

Set to be a summer hit, it’s his first release on Ninja Tune/Girls Music and was recorded in both Kingston and Sheffield. The single track will be available to buy on Monday 28th June. The full package and 12″ with remixes will be out late July.

Toddla T – Sky Surfing Feat Wayne Marshall

I was lucky enough to interview him recently and he was tightlipped on revealing anything else about the album, “I’ve got loads of demos and just refining the album down now. I could name loads of collaborations but I don’t know what’s going to make the final album yet so I don’t really want to say.”

If it’s anything like Sky Surfing, it looks set to achieve big things.

When you set about making music under Redlight, did you have any new influences?

There are lot of people who inspire me from different types of music from house to dubstep. From Ill Blu to Laidback Luke, Skream and Benga. Anyone who’s just pushing something forward and making new music.

There’s a lot of good electronic music out there and then I’ve always been into synths and kick drums. It’s just a natural progression.

When you sat down for the first time producing as Redlight, what did you want to do with your sound?

I just wanted to create something new and something different that people haven’t heard before. I want to push dance music forward.

How do you think people have reacted to your new sound?

It’s gone down really well. It takes a long time to go down in the clubs. I can remember when I first started playing Stupid out about a year ago and people didn’t really know what to make of it.

Now it’s a massive tune and everyone likes it. It takes time to get into people’s minds. You can’t expect to do something brand new and for people to get it straight away.

Redlight – Stupid Feat. Roses Gabor

That’s the fun part. Once it leaves the studio, it can do anything. Music’s like fashion, it’s got to create that vibe. Anything creative, it takes a while before people get it.

You’re being heavily supported on radio now, do you think it’s because there’s more vocals in your music?

Yeah but I’ve always been into producing vocals. That’s a big part of what I like doing. Working with singers and vocalists in different ways and using it as a collage on my music.

The vocal’s just another layer which makes it so much more accessible and so much more fun.

I expected these new tunes to get more airplay because d&b is a lot faster and you can’t have as many vocals. As soon as you go down tempo, you’re working with vocals and doors do open which is what I wanted.

The plan’s working at the moment so I’m really happy about that.

You’re fresh from producing for Mz Bratt, how did that come about?

Mz Bratt – Selecta (Produced By Redlight)

They just said we really want to do some tunes with you and I was cool with that. Her and Donae’o came down to the studio and I was going through some old bits on my computer. I’ve just got folders of tunes so when artists come in, I just play them and they heard that and went, ‘yeah.’

We rolled it out in about six hours and then it took me a few days to mix the vocal. The tune just come out quite natural and quick. Everyone was vibing off it, Mz Bratt was doing well in the booth and Donae’o was helping out with the writing. It all came together quite quickly.

Is that where you want to take your sound now? Do you see yourself getting more airtime when you are working with artists like Roses Gabor and Mz Bratt?

I want to keep my integrity, that’s the main thing. I don’t just want to do tunes I’m not into. If it’s like Selecta then yeah, definitely. If it’s an underground beat which then can go on to becoming more mainstream via the vocal then yeah.

I wouldn’t just make music that I’m not into for vocalists though. I definitely want to produce artists but it’s got to be right. You can make the dirtiest backing track and then as soon as the vocalist comes on, it changes completely.

It becomes so much more accessible and the vocals can take it somewhere where it never could have gone before. I’m all for that.

What tunes are you currently into?

I don’t really listen to much music. I’m always in the studio, making music. I’m playing Magnetic Man in my sets, their album is going to be good. Artists like Toddla T, Roses Gabor, Zinc and Deadboy have all got good music coming out.

What are you up to now?

I’ve just finished remixing Magnetic Man’s new single. I’ve done three tracks for Roses Gabor’s EP and I’ve just finished a track with Ms Dynamite. The instrumental is called MDMA and she’s done lyrics over it. That’s my next release and it’s called What You Talking About and that’s coming out on Chase & Status’ MTA Records.

Redlight – MDMA

Then it’s all about the album which I can’t reveal anything yet. I’m writing the album now before I sign to anyone. I’m doing it differently this time. I’m just plodding along, making music, working with artists and I’m really enjoying it.

I’m creating new sounds and something fresh. I’m not looking for admiration. I’m just creating music and doing me. I don’t care about anything else.

And because of that, good stuff is happening.

MistaJam and Redlight are playing at Does Anyone Like Good Music at Plan B in Brixton tonight.

Skream, Benga & Artwork have spent the past few months holed up in a studio in deepest darkest Cornwall working on the forthcoming heavily anticipated Magnetic Man album. Earlier today on his soundcloud, Skream ‘leaked’ a taster from the album

Called ‘Mad’ this has just made me even more excited to hear what the holy trinity of Dubstep cooked up in Cornwall:

Download it here

Full of soulful synths, heavy bass waves and a drop more dangerous than a rock face; this is a MUST DOWNLOAD. For them to give this away for free – they must be ‘Mad’.

North London emcee SINCERE releases the first instalment from his forthcoming mixtape Written In The Stars Vol. 2 with a freestyle over “Intro,” from The XX’s critically acclaimed debut.

Filmed in an old warehouse in Shoreditch, East London, the video was directed by SHERIDAN DE MYERS:

“I chose to rap on the track because I love the XX album and that beat to me is sick!” the emcee comments, adding that the song “reminds me of some early Rick Rubin in a crazy way.”

“You can expect me to take UK rap to another level on the mixtape with beat selection flows and features this mixtape will prove Sincere deserves to be respect as one of the UK finest MCs of all time.”

The mixtape features production by Justice Falsworth, Twice As Nice, Dirt Dange, Johhny 5 & Randomer and additional beats by Hudson Mohawke and Four Tet. Featured artists include Scorcher, Chipmunk, G-Frsh, Blade Brown and Scorzayzee.

The mixtape is the second in a series by the North London rapper who made his first strides into rap under the legendary Skinnyman.

Sincere has set the underground alight with hits such as “That’s Not Gangsta” and “Once Upon A Time” (featuring Natty) – all housed under his own fully independent label Young Entrepreneurs.

With 2010 starting off the back of the most successful year for UK music, the optimism for an even stronger year has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds and tweets!

While the Grime scene has brought obvious success to the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Tinchy Stryder and Chipmunk over recent years, the Hip Hop scene is also beginning an emergence of Nu Skool UK Hip Hop Rappers.

UK Rapper from South London, Giggs (not the hairy Welsh footballer) is appearing to lead the way with his forthcoming album ‘Let Em Ave It’ dropping mid June and his current single ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’ has achieved the hot prospect of Radio 1 play listing is definitely dragging in more than just mice.

Click here to listen to the Giggs Takeover on MistaJam’s show this past week.

But, other than Giggs, (who is really pushing boundaries and testing our ears to a new sound of Hip Hop) is there anyone else that is creating waves that we can be excited about in 2010?

My answer is 100% yes. If you have not yet noticed the buzz around this young chap, take a breath and prepare for another South London Rapper by the name of Smiler.

Smiler Says “I’m trying to bring people back to the lyrics, the beats and real talent… Now it’s Hip Hop’s time and I’m bringing the sound back to the fans.”

So having done a short background check, Smiler has been around for while having dropped a track called ‘Craziest’ in 2008 and has had tracks such as Neighbourhood spinning on 1Xtra prior to that also.

Now in 2010, Smiler has arisen back from the Underground ready to come harder (pause) than ever before.

In January of this year, Smiler put out his eagerly anticipated ‘Clarity’ EP which is available for free download from his website. The EP features 14 tracks and one of which is the track that is causing all the commotion across the UK right about now!

The track, entitled ‘ENZA’ (which is an inclusive word meaning ‘that vibe’ or ‘X-Factor’ feeling), has been BBC 1Xtra play listed and the video (above) is also real nice; where you (on the low-low) get to see a selection of bikini babes in a swimming pool.

So now being May, where does this put Smiler right now?

Well having now climbed into the public eye and having got himself noticed, I think it is evident that the UK has a genuine rising star on its hands.

In today’s digital culture, where every artist now has the platform to really build for him or herself, the levels to become top of the pops are a lot higher than ever before; and with every top draw act you have to kind of put them to a simple questions test and see how many boxes they tick.

-       Do they have real talent and are they determined to succeed?

-       Do they have the foundations laid within their team and in their plan?

-       Are they a marketable brand for a Record Label to invest into?

-       Do they have a story or a message?

While Giggs, created an Internet phenomenon with a viral plague around his track ‘Talking the Hardest’, some may say that he ticks all the boxes and will take UK Hip Hop to a new height.

As for Smiler, well his track ENZA is doing the business on radio and soon to be on your television boxes. He is bringing new and exciting music regularly. (Check out his version of Nas & Damien Marley’s – As We Enter on DJ Semtex’s blog here).

He is most definitely talented with a flow, delivery and lyrical armoury to cause some serious damage. Moreover, Smiler is current, active and marketable. His message, while controversial in areas is also direct, positive and advocates Hip Hop culture.

So I asked Smiler what is standing in his way of becoming an international star.

His answer was simple. “Only myself” he stated.

Smiler’s single ENZA is set for release this summer and you can download Clarity for free from www.smilermusic.com

Being a very big fan of Grime music, you know, the only form of music other than rap where it’s acceptable to hear clashing, shouting and words the Oxford Dictionary haven’t even caught up with. It seemed only right for my first piece to be on Roll Deep member J2K, formerly known as the Grime scenes mixtape originator…

Hailing from east London, Bow, the popular artist J2K has been making music since before I was in nappys. I’m 19. Do the math! After giving up playing football – as you do. The Roll Deep member has successfully put out five mixtapes including “Heat In The Streets 1-3″, “Who Am I” and his most recent “Wake Up EP”. (Presuming we’re all in agreement that selling out on all your mixtapes is successful). As well as performing at shows all over England and Europe.

After Roll Deep’s recent single signing to Relentless, J2K has decided to put out some of his new tracks to celebrate the new year and all of the fans who have supported his career. The EP, entitled “2010″ is available to buy from iTunes and all other CD retailers in February. I’m gonna put my pocket money aside from now. The recession isn’t my friend. Features on the mixtape include Ghetts, Wiley, Dubz, Scorcher and a not-so-grimey tune “Don’t Let Go” featuring the amazing singer Roses Gabor. Now I’ve heard this track. When I say “heard” what I really mean is “I exclusively aired this track on radio before all the major DJ’s had it.” (Sorry Jam) Boastful is beautiful, do not judge me! But I must say, it’s amazing! It’s not Grime, but it’s a fantastic example of J2K not just being dubbed “Grime” but actually being an artist. Gabor is the perfect person to feature on this track as well. My opinion is biased though cause I think she’s an amazing artist. Don’t just take my word for it. Get the EP. Anyway – she has one of those even-if-I-perform-this-live-I’ll-still-sound-the-same voices, and lets be honest, nowadays other than Beyonce, how many other female performers sound the same live? Before you start to protest this, think Cheryl Cole, Fight For This Love performance on X-Factor 2009!

J2K has described this EP as “just a vibes, nothing too deep but good music never the less.” And I must confess, I’m in agreement with him.

Keep up with J2K here: Twitter Myspace Blog

And if you missed MistaJam’s show tonight where he played J2K ft Roses Gabor – Don’t Let Go, then catch it back on BBC iPlayer here

Until next time peoples!

Toodles x

By Sian

If you love HipHop and you don’t love this, you don’t really love HipHop. Simples.

The verses over Nas’ “One Love” is like a warm up for the bars he spat over Jay-Z’s “Threats” beat! And the bars on “Threats” were written in the car on the way to 1Xtra hence the paper in his hand while he spat the lyrics. Jheez!

The video for part 2 – using 2Pac’s “Changes” beat is available to watch here. Big shouts to Online Al for the hook up & the editing.

Bloggers, if you wanna re-post the video and need the embed code – holla.