What do you know about J The S aka Jake the Snake? Most likely you’ve not heard of him this side of the pond, yet that is, but this rapper has been holding his own Stateside for more than a minute. Growing up in the States and the West Indies, claiming Boston as home but currently residing in NYC, this rapper cut his baby teeth holding his own on the battle circuit and early on opened shows for the likes of Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Slaughterhouse and Wu-Tang. His latest album ‘The Last Days’ and precursory project ‘Wish You Were Here’, features the likes of Saigon, Jadakiss, Crooked I and others, and is soon to drop so watch this space!
As if all that wasn’t enough of a testiment to this mans abilities, when he’s not on his musical grind, teaching kids or in the studio chatting about Pootie Tang with Sean P (click), he’s holding his own in the kitchen. Don’t believe me? Just peep this Marvellous video below. For more info on J The S click here
Strong Arm Steady, for those of you who don’t know, was formed as an alternative movement to the West Coast’s Death Row Record’s musical domination. Born out of LA’s indie scene artists like Krondon, Phil Da Agony, Xzibit, Chase Infinite, Planet Asia, Mitchy Slick and more, united under a like-minded approach to music that didn’t revolve around the perception of a gang mentality. The latest drop, ‘In Search of Stoney Jackson’, is definitely not one to be slept on. Constructed entirely of ridiculously soul-soaked Madlib beats and guest appearances from Phonte (of Little Brother), Talib Kweli, Guilty Simpson, Oh No, Roc C and more, this has to be one of my most listened to hip hop releases in a minute! It’s out on Stones Throw Records now so make sure you cop it.
Hip Hop Hype Dog, the hip hop blogging mastermind has collaborated with podcasters the Basement Sessions to bring you the Headspace Mixtape Vol1. This mixtape is testiment to those who still believe in and hold tight to the unique sound that is UK Hip Hop. To pull this off is no mean feat (as talented as they are we all know how LONG UK rappers can be), so show these true heads some love for all the blood, sweat and tears they went through to bring you some of the UK’s freshest and finest talent for free! Mixtape features the likes of Asavior, Fallacy, Mystro, Juice Aleem, Remus, Skandal, Yarah Bravo and so many more.
Tell a friend, tell a friend to tell a friend and, well, you get my drift! Support homegrown talent and our uniquely independent music scene. Check out Hip Hop Hype Dog here
Line up for the next Turn Off The Radio has been announced and it’s gonna be a good’un! Performing on the night: Granville Sessions, Rapid (Ruff Sqwad), Tinashe, DJ’s yours truly, aka Mildilla, and Alex Nut. Come down, shake a leg and support good, independent music.
Here’s an interview I did with Goldielocks ahead of the release of her EP ‘I’m Not Her’ out tomorrow on Itunes, Amazon, cd and vinyl! For more information click here
‘Journeys With No Return’ explores the theme of Turkish Migration during the 21st Century in three cities, Istanbul, Berlin and London, There will be an exhibition in each city but London will be the biggest of the three. 12 contemporary artists will exhibit their work at the A Foundation in heart of London’s East End, next to the large Turkish communitites of Haringey and Hackney. Journeys With No Return runs from 18th February – 14th March 2010
Roktic’s pop-up lair in Bricklane is drawing to a close. Most the stock has been shifted so what better way to celebrate than a good old closing party? There’ll be djs spinning to help you boogie away those January blues, including yours truly aka Mildilla, booze, streetwear for sale and general good time vibes. This is a ticket only affair but luckily for you we have 2 to give away so, if fancy coming down and having a skank or making some requests/heckling me, hit me up at milly@airsngraces.com. First 2 people WIN. GO, GO, GO!
Perfectly in theme with my declaration of hibernating for the whole of January, due to being broke and thinking this is a shit month, a rather nice offer has been brought to my attention. That Tattoo parlour, you know the one you’ve heard me bang on about? You know the one where I got some ink from recently? Well, if you don’t remember you must’ve been hiding under a rock. Any ways, The Pure Ink studio, thought they’d ink away your January blues with a very generous offer! Since VAT has gone up to 17.5% this month, boo hiss, they’re offering customers a mighty 17.5% discount off any tattoo booked before 22nd February 2010. The only catch is you MUST be a member of the Facebook group to be eligible so, click here to join the group. January is the perfect time to get inked as it will all be beautifully healed by the time spring/summer comes around and you want to be showing the world your new tatt!
Victoria Beckham lends her style credentials to this year’s Sport Relief T-shirt. Enlisting the help of a special team — armed with spray cans and blank canvasses, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz added the finishing design touches — the project is very much a family affair, with each of the T-shirts featuring the super-cute Beckham logo created from a combination of the family’s footprints. Victoria says: “Im so proud of David and the boys for their creative input. It was incredibly special to have our children involved, as we were able to educate them on helping so many disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas.” And people say she only thinks in bags.
Elsewhere on the high street, French Connection’s collaboration with Magic Bus, an organisation that provides role models for children living in poverty in India, has produced a cute range of printed tees. H&M’s beachwear range for WaterAid features cool tie-dye prints. And the Great Plains embroidered shopper for The Girls’ Fund helps young girls in impoverished countries. With stylish pickings like these, the chari-tee has come a long way. Sport Relief T-shirts, £9.99, online and in store from TK Maxx, Sainsbury’s and sportrelief.com
I was chatting to a friend the other night about the notion of ‘promise’ in relation to time. I was reminiscing on those summers when you were younger that seemed to be never ending and were full of promise etc and how it seems less so as you get older. So, we started discussing how the notion of promise changes as you go through life but is always there in some form or another. He then told me about a poem by Christina Rossetti called ‘Promises Like Pie-Crust’ which, having done English Lit, I was slightly ashamed I wasn’t aware of. So, of course, head hung in shame I ran off and looked it up and I found it incredibly poignant and touching, especially when it comes to the notion of love. So, here it is for your fair folks:
Promise me no promises,
So will I not promise you:
Keep we both our liberties,
Never false and never true:
Let us hold the die uncast,
Free to come as free to go:
For I cannot know your past,
And of mine what can you know?
You, so warm, may once have been
Warmer towards another one:
I, so cold, may once have seen
Sunlight, once have felt the sun:
Who shall show us if it was
Thus indeed in time of old?
Fades the image from the glass,
And the fortune is not told.
If you promised, you might grieve
For lost liberty again:
If I promised, I believe
I should fret to break the chain.
Let us be the friends we were,
Nothing more but nothing less:
Many thrive on frugal fare
Who would perish of excess.
Here’s a random story for you: I was trying to get into some hip hop night or other at Herbal over the summer and due to a little too much cider I was airing on the blonde side (even more than usual). Having queued up and got to the front, I realised I had no cash on me. Long story short, some city type dude took pity and paid for me to get in but, whilst this blonde moment was occurring, I got talking to the lovely lady running the door. You know the ones where someone says something you really relate to and you can’t help but jump in on their convo? Well, I overheard her chatting about the distinct lack of real, creative women in the London scene, supposed to scenester hanger-on’s and so, of course, I put in my ten cents worth in. Long story short, we got chewing the fat and turns out not only does she run nights and is generally a very cool lady, she’s an incredibly talented artist and illustrator as well!
Sri is having her debut solo exhibition ‘Between Worlds‘ at the Print House Gallery in Dalston from 4th -28th February, so be sure to scoot along and check out this amazing lady’s work. Private view on Thursday is on Thursday 4th. See below for more info!
Fresh off the press, this is the official video for the track ‘Cold Sweat’ by musical tour de force Goldielocks. This tracks is from her recently released EP ‘I’m Not Her’ on her own label Gut Instinct records. I have to say, honestly, this is my most listened to track on the EP which you should most definitely should check out. So, in 2010 say no to bubblegum pop and show some love and support for real, independent, talent laced, genre defying music. For more information on Goldielocks click here
I met Theophilus London not that long ago. We were sat at a table drinking and I had a new pair of creps I’d just been given with me, he picked them up, looked at them, looked at me, said they looked massive then laughed. I’m prepared to forgive him because A) they did look huge and B) I’m feeling this track a lot. Cop it!
