Dizzee Rascal @ Glastonbury 2009

Watch the full set live HERE courtesy of the BBC.

Below is semtex's footage of their mini-MJ commemoration.

DIZZEE RASCAL & SEMTEX | MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE @ GLASTONBURY 09' from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

"She don't give a damn who's watching all she wants to do is skank, she loves the Buju Banton and she loves the Shabba Ranks"

This is probably one of my favorite Dizzee Rascal records to date. Produced by Shy FX, it's a massive jump up record with a hark back to Jungle. I can't get enough of this, it's the B-Side to 'Bonkers' which is out today. Go Cop That!

The Best In The Game

Everyone else needs to re-group, pick up the paper and pen, and come back in a year or-so. The Gens have just raised the bar.

History In The Making

Last weekend history went down. A legendary set, I've been to a couple of big raves recently, but to have my favorite DJ get blessed with the 5 best MCs in the game, WOW!

Plastician feat. Dizzee Rascal, Newham Generals, Skepta & Jammer.

This isn't going to happen again in a hurry.


When was the last time Dizzee spat in a rave? He's been tearing down the Live Shows for awhile but I cannot think of the last time Diz killed a dance?


Grime Forum has been going mad waiting for footage of this, I'm screwing I didn't reach this. Matter could well be the new spot. Owned by the Fabric lot, this could be a very serious venue. A lot of money and effort went into setting up the best, most sophisiticated Live "Dance" music venue in London. With the closure of The End and that shooting at SE1, Matter holds the key to resurrecting gutter dance music in a serious veneue. FWD vs Rinse @ The End, Why Not? @ Skala, and ...? @ Matter. Hopefully this Ram Records night is the first of many.

2000&GRIME

After a short period in which he seriously fell off, Wiley has certainly come back in a very strong way. 2009 is going to be a very competitive year for Grime. Newham Generals album drops January 19th, Wiley will be dropping something and Dizzee is set to come back bigger and stronger after his first No.1, the track 'Bonkers' tore up every venue on the Dirtee Stank tour. And Durrty Goodz's 'Ultrasound' is out in January also, that means my four favorite spitters are dropping pure heat, I can't wait.

Wiley - 'Westwood Freestyle'


Newham Generals - 'Bell Dem Slags'


(The Paddy cameo is alot!)

While Most...

Of these other British artists are obsessed with trying to crack the American market, Dizzee is straight destroying it Down Under.

SEMTEX TV - DIZZEE RASCAL & SEMTEX: LIVE ON TOUR PERTH, AUSTRALIA from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.
Check Semtex's blog for more footage and updates.

Time Out - The 40th Anniversary

A little piece I did for Time Out on Fats Shariff aka Fatsarazzi. The issue is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the magazine and the theme running throughout this week's publication is that of 'Heroes'. You'll notice Dizzee on the cover, he was one of London's 40 Heroes who makes the city what it is today! It was a pleasure to be involved with such a legendary publication both going there with Diz and then getting the chance to write for them was also great, Time Out is an internationally recognized publication, covering 23 individual cities!!

"Me And My Music"

Me And My Music

UK Rap is in a great place at the moment, better than it has been in a long time. Back in the day when I was at school, I used to live and breathe UK Hip Hop from like 2000 onwards I've been all about it. Clearing out my old room yesterday I had to take down the posters and flyers off the wall, some classic UK promo up on there; it made me reminisce. I used to want to break into the UK media and music game so badly and I have since accomplished some of my dreams (no homo) not all of them I must admit but I have worked on classic UK rap records, put on heavyweight nights, and been schooled by pioneers in the scene. I'm not gonna lie, my love has somewhat diminished in recent times, but now the scene is as healthy as its ever been in my opinion. Although, those of the "Kung Fu" era and before will doubt this, I truly do believe its as good now as when Task Force, Jehst, Skinny, Braintax et all were leading the way making their own classic records with a uniquely British take on Hip Hop. I understand that their sound is distinctly different from the sounds of today, the influences and parameters have certainly changed, but London is doing a lot right now.

While many have fallen away, new talents have emerged and the stalwarts are as strong as ever. Here are a few of those doing it right now, alongside what I think of them, some have been featured here before, others haven't - I'll keep it brief:

Roots Manuva
Performed tonight on Jools Holland and his latest record 'Slime & Reason' is as good as anything he has done before, the most consistent recording artist in UK Hip Hop.
Newham Generals
Soon to take Grime and Street Dance Music (for love of a better phrase) to a new plateau.
Wretch
The most talented wordsmith in the country, steadily building a strong following, with unique videos and style to boot, his album 'Wretchrospective' released October 6th is about to break new ground for Hip Hop in this country.
Dizzee Rascal
He's had a No.1 record, pioneered music on an independent level, and simply taken UK Rap to new ground, places, hemispheres, and defined what a British rap is to a whole new generation of kids across the country. Whatever you think of him, he is the greatest rapper to ever come out of the UK, I for one must admit he has done more for UK rap than any other artist, and I still rate him higher than Rodney P, Skinny, Roots Manuva and all the early pioneers just for the simple reasons that he's achieved more than any other rap artist in this country, ever. However you grade that; money, exposure, awards, RECORD SALES.
Sway
He changed how the UK Hip Hop and Grime scenes function, he was the King of the Mixtape. Taking that work ethic and independent ethos to full releases, his second album is set to be bigger and better than anything he's done before, Lil Derek is certainly doing more than O.K.
Sincere
He's been around for a long time, features with Wan-Cee, killed the Itch FM mixtapes back in the day and definitely put in his ground. Now doing it independently he's one to watch, built up a wealth of industry contacts, making moves on MTV Base etc and all on his own label, Y.E is gonna be pushing boundaries, hooked up with Natty on a heavy track he is one to watch.

I could go on and on, about several other artists, but this is a quick blog post and I haven't really thought too much about it, so here are a couple of videos of those less known above, I've missed so many artists out, but thats whats good about our scene right now, its flourishing. Whether grime or rap, it doesn't matter... as long as the swagger is there and the beats and rhymes are on point, I'll continue to support, and will always hold hip hop in this country in high regard... eeerrrrmmm maybe a classic UK Hip Hop post could be on its way... for now enjoy the vids, and hopefully you've enjoyed the rambling rant.

Sincere feat. Natty - 'Once Upon A Time'

Newham Generals - 'Westwood Freestyle'

Wretch 32 - 'Punctuation'




DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS INSPIRED BY MARK HENRY'S HEAVY TRACK AT THE TOP OF THE POST.

Shout Out To Fatlace Magazine

The Old Bill Rapping To Raskit

I was at Underage Festival last Friday working with some brands looking after the artists etc, managed to go and see Diz perform and while I was standing at the side of stage next to three coppers I noticed one of the Met's boys in blue spitting along to sirens, I only managed to get this short clip before he clocked me. I should of got the camera out quicker!

Raskit's music has spread far and wide, when I had a quick chat with the fuzz he seemed quite proud of the fact that his station had arrested Dizzee in the past!

Straight Outta Newham

You're not ready for what the Newham Generals are about to do! I'm excited for them, its their time. Double and Foots have been putting in the work. Stalwarts on the Grime rave scene, Double was always a standout MC with his signature 'D Double Signal'. Footsie has come on strongly since the days of "bare right hooks", he is one of my favorite MC's right now, his Selassie lyric is too much! Foots is talented behind the boards proving his credentials forging some serious beats for Raskit.

Check that Selassie lyric here in this video of them killing it on Logan's show from earlier on in the year:



This is a little clip of them killing it at a showcase in Austin at South by Southwest. Chrome is singing on this one, you might remember him from a little cameo on a certain No.1 I was banging on about a few weeks ago!

Soldier - Newham Generals Ft Chrome


Shout out to the Dirtee Stank Family!

Dance Wiv Me Competition

Your Chance To Dance Wiv Diz!  Upload a video response on youtube and you could win tickets to either Reading or Leeds Festivals!

Dance Wiv Me OUT ON MONDAY

Cambridge

Cambridge Uni is a lot.

Diz on the drums - got a video but blogspot is being swag, gonna try and upload it soon.

Soundcheck.

Damn, so had a mad week, and it ain't over yet!  Apologies for the lack of posts but 'Dance Wiv Me' is gathering a lot of heat right now and we've been putting in the grind at the Dirtee Camp. Went to Cambridge University on Tuesday night and it was a lot.  The future diplomats, heirs and the upper echelons of academia put a lot of crowds to shame.  They know how to throw a party, but for something like 120 quid a ticket they should do.  To cut a long story short Diz smacked it in one of the craziest settings, St John's college is one of the oldest most prestigious colleges at Cambridge.  Shy FX played some heavy tunes and the whole Dirtee Stank Team raved it up.   Shout out to the Cambridge massive who kept the party going till 6am.  

 

Toe Jam

Raskit is on a roll!  This video is a lot! Fatboy Slim on production.  

THE BPA 'TOE JAM' FEAT. DAVID BYRNE & DIZZEE RASCAL

Strictly Come Dance Wiv Me

Manchester's finest mover Bez from the Happy Mondays gets in the spirit of things. 

'Dance Wiv Me' is killing the radio right now and Dizzee has got a certified summer hit on his hands with this one.  Expect more mad monkey dancing from Bez and drunkards up and down the country.

Here is some classic Bez material.

"You're twisting my melon man"  

Dance Wiv Me

Make sure you check out Dizzee's new video for his heavyweight single 'Dance Wiv Me' feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome. It's gonna be a massive summer record, make sure you cop it July 7th on Dirtee Stank Recordings.

The Making of the Video is doing the rounds on MTV, MTV Base etc. at the moment.  Check out the cameos from DJ Semtex, Jammer and others.  It's alot. 

"Dirtee Stank's The Labeeeeellll"