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UK Sounds

Video: Laura Izibor

We profiled Laura Izibor waaaaaay back in 2005, and I’m glad to see that the Dublin native is finally getting some shine. This song, “From My Heart to Yours,” is amazing and is available on iTunes right now. (via Can’t Slow Down)

myspace.com/lauraizibor

Tags: Laura Izibor

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UK Sounds

UK Tings: Kano, Wiley, Taiwah

Kano - Hustler

VIDEO NSFW (The nipples are blurred out, but still…)

I already think that this video is one of the best of the year, but could this take this the best beat of the year honors as well? Kano’s album 140 Grime Street dropped in the UK last September and some over there are billing this as the London’s answer to Tha Carter III. If you don’t know what the video is referring to, then I suggest you re-watch New Jack City. I think this is probably one of the best videos of the year. What do y’all think?

Wiley - Cash In My Pocket

Wiley - Cash In My Pocket

Last time we heard from Wiley, the dude was calling his record company out on the Internets. Apparently, Wiley and The Man hugged it out, because his album, See Clear Now drops in the UK in January. His track Cash In My Pocket just dropped on the Internets (via DDoff) featuring Daniel Merriweather, and although the beat is dope, the hook is one of the most annoying things I’ve heard this year. Seriously, I can’t stand Autotune, but they need to throw some on this track.

Wiley describes See Clear Now as an “official” pop record, featuring collaborations with Lily Allen, Hot Chip, and Mark Ronson. I take it grime is officially dead, however, I’m curious to see how this album turns out.

Taiwah

Taiwah - Every Step

Sorry people, I have a MAD late pass with this one. If you don’t know, Taiwah is a South London based soul artist who is dropping some killer tunes right now. The 21 year old songstress is best known for working with Mark Ronson (who seems to be the Lil’ Wayne of the UK producer game right now), on his Versons LP that dropped last year though I wasn’t really feeling her contribution. However, her EP, titled In Jodi’s Bedroom, is simply amazing. It’s vaulting up my best album list as I type.

myspace.com/tawiah

Tags: Kano, Lily Allen, mark ronson, Taiwah, Wiley

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UK Sounds

UK Tings: Wiley Walks Away From Label, Disses It, Then Apologizes

Wiley feat. Beenie Man - Rolex Up The Heatwave

Wiley might not be a household name here in the States, but in the UK, his song “Wearing My Rolex,” was a number 1 hit, and his track was slowly making it into DJ sets on this side of the Atlantic.

However, all is not well in the Eskiboy camp, as Wiley at first walked away from his label, Asylum/Atlantic this week:

Another Wiley vs. Label saga, Eskiboy is now speaking up about his deal with Asylum Records, the Atlantic Records-linked label that recently put out his massive single, Wearing My Rolex.

After dealings with XL Recordings (Treading on Thin Ice), Relentless (Roll Deep’s In At The Deep End) and Big Dada (Playtime Is Over), it seems Wiley has walked out on another record deal. In a series of threads posted on RWD’s very own forum grime’s 29 year-old Godfather has dropped a few words about signing to big labels. “The problem is when someone thinks they can mould you into something not understanding one day you will wake up and notice. Asylum didn’t deserve me,” he shockingly said in a thread titled ‘Do Not Sign A Record Deal If U Have Got Money’.

After staggeringly releasing in depth financial information about his impending album and follow-up to Summertime, Wiley revealed all about his healthy bank balance. “I have to remind everyone I had my bikes, car, chain and watch and all that before this album deal so I didn’t need to sign this deal really but I got pressured into it by my manager obviously he just wanted money and I signed knowing I was gonna end up flipping cos it wasn’t me it was what asylum wanted me to be which was never gonna work.”

He also went on to mention, “I’m jus doin’ my ting now f*** everyone, I swear.”

The dude actually goes into rather specific details on his deal on the RWD Magazine message board (which I’ve never seen an artist do before), saying that the issue arose because the production cost overruns were being taken out of his £100,000 ($185,000) advance. It sounds like typical label bs that could have been resolved through lawyers, and the general consensus from his fans and industry heads is that the dude overreacted. Wiley’s track record of switching record companies like I switch underpants wasn’t doing him any favors, especially when he was poised to hit it big with this upcoming album.

However, cooler heads prevailed. Wiley wrote a letter to his label apologizing for the whole thing, and the album is still supposed to come on Asylum/Atlantic. However, is the damage already done? I’m sure his label and his lawyers aren’t happy with him putting his finances on the Internets like that.

Tags: Wiley

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UK Sounds

Video: Roots Manuva - Let the Spirit

From his album, Slime and Reason:

Tags: Roots Manuva

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Hip-Hop, UK Sounds

New Music: Pharcyde - “Passin’ Me By (Hot Chip RMX)

Pharcyde - Passin Me By (Hot Chip Remix)

I’ve blogged about the Delicious Vinyl RMXXOLOGY album before, but I haven’t picked it up because the tracks so far have been hit or miss. This remix by London electro outfit Hot Chip of the Pharcyde’s classic “Passin’ Me By,” is one of the brighter spots on the album. The group keeps the same type of low key production as the J-Swift original, but I’m diggin’ the arrangement, even if it falls off by the time it hits the chorus and the second verse.

Tags: Hot Chip, Pharcyde

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UK Sounds

Roots Manuva - Again & Again

The latest video from the geographically challenged UK MC. As Jay Smooth says, it might be the first cricket themed hip-hop video ever, but I can’t confirm nor deny this. Also, I know I almost got jumped for saying this, but cricket is the worst game ever invented. There, I said it.

Roots’ new album Slime & Reason drops August 25th.

Tags: Roots Manuva

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UK Sounds

Cinematic Orchestra - “All That You Give”

For some reason, I woke up with this song in a constant loop in my brain when I woke up this morning. I don’t know why–I haven’t heard this track in years. Maybe the lack of Air Conditioning in my condo was going straight to my head.

Anyways, if you don’t know, the Cinematic Orchestra is a dope outfit out of London which combines, hip-hop sampling with live jazz arrangements as well as electronica for some truly ground-breaking music.

This particular track, All That You Give, features American soul singer and Cinematic collaborator Fontella Bass who is best known for her song “Rescue Me,” which most people attribute to Aretha Franklin. Unfortunately, that was her only hit, and remained in obscurity until her first recording with Cinematic in 2002.

The song “All That You Give” is on Cinematic Orchestra’s first album. YouTube user wax35 gives some background on the song:

One of the most emotional songs I’ve ever heard.
Fontella’s mourning for her husband, the Jazz great Lester Bowie, who had recently died. She did the vocal in one take and she cried when they were rewinding the tape, it was the first time she’d been able to cry for him since he’d passed away. They’d been married for 39 years.

The song is dedicated to his memory.

Heartbreaking…

Peace all and, please, listen to music with soul and REAL talent..

myspace.com/thecinematicorchestras

Tags: Cinematic Orchestra, Fontella Bass

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UK Sounds

UK Tings: Sway, Rolex Sweep

So the Rolex Sweep is supposed to be the UK’s version of the Soulja Boy. I’m actually liking the fact that its easier to do, and women like the fact that it has no obvious sexual connotations. I severely doubt that it will cross the pond (like outed racist Amy Winehouse), but who knows. Even Busta Rhymes is doing it.

Sway F Ur X

I know most of y’all don’t get down with UK grime, but personally I never thought most of the US gave the genre its just due. But I’m biased as hell since I used to live in London. Anyway, Sway’s F Ur X is becoming one of my hot tunes of the summer, even if it has a slightly repetitive grime beat and similarities to Dizzee’s “I Luv U.” Still, it’s got the perfect combination of dance beat and British cheekiness to get the floor movin’–at least in South London.

Damn. I really wish I could make it to London this year…

Tags: Rolex Sweep, Sway, UK Hip-Hop

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UK Sounds

Portishead on Current TV

I got the Press Release from Current’s people about this last week, but figured it was too good to be true. Maybe its just cause I’m in the States, but it seems this group never gives any live performances. So I took the press release with a grain of salt. But yes, Portishead actually did play a “live” convert from their hometown of (er…Portishead), which is also syndicated on the Current Network.

Since the band seems to be as reclusive as ever, it’s always good to actually seem them in a live performance setting. Now, if they can only play the 9:30 Club…

Here is the full Concert from Current TV below. The network will be re-aring the concert up until the release of their new album Third, which drops on April 28th.

Portishead Current TV Schedule

* April 11, 2008 at 10pm EST / 7pm PST and 1am EST / 10pm PST
* April 12, 2008 at 11am EST / 8am PST and 3am EST / 12am PST
* April 13, 2008 at 3pm EST / 12pm PST and 11pm EST / 8pm PST
* April 14, 2008 at 8pm EST / 5pm PST
* April 15, 2008 at 3am EST / 12am PST
* April 16, 2008 at 6pm EST / 3pm PST
* April 17, 2008 at 12pm EST / 9am PST
* April 18, 2008 at 12am EST / 9pm PST

Tags: Current TV, Portishead, Third

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UK Sounds

Ty in DC Tonight

Dammit! I saw on Ty’s MySpace bulletin that he was going to be in DC and I didn’t even put two and two together. Ty? In DC? NAW….it can’t be!

Ty feat Roots Manuva - So You Want More (Refix)

Anyway, if you’re up for checking out some great UK Hip-Hop, roll over to Marvin tonight for a FREE performance. Unfortunately I already have plans (Saul Williams at 9:30 club), but might roll over EARLY to stalk one of the greatest UK rappers of all time cause I’m a stan like that. (via Upset The Setup)

Ty will also be in NYC this weekend as well.

Tags: Ty, UK Hip-Hop

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