Tuesday 22 January 2013

K*Ners ft Kardinal Official - MESSY

K*Ners ft Kardinal Official - MESSY


K*Ners has always been one of the most talented artists from Bristol. For years he has been dropping bombs and making moves in the UKHH scene. What makes K*Ners a little bit different than your average artist, he gets acknowledgement from various sources for his music, whether it’s labels, newspapers, magazines etc, the hard work and graft he puts in is unquestionable, and the fact that he holds down a 9-5 job as well, shows how much passion this man has for his music.

This track represents how good of an artist he actually is, it’s a ‘Coast 2 Coast’ track that feature one of the Heavyweights of the Hip Hop World. Kardinal Official is known as ‘The Hip Hop Ambassador’ in Canada, and is widely renowned as one of Canada’s best producers. For Kardinal Official to feature on a track with K*Ners to me, is a phenomenal achievement for K*Ners, and will only help establish Bristol more and more.

From the kick off, the beat has a real UK hip hop/grime feel to it, the hook whilst quite simplistic, is extremely catchy, and there’s an extra dynamic when K*Ners drops the hook on the second part. The first two verses is vintage K*Ners, flow is fluid, and content is well written, he brings the rap/reggae style to this track, no matter what beat K*Ners lays vox down on, his style instantly creates something that’s separate from the rest. Kardinal Official drops the third verse, he does try to put on a slight British accent, but I will let him off. Officials verse is very very polished, and compliments K*Ners first two verses nicely.




This is a big collaboration featuring immense talent from both sides of the Atlantic. 

Keep an eye out for this track featuring on K*Ners album due out Summer 2013.

These collaborative tracks from UK to US should be done more often, as it really is a win, win for the artists on the track, you get exposure from two different countries, and the track will have a lot of different content and depth to it…..anyway that’ something else to think about.

So in closing, get your asses onto YouTube, and give this track a listen….or several, you won’t be disappointed, and you will be supporting one of Bristol’s best.

Half of 2.

Nikkles


Saturday 12 January 2013

Ellis ft Kingston - 'These Problems'

Ellis ft Kingston - These Days


Ellis is actually an old school friend of mine, and this is the first time I have given him a spot on the Bris Rap Scene blog. 

The first time I heard and saw this video, I was at work, and the first thing that hits you, is the emotional piano on the intro, Van Dam did a really good job on the 1's and 2's for this beat - the break in the verses, where is sounds like a marching band of drums is nicely pulled off, and gives the beat a lot more depth.

Ellis' voice sounds really distinct and strong on this, the content is quite close to me to be honest, especially the second verse about selling out, he really goes in on how times have changed in the rap game. I couldn't agree more with the amount of talent that's in the darkness, and if you're not willing to pander to the masses, then you get held down and held back. Ellis did a great job lyrically on this track. The hook on the track gives a good extra dynamic, I haven't heard Kingston before, but there is a distinct Jamaican twang about his voice, and it compliments Ellis and the beat nicely.

The video it self is very well put together, some of the blue point shooting looks fucking smooth, you don't see that very often in rap videos. There's a point in the video where Ellis is stood on a bridge, and a Police car starts charging down the motorway, it added a very nice affect to the video, it gave it a bit more of a 'Real' edge if that makes sense.

This is a very good track, and video. I would recommend everyone takes a listen.

If you want to hear more of Ellis, his mixtape is out now.

You can download 'Worth The Wait' by clicking the pic below:


Half of 2

Nikkles


Saturday 5 January 2013

Crudely Cut Mixtape Volume 1

Crudely Cut Mixtape Volume 1


Taken from the Crudely Cut Website:

''Crudely Cut Records is an ensemble of rappers, producers, graffiti artists, graphic designers, photographers, film makers, deejays, website builders and multimedia specialists who have become jaded by pulling in separate directions and decided to create a collective who can now all travel the same course. Born in Bristol, but not solely Bristolian. It is the culmination of people working hard within their respective crafts and unifying for a common cause, but knowing that the world owes us nothing. It is about keeping each other sharp, being honest with each other for the benefit of all. It is about using the power that we have as a group of individuals in order to further the unit.''

Crudely Cut Records are definitely on the up and up, I referred to Bristol artists in my New Year's post, who are grafting hard, and releasing good, local music. Crudely Cut hold a lot of the releases I was making reference to.

Consisting of a lot of the South West's talented, and best artists, they released 'Crudely Cut Mixtape Volume 1'. It offers a lot of collaborative tracks from the Crudely Cut stable, and has an eclectic style from track to track. 

This mixtape is entirely free of charge, so there is no god damn reason you shouldn't be getting all over this one people. Click on the picture below to download the mixtape:


With 23 tracks on this mixtape, anyone who likes to support local music within the Bristol & South West area, I'm pretty certain there is something on here for everyone.

The mixtape includes the following artists:

The Bastard Sunz
Greenz
Krazy
Split Prophets (Datkid, Res, Upfront MC, Bil Next, Paro, and Krate Krusaders)
Tough Touch
Tom Long
Dee Green
 Chris Lucas
Kali Mist
Hozay
Drillz
Chattabox (Dialect)
Sirplus
Lowdose
Demorus
Ceaze
Jehst 
Ramson Badbones
Fliptrix
Macca Dan


I tried not to miss anyone off the list, if I have, be sure to let me know, and I will update accordingly.

Due to the nature of the album, I couldn't pick one outstanding track, and if you're a fan/follower of one of the artists on the album, you may have already heard the track that was picked for the album.

Although I can't single out one track, I can recommend a few:

Natural Born Killers - This track is straight up NASTY!!! Plus it has Sirplus on it....See what I did there....ZING!!!

White Spots - This is the closing track on the Bastard Sunz debut album. Just listen to the track for the beat, Rola Rock is a fucking G-E-N-I-U-S

Mary Jane Skit - Res from Split Prophets tearing shit up on this one.

No Bly - Demorus, Datkid, Dee Green, and Macca Dan displaying some skills on this track here.

Lions Den - Krazy & Dee Green dropping some heat on this sick beat!


Get involved people!!  

In closing, this is a very well put together mixtape, and for a labels first release, this will cater to everyone's tastes. As I said previously, with various styles displayed on the album, this does really portray a lot that the South West & Bristol has to offer the Hip-Hop/Rap scene in the UK. The rest of the country has been put on notice, that Crudely Cut are only going to build up more steam, and add to its roster of already polished/accomplished artists.

I will stand, take my hat off & applaud the efforts of the Crudely Cut familia for their efforts on this one.

You can visit the Crudely Cut website below



Now stop fucking reading this, and go and download the mixtape, and if you already have, spread the word on the review.

Half of 2.

Nikkles.

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Happy New Year From Bris Rap Scene

Happy New Year From Bris Rap Scene



2012 has been for lack of a better word, an astronomical year for the Bristol Hip-Hop/Rap scene. Some of the Bristol & the South West's best have been all over the country, and for some, the world promoting their music. There have been a fair few releases (too many to name individually) and each have had their own element of greatness to them, and portrayed their own style of Bristol's talent.

From what I have read on various Social Media websites, I can envisage 2013 being even bigger than 2012 (which will take some beating) but with the amount of new music some of these guys are working on, if Bristol isn't already a force to be reckoned with within the UKHH Scene, then after 2013, it will almost certainly be one of the UK's main City's to watch out for.

I for one, want to congratulate every artist not just from Bristol, but from the South West, who have hustled, and grafted in 2012, and I wish you a prosperous 2013, I'm sure most people will be thinking 2013 will be more of the same from a music perspective.

All the best from the Bris Rap Scene, and have a good 2013. Be sure to bless me with releases, upcoming shows etc, so I can let the masses know.

Bless.

Half of 2

Nikkles


Sunday 30 December 2012

Beats & Music By Yours Truly....Nikkles

Nikkles Beats & Music

I don't usually do senseless plugging, by I thought 'Why The Fuck Not! It's Christmas!'.

Check out my stuff on Soundcloud, there's a few beats, and a couple of tracks (CLICK THE PIC):



There is a lot more to come, with two releases due in 2013:

Nikkles - The Seven Deadly Sins


Nikkles - Past II Present


 Feel free to listen, comment, and get in touch if you wish.

Half of 2.

Nikkles


Thursday 27 December 2012

The Bastard Sunz - Lazer Gun Rap EP Review

The Bastard Sunz - Lazer Gun Rap


When the 21st of December 2012 was broadcast as the ‘End of The World’ according to the Ancient Mayans, lots of the earth’s population decided 2012 would be the end of their, and indeed everyone’s existence. This date was capitalised upon by one of the South West’s very own ‘Bastard Sunz’ – they very cleverly published the release date of their EP ‘Lazer Gun Rap’ as 21/12/12 at 21:00pm. To go along with this release date, they put together a gem of a video to promote their new offering:  


After the intro, which is aptly named ‘Happy Happy Bastardry’, we are treated to ‘Still B.A.S.T.A.R.D’ which kind of picks up where ‘Le Discotheque Martyrdom’ left off. Where ‘White Spots’ had a very catchy hook, this beats dons the same kind of 8 bar break for the hook, I just love the fact they use the word ‘Cuntish’ in the hook, not many people have the cojones to say things like that, especially for a hook (which is generally for the audience/listener to repeat and distinguish the track) give it 5-10 more years of Bastard Sunz releases, and I think the word ‘Cunt’ will have a different meaning, and will be a household word used by any, and all members of the family. Back to the track itself, a very nice fluid way to kick off the album, both bring their ‘Bastard’ style to the track, I think it really does blend in well from their previous album into this one, it may not have been on purpose, but to me, I can see the relation between the two tracks, and it’s a very nice way to kick off the album.

It then leads nicely into ‘Lazer Gun Rap’ which has a very distinct sound, hats off to Rola Rock for this beat as well. The track itself is awesome, both Mylo & B’Tol displaying their skills, but there is also a remix to this track on the album. OH91 made the remix, and it sounds nasty!! This young producer has a very bright future ahead of him. He also made a few remixes on the ‘Remixicon’ of ‘Le Discotheque Martyrdom’ which just shows the skills this guy has.

In the same vein as ‘Le Discotheque Martyrdom’ this EP has a solo track each from B’Tol & Mylo. B’Tol’s solo track on this is called ‘Talking to Myself (Blah Blah Blah)’ Tilla’s solo project 'Ketamine Kisses, MDMA Dreams' due out 2013, so watch out for that one. The first thing that hits you with this track is how sombre and dark the beat is (big shouts to Awkward & Benjamin One), a lot of people might disagree, and say that the beat doesn’t really take off, but it’s different to what a lot of people make at the moment, and in my eyes, very good. The track itself is B’Tol doing what B’Tol does best, very intricate rhyme schemes, seamless rhyming, and even though some people may not like the content of B’Tol’s verses, but fuck it! If you don’t like it, don’t listen, simple as that.

Mylo displays how diverse he is as an artist with ‘The Great Loss’. To coincide nicely with ‘The Crescendo’ from The Bastard Sunz first LP, this is a very emotionally filled ballad, and with Rola Rock on the 1’s and 2’s, the piano on this beat is absolutely amazing, it also has a real eerie feel to the beat which drags you into the song. I think Mylo did the right thing on this track, and avoided a hook – I say this as ‘The Crescendo’ had the melody for a massive hook from Eva Las Vegas (Dub Mafia), this beat has less melody and more emotion, so personally I think a hook would have unbalanced the track. In closing, the Janner has done it again with another epic track to showcase his vast array of talent.

The final track on the album is DJ Rogue displaying his skills. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Flagon is a spliced together track, with lots of beats, scratches and movie samples. There’s nothing really to critique on this track, but go and have a listen to it, you will not be disappointed.

I really enjoyed this album, albeit a little on the short side (apart from DJ Rogue’s half hour long offering). A lot of people may take umbrage to what these guys say within their tracks, and, or Social Media,  but this is part of The Bastard Sunz – telling them to tone down their shenanigans is like asking the Jimmy Saville Police to stop fingering DJ’s from the 80’s (no pun intended).

Apart from the music, the one thing that stands out on this album is the artwork. Even if this isn’t your cup of tea, give the album cover a look, and lookup the one and only Greg Blackman:




If you haven’t downloaded this album yet, firstly, WHY THE FUCK NOT! Secondly, if you haven’t following this link: