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London’s Apex Zero, one half of First and Last who describes his style as “neo-hardcore tru skool hip hop” came up through the city’s live scene, notably the End of the Weak and Speaker’s Corner events.

It’s only in recent years he’s turned his focus on the recording side, initially as part of First and Last and then releasing his mixtape “The Pulse of the Awakening” in 2012 ahead of his debut solo album “Reality Provoking Liberation” which releases on 28th October 2013.

This young emcee and producer has taken his time to study renowned figures in music and public life. With eclectic listening tastes that range from John Coltrane to Rage Against the Machine to Motown, he has been influenced by the lyricism of Tupac, Wu Tang, Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Nas and fellow British artists Skinnyman, Klashnekoff. With a personal interest in figures such as Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey & Huey Newton, and having studied socialist philosophy, politics and African history, his style is comparable to contemporaries such as Lowkey, Triple Darkness, Melanin 9 and Akala

American online magazine Soundparlor took time out recently to speak with Apex Zero about his early days & influences, his goals and challenges he faces and his new album

The feature acts as an excellent insight into the key inspirations for this young artist, the mindset and thought process behind his music with some surprising twists & turns added into the mix. Read the whole interview HERE

Apex Zero will be premiering his new single “A Meeting of the Continents” on US online The Rap Up on Tuesday 27th August, and the track features Hasan Salaam and the newest member of London’s Triple Darkness crew, Iron Braydz.

From the album, he has already released several videos, most recently “Chaotic Revolt”

Look out for much more news on this release over the next few months. Any media, press or dj inquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

Follow Apex Zero on twitter @ApexZero00 and the magazine @_soundparlor_

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Los Angeles (by way of Greensboro NC) emcee ethemadassassin releases his new Soul on Fire album on 17th September, the third solo LP from one half of the Veteran Assassins duo.

Coming up through NC’s rap battle scene during the Golden Era, the new single “80’s & 90’s” produced by UK beatsmith Sci Fi Stu speaks on these days. Anyone familiar with the sights and sounds of the time will recognize the fashions name-checked and lifestyle represented throughout.

Described in a recent album review “fired up by a dope reminiscing beat, the dreamy backdrop empowers Ethemadassassin to throwback to times gone by with inspiring effect” , the single is one for the Tru Skool heads through the generations.

The single was premiered today by the UK’s HHK Mag (aka Hip-Hop Kings) where he also gave an exclusive interview and insight into his days starting out as an artist during hip hop’s Golden Era, he speaks on the impact of the internet for artists by comparison to those early years, the current focus on 90’s fashions and culture happening now, opening for Immortal Technique and Wu Tang and of course his new album and working with international producers.

It’s a fascinating read for all those interested in the historical aspect of hip hop from the perspective of an artist who has lived through it and still performing and evolving his style to this day

Read the whole interview HERE

Check out the new single 80’s & 90’s on Soundcloud

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You can follow them on twitter @EtheMadAssassin @SciFiStu and @HHKMag

Any djs not already serviced with the clean / radio edit of this track can request it from UrbanElite PR HERE

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n the current July 2013 issue of the UK’s DJ Magazine, reviewer Neil Kulkarni picks his top releases for the month

He has made Melanin 9’s single Heartless Island which also features his old sparring partners Triple Darkness, the “Money Shot” Single of the Month

The single appears on M9’s album Magna Carta which was released in December to wide critical acclaim in the UK and also overseas – Jay Z take note! – and it can be purchased on iTunes or in physical format via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com by mail order

He has a number of live dates coming up, including on the main stage at the Boom Bap Festival in September, and also look out for some brand new recorded material being released in the months ahead. You can keep up to date with him via twitter @Melanin_9

Meanwhile, check out the video for the track

Any media or booking enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE or live venue & club promoters can contact the man himself via his Bandcamp or through his social media platforms

UrbanElite PR
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Ahead of the release of his first solo album in 10 years, “Lock’d N The Lab” due out late August, Bumpy Knuckles releases his new EP “The Mix Files” on 18th June as a joint venture on Seven13 Music and Krupt Mob.

Made up almost entirely of new material which will not appear on the album, it includes the previously released Ask the Coach, Word ft Sy Ari Tha Kid and this new single Somn’Wrong

Both the EP and album are entirely self produced by Freddie Foxxx. This will be a busy summer for Bumpy with the release of his EP, album and the putting together of a new UK and European tour for later in the year. He is also working on some further collaborations which should see the light of day in the coming months

All official updates on Bumpy can be found at http://BumpyKnuckles.bigcartel.com and you can also connect with him via twitter @BumpyKnuckles

Check it out on Soundcloud

Any djs who have not already been serviced with the clean / radio edit of this track, or the radio edit of “Word” ft Sy Ari Tha Kid, contact UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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Legendary New York hip hop veteran Bumpy Knuckles is set to release Lock’d N The Lab in late August via Gracie Productions, his first solo album in 10 years since Konexion.

This of course follows on from last year’s highly successful collaboration The Kolexxxion LP with long term associate DJ Premier.

“Keep On Grinding” is the first official single taken from the album, featuring Christopher Williams and is produced by Bumpy himself, aka Freddie Foxxx. Currently putting together plans for an international tour later in the year, expect to see more singles, videos & news on this release over the coming months

More information at http://BumpyKnuckles.bigcartel.com & connect with him on twitter @BumpyKnuckles

The single is available now on iTunes HERE

Check out the audio stream of the original version on Soundcloud

Any djs not already serviced with the shorter clean radio edit mp3, or the clean edit of his track “Ask the Coach” which he launched recently, contact UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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T : @urbanelitepr

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Following the phenomenal international response to his debut album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December, Melanin 9 has just launched the final video from this project “Heartless Island” featuring his long time sparring partners Triple Darkness with production courtesy of Jehst

Just as with previous joints Organized Democracy and DJ Magazine’s Hip Hop Single of the Month “White Russian” ft Roc Marciano, this is another banger with all artists on top of their lyrical game over a slammin beat.

Melanin 9 has just released the vinyl version of Magna Carta, and has been busy in the studio recording new projects including a new track with Planet Asia. He has several live appearances coming up including a performance at London’s iLuvLive at the end of May, and featuring on the main stage at the UK’s Boom Bap Festival in September.

Definitely one to keep your eyes on over the next 12 months

Any djs not already serviced with a full quality radio / clean edit, contact us HERE

You can keep up to date with Melanin 9 at http://m9ether.bandcamp.com and on twitter @Melanin_9 You can also connect with Jehst on twitter @JehstOfficial

UrbanElite PR
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East coast veteran duo MI and producer DJ Cutt, aka Constant Deviants, have been turning out hip hop bangers since the mid 90’s.

While MI signed with Arista in 2000, Cutt worked with N.O.R.E. and Roc-A-Fella Records, and the worlds collided again when MI featured with Rick Ross on N.O.R.E.’s “Yup” in 2006.

The duo set up a new label, Six 2 Six Records, and the imprint grew a global reputation for releases with the classic hip hop sound on the classic vinyl format. Fast forward to today, and they have just released their new album “Diamonds” from which this new video “Its OK” is taken

The duo have already begun recording the follow up album, while MI is soon to release a new EP as part of Trilateral Commission, a collaboration with producers from the United States and Europe.

You can get more information on all of Six 2 Six Records’ releases at six2sixrecords.bandcamp.com and reach them on twitter @Six2SixShift

Any djs not already serviced the clean / radio edit, hit us up HERE

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Another review of UK hip hop MC Melanin 9’s album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December 2012.

This one had slipped under the radar until today, but first published in January 2013, online magazine Stereoboard reviewer Jonny Rimmer has given this a massive vote of approval

Opening up with an overview of the shifts taking place right now in the UK scene, with more people switching attention to the “hip hop” community, he opens :

“There are significant changes afoot in the world of UK hip hop. With grime is on the way out, and its established heads like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal moving towards poppy pastures new, hip hop is again gaining popularity in cities all over the UK. The battle scene is also making waves with Don’t Flop boasting now one of the biggest battle-league fanbases on the planet. Most tangibly though, there is a real sense that hip hop is now a real voice for young people seeking change – see the recently retired Lowkey and Logic’s ‘People’s Army’; M9 also fits this mould.”

This is then followed by the opening salvo in relation to the album itself :

“However, one cannot stress enough just how much of an accomplishment Magna Carta is. For starters, it sounds very little like a British album at all, snubbing garage for the sort of slow, meditative beats that you’d find on 90s noir records like Mobb Deep’s The Infamous. And the mood it establishes is gorgeous, with jazzy trumpets, saxophone and piano samples forming the backdrop to M9’s bleak urban narratives. Even though there are several different producers here, all of them match M9’s vision, tailoring their ideas to the MC’s aesthetic vision.”

Offering a 4.5 / 5 rating, read the whole review HERE

Magna Carta is available digitally from iTunes and can also be ordered in CD physical format from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Here is a snippet version of the album on his own Soundcloud page

Melanin 9 is busy recording new material as well as setting up some dates, which will also include performing on the main stage at the Boom Bap Festival in the UK in September. Anyone wishing to book melanin 9 for dates can contact UrbanElite Promotions HERE or check the contact information on his twitter profile @Melanin_9

You can also connect with the magazine on twitter @Stereoboard

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New exclusive here for the djs – official brand new radio edit of Crooked I’s single “Villain” originally released on his Million Dollar Story EP.

The Circle of Bosses affiliate, which includes Horseshoe G.A.N.G. and of course Shady’s Slaughterhouse took the hook from Gracie Productions’ singer / songwriter Sally Anthony from the track of the same name which first appeared on her album Goodbye in 2007. The album peaked at #9 in Billboard’s Heatseekers’ Chart & the video of the original was released in December 2012.

She has also previously worked with Crook on the track It’s Been So Long, and with Slaughterhouse’s Joe Budden on Machine Gun.

Check the track on Soundcloud

Any djs who have not already been serviced with the full quality version of this track, but would like to receive a copy, (the explicit version of the new edit is also available on request) contact UrbanElite PR HERE

More information on both artists at www.planetcob.com & www.sallyanthony.com

On twitter, @CrookedInTriago & @SallyAnthony

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Latest in what has been a long line of UK and international media coverage secured by UrbanElite PR for London’s Melanin 9 and his debut album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December 2012.

This time Sean Cloherty gives it his full seal of approval on behalf of British multi genre online magazine Hit The Floor.

“Don’t mistake M9 for another rapper who ignorantly spits about drugs and guns either, the talent he has with words is extremely impressive. He paints a picture in the mind’s eye; there is a lot of wordplay revolving around meaningful subjects” again follows in the same vein of many previous journalists’ analysis of what has been a landmark release for the artist, his first official album since releasing mixtapes 144,000, High Fidelity and the Orion’s Stencil EP.

Similarly, comparisons in lyrical approach to Nas, Mobb Deep, Wu Tang & Biggie have been a common theme in many of the reviews and interviews, and this one is no different, summarizing :

“Magna Carta is embedded with hyper-visual lyricism, dark soundscapes, gritty narratives, and hard beats, and really gives the impression that Melanin 9 is out to spread knowledge.”

Read the whole review at HIT THE FLOOR

Hear the whole album in snippet form

Available now on iTunes, and also in CD format by mail order via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com We understand that due to the large number of orders placed via his Bandcamp, there had been a slight backlog in shipping, however this has now been resolved and turnaround is expected to be only a few days.

Melanin 9 is currently working on some new material, including some international collaborations. He is also available for festival and show bookings, so any other press, media or booking enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR via the CONTACT page

You can of course keep up to date with him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazine @HitTheFloorMag

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr