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RPL-BritishHipHop

West London’s Apex Zero releases his first solo album “Reality Provoking Liberation” on 28th October, following on from the 2012 mixtape “The Pulse of the Awakening”

Known in the city as part of the First and Last duo, a past regular at the End of the Weak and Speaker’s Corner events and also as a member of the group Pantheonz of Zenn-La, he’s built up a rep for his energetic live shows and powerful lyrical delivery style, covering a range of political and social issues.

The self defined neo-hardcore tru skool hip hop Emcee also produced most of the album alongside his First and Last partner OMeziah, and while drawing from his eclectic range of musical influences for a new contemporary sound, the heart of the album draws from the true essence of hip hop within his rhymes

Andy Fletcher gave the album a run out and has provided this new review for long standing online magazine British Hip Hop. he opens :

“As artists resolve to release their art without the backing of major labels they have become more willing to discuss subjects that seemed missing before. Apex Zero follows in this tradition, bringing content that might be familiar to fans of artists like Immortal Technique, with a flow that tends to be fast-almost agitated-over atmospheric instrumentals imbued with darkness and subtlety.”

An in depth look at the lyricism, production and subject matter follows, concluding that “This album is a time capsule, like the rawer, younger cousin of Lowkey’s Soundtrack to the Struggle, and as such the areas which are less polished should remain so.” and that the intensity with which Apex Zero pours his heart & soul into this records means “it is far too provocative for a casual listen.”

It’s, as usual for British Hip Hop, an intelligent and analytical review which you can read HERE

Watch out for much more coverage, reviews, interviews and releases in the weeks ahead, and also put a note in the diary that his album launch party takes place Upstairs at The Vibe Bar, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL on Saturday 2nd November from 8pm – 1am. Also performing will be Caxton Press & Iron Braydz, with DJ A.Gee from Itch Fm and host Peaches. Entry is £5.00 on the door. Check www.vibe-bar.co.uk for more details

You can watch videos for Power Source, Chaotic Revolt and Our Times at the British Hip Hop review, and meantime check out his single on Soundcloud “A Meeting of the Continents” ft Hasan Salaam & Iron Braydz

You can connect with Apex on twitter @ApexZero00 and the magazine @BritishHipHop

Any djs who require full quality clean radio edits of any of Apex Zero’s singles, or media & press with further inquiries about the album or launch event, can contact UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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RPL-SoundparlorInterview

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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T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-HitTheFloorMag

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

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MagnaCarta-UKHH

One of the longest running online platforms for British Hip Hop, UKHH.COM, took time out just before the new year to sit down with London’s Melanin 9 and speak with him on the new album “Magna Carta” which they have also reviewed in the same feature.

In the exclusive video interview, M9 speaks on his album, addressing the political, economic, personal & religious subject matter. He also speaks on how this album took his biggest effort to date in putting together in terms of concept and recording, and how the name Magna Carta relates to the overall theme, to liberate the people from from the shackles, help elevate them from the various pressures under which they live. He also gives appreciation for the public’s support on buying the album, new fans and old, and he finishes by spittin some freestyle barz to camera.

Check the full review & interview HERE

Magna Carta is available to buy digitally on iTunes now, and also available in physical CD format direct by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Any further media enquiries about this release, or any booking enquiries for Melanin 9 can be sent HERE

Follow the guys on twitter @Melanin_9 and @UKHHCom

UrbanElite PR
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MagnaCarta-MusicOMH

Multi genre online publication Music OMH are the latest to review London’s Melanin 9 and his debut album “Magna Carta” which released on iTunes on Monday 3rd December.

Contributor Thomas May gives this a thorough examination, and a 4 star rating, opening with :

“On this record, Melanin 9 remains admirably committed to his belief in the potency of hip hop as a socially transformative art form”

Of course as an artist, Melanin 9 is heavily influenced by the ethos of hip hop during the Golden Era, although in this album applies a contemporary take for 2012, a point picked up by the magazine when they say “it is the lyrical dexterity and poise of delivery with which Melanin 9 presents his sentiment that elevates this record beyond mere social critique.”

His lyricism and wordplay have been his trademark since the days of his mixtapes “High Fidelity” and “144,000”, and as debut albums go, to quote MusicOMH is one which is “made only more striking by the knowledge that this is the artist’s debut“. With the ongoing throwback to the 90’s scene happening in the United States right now, it’s little surprise that Melanin 9 has been enjoying such a level of media attention internationally.

You can read the whole review HERE

The album can be bought digitally on iTunes HERE

You can also buy the physical CD format of the album via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com where you can also purchase the 12″ vinyl version of his single “White Russian” featuring Roc Marciano

On twitter, you can reach him @Melanin_9 and the magazine @MusicOMH

Look out for much more international media coverage on this release in the weeks ahead. Any further press enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr