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ECHOES MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL HIP HOP (FRANCE)

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In their end of year edition, legendary UK magazine Echoes have included a review of Melanin 9’s new album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December 2012.

“Recreating the claustrophobic climate of pre-millenial angst, Magna Carta could have snuck out in the late 90’s. To his credit, Melanin 9 never sounds like he’s having to try too hard” opens Sunil Chauhan’s analysis in an issue which also includes new releases by Homeboy Sandman, Ruff Sqwad, Kingdom of Fear, Lazy Habits, Kendrick Lamar, Jungle Brothers and Kool G Rap

“Magna Carta does what it says on the tin, as it’s supposed to do” it concludes, and you can read the whole review in the publication which hit UK stores today. You can see more about the magazine online at www.echoesmagazine.co.uk

Meanwhile, French magazine International Hip Hop hits stores in France from Tuesday 18th December, and we have a sneak preview of the reviews section which as well as covering Melanin 9’s album with a 90% rating, also features releases by Mystro, K-Def, Lord Finesse, Pace Won & Mr Green, Snowgoons and Blaq Poet.

Written in the French language (obviously), the Paris based publication lives up to its name covering hip hop from all over the world, and is produced on a monthly basis. This month’s edition also includes interviews with Nas, Redman, Big K.R.I.T., Jean Grae and Kool Keith. You can find out more about them online at www.ihh.cc

Melanin 9 has built up a loyal fanbase in France and Europe for a number of years, so its no surprise he rates highly here, just as he’s done with a wide level of coverage in the UK’s media and now also making some headway in the States.

The album has been available to buy on iTunes since the 3rd December 2012, and CD versions can be bought by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

All international media for this release handled by UrbanElite PR. Any further press enquiries or booking enquiries for Melanin 9 from event & club promoters can be sent HERE

Meanwhile connect with them all on twitter @Melanin_9 @IHHmagazine & @EchoesMag

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Melanin 9 took time out recently to speak with London’s Huck Magazine on the 5 rhymes & verses that stand out for him over the past decades

Part of a regular feature for the publication, the London emcee has picked lines from Nas “Take in Blood”, Ras Kass “Reelishymn”, The Roots “No Alibi”, Cannibal Ox “Iron Galaxy” and Jesht “ESP” and explains why he rates them and the meaning for him as an artist.

You can read this feature in the magazine which is in stores now, and can also be bought online HERE

With Christmas only around the corner, you can buy Melanin 9’s Magna Carta, easily one of the hottest UK hip hop albums of 2012 at iTunes digital store HERE or order the physical version via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Look out for new interviews and videos coming in January 2013

Meantime keep up to speed with them on twitter @Melanin_9 and @HUCKmagazine

All media, press & radio handled internationally by UrbanElite PR. Any further magazine or club/event booking enquiries can be sent via the CONTACT page on this site

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-SabotageTimes

UK’s online magazine Sabotage Times cover a wide range of content including music, sport, fashion, politics, food & drink, travel…a full lifestyle publication with the leader “We Can’t Concentrate So Why Should You”

Contributor Tobi Oke has just reviewed Melanin 9’s new album “Magna Carta” for them introducing the release as “an exploration into the facets of the mind”

Touching on the influence of the 90’s era of hip hop, or Golden Era, the acknowledgement is there that the album takes it to a contemporary level, and not just a slavish re-enactment:

“M9 is heavily informed by supreme mathematics, righteous teachings and the general imparting of knowledge using hip-hop as his medium. Regardless of this, the music above all is what truly separates one MC from another and whilst being a very capable lyricist, M9 has wisely aligned himself with some of the premier beat makers this country has to offer to sculpt his sound.”

The review is a thoughtful look at this record in context of the various directions the genre has taken generally, and the artist’s approach specifically in terms of subject matter and lyricism

Read the whole review HERE

The album can be bought via iTunes now HERE while CD versions can be purchased by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can follow him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the guys at the magazine @Teflontobz & @Sabotagetimes

There’s been a fantastic international media response to the release over the past couple of months, and you can expect to see more press coverage and video features into 2013.

Any further press and media enquiries about this release can be directed to UrbanElite Promotions HERE Any club and event promoters looking to book Melanin 9 can also contact us via that link or at the artist’s Bandcamp

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-Rawroots
A couple of weeks ago, Melanin 9 chopped it up with the UK’s online Rawroots to speak on the release of his debut album Magna Carta which can be bought now on iTunes.

He talks about his early days of deejaying, comin up in London and the early crews he worked with, working with producers Chemo, Beat Butcha, Jehst and Bronze Nazareth and plans on working with them in the future, the eclectic production on Magna Carta and his approach to the art of emceeing and lyricism.

Check it out (as featured on www.rawroots.com)

As well as iTunes, you can buy the physical CD format of his album via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Link with them on twitter @Melanin_9 and @Rawroots

Any further media & press enquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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British multi genre online publication DataTransmission have just allocated Melanin 9’s debut album “Magna Carta” an 8/10 rating via their review by Janine Francois

“Just simply a stunning piece of art” is how the review is summarized which you can read in full HERE

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There’s little question that this has been a landmark release for the London emcee with such an extensive of international media coverage, and it was also good to see the re-emergence of London’s Itch FM who featured Ryan Proctor’s review in Old to the New. Anyone involved with British Hip Hop will be well aware of the role the radio station played over many years in supporting artists such as Blak Twang, Jehst, Phi Life Cypher, Task Force, Skinnyman and many others, before winding up operations a few years back.

However theyre back online, and you can see the feature at http://www.itch.fm/melanin-9-magna-carta-review/

Magna Carta is available from iTunes now, and can be bought HERE You can also buy the CD physical format by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can hear snippets of the whole album streamed exclusively yesterday by Bonafide Magazine, another publication to give the release its full endorsement by including it in their Top 50 Releases of 2012. Hear the audio stream HERE

You can keep up to date with all of them on twitter @Melanin_9 @D8aTransmission @ItchFM @RyanProctor75 and @BonafideZine

All UK and international media promotions handled by UrbanElite PR. Any further press enquiries can be sent HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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The UK’s Bonafide Magazine has today exclusively streamed album snippets of Melanin 9’s “Magna Carta”

The magazine, who will also include the album in their Top 50 releases of 2012, introduces the feature “Melanin 9 is a true UK hip-hop talent….and the LP tackles real issues such as human rights, social cohesion and self worth”

The 18 minute long stream includes all of the tracks in order of the tracklist:

1) Gene of Isis (prod by Anatomy)
2) Magna Carta (prod by Anatomy)
3) Landslide (prod by Anatomy – scratches by Evil Ed)
4) The 7 Blues (ft Madame Pepper) (prod by Hey!Zues)
5) Cosmos (prod by Parental – scratches by DJ LOD)
6) 11:08 (prod by Option Command)
7) Love’s Stencil (ft Madame Pepper) (prod by OhBliv)
8 ) Heartless Island (ft Triple Darkness) (prod by Jehst)
9) White Russian (ft Roc Marciano) (prod by Anatomy)
10) Red Snow (prod by Anatomy)
11) Organised Democracy (prod by Tony Mahony – scratches by DJ Madhandz)
12) No Man’s Land (ft Triple Darkness) (prod by 7th Dan)
13) Colour Blind (ft Madame Pepper) (prod by Anatomy)
14) Marble (prod by Tony Mahoney)

Check the full feature HERE

Meanwhile, Stateside online magazine Surviving The Golden Age has reviewed the album, again picking up on the strong influence of the Golden Era of 90’s hip hop contained within the release.

Comparing his “raw, hard hitting hip hop beats” to that found on Nas’ “Illmatic” (not the first time the comparison has been made), and like Nas & Biggie “his lyrical content deals with his city….North London” the magazine cites the track “Heartless Island” and credits Melanin 9 as “a highly literate rapper as he references House of Flying Daggers in the same breath as soliloquies”

Read the whole review HERE

There has been extensive international media coverage on this release, with more on the way, and once you check out the album stream on Bonafide you’ll hear why

You can buy the album on iTunes now HERE

You can also purchase the CD physical format direct by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can follow him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazines @BonafideZine & @StGAdam

All press, radio and other media promotions has been handled by UrbanElite PR, and any other enquiries regarding the release can be sent HERE

Urbanelite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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“Proving that it is possible to deliver street-influenced, hardcore Hip-Hop without having to appeal to the lowest common denominator, with “Magna Carta” M9 has succeeded in his mission to elevate, stimulate and edutain, delivering one of 2012′s most essential albums in the process.” is how Ryan Proctor summarizes the new album from London’s Melanin 9 for his online blog Old To The New

Ryan has been writing about hip hop for several magazines over the years, contributing reviews, interviews and news, and has established a real tastemaker online platform with his blog, covering some of the best traditional hip hop international releases, videos, singles, albums and events

If in any doubt about his standpoint on hip hop & rap music today, his opening line about Melanin 9’s album and his overall view are combined with :

“Although there may be many artists today prepared to sell their soul and dumb down their content in an attempt to appeal to the masses and achieve their fifteen minutes of fame, there are still real emcees out there who aren’t willing to take the easy route, choosing instead to put hours of effort into mastering their craft, keeping their lyrical swords sharp as they walk in the footsteps of the greats that came before them. London-based lyricist Melanin 9 a.k.a. M9 is one such artist.”

A full in depth review follows HERE

The strength of the classic Tru Skool sound influenced by the Golden Era of the 1990’s is reflected by the international element of his album sales on iTunes throughout Europe and in the States, as well of course as in the UK. This would indicate that the genre is in good health, and still passes the test of time when others come & go.

You can buy the album on iTunes digital store HERE or if you prefer purchasing the CD format by mail order, or the limited edition 12″ vinyl of the single “White Russian” featuring Roc Marciano, go to http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Connect with him on twitter @Melanin_9 and reach out to Ryan on twitter @RyanProctor75

All international coverage on this release has been handled by UrbanElite PR, and any further media enquiries can be sent HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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Nominated for MTV’s “Brand New Unsigned for 2013” recently, London’s Skripture launches his debut self produced single for No Help No Handouts Records.

“Bark (Back It Up)” is also the first release from this brand new British label set up to showcase some of the most creative and pioneering artists from around the world.

A founding member of The Truth MoveMENT and trans-Atlantic urban rock group The Score, Skripture has produced for Bashy, IAM1 and Saukrates, and developed his own solo career as an emcee and musician in recent times with the launch of his Skripture Sunday’s Mixtape in 2011. Drawing on influences as diverse as The Beatles, J Dilla, Wiley and Phonte, he’s busy in the studio recording new material for 2013.

The first single also comes with a remix by London grime producer Levlz who has worked with Chipmunk and Riko Dan of Roll Deep, and has already been taking up some impressive UK radio airtime. Releasing on 9th December, also look out for an accompanying video being launched in the next few weeks.

Bark (Back It Up) original radio edit

Bark (Back It Up) Levlz grime remix

Any djs looking for the mp3s of the clean edits of either mix, and also the instrumentals, or for any other media enquiries about the release or artist, contact UrbanElite PR HERE

You can connect with Skripture on twitter @SkriptureSpeaks and the label @NoHelpNoHandOut

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-HipHopisAWOL

With Melanin 9’s debut album “Magna Carta” releasing on iTunes today, you will see a lot of international media covering the record in the next couple of weeks.

Latest is Hip Hop is AWOL, based over in Ireland, and as the name suggests regularly covers a lot of international videos, singles and albums. Owner Ruairi tells us that Magna Carta is in his top 3 albums for 2012 along with Roc Marciano (who features on Melanin 9’s video “White Russian) and Ka.

A great supporter of UK hip hop, he reflects on other British artists who have made some international headway this year citing Genesis Elijah’s appearance with Royce da 5 9 on Copywrite’s album (another handled by UrbanElite PR) together with Melanin 9’s own progress :

“Hopefully this is the start of UK Hip Hop getting its proper recognition on the international stage and no better album to lead the charge than M9’s Magna Carta”

The unprecedented support from Stateside onlines such as Nah Right, Hip Hop DX, 2Dopeboys, The Source and Complex combined with UK publications MOJO, Clash, Guestlist, Q Magazine (end of December) and many more does suggest that the traditional sound of hip hop isnt so much making a comeback, but now receiving wider recognition for its longevity and being introduced to a new generation.

Melanin 9’s wordplay, lyricism and subject matter leans towards the ethos of The Golden Era of hip hop in the 90’s, but the album is broader than that with a willingness to push the boundaries more in its beats and production. It takes from the past to be relevant in the present

You can read the whole review HERE

You can buy the album now via iTunes HERE

You can buy physical CD copies of the album and the 12″ vinyl of his single White Russian via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Connect with him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazine @HipHopisAWOL

Any media, press and radio enquiries about this release can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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Two more international reviews for Melanin 9’s album “Magna Carta” which released today on iTunes. You can buy it HERE

AudioCred is a multi genre online magazine covering “Music with Insight”.

Most of their content would focus on all forms of “urban” music, but they also report on other styles such as blues, rock, dance and pop, with many internationally renowned artists having had their releases reviewed.

All the more impressive that Melanin 9’s debut album is afforded a 4.5 / 5 rating, and the analysis provided by Bryan Hahn is in depth, addressing the concept behind the name “Magna Carta”, the subject matter delivered in a style reminiscent of ATCQ, Mobb Deep, DOOM and Aesop Rock, and his contemporary take on the undoubted influences from the Golden Era of hip hop.

“M9’s style and word choice is impressive and captivating. He has definitely done his fair share of homework on history and various ideologies and then masterfully breaks them down with finesse. Take note America, we could learn a thing or two from the Brits” he concludes

Read the whole review HERE

Second up is a review by Blaise for the UK’s online Sampleface

The name of the blog taken by their own definition “a facial expression made when a piece of music is deemed worthy of sampling” inspired by DOOM !

Another informed 4 star review where some background information is provided about Melanin 9, and again comparisons in approach and delivery are made not for the first time with artists of the calibre of Nas, Lord Finesse, Wu Tang and Mobb Deep.

Blaise himself is a hip hop artist and can appreciate the wordplay, lyricism and subject matter displayed by Melanin 9, in his own words, “there is a wonderful balance of lyrical artistry on a canvas of exceptionally produced beats”

Read the entire review HERE

The scale of media coverage on this release so far, with more to come, isn’t just hype. This is an appreciation of a lyricist and hip hop artist drawing from the best of the Tru Skool Golden Era generation and giving it a different flava for 2012. Not only for himself, this can only be a promising sign of things to come for all similar international artists and fans of the genre.

Follow Melanin 9 on twitter @Melanin_9 and if you prefer the album in CD format, it can be “mail ordered” via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com You can also purchase the 12″ vinyl of his single “White Russian” featuring Roc Marciano from his Bandcamp. Meanwhile, you can connect with both magazines on twitter @AudioCred & @SampleFace

Any further press, radio or other media enquiries about this release can be sent HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr