UK journalist Matt Oliver writes a monthly column for Monolith Cocktail titled “Rapture & Verse”
It is a monthly round up of all news, EP, album and single releases, videos and event information from the hip hop scenes in the UK and USA.
This month’s starts with a fine simple tribute to the late Phife Dawg, and then in these various categories covers news and releases on artists such as Roots Manuva, Jehst, Cappo, Camp Lo, J Manifesto, Offwhyte, J-Zone, Royce da 5′ 9″ and many more.
Also featured is news of the new Constant Deviants album “Omerta” which releases on Six2Six Records on June 28th. Read what they had to say HERE
Look out for the first of the Constant Deviants freestyle video series “Tre Volte” coming very soon, connect with them on TWITTER and FACEBOOK, and check out their current single “So Underrated”
All press, media and radio station enquiries regarding Constant Deviants and the album “Omerta” can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, our contact details are HERE
West coast online magazine Streets Connect sat down with New Jersey hiphop group 050 Boyz recently in the wake of the release of their album “Everything 050” and their subsequent appearances on the Rap is Outta Control Show with DJ Eclipse and LFHQ Show with DJ Premier.
In what is a wide ranging interview, the trio of Riq da Kid, Tru Trilla and Prince AK discuss many aspects regarding their careers. They address their history with Treach from Naughty by Nature and DoItAll from Lords of the Underground, their involvement with the Garden State Greats movement and how this proactive representation of New Jersey remains a core principle today.
They then speak about the recording process of the album and how their sound, which has roots in the Golden era of the 90’s, is enjoying something of a revival and developing a new generation of fans.
Their thoughts on how the traditional hip hop culture is represented today are addressed before moving on to subjects such as their renowned live performances, the current scene in New Jersey and their future plans for their label 050 Entertainment.
The album is available to hear & buy direct from the label HERE
Produced by Clinton Place, it includes features by Treach, DoItAll, Double O, Tha Advocate, Lakim Shabazz, Fam (Rottin Razkals) and many more from New Jersey’s scene
Several singles & videos were released over the summer receiving widespread international DJ support, including “DNA” featuring Treach, IB the Druid & Fam, and “Pay Them No Mind” featuring DoItAll & Tha Advocate. Some real bangin beats and gritty lyricism for the hip hop connoisseur. Check em out.
Any booking enquiries for 050 Boyz can be sent directly to the group via their social media, or to ourselves at UrbanElite PR together with any further media, press or DJ requests. Contact details HERE
London’s Guestlist produces a free newspaper each month covering a wide spectrum of musical genres, typically, urban, dance & hip hop, and has a substantial focus on events happening around the country & overseas, whether regular club nights, or festivals or concerts,
They are the latest to have interviewed Cincinnati’s Buggs tha Rocka who released his album “Scattered Thoughts of an American Poet” on December 10th 2014 as a free download available from www.buggstharocka.com and also via the MyMixtapez App for mobile devices. The release represents his home city with many local artists featuring, and also includes production by !llmind, Jake One, Kill Will and guest features from Tanya Morgan, Chuck Inglish, MOOD and Piakhan.
The interview appears in their latest issue opposite a feature on Afrika Bambaataa, and here Buggs speaks on the concept behind the album, his working relationship with Talib Kweli and his views on the intersection of an artist as a “commodity” and that as the musician.
The current holder of the title “Hip Hop Artist of the Year” as presented by the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards in association with City Beat Magazine, he has been again nominated for the second year running. Votes are open to the public and can be made HERE
Look out for further international media coverage on Buggs tha Rocka and further official video launches in January 2015. You can connect with Buggs on social media on twitter @BuggsThaRocka and on Facebook “BuggsThaRockaMusic” Check the video of bim performing live with Reflection Eternal at the “Resurrection of Hip Hop II” event held in Cincinnati in October this year
Voted “Best Hip Hop Artist of 2014” by the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, one of the hottest emerging lyricists out of Ohio releases his new album “Scattered Thoughts of an American Poet” on 10th December 2014.
Since 2009, his brand of conscious rhymes, intelligent wordplay & creative flow has been displayed on mixtapes with DJ Clockwork (Mac Miller), and on countless stages. A protege of Cincinnati’s Donte (MOOD) and Reflection Eternal’s Hi Tek, he’s also been brought on stages around the United States by none other than Talib Kweli himself.
Here they are performing together at the A3C Festival in 2013
They will be appearing together at this year’s A3C festival on Sunday 12th October and at CMJ in New York between 22nd – 25th October, before a Refelction Eternal reunion event at Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Brewery on 30th October where they’ll be joined by DJ Clockwork, MOOD & many others
The album tracklist has been announced. It includes a heavy representation of the Cincinnati scene with features by Tanya Morgan, Phoenix Aphrodite & MOOD with local producers Sal Dali and Hop Trax weighing in heavily with the beats
There is also production by !llmind, Jake One and many other featured artists including Chicago’s Poppadon and Chuck Inglish from the Cool Kids. You can read the official press release HERE
UrbanElite PR are handling all US & international press & media inquiries regarding Buggs tha Rocka. Requests for a copy of the album to review, or requests to interview the artist whether in person at any of the shows in Atlanta, NYC or Cincinnati, or by the other usual means can be sent by email to us via the CONTACT SECTION
Meantime, check the video teaser of the album & tracklist below, and keep up to date with Buggs on twitter @BuggsThaRocka
SCATTERED THOUGHTS OF AN AMERICAN POET – TRACKLIST
1. Scattered Thoughts Intro (produced by Sal Dali)
2. My$tery (produced by Sal Dali)
3. Against Me ft Aida Chakra (produced by !llmind)
4. Bad Habits (produced by Hop Trax)
5. Until The End ft. MOOD & Phoenix Aphrodite (produced by !llmind)
6. Phantom of The Opera ft Chuck Inglish (produced by Kill Will)
7. Angel of Death ft Piakhan (produced by Hop Trax)
8. Moments Slowed Down (produced by Alister Johnson)
9. Rapture ft Phoenix Aphrodite (produced by !llmind)
10. Religiously ft Donte from MOOD (produced by Hop Trax)
11. Royalty interlude (produced by !llmind)
12. Rolling Stone (produced by !llmind)
13. My Everything ft Phoenix Aphrodite (produced by Yon L.i.)
14. Thirsty ft Donte from MOOD & Ianigma (produced by Jake One)
15. OuterXSpaceXLove ft Pappadon (produced by Swiff D)
16. Celebration For Us ft Moxy Monster (produced by Rusko)
17. Electric Eel in a Pool of Catfish ft Tanya Morgan (produced by Beats McGreevy)
18. Skates (produced by Sal Dali)
19. Time Machine (shine) ft Aida Chakra (produced by Hop Trax)
The international media coverage on Detroit MC Kid Vishis, who released his debut album “Timing is Everything” on 22nd July, continues with two new features in US online publications Face 2 Face Magazine & Spate Magazine
Face 2 Face are a digital online magazine which publishes every two months with news on the hottest emerging new independent international artists. You can read their interview with Kid Vishis HERE
Spate Magazine have just been nominated for “Best Website For Indie Artists” and carry reviews, interviews, news on events, and much more. You can read their interview with Kid Vishis HERE
The album is available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and Cd’s can be bought direct from the label Seven 13 Entertainment at www.seven13ent.com Currently working on new releases including a future EP & album, scheduling tour dates ofr the States, Canada, UK and Europe, and conducting further interviews with international press, you can keep up to date with Kid Vishis on Instagram & twitter @KidVishis
ALBUM STREAM
We have arranged reviews, news & features in relation to this release with numerous international publications in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe & New Zealand, and are still scheduling further intervies. Any further press & media inquiries regarding Kid Vishis and the album “Timing is Everything” can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE
One of Germany’s leading hip hop & rap publications Backspin Magazine run a feature series “Hi, My Name is…” where they interview international artists on an introductory basis.
The feature is designed to provide information on the artists’ background, home city, artists who have influenced them, previous & current releases, what makes them different from the rest of the game, their aims in the industry and plans for the future….and also how they got their stage name.
Their most recent feature has just been published, this time with Detroit’s Kid Vishis who has just released his debut album “Timing is Everything” on Seven 13 Entertainemnt.
The whole feature written in German can be read HERE
The album is available worldwide on iTunes & Amazon while CD’s can be bought from the label direct at www.seven13ent.com
ALBUM STREAM
NEW FREESTYLE VIDEO SHOT IN THE STUDIO IN DETROIT
Still busy conducting interviews with international media, Kid Vishis is also at the early stages of arranging international tours and working on new releases including his sophomore album. Expect to see new videos shortly. You can keep up to date with him on twitter @KidVishis
Any members of the press & media who would like to interview Kid Vishis, or club and venue promoters who would like to book Kid Vishis for shows, can contact UrbanElite PR HERE with their requests & inquiries.
Published today in France’s online platform HipHop 4 Life is an exclusive new interview with Detroit MC Kid Vishis, and the premiere of his new freestyle video
In the feature written in both French & English, they discuss his new album “Timing is Everything” which released on 22nd July, he speaks about life growing up around artists such as his elder brother Royce da 5’9″ and Eminem, their body of work and the experience gained by touring with D12.
They then discuss the art of lyricism in hip hop today and the Total Slaughter event in NYC which he attended and his thoughts on appearing at their rap battles in the future, he speaks on the Detroit scene and artists he rates as the “ones to watch”, producers he’d like to work with and tells of his meeting with J Dilla back in the day.
Finishing with his plans to tour France and the rest of Europe, the feature then concludes with the premiere of his new freestyle video shot in the lab in Detroit
Produced by Mr Porter, Chase Moore of Hippie Sabotage, New Jersey beatsmith Nemisis and Canada’s Nick Zervos, the album is available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and in CD format from the label Seven 13 Entertainment at www.seven13ent.com
Still conducting further interviews with international press, Kid Vishis is also at the early stages of arranging tours of the UK, Europe and Canada while well into the recording process of his follow up album. Keep up to date with all of his news via twitter @KidVishis
All international media, press and booking enquiries regarding Kid Vishis can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE
London’s Guestlist is both a free monthly newspaper and online publication covering most forms of music, with a particular focus on events and clubs in the UK and Europe, as well as providing specific artist coverage with reviews and interviews.
Their writer Matt Watkins spoke with Detroit MC Kid Vishis recently about his forthcoming debut album “Timing is Everything” which releases 22nd July 2014 on Seven 13 Entertainment. In the interview, which can be read HERE they also discuss his plans to tour in the UK and Europe, the effect being Royce da 5 9’s younger brother has had on his own career, how he views his own development as an artist and reaction to first performing with names such as D12, Rakim, Slick Rick and Talib Kweli
The album produced by Shady Records’ Mr Porter, Chase Moore of Hippie Sabotage, New Jersey’s Nemisis and Canada’s Nick Zervos will be available worldwide in digital and physical formats, and can be pre-ordered with signed merchandise from the label at www.seven13ent.com
You can keep up to date with him on twitter @KidVishis for news about the album, shows and information about a new mixtape due to release prior to the album
Meanwhile check out his concept video for Talk Behind My Back, and look out for a new official video coming soon.
All press & media inquiries regarding Kid Vishis and the album “Timing is Everything” – requests for interviews and promotional copies of the album for review – can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE
London’s Guestlist Network is both an online publication and a monthly newspaper covering various genres of music, reporting news on releases, tours, club events, film, fashion and more.
Their contributor Matt Watkins spoke with local hip hop Emcee and producer Iron Braydz recently to discuss his new EP “Verbal sWARdz” which releases on 14th April, the comparisons between the UK and US hip hop scenes, and the influences from the early days which have stayed with him
The 10 track EP which also features Sean Price, Prince Po, Triple Darkness, Phat Kat, Kyza & Skriblah…with a special appearance by Kiss FM’s DJ Shortee Blitz… is the first of a planned series of releases over the coming year for one of the UK’s most gifted lyricists, and you can also expect to see him make an appearance in a new independent film Night Bus later in the year. Meantime, check out his new video “Dredd” which, as with the majority of the EP, is also self produced.
We’ve received a big response from international media to this release in the past few weeks, the results of which you will see shortly. All members of the press and media who would like to request a copy of the EP to review, or to interview Iron Braydz, can contact UrbanElite PR HERE
Nearing the end of their UK tour celebrating 25 years since the release of critical Beatdown, Kool Keith, TR Love & Ced Gee – aka the Ultramagnetic MCs – headed north of the border from Leeds to visit Glasgow.
DJ Bunty & co have put on many a good hip hop night at the city’s o2 ABC 2 venue in Sauchiehall Street, and this was no different. As the whole of the UK sweltered in high summer temperatures, the heat was on in more ways than one.
The group later commented that they hadnt seen a crowd like the one in Glasgow for many years….and in fact THEY had to try and calm THEM down!!
The Skinny Mag’s Bram Gieben, who had previously interviewed Kool Keith in the lead up to their arrival, went along to check the night out and you can read his review HERE
The last scheduled show of the current European run is at The Dour Festival in Belgium on Saturday 20th July.
The group have also been busy recording new material, and you should be seeing the results of this a little later in the year. They are also due to take part in a BBC radio documentary shortly, more details to follow. Their most recent track release “Let the Bars Go” has proven to be particularly popular at the shows
You can keep up to date with them on twitter, including news on their Ultra Clothing Brand being developed, via the group account @MCsUltra Kool Keith @ultraman7000 and TR Love @TR_Ultra
Any further media enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE
