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RighteousFury-GuestlistInterview

London’s Guestlist Network is both a monthly newspaper and online magazine covering a wide range of musical genres, providing news, reviews and features on new music artists and releases as well as covering the live circuit, concerts, clubs and events happening around the country.

Their writer Matt Watkins took time out recently to speak with Kansas based MC Matt Maddox as he prepares to release his sophomore album Righteous Fury on 25th February.

They discuss his origins in Long Beach California and his earliest work as part of the international crew Guerilla War Tactix, the writing process involved with the album and the range of producers and featured artists such as Nemesis, C Lance, Sicknature, Vanderslice, Skammadix, Tragedy Khadafi, Reef The Lost Cauze, King Magnetic and Adlib, his touring plans for the year which will take in both coasts, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan and Australia and his thoughts on other aspects of the music industry – artists he rates, life as an independent artist, the representation of hip hop today and much more

Read it all HERE

In the lead up to the release, Matt’s had a busy schedule conducting media interviews with magazines on both sides of the Atlantic as well as preparing for series of dates starting on February 20th. Beginning on the east coast and MidWest, he will be performing in Virginia, New York, Atlantic City, Chicago, Milwaukee, North & South Carolina & Pennsylvania

Feb 20th- Allentown, PA Pitchers Lounge
Feb 21st- Quakertown, PA The Eagle
Feb 22nd- Staten Island, NY The Full Cup
Feb 23rd- Atlantic City, NJ Gran Fromage
Feb 28th- Spartanburg, SC Mirrors Gentlemens Club
March 1st- Ashville, NC Haywood Lounge
March 2nd- Norfolk, VA The Iguana
March 5th- Chicago, IL Sub T lounge
March 6th- Madison, WI
March 7th- Milwaukee, WI The Stone Fly
March 9th- Appleton, WI Capital Centre

This will be followed by a series of dates on the west coast & Canada, and the full run of shows will be announced very shortly.

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The album releases on Red Phone Records / Seven 13 Music and can be pre ordered on iTunes at http://georiot.co/3ILt 19 bangin hip hop tracks with a running time less than an hour – no fat, just the meat!

Here’s an example, his single “Street Art” ft Tragedy Khadafi

Connect with Matt on twitter @MattMaddox82 and the magazines @GuestlistDotNet & @DarksideNewz

All media, press and magazine inquiries about the release, requests for promotional copies of the album, requests for interviews or to review any of the live shows can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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BCweb

Representing Washington DC & the DMV, Barking Caucasians celebrate the release of their new album “General Freshness” with the launch of their new single “Crack The Silence”

The duo, known for their upbeat style mixing social commentary and witty lyricism over a mash up of rock and rap joints, reached out to Italian producer DJ Myke for this new remix chopped up with dope cuts over a tight head noddin beat.

A good ol’ slice of international hip hop to see out the old year and welcome in the new from the guys who also produce The Porch Show podcast.

Check it out on Soundcloud

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Taken from the 15 track album released on 17th December which is available from iTunes HERE

More information is available from www.barkingcaucasians.com and they can be reached on twitter @BCfan2 with DJ Myke over at @Mykemon

Any djs not already serviced with the full quality mp3 can request it from UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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LAAMSweb

Detroit’s Kid Vishis is ending the year strong with the second official release from his forthcoming album due out in March 2014 on Seven 13 Music.

The younger brother of Royce da 5 9 has teamed up with Sacramento producers Hippie Sabotage and Australian native Chase Moore, now also based in Sacramento, on this banger “Look At All My $**t” where Vishis verbally assassinates the fake ballers with no dollars

Coming hard on the heels of his recent “Heaven” release, it’s another early taster of the impressive wordplay and lyrical skills we can expect to hear on his debut studio LP which also includes production from Freddie Foxxx and Shady’s Mr Porter

Out now on iTunes

Connect with them on twitter @KidVishis Producers @ChaseMooreMusic & HippieSabotage and the label @Seven13Music

Audio stream on Soundcloud

Any djs not already serviced with the full quality clean radio edit can request it from UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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SoulonFire-WordplayMag

British Publication Wordplay Magazine exists in both online and printed formats, and cover hip hop news, reviews & features, as well as articles on Graffiti, Fashions, Breakin’, Reggae and generally represent hip hop culture across the board.

Their contributor Delphina Scott spoke with ethemadassassin recently, the rapper based out of Los Angeles but most associated with North Carolina having begun performing and recording there since the 90’s. Now one half of the Veteran Assassins duo, he has just released his 3rd solo album “Soul on Fire” on his own R Steel imprint.

In the interview he speaks on the making of Soul on Fire, his own history in hip hop and his views on how his new album fits within the current climate of a switch back of focus to artists with a more traditional sense of lyricism and production.

Read the whole interview HERE

The album does have elements which are a throwback to the Golden Era, but that fits with the tracks where he is reflecting on his life and the sights & sounds of the time in joints such as 80’s & 90’s & Can’t Get Enough. This is mixed with more contemporary production on tracks such as Elements, Tiger Blade and Fight Music, as the album acts as a biographical document, a journey from then til now

Check out some tasters

80’s & 90’s produced by Sci Fi Stu

What It’s Supposed To Be produced by Kyo Itachi

Bonus Cut H.T.G. ft Sole-R

Can’t Get Enough

You can buy the album from iTunes HERE

Follow E on twitter @ethemadassassin and the magazine @Wordplaymag You can connect with Delphina on twitter @RawBlueCheese

And dj’s requiring full quality radio / clean edit mp3s of these tracks, or any press & media with further inquiries about the release can contact UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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SoulOnFire-FlavourMag

Leading UK online urban music, fashion and lifestyle publication Flavour Magazine took time out recently to speak with ethemadassassin, the hip hop MC currently based in Los Angeles but most associated with his native North Carolina.

Starting out in the 90’s based in cities such as Greensboro NC and Camden NJ, he started out coming up through the rap battle scenes, although it was his relatively short time on the mic compared to others that earned him his moniker. He went in for the kill, short & sweet, and one night a comment was heard “damn, that’s some mad assassin shit right there” and the name stuck.

Although the discography is relatively modest in comparison to others for an artist so long in the game – Soul on Fire being only his 3rd official studio album – this has been down to a variety of factors, the regular life trials & tribulations, the right producers to work with, moving from place to place, but it’s always worth the wait. He moved to LA in the last couple of years to team up again with his old partner in rhyme from NC Veteran Eye to form Veteran Assassins, so time has also been spent recording and touring as a group.

There is in fact a new Veteran Assassins album in the pipeline with significant production from Edinburgh’s Sci Fi Stu who who provided the beat for the killer track on the current album “80’s & 90’s”

London based journalist Taytula Burke jumped on the phone to E recently to speak on the new album and his time back in the day starting out and learning his craft. He speaks openly about his relationship with his parents and the impact that had and how his life changed when he took himself off to college and saw the comparison in life there to what he’d been accustomed to on the streets.

The album itself is very auto-biographical in nature and the interview goes more in depth into the background and what makes the man he is today. Read it all HERE

Soul on Fire is one for the real hip hop heads, soul, rock and hip hop sample led beats with some skilled narrative in the lyricism and wordplay. You can buy it on iTunes now HERE

Meantime, check out some of the joints off the album

80’s & 90’s

H.T.G. ft Sole-R

CAN’T GET ENOUGH

Follow him on twitter @ethemadassassin and the magazine @FlavourMag You can reach Taytula @Taykeova

Thanks also to Flavour Magazine editor Annika Allen

Press, magazines, media and dj requests and inquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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albumcover

New album Soul on Fire by ethemadassassin is a journey through a life of a rapper who started out in the 90’s, coming up through the rap battle scene in his native North Carolina, putting out early mixtapes, hustlin for shows, spins and shine, and who ultimately made the move out to the west coast in recent years to form Veteran Assassins with Veteran Eye in Los Angeles

It is also auto biographical in the depiction of life on the street, sights, sounds, fashions and the personal & musical development of this artist over the two decades

The latest review by Zach Gase for Rap Reviews picks up on this fact also in the context of the current throwback to the 90’s going on at the moment generally. He compares E to a young Jay Electronica from the days of the Style Wars Bootleg EP and picks up on the fact that the main theme of the album is in reflection a part “homage” to the sound of that era. Props are given for his rapping and lyricism and of course suggests that this kind of style has a specific market – “I’m looking at you, Joey Bada$$ fans”

Its a fair appraisal from a reviewer who admits that he himself doesn’t necessarily buy into a sound deriving from back in the day, but still acknowledges the qualities throughout conceding “I’m sure there are people out there who hold this record in high esteem.” Without doubt, this is a release for the hip hop heads with a love for the traditional qualities. Read the whole review HERE

Meantime, check out his new bonus joint “H.T.G.”

The album is available to buy from iTunes now http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soul-on-fire/id685226091

Keep up to date with him on twitter @ethemadassassin and also Rap Reviews @RapReviews

Any further media or press inquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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SoulonFire-WordisBond

Los Angeles Cali, Greensboro NC & Camden NJ….theyve all been or are home to hip hop veteran Emcee ethemadassassin who has just released his 3rd solo album “Soul on Fire” today

Starting out in the rap battle scene during what’s often referred to as the Golden Era of hip hop in the 90’s, E’s music has always reflected his life in an open an honest way. Growing up in tough times, he got educated, travelled and developed both personally and musically.

The current album is a snapshot autobiography reflecting back on the early days and updating on the here& now. Tracks such as “80’s & 90’s” and “Can’t Get Enough” have that classic soul and era vibe, whereas he lets loose with his renowned verbal assaults over the rockier joints like “Elements”, “Sparta” and “Fight Music”. The skills are in full effect on “Tiger Blade” and many props have been afforded to the deep sentiment portrayed in “Letter To Mommy”

He describes the album as just “the latest chapter in my book of life“, but this album is full of true street stories – he’s lived and seen it, there’s no fantasy rap goin on here

He took time out recently to speak with Chase March from The Word is Bond’s Rap Radio Hour. Hear the entire audio interview online HERE

You can check out all the tracks and buy the album on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soul-on-fire/id685226091

As a taster, check out the videos for What It’s Supposed to Be produced by Kyo Itachi, Can’t Get Enough and the single 80’s & 90’s produced by Sci Fi Stu

You can also follow E on twitter @ethemadassassin and the guys at the magazine @ChaseMarch & @TheWordisBond Thanks also to Teckzilla for his help on that feature.

Any further media & press inquiries about ethemadassassin can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

It’s a brilliant album in the best traditions of classic rap & hip hop. Check it out & support

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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HeartlessIsland-DJMagsml2

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
www.urbanelitepr.com
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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MagnaCartaWhiteRussian-DJMag

In the January edition of DJ Magazine in UK stores now, the Hip Hop Singles Reviews page places Melanin 9’s “White Russian” featuring Roc Marciano as their “Money Shot Single of the Month”

Written by the magazine’s Neil Kulkarni :

“So pleased M9 is finally making the leap from mixtapes (if you ain’t heard High Fidelity or 144,000 you ain’t been reading this page enough!) to actually releasing an official album : this is the first single from “Magna Carta” and is just astonishing. A slow burning groove over which RM drapes some engrossing rhymes, crepuscular keys and smoky cymbals riding the groove deep intro your cortex. Essential”

The rating’s all the more impressive when considering the company it keeps on the page, including 9th Wonder & Buckshot, Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson, Craig G, Edward Scissortongue, Piff Gang, Pacewon & Neek the Exotic ft Bumpy Knuckles. Check the video for it

Meanwhile, US online Premiere Hip Hop are the latest to give the album Magna Carta their full endorsement

MagnaCarta-PremiereHipHop

The review by their editor in chief, Sunez Allah, is extremely in depth looking into the subject matter behind the tracks.

Summarizing “Magna Carta ultimately is a fulfilled debut that like melanin, an infinite measure of our supremacy, cannot be merely gauged by the mere shade of the Black, Brown or Yellow skin, the country, city or ghetto of the MC or the cover of an album. It must be heard and understood by engaging in its depth and seeing the life of Hip Hop expressed by our people.”

You can read the whole review HERE

Magna Carta is available now on iTunes and in CD / physical format by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can follow Melanin 9 on twitter @Melanin_9 and any further media or booking enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr