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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

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RPL-RapEssence

West London rapper and producer Apex Zero releases his debut solo album Reality Provoking Liberation on 28th October

Known for being part of the city’s hip hop duo First and Last and also a regular on the live circuit at events such as EOW and Speaker’s Corner, he’s developed a reputation for his fiery verbal delivery covering a range of political and social issues.

American online magazine Rap Essence took a listen through the album and provided a track by track synopsis. They conclude in their summary

“The beats are banging throughout, with most having a strong Wu-Tang-ish influence to them. The dark instrumentals coupled with Apex Zero’s fierce flow and intelligent subject matter set this album apart from many of the other hip-hop being released today. Lyrically he reminds me of Dead Prez or Immortal Technique in that he has a confrontational style and clever politically-charged wordplay. While I may not agree with everything he says on the album, it’s definitely nice to hear an emcee who refuses to cower to the powers that be and spit with a passion about the topics that he believes to be true”

Afforded a 4/5 rating, read the whole in depth review HERE

Check out a couple singles from the album

A Meeting of the Continents ft Hasan Salaam & Iron Braydz

Video for Chaotic Revolt

Follow Apex Zero on twitter @ApexZero00 and the magazine @Rap_Essence You can also get more information from the official website www.firstandlastpride.co.uk

Any inquiries from media, press, and djs about this release can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

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T : @urbanelitepr

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RPL-ClashMag

London’s Apex Zero releases his new album “Reality Provoking Liberation” on 28th October.

It’s a fiery mix of driving hip hop beats, in the main produced by himself, and powerful delivery, lyricism and wordplay covering a wide range of political and socially aware subjects

The UK’s national multi genre music publication Clash Magazine includes a monthly Rapture & Verse column written by Matt Oliver. It’s a snapshot of the key news & releases over the past 4 weeks, and this month’s edition includes the Kendrick verse on Big Sean’s Control, the new Eminem Album produced by Dre & Rick Rubin, news on Doom, Madlib, Bishop Nehru, Black Milk, Dr Zygote, Jehst, Blaq Poet, Pusha-T, Akir, J-Zone, The Dopplegangaz, Abstract Butta Fingas and a lot more.

Also included is news of Apex Zero and his new album :

“Almost anticipating the bitterness of winter is London’s Apex Zero, with ‘Reality Provoking Liberation’ announcing itself as a society-hardened, Stig-sounding grinder, slogging where tracks mourn and gaining strength through pain. F-the-world renegades in training, this is your opus, whether you want distorted realities ironed out or need help binning a bad day.”

The column’s always a good read, see it all HERE

Soon to announce an album launch night in London in November, check out a couple of his most recent releases, the single A Meeting of the Continents featuring Hasan Salaam and Iron Braydz, and his new freestyle joint “The World We Exist In” which was premiered by HHK Mag to coincide with his new interview for them

A MEETING OF THE CONTINENTS ft Hasan Salaam & Iron Braydz


THE WORLD WE EXIST IN

Keep up to date with him on twitter @ApexZero00 and get more updates from the magazine @Clash_Music

Media, press and radio requests and inquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

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_C3A4821 edit 1.2 300 exsml

London’s DJ Elma has a “Kick This” series on Youtube where she’s interviewed artists such as The Pharcyde, Slum Village, Genesis Elijah, Dublin’s Workin Class Records and many more

In late August, she met up with west London hip hop artist Apex Zero in Brixton to speak on his music, new album Reality Provoking Liberation and his various political views which form much of the subject matter for the album

As a student of African history, African-American figures such as Malcolm X & Huey Newton and politics, not surprisingly in this interview he outlines his views on corruption, social cohesion, oppression, justice, war, peace, the political systems at home and overseas and much more. It was his introduction to legendary hip hop artists such as Immortal Technique, Nas, Dead Prez, Tupac & Wu Tang which motivated the young man to study more, and it has come full circle as he now portrays his views as an Emcee.

Whether you agree or disagree with his points of view, he articulates his thoughts well whether in the form of his rhymes or in the setting of an interview, something which has been commented upon by various members of the media to date

Check the full interview on Youtube

The album releases on 28th October. There have already been several video & single releases from it, including Chaotic Revolt and A Meeting of the Continents featuring Hasan Salaam & Iron Braydz

CHAOTIC REVOLT

A MEETING OF THE CONTINENTS

Look out for much more news & coverage of this release over the coming months, including plans for a launch night in London in November

You can follow him on twitter @ApexZero00

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

UrbanElite PR
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T : @urbanelitepr

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RPL-TheRapUp

London’s Apex Zero releases his debut solo album “Reality Provoking Liberation” on 28th October

In the main produced by Apex himself and fellow First and Last member OMeziah , the release is full of powerful lyricism and skilled wordplay, the trademarks of the best in UK hip hop over the decades.

The new single “A Meeting of the Continents” brings together the United States, UK and Africa in personnel and subject matter. Produced by DJ Fortune, Apex is joined by New Jersey’s Hasan Salaam and north London’s newest member of Triple Darkness, Iron Braydz. Fierce flows convey a strong sentiment from all three Emcees throughout, and compliment Fortune’s slick beat

The single was premiered on The Rap Up today. See the full feature on it HERE

You can hear the track directly on Soundcloud

AMOTCcover

You can follow these artists on twitter @ApexZero00 @HasanSalaam & @Braydz

Any djs not already serviced with the clean radio edit can request it from UrbanElite PR HERE Similarly, any general press or media inquiries about the album release can be addressed to UrbanElite PR via the same point of contact

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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ChaoticRevolt

West London’s Apex Zero releases his debut album “Reality Provoking Liberation” on 28th October and marks the 2nd anniversary of the London riots by launching this new video “Chaotic Revolt” filmed by Global Faction.

One half of the city’s First and Last duo, he’s released a series of mixtapes and was a regular performer at the renowned End of the Weak / Speakers Corner nights, performing at the EOW World Finals in Berlin in 2010.

The album includes features from Triple Darkness’ newest member Iron Braydz, Amy True from Caxton Press, London’s Invincible Armour and Hasan Salaam. His fierce flow style and subject matter throughout the album are in the best traditions of conscientious hip hop, intelligent rhymes & wordplay over almost entirely self produced beats with additional contributions from DJ Fortune and Omeziah

Citing influences which include Wu Tang, Immortal Technique, Pharoahe Monch, Skinnyman and Klashnekoff, he’s studied some of the best in the business to develop his own identity and style, and has become one of the most impressive new figures on the scene today.

Look out for much more news on this release in the weeks ahead.

For more information, visit the official site www.firstandlastpride.co.uk

You can reach him on twitter @ApexZero00 or Facebook www.facebook.com/apex.omeza

There is a special clean radio edit for the single, check it out on Soundcloud

Any djs looking for a full quality mp3 of the clean / radio edit, or any media & press with general inquiries about the album can contact UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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MagnaCarta-Stereoboard

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

UrbanElite PR
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MagnaCarta-InSpirels

In-Spirels Magazine is a London based lifestyle online magazine covering music, fashion, hair & beauty and much more, with the focus being on those who inspire others and act as positive role models via their achievements.

Recently, the publication’s Taytula Burke interviewed Melanin 9 for their “1 2 Watch” feature.

They discuss his new album “Magna Carta”, what acts as his main motivations, his thoughts on hip hop generally and the journalist picks up on his approach to writing :

“If you haven’t guessed by now, Melanin 9 is not your average ‘money cash hoes’ type of spitter. His name alludes to the fact that he has a deeper way of thinking than your average guy on the corner……

Speaking of genius, I think there was a hint of that going on during the composition of Magna Carta. The LP has a throwback ‘diggin’ in the crates’ kind of vibe; so if you are bored of the monotonous computer generated sounds around, you’ll love the jazzy soulful tones and ‘real hip hop’ beats that M9 flows effortlessly over…..

If you are into British hip hop, this guy should definitely be on your playlist. Melanin 9 already has a solid international fanbase and I can only see Magna Carta helping the numbers to increase.”

Its a really well put together piece by the magazine, a good insight to the artist’s thoughts as well as analysis of the album itself. Read it in full HERE

The album is available on iTunes and the CD version can be bought directly by mail order via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Follow them on twitter @Melanin_9 and @InspireLS

Further media or booking enquiries for Melanin 9 can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE

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While working on his debut album “The Revival”, he dropped the single “Simple”, and this year’s mixtapes “Escape to Reality” and his collaboration with French producer Shaolin 42nd Chamber on “The Warrior & The Blacksmith”

Ahead of the release of his album, pushed back to 2012, his new mixtape, “Montu Arts” is a 7 track hip hop banger, produced by DJ Vital. Its now available for free download from http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QBOGBSI7

Taken from it is “Dont Sleep”, and the new video shot by Global Faction has just been released. Fans of those classic head – noddin beats and tight rhymes & wordplay also need to check out “For the Kids”, “Warriors” & “The Elements”. Proper business!

Cyclonious on twitter @Cyclonious

URBANELITE PROMOTIONS
on twitter @urbanelitepr

https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30063846 Cyclonious – Dont Sleep by urbanelitepr

https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30067856 Cyclonious ft Utopia – Warriors by urbanelitepr

https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30068199 Cyclonious – For The Kids by urbanelitepr