The new “Rapture & Verse” hip hop column written by Matt Oliver for ‘Monolith Cocktail’ has just been published.

It’s a monthly bite size round up of all hip hop news items, events, and releases to look out for whether singles, EP’s or albums.

Among the many artists covered in the latest edition are Datkid, Onoe Capone, Ill Bill & Stu Bangas, Guilty Simpson, Madlib, Nottz, Black Milk, Westside Gunn, Conway, Apollo Brown, Quelle Chris.

There is also news of the new Belles in Monica EP “Natsukashii” which releases through New Dawn records on June 7th

READ THE COLUMN IN FULL HERE

Watch the trailer video for the “Natsukashii EP” on Youtube

The first single from the EP, “Smoke Filled Rooms” releases on May 24th

Having just re-launched after a 15 year hiatus, New Dawn Records released the Belles in Monica EP “Y’All in Meltdown” on April 26th and the new Underground Cartel single “Evolution” b/w “Diggin Deeper” on Friday, taken from the “Sapientia EP” out on May 17th

Underground Cartel are an international hip hop collaborative project involving artists from all over the USA, UK, Europe and Africa including Madrid’s El Meswy, Beni Blanco from French crew ‘Originaire du Sud’, Long Beach’s Swiss Precise, Virginia’s Black Market, the UK’s Rapstation host Mr CRF, Zimbabwe’s Dumi Right, the late, great Primo from legendary Italian crew Cor Veleno and many more.

All the releases to date can be heard at New Dawn Records’ Spotify Page

Currently adding to their roster, you can keep up to date with all the label’s news at their official website www.newdawnrecs.com and via their Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts

All media & radio station / club DJ enquiries regarding the label and their roster can be addressed to us at UrbanElite PR. Our contact details are available HERE

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Earlier this month, NY state producer Frost Gamble – now resident in Winnipeg Canada – hit NYC to finish recording his new “Rare Fabric” EP with Tragedy Khadafi which releases on October 20th. It is available to pre-order on Bandcamp

While there, he took the opportunity to meet with several members of the press including journalist Shamika Sykes who sat down with him for online “My Hip Hop Life“.

The interview was recorded for Shamika’s “Hangout Session” series of interviews and was published yesterday.

The pair began by discussing his earliest days in hip hop, and how “The Message” was the single that first reeled him in as a fan. He then explains his initial link up with rapper Tone Chop, first as friendly rap battle rivals before refocusing on beatmaking. The pair have the new album “Respect Is Earned Not Given” releasing on September 29th featuring Kool G Rap, D.N.A., Tragedy Khadafi, Planet Asia and Canadian upcomer White Rhino. Available again to pre-order through 22 Entertainment in digital and CD formats HERE

Moving onto the subject of production more generally, Frost compares his original recording techniques through tape splicing and the MPC to the current technology used, explaining methods are of secondary importance to the result having “a soul”. Citing Diamond D, The Beatnuts, Pete Rock and Madlib as some of his influences, the conversation turns to Fat Joe’s recent comments that “boom bap’s not the wave anymore”.

Frost speaks on the over indulgence in labelling genres, stating “ultimately everyone is replicating what Kool Herc did” as an evolved extension of the turntable, with many contemporary styles having a comparatively shorter shelf life.

This leads him to outline his own longevity and how advice helped him adapt and work within the modern music industry which has resulted in his deal with 22 Entertainment.

Following his views on the current Canadian scene, he then discusses the development of his own stable of artists, his new work with Horseshoe Gang and Royce da 5’9″, the aforementioned albums and his new “I Missed My Bus” project which includes guest artists Skyzoo, Ras Kass, Ruste Juxx, KXNG Crooked, Rah Digga, Guilty Simpson and more.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN FULL ON SOUNDCLOUD

FROM THE NEW ALBUM “RESPECT IS EARNED NOT GIVEN”, LATEST SINGLE “GUILLOTINE CHOP” ft WHITE RHINO & PLANET ASIA

Connect with Frost on social media via twitter @FrostGamble, IG @Frost.Gamble and FB FrostGamble

All international media, press and radio station DJ enquiries regarding Frost gamble and the new album “Respect Is Earned Not Given” can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. All our contact details are available HERE

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blend_1-01

A very rare opportunity to witness jazz drummer and hip hop producer Karriem Riggins perform in London in what is his first ever solo show in London.

With production credits for work with a whole range of well known hip hop artists including Talib Kweli, Slum Village, The Roots, Common and J Dilla under his belt, the jazz drummer has also performed with Diana Krall, Oscar Peterson and Donald Byrd to mention but a few.

He has also turned his hand to a bit of turntablism, and brings his DJ set to England for the show he calls Blend, so called as he mashes together his favourite jazz, soul, funk and hip hop sounds for a unique experience. It’ll get lively…..!!!!

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Joining him will be the UK’s First Lady of Hip Hop, ex MTV and BBC 1Xtra presenter DJ Sarah Love. A major player in UK hip hop’s progression since her days at London’s renowned Deal Real and Kung Fu sessions, she now regularly tours overseas to Europe and Australia.

You can catch Karriem, Sarah and Ben Grymm performing on Thursday 17th September at Trapeze Basement (formerly East Village), 89 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HX. The venue is a 5 minute walk east of Old Street Tube Station.

The night starts at 9.30pm running to 2am, and tickets in advance cost £10 and can be bought HERE Door price will be more, so it’s advised to buy early for what’s sure to be a busy night. This is an event for those aged 18 and over so it’s advised to carry Photo ID

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE HERE

Here’s Karriem performing “Play Your Cards Right” live with Common, taken from the Smokin’ Aces Sountrack

You can learn mmore about Karriem Riggins at his official website www.karriemriggins.com

Any press and media enquiries regarding this event can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, our contact details are HERE

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TimingIsEverything-BMint

Switzerland’s online BMint published their monthly round up for August today, “express” reviews of albums by Wiz Khalifa, Twista, Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Madlib and Detroit MC Kid Vishis’ debut “Timing is Everything”

Read the whole article (written in Italian) HERE

Look out for further reviews and interviews with Kid Vishis in publications in Spain, France, Italy, the UK and United States as well as a new official video for the track “Look At All My $hit” shortly. The album “Timing is Everything” was released on Seven 13 Entertainment worldwide on 22nd July 2014, and is available from various digital stores including iTunes and Amazon, while CD’s can be purchased direct from the label at www.seven13ent.com

OFFICIAL AUDIO STREAM OF THE ALBUM

Currently working on new material for a future EP and sophomore album, you can keep up to date with Kid Vishis on twitter @KidVishis

We have arranged album reviews and a wide range of features for Kid Vishis whether conducted in person or by other means with press & media around the world throughout the summer, and are still accepting further interview requests. All such inquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR via our contact section HERE

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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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Taken from his new album 10.6.3 OGX out on Stimulus One Music on 11th September.

LA’s Montage One teams up on this banger “Chain Sinatra” with Durag Dynasty’s Killer Ben and Planet Asia

The album also features contributions by Strong Arm Steady, Evidence, E-Swift, Madlib, Aloe Blacc, The Alchemist, Jake One and many more.

Check out the clean edit on Soundcloud

Any djs looking for the full quality mp3 of the radio edit, get in touch via our Contact page above

More information at www.montageone.com

Contact with them on twitter @MontageOne @KillerBen & @PlanetAsia

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