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SoulonFire-SubbaCultcha

UK online music magazine Subba Cultcha covers a wide variety of genres, featuring news on artists, releases, interviews and more

The publication’s Ben Bradford took time out recently to speak with Los Angeles hip hop emcee EtheMadAssassin ahead of the release of his third solo album “Soul on Fire” on 17th September.

Something of a veteran in the independent scene…and not just as part of Cali duo Veteran Assassins…he started out based in Greensboro NC and also spent time in Camden, New Jersey before making the move to the west coast primarily to start the new group with his partner in rhyme Veteran Eye.

The interview is preceded with an overview of the new album itself “if you want to learn of life on the streets, particularly in the 80s and 90s then this is the place to come” adding “This is Assassin rap…where Ethemadassassin comes out fighting for you, fighting for himself, and fighting for people to be together and fighting against the bullshit…its an honest and breathtakingly direct approach, which has come to fruition on his new album ’Soul On Fire’”

The interview itself covers details about the single and video for “Can’t Get Enough”, the making of Soul on Fire, working with the producers on the LP, how he formulates the ideas behind his rhymes & lyrics and the general writing process, the formation of Veteran Assassins and the days in when he started out in NC and the artists who acted as his own main influences.

An artist with his own unique style & personality, he sums it up :

“I found my pocket a long time ago and I definitely don’t try to emulate anyone, its like being yourself isn’t cool, I have my own way of doing things” read the whole interview HERE

If you like those old soul groove sampled joints with a nod to the good ‘ol days, check out two of his most recent singles:

Video for “Can’t Get Enough”

Single for “80’s & 90’s” produced by Edinburgh’s Sci Fi Stu

Follow E’s latest chapter in his book of life on twitter @EtheMadAssassin and also the magazine @SubbaCultchaCom

Any further media & press inquiries regarding this release, or dj requests for full quality clean mp3s of these tracks, can contact UrbanElite PR HERE

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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

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SoulOnFire-NikSquared

London’s Broken Soul Boy is the latest to run the rule over the new album “Soul on Fire” by Los Angeles based emcee ethemadassassin (originally out of Greensboro NC)

Hard on the heels of a weekend when Choice FM London’s legenadry DJ 279 was going in hard with E’s singles Tiger Blade and Can’t Get Enough, the new review picks up the baton of support for this artist who started out in North Carolina’s rap battle scene in the 90’s, released two previous solo albums, moved to LA to form Veteran Assassins, and is now enjoying trans – Atlantic support for his 3rd solo LP.

The review acknowledges that “he continues to fly the flag for native Hip Hop with that old skool, organic soundscape.” and that on the album itself “A collection that is firmly rooted in a classic Hip Hop sound, that does honour its heritage with some slick beats and engaging lyricism”

Summarized “Fans of the vintage Hip Hop sounds that are being maintained in today’s generation thanks to the likes of Talib Kweli or Torae, should definitely investigate this album as this is well placed in your collection. But on top of that, a few punchy singles are lurking away on this album, which should be checked out in its own right, especially the ‘80s & 90s’ jam.” you can read the whole review HERE

Look out for a new single being released shortly together with new features & reviews. Meanwhile, check out the single Tiger Blade and video Can’t Get Enough

Keep up to date with E on twitter @ethemadassassin and the publication via @BrokenSoulBoy and @NikSquared

Any media, press or radio/club dj inquiries about this release should be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE

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SoulOnFire-MVRemixsml

Stateside online magazine MV Remix have just published their latest album reviews.

Included in recent releases by Ghostface Killah & Apollo Brown, U-God, Ace Hood, Murs & Mayer Hawthorne is the new album by ethemadassassin “Soul on Fire” which drops on 17th September.

The NC emcee, who also operated from Camden NJ before moving to Los Angeles to form Veteran Assassins, has years in the game from starting off in the local rap battle scene and releasing mixtapes in the 90’s, to releasing 2 previous solo albums and working with international producers.

The magazine’s Leland Gill opens:

“His experience shows in his raps as he speaks on his rocky past and lessons learned from his successes and failures. He has been with music and the streets for a long time and his maturity comes across loud and clear”

The beats throughout draw on various rock, classic soul and hip hop samples which work as a perfect backdrop to his energetic flow, reflected in the summary:

“Soul on Fire is an exercise in skillful lyricism and top-notch delivery from someone who has valued experience with hip-hop. Ethemadassassin creates quality sound using the past of the genre and his own life for influence.”

Read the entire review HERE

Taken from the album so far are the singles Tiger Blade and Can’t Get Enough

Look out for more coverage coming shortly. All media & press inquiries about this release should be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

You can follow E on twitter @ethemadassassin and the magazine @MVRemix

UrbanElite PR
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SoulOnFire-BritishHipHopsml

One of the UK’s longest running online platforms specializing in hip hop music & culture, BritishHipHop.com, are the latest to review the new album by Los Angeles based Emcee ethemadassassin “Soul on Fire”

Having spent time in North Carolina and Camden New Jersey, E moved to California in the past few years to team up with Veteran Eye to form Veteran Assassins. Both still maintain solo careers, and “Soul on Fire” is the third solo album by ethemadassassin, following on from Tomorrow Never Comes in 2008.

British journalist Andy Fletcher gives the LP a thorough examination in this.

While its fair to say he finds the inclusion of the track Young & Foolish as incredulous due to its departure in sound from the rest of the album, he then goes on to acknowledge the qualities brought to the table here :

“E’s rhyme schemes and flow are tight and hold the album’s momentum. At the start of Sparta he makes use of repetitive rhymes, presumably to maintain his rhyme scheme and flow but it comes off as a small oversight. That isn’t to say that most of his lyrics aren’t well crafted. For the most part, they are. Gratitude is a stand out track with lyrics that will force you to take them in, ‘I’m not the example of living, I’m the spectacle… my nigga Truck took a bullet to his testicles’. These sorts of lyrics pack the content thick and leave a strong, if unpleasant, aftertaste of the world that Ethemadassassin is documenting. This is really where E shines and you’ll hear some of this realist, street approach to lyricism in tracks like lead single Tiger Blade.”

Read the whole review HERE

For those unfamiliar previously with his work, here’s the video for Walk My Shoes which was playlisted on the UK’s MTV Base and Flava TV

As mentioned in the review, check out the single Tiger Blade from the current album

Look out for more coverage coming on this release shortly. All media, press and dj inquiries about the album or to receive radio / clean edits of any of the singles, contact UrbanElite PR HERE

Follow him on twitter @ethemadassassin and the website @britishhiphop

UrbanElite PR
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SoulOnFire-RapEssence

Los Angeles / Greensboro artist ethemadassassin launched his new video today “Can’t Get Enough” produced by Wonder Boy

It was premiered by The Rap Up, and you can see what the guys there had to say about it HERE

Coincidentally, Stateside online Rap Essence are the latest to give his new album “Soul on Fire” the once over, in their track by track analysis. Releasing on 17th September, it includes production from the UK’s Sci Fi Stu, France’s Kyo Itachi, and stateside producers Wonder Boy (who takes the credits for Can’t Get Enough), Gav Beats, Akthentik Works and Devaron Benjamin, with a feature from fellow Veteran Assassin member Veteran Eye as well as Buck Hennessey and Sherman Way

The review reflects the different rock, soul and hip hop flavas present throughout thanks to the production samples, and also breaks it down as to E’s own subject matter, delivery and wordplay.

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

Meantime, check out the video

All media & press with enquiries regarding the album, or djs looking for the full quality clean mp3 of this track, should contact UrbanElite PR HERE

Meanwhile, you can keep up to date with everyone on twitter via @ethemadassassin, Wonder Boy at @_NazarMark_, or connect with @TheRapUp and @Rap_Essence

UrbanElite PR
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TigerBladeweb

Now based in Los Angeles since switching coasts from Greensboro NC – “American Gangster” Frank Lucas country – ethemadassassin is back with his first solo album in nearly 5 years

His previous album “Tomorrow Never Comes” included the single “Walk My Shoes” which reached #3 in the Rap Network Charts and the video for which was playlisted on the UK’s MTV Base and Flava TV

Since then he formed the hip hop duo “Veteran Assassins” with his long time sparring partner Veteran Eye, releasing 2 albums and touring the west coast with Project Blowed’s Kandi Cole, but he’s back in his own right with his firebrand lyricism on the new album “Soul on Fire” which releases on R Steel Entertainment on 17th September.

He’s reached out internationally, working with producers from France, UK, Japan and the States and the resulting 13 tracks are packed full of hard driving beats blended with soul, rock, reggae & turntablism. E’s lost none of the passion in his rhymes, and the wordplay is on point throughout.

The first official single released is “Tiger Blade”. Look out for more singles, videos and news over the summer.

albumcover

The album tracklisting is

Intro (prod Devaron Benjamin)
Sparta (prod Devaron Benjamin)
Fight Music (prod Gav Beats)
Can’t Get Enough (prod Wonder Boy)
Elements (prod Gav Beats)
80’s & 90’s (prod SciFi Stu)
Tiger Blade (prod Akthentik Works)
What Its Supposed To Be (prod Kyo Itachi)
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me (prod Wonder Boy)
Crazy (prod Wonder Boy)
Letter To Mommy (prod Devaron Benjamin)
Young & Foolish ft ft Veteran Eye, Sherman Way & Martin H (prod Sherman Way)
Gratitude ft Buck Hennessey (prod Gav Beats)

You can connect with him via www.veteranassassins.com & on twitter @ethemadassassin

Any djs not already serviced with the full quality radio edit mp3, or members of the press & media looking for a copy of the album to review, contact UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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T : @urbanelitepr

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TourWeb

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of the classic album “Critical Beatdown”, Ultramagnetic MCs are touring the UK and Europe in July

Hailed as one of the early innovators of the sampling techniques employed by producer Ced Gee, the release influenced future generations for years to come. On tour will be Kool Keith, Ced Gee and T R Love, their first as a group in Europe since the release of the album, and will be an extremely rare opportunity for fans to see the legends perform the classics live.

The full tour announced is as follows :

July 2nd Paris Le Trabendo
July 4th Amsterdam Melkweg The Max
July 5th London The Clapham Grand
July 6th Brighton Concorde 2
July 8th Norwich Arts Centre
July 9th Leeds Brudenell Social Club
July 10th Glasgow O2 ABC 2
July 11th Manchester Band on the Wall
July 12th Dublin The Sugar Club
July 13th Liverpool Haus
July 17th Cologne Club Banhof Ehrenfeld
July 20th Belgium Dour Music Festival

They have also been working on some new material, and produced the track “Let The Bars Go” ahead of their tour. This new version is aired for the first time today

LetTheBarsGo

You can follow Kool Keith on twitter @UltraMan7000 and the group a/c @McsUltra Any djs who have not already been serviced with the track, or members of the media and press looking to set up interviews can send their requests to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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MagnaCarta-TheVoice

The Voice Newspaper is a well known publication in London which has run from 1982, and has been regularly voted “Britain’s Best Black Newspaper” for their coverage on a range of issues specific to the community including sport, current affairs, education, lifestyle, faith, career opportunites and entertainment.

The papers’s Hazel Ann Williams took a trip up to Islington recently to interview one of the hottest emerging figures in the UK hip hop scene, melanin 9, to discuss his new album Magna Carta, his early days of starting out as an artist and his views on hip hop generally today.

You can read the whole interview HERE

There has been a tremendous amount of media coverage on Magna Carta in the UK primarily, and also in Europe and the United States since the promotional campaign began in the autumn of 2012. Hip Hop specialists, general urban music online and physical magazines, and national physical publications such as Clash, MOJO and Q Magazine have all featured reviews and interviews.

We predicted this, his debut album, would be a landmark release for this highly talented lyricist, and the international online coverage of his freestyle for SBTV and official videos, including “White Russian” ft Roc Marciano, premiered by Nah Right – a first for such a UK artist – has proven this to be the case.

Included in Wordplay Magazine and Bonafide Magazine top hip hop albums of 2012, there’s little doubt this has been one of the biggest UK releases of last year within the genre

It is available to buy now from iTunes, and a physical CD format version is also available to buy direct from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can check it out for yourself via this snippet version on his Soundcloud

Expect to see a video for the track “Heartless Island” featuring Triple Darkness in the near future, as well as him performing some shows, including on the main stage at the Boom Bap Festival in September.

Any booking enquiries for Melanin 9 can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE or you can connect directly with him via the contact details provided on his twitter profile @Melanin_9

All further media enquiries can be sent to Urbanelite PR via the link provided above

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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