A legend from her days with the pioneering Flipmode Squad, Rah Digga has been busy in the studio recently working on various new projects
After a series of buzz track releases in the past 12 months, the first official release due out in the autumn is her new “Hood House” EP, mashing up original club samples and ripping them apart with her renowned lyrical flow.
This mix of classic rap and house styles has not surprisingly been smashing the clubs & radio in New Jersey, Chicago and New York. The first leak “I Heard You Say”, which uses the sample from Dennis Ferrer’s “Hey Hey” featuring Shingai Shoniwa, was premiered by Complex Magazine on Monday
The full original version of “I Heard You Say” can be bought HEREand you can follow Rah Digga on twitter @therealrahdigga
Check out the original version of “I Heard You Say” on Soundcloud
Any radio station or club djs looking for a full 320 kbps quality of the clean / radio edit, contact UrbanElite PR HERE
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.
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
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.”
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
London based online magazine Blacksheep have been covering all things hip hop for several years now
They are the latest to cast an eye over the new album by ethemadassassin, an emcee now based in Los Angeles as part of the duo Veteran Assassins, but who came up through the NC scene in the 90’s before making the switch a few years ago.
The magazine’s Andrew Kay opens his review of “Soul on Fire” with :
“Coming to my attention on this, his third album, ethemadassassin, from North Carolina gives an assured showcase of his talent, with witty wordplay and crowded, but sophisticated and soulful production- if you will, drum foundations with the boom and the bap laced with instrumentation to keep the shoulders shuffling, the brain nourished and the heart beating.”
A track by track breakdown follows which also acts as a good insight to what makes this artist tick. The review, allocated a 4/5 rating, is summarized with :
“Soul on Fire’ is an apt title for a nicely crafted and lyrically rich thirteen cut platter of gangster rap. Quite a bit more intelligent, thoughtful and less ignorant and knuckleheaded than the genre has been used to from other rappers who talk about money, bitches, guns and cars.”
But to get the full story, read the whole article HERE
Look out for a lot more coverage on this release in the coming weeks. Meantime, check out the video premiered by The Rap Up last week for “Can’t Get Enough”
Any djs still not received the radio / clean edit of this track, or for any other press & media enquiries about this release, contact UrbanElite PR HERE
During Ultramagnetic MC’s recent UK & European tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Critical Beatdown, they sat down with Hip Hop Kings backstage at the Brudenell Social Club, Leeds on Tuesday 9th July
In this short interview, Kool Keith & Ced Gee speak on the recording of a new group studio album, while Keith also discusses his return to producing and the artists he’s working with
The group have just returned to New York from their tour which lasted most of July and took in Paris, Amsterdam, Belgium, Cologne and several cities around the UK. Look out for new releases coming in the not too distant future as well as news on further international tours before the end of the year
You can follow HHK on twitter @HHKMag and Ultramagnetic MCs can be found via Kool Keith – @ultraman7000 TR Love @TR_Ultra and their group account is @MCsUltra
Any other press or media enquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE
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
US online music magazine Soundparlor have today featured Los Angeles’ hip hop artist ethemadassassin and also reviewed his new album “Soul on Fire” which releases on 17th September 2013.
The review is an in depth analysis of the various factors which have influenced the album and E as an artist, with him first emerging from North Carolina’s rap battle scene in the 80’s & 90’s, and the life events that have taken place ever since.
While the album does have an eclectic feel as a result, whether in terms of subject matter or the production, there is a consistent classic hip hop thread throughout which acknowledges we’re in 2013.
Summarizing with “it’s ethemadassassin’s music, lyrics, and willingness to take an honest, sobering look in the rear-view mirror that burn brightest across Soul on Fire.” check out the full review HERE The link to the “Soundparlor 10” feature is linked within the review but can be read separately HERE
Look out for the launch of his new official video “Can’t Get Enough” which will be premiering on TheRapUp.Net this Wednesday 24th July at 7am PST / 10am EST / 3pm UK GMT / 4pm CET Its a bangin summer track built around a huge classic soul sample shot out in the streets of LA.
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
Los Angeles’ ethemadassassin releases his solo album “Soul on Fire” on 17th September 2013.
It’s his first solo album since 2008’s “Tomorrow Never Comes” since when he’s moved from Greensboro NC to team up once again with Veteran Eye where they also record and tour as the duo Veteran Assassins.
Having come up through NC’s rap battle scene in the 80’s & 90’s, E still draws a lot of his influence from the Golden Era, but the current album has a contemporary feel to it. The production includes rock, soul & reggae samples mashed with original straight head noddin beats, providing the ideal backdrop for E’s trademark firebrand flow and lyricism.
The UK’s online magazine NIJI has just reviewed Soul on Fire courtesy of Brandon Schiafone
Offered a 9/10 rating, snapshots of the review include:
“The album’s production is excellently done, and the mixing and mastering gives Soul On Fire the sound quality as if it’s straight from a major record label. The beats are well chosen and match ethemadassassin’s tonality and subject matter amazingly.”
“there is no doubt that ethemadassassin is a powerful lyricist and a brilliant rapper who has the ability to be diverse with his music”
The second UK date of Ultramagnetic MCs’ Critical Beatdown 25th anniversary tour took them to the south coast of England on Saturday 6th July to play Brighton’s Concorde 2.
The Gods must be smiling on them as theyve coincided their long awaited visit to these isles with a week long heatwave…yes, something resembling summer has arrived!
Based on the south coast, editor of UK online publication NIJI Magazine, Mike Cox, went along to check it out. Read what he has to say about it HERE
There’s not too many shows left for UK and European fans to get the rare opportunity to see the group in action. The remaining dates are :
Tonight – Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Wednesday 10th July Glasgow o2 ABC 2
Thursday 11th July Manchester Band on the Wall
Friday 12th July Dublin Sugar Club
Saturday 13th July Liverpool Haus
Wednesday 17th July Koln Club Banhof
Saturday 20th Belgium Dour Music Festival
Unsurprisingly, there’s been a huge amount of interest in this tour. Any media or press enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE Any enquiries regarding the shows should be addressed to the various venues or local promoters.
You can connect with Ultramagentic MCs on twitter via the group’s official accounts @MCsUltra and Kool Keith is at @ultraman7000 Niji Magazine support many new artists whether from the UK or overseas, so worth connecting with them whether via their site or on twitter @NijiMagazine
