Blues & Soul are a long standing UK publication in printed and online formats
They are the latest to cover the release of the new album by Ohio’s Copywrite “God Save The King (Proper English Version)” which is out on Man Bites Dog Records 13th June 2012
This was one of the most eagerly awaited independent hip hop releases of 2012 in the British marketplace due to Copywrite’s history as part of Megahertz, previous releases “Ultrasound” & “The High Exhaulted”, and the range of UK and American featured artists on the new album.
Over some massive production from the likes of Marco Polo, Stu Bangas, Kount Fif, Bronze Nazareth, Vanderslice, Curtiss King & Surock, Copy is bang on form and brings a real international flavour to the table assisted by the UK’s Genesis Elijah, Mystro, Eurogang’s S.A.S. & Bigz, Dru Blu, Context, Melanin 9, Don Jaga, Iron Braydz & Akala. They stand shoulder to shoulder with Stateside counterparts such as Sean Price, Royce da 5 9, Crooked I, Inspectah Deck, Killah Priest, Roc Marciano, Evidence, Torae, Sonny Seeza and many more
New single “Opium Prodigies” from Copywrite, this time featuring fellow Ohioans Illogic with DJ Drastic on the cuts, produced by New York’s Marco Polo
Taken from the album “God Save the King (Proper English Version)” which releases on 15th May via Man Bites Dog Records
The album which was a year in the making, also features many British and Stateside artists and there have already been single releases featuring Sean Price, S.A.S., Dru Blu Strapzy, Casual, Evidence, Roc Marciano, Genesis Elijah, Mystro & Iron Braydz. Look out for more in the months ahead
Any djs not already serviced with this record, contact urbanelitepr at gmail for a full quality clean radio edit
New UK Single & Video – Jamieson – Ways To Get Ahead
Kilburn’s Jamieson, now based in the South Bronx, NYC, follows up his tribute to his hometown “London Freestyle” with the new single & video “Ways to Get Ahead”.
Taken from the final instalment of his Mixtape Trilogy “I Came I Saw”, the track chronicles the journey he’s taken from his days as part of UK hip hop duo Twisted Thoughts with K.I.L.L.A.G.R.A.M. to his move over to the States and the work he’s been putting in since arriving there in 2007.
From the launch of his Foreign Exchange mixtape hosted by DJ Whoo Kid, he’s enjoyed regular support from DJ Booth, XXL, 2 Dope Boys, This Is 50, Hip Hop Dx and a wide range of other key tastemakers across the country. Working with artists Joell Ortiz, Sean Price, Skyzoo and receiving co:signs from Yelawolf, RZA and B-Real, there’s little doubt this London born & bred MC has been packing in a mountain of work, and “Ways To Get Ahead” documents the grind.
The mixtape launches soon ahead of his brand new single “I Get Busy”, set for international release in the
Spring
Been a year in the making, but now Ohio’s Copywrite gets set to release one of the biggest international albums of the year, God Save The King on 30th April 2012.
The Columbus based MC first came to prominence as part of the group Megahertz. His work with producers RJD2, J-Dilla, Cool & Dre, Illmind and collaborations with artists such as Royce da 5 9, Killah Priest, Sean Price, and Dilated Peoples soon established his position on the international hip hop scene through a series of releases including The High Exhaulted, Ultrasound and The Life and Times of Peter Nelson.
Earning a reputation as a battle – hardened MC with punchlines for days, and having just picked up “Best Lyricist” at the Ohio Hip Hop Awards 2011, Copywrite has created an exceptional album. The title is part inspired by the features on this record with some of the best that the UK and US have to offer, and follows previous collaborations with the UK’s Rhyme Asylum, Loudmouth Melvin, Skillit and Sam Khan.
The release includes contributions from some of the most respected MC’s in the UK game, including recently Radio 1 playlisted Context, Mystro, Genesis Elijah, Iron Braydz, Melanin 9, Eurogang’s S.A.S. and Bigz Flygerian, Akala, and USG’s Don Jaga. Standing shoulder to shoulder with them are US heavyweights Royce da 5 9, Killah Priest, Illogic, Crooked I, Sean Price, Casual, Evidence, Roc Marciano and Sonny Seeza (Onyx).
Also look out for a special guest appearance by the 1st Lady of Hip Hop, DJ Sarah Love.
Copywrite is on top of his game throughout with his unique flow and rhyme skills, complimented by production from Kount Fif, Stu Bangas, Jaguar Skills, Marco Polo, RJD2, Bronze Nazareth, Surock and Illogic.
This is an album for fans of the real deal – lyricists and MC’s of the highest calibre spittin’ fire over bangin’ beats. Copywrite reinforces his position as one of the most skilled wordsmiths around today while producing a record which showcases the true essence of hip hop from both sides of the Atlantic.
First out the block is the title track G$K, produced by Stu Bangas and featuring Jason Rose and Lewisham’s Dru Blu, currently making huge moves on the UK scene right now with his new single “Living the Dream”.
The video was shot in the United States and in London, the latter courtesy of Dirty Media and Despa of Stay Fresh Digital. Stu Bangas also produced last year’s “English Troops” with Dru Blu and English Frank. Both Copywrite & Dru Blu go in hard on this joint with some choice cutting provided courtesy of DJ Drastik.
The album God Save The King releases in the UK on 30th April 2012 on Man Bites Dog Records, also home to Megahertz, Vast Aire, Kount Fif, Dub Sonata and more. Look out for much more news on this release over the coming months including plans for a future UK & European tour later in the year.
Sister Elements launches a brand new hip hop night “Grandma’s Party” on Friday 30th March with a mix of live performances, dj sets and a short film world premiere
Performers
Fresh from a support slot with Souls of Mischief at Manchester’s Roadhouse on March 7th, Sister Elements, aka Sarah Sayeed, headlines by performing tracks from her new upcoming album. Described by BBC Asian Network’s Bobby Friction as “a 360 degree conscious artist & fearless lyricist”, she previously released her video .”Contentment”, and has since performed all over the world.
Further live sets on the night come from Manchester’s James Gill, some cool hip hop & funk sounds from female rapper Rain Freedom and a special performance from Ella Mesma, quoted by The Times as “Hip Hop dance’s ongoing potential for deeper expression”.
DJ Sets
Two of the UK’s hip hop heavyweights will be on dj duty. Sarah Love, fresh from supporting Aloe Blacc’s tour in December, and her own tour of Australia in January will be bringing you the real hiphop flavas she’s famous for since her days with Kung Fu, MTV and BBC 1Xtra. A new video interview with The Hip Hop Chronicle has just gone live where she speaks on the early days and her views on the scene today.
Excalibah is well known to the heads as an award winning dj for his Tales From The Legend BBC 1Xtra radio show where he gave early national airplay to artists such as Estelle, Pro Green, Sway and Plan B.
Film screening
There will also be the screening of the short film, “Hip Hop Had A Dream”. While researching his book of the same name released in 2008, the UK’s Damien Morgan interviewed a number of renowned names including Sugarhill Gang, Ty, Bashy, Ghostface Killah, Joe Budden, Professor Griff, Chuck D & Skinnyman for their views on the culture of hiphop, their early influences and the journey it has taken from the early days to now.
These interviews were documented in film and have just been edited together in a short 15 minute documentary set for its worldwide premiere at Grandma’s Party
Big night for lovers of Tru Skool hip hop & the emergence of another regular event showcasing the best in new UK talent.
London’s Jamieson, formerly known as Killagram, has been making some big moves since his relocation to the States some years back.
Starting off as a young producer in Kilburn, he formed the duo “Twisted Thoughts” with longtime sparring partner K.I.N.E.T.I.K. Having been on the grind in the UK’s underground for a number of years, an offer of work in New York saw him up sticks and make New York’s South Bronx his current home
He wasn’t slow in getting his game on over there. In 2007 he released The Foreign Exchange mixtape hosted by DJ Whoo Kid before putting together plans for his “I Came I Saw” trilogy series of mixtapes
2010 saw the release of Volume 1, launched via DJBooth.net with features from Skyzoo and Emilio Rojas. This was followed up in 2011 by Volume 2 with further features from Sean Price, Samuel and Joell Ortiz.
He’s not been slack on the live front – performing 2 years running at Think Pink Rocks, opening for Melanie Fiona, Sean Kingston & Akon, and in 2011 opening for Mobb Deep at SOB’s for Hot 97’s “Who’s Next” series.
With public endorsements from artists such as RZA, Yelawolf & B-Real, and key media such as XXL, ThisIs50, Hiphopdx, The Hip Hop Chronicle and 2Dopeboyz, he returned to London recently to film the new video for “London (freestyle). This is a taster from the final instalment of the “I Came I Saw” mixtape trilogy which will be released in the coming months.
The mixtape will be released in advance of his new single “I Get Busy” which is set to kick start a big year for Jamieson on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its become a tradition around Xmas time. Like apocalyptically bad tv schedules, running battles with relatives or 80% discount pre-sales sales signs going up…just before the “to-let signs”…at least the day is brightened up by west London’s Hip Hop MC Mystro’s annual appearance on BBC Radio 1Xtra
His UK Rap Up covers the world of entertainment and events with his usual dry humour and on point production from Colin Emmanuel, aka Black Einstein
One of the most respected UK MCs, 2012 will see his new free EP “What Type of Drug is Mystrogen” dropping ahead of his long awaited debut album “MYSTROGEN”
Almost exactly a year ago, Genesis Elijah released his collaboration album with UK production duo Krate Krusaders “Before I Was Famous”.
Not the type to hang around, on the 1st of January 2011 he released the first of what would be many new videos and internet singles, all of which can be seen at his youtube channel “GenesisElijahTV”. He also released his mixtape “I Aint Even Charging Bruv” while working on his new forthcoming album.
The consistency of output increased over recent months as he got himself a new video camera and put a series of freestyles and singles together, released something new almost every 2 – 3 weeks, the most recent of which is this new video for “My Truth” which is taken from a new EP “Painkillers & Pilkington” (a reference to An Idiot Abroad’s Karl Pilkington)
Appropriately, on My Truth, he samples dialogue from Pilkington’s colleagues on the show Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to spell out his motivation and thoughts.
The Brixton MC, now based in Watford, is easily one of the hardest workin in the game.
2011 has seen a highly consistent level of video output from London’s Genesis Elijah
With his new album “I Aint Even Started Bruv” due out in early 2012, he returned to his ‘Civil Unrest’ EP originally released in early 2010 and ahead of his collaboration with Krate Krusaders on the album “Before I Was Famous” to film a new video for the track “Bellyfull”
The track predicts the riots and civil unrest seen in London and elsewhere in the UK during the summer of 2011, and was shot on the site of Occupy London outside St Paul’s Cathedral. This particular site was chosen by protestors due to it neighbouring the heart of the city’s banking centre….they had in fact tried to occupy the banking district but were moved on.
The protest itself gained further publicity as it led to resignations within the church as internal disagreements whether to support the action left positions untenable. They have vowed to remain in position until at least the new year, and the video contains live footage of Gen performing for people there
Also look out for Genesis Elijah appearing on 2 tracks for Ohio based MC Copywrite’s new album God Save The King which will be released in the UK in March 2012. These tracks also feature Mystro, Iron Braydz and Royce da 5 9.
Keep up to date with what he’s doing at www.genesiselijah.net and follow him on twitter @GenesisElijah
Fresh off the desk, Ohio’s Copywrite drops another banger hard on the heels of the PYT UK remix featuring Loudmouth Melvin & Skillit
This time he’s teamed up with London’s 7 times Jump Off champion Sam Khan on the re-work of “Stop”.
The recent collaborations with some of the UK’s finest acts as a taster of Copy’s new album “God Save the King” which will be released on Man Bites Dog Records on 1st November.
Top producers and artists will feature, including the UK’s Akala, SAS, Bigz Flygerian, Iron Braydz, Genesis Elijah, Melanin 9, Mystro, Don Strapzy, Context MC & Jaga. They are complemented by appearances from Sean Price, Royce da 5 9, Roc Marciano, Inspectah Deck, Crooked I and much more, with the result of this being one of the most anticipated hiphop albums of 2011.
