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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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MagnaCarta-IAmMusicTV

The coverage of Melanin 9’s debut album “Magna Carta” continues into 2013.

Released on the 3rd December, it was one of the most written about UK hip hop albums of 2012, and the latest instalment is via James Savundra for London’s online platform I Am Music TV

Here he combines a review with an interview, with the London emcee speaking on putting the album together, the inspiration for the subject matter & writing process, selection of featured artists and the reasons behind there only being a relatively limited number and his plans for the new year.

The review itself is in depth and acknowledges the subject matter covered, the personal nature of the album and the skills on display as you’ll see from the introduction :

“Magna Carta should come with a warning. If you think you’ve copped yourself an easy-listening, stereotypical hip-hop album, then I’d advise you to return it. Brace yourself to be taken on an adventure by British rapper, Melanin 9, who is already steadily making a name for himself as a real lyricist. This project certainly isn’t one for the faint hearted, as M9 (as he is also known) overpowers the listener with verses that come from within. Everything you hear is real”

The journalist has obviously put a lot of thought into the piece, which you can read in its entirity HERE

Magna Carta is available to buy digitally from iTunes, and physical CD versions can be bought via mail order from http://www.m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can follow the guys on twitter @Melanin_9 James Savundra at @savzy007 and the site itself @IAmMusicTV

Any further media enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite Promotions HERE

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ECHOES MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL HIP HOP (FRANCE)

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In their end of year edition, legendary UK magazine Echoes have included a review of Melanin 9’s new album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December 2012.

“Recreating the claustrophobic climate of pre-millenial angst, Magna Carta could have snuck out in the late 90’s. To his credit, Melanin 9 never sounds like he’s having to try too hard” opens Sunil Chauhan’s analysis in an issue which also includes new releases by Homeboy Sandman, Ruff Sqwad, Kingdom of Fear, Lazy Habits, Kendrick Lamar, Jungle Brothers and Kool G Rap

“Magna Carta does what it says on the tin, as it’s supposed to do” it concludes, and you can read the whole review in the publication which hit UK stores today. You can see more about the magazine online at www.echoesmagazine.co.uk

Meanwhile, French magazine International Hip Hop hits stores in France from Tuesday 18th December, and we have a sneak preview of the reviews section which as well as covering Melanin 9’s album with a 90% rating, also features releases by Mystro, K-Def, Lord Finesse, Pace Won & Mr Green, Snowgoons and Blaq Poet.

Written in the French language (obviously), the Paris based publication lives up to its name covering hip hop from all over the world, and is produced on a monthly basis. This month’s edition also includes interviews with Nas, Redman, Big K.R.I.T., Jean Grae and Kool Keith. You can find out more about them online at www.ihh.cc

Melanin 9 has built up a loyal fanbase in France and Europe for a number of years, so its no surprise he rates highly here, just as he’s done with a wide level of coverage in the UK’s media and now also making some headway in the States.

The album has been available to buy on iTunes since the 3rd December 2012, and CD versions can be bought by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

All international media for this release handled by UrbanElite PR. Any further press enquiries or booking enquiries for Melanin 9 from event & club promoters can be sent HERE

Meanwhile connect with them all on twitter @Melanin_9 @IHHmagazine & @EchoesMag

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MagnaCarta-Huck

Melanin 9 took time out recently to speak with London’s Huck Magazine on the 5 rhymes & verses that stand out for him over the past decades

Part of a regular feature for the publication, the London emcee has picked lines from Nas “Take in Blood”, Ras Kass “Reelishymn”, The Roots “No Alibi”, Cannibal Ox “Iron Galaxy” and Jesht “ESP” and explains why he rates them and the meaning for him as an artist.

You can read this feature in the magazine which is in stores now, and can also be bought online HERE

With Christmas only around the corner, you can buy Melanin 9’s Magna Carta, easily one of the hottest UK hip hop albums of 2012 at iTunes digital store HERE or order the physical version via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Look out for new interviews and videos coming in January 2013

Meantime keep up to speed with them on twitter @Melanin_9 and @HUCKmagazine

All media, press & radio handled internationally by UrbanElite PR. Any further magazine or club/event booking enquiries can be sent via the CONTACT page on this site

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-Dataransmission

British multi genre online publication DataTransmission have just allocated Melanin 9’s debut album “Magna Carta” an 8/10 rating via their review by Janine Francois

“Just simply a stunning piece of art” is how the review is summarized which you can read in full HERE

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There’s little question that this has been a landmark release for the London emcee with such an extensive of international media coverage, and it was also good to see the re-emergence of London’s Itch FM who featured Ryan Proctor’s review in Old to the New. Anyone involved with British Hip Hop will be well aware of the role the radio station played over many years in supporting artists such as Blak Twang, Jehst, Phi Life Cypher, Task Force, Skinnyman and many others, before winding up operations a few years back.

However theyre back online, and you can see the feature at http://www.itch.fm/melanin-9-magna-carta-review/

Magna Carta is available from iTunes now, and can be bought HERE You can also buy the CD physical format by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can hear snippets of the whole album streamed exclusively yesterday by Bonafide Magazine, another publication to give the release its full endorsement by including it in their Top 50 Releases of 2012. Hear the audio stream HERE

You can keep up to date with all of them on twitter @Melanin_9 @D8aTransmission @ItchFM @RyanProctor75 and @BonafideZine

All UK and international media promotions handled by UrbanElite PR. Any further press enquiries can be sent HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
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T : @urbanelitepr

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The UK’s Bonafide Magazine has today exclusively streamed album snippets of Melanin 9’s “Magna Carta”

The magazine, who will also include the album in their Top 50 releases of 2012, introduces the feature “Melanin 9 is a true UK hip-hop talent….and the LP tackles real issues such as human rights, social cohesion and self worth”

The 18 minute long stream includes all of the tracks in order of the tracklist:

1) Gene of Isis (prod by Anatomy)
2) Magna Carta (prod by Anatomy)
3) Landslide (prod by Anatomy – scratches by Evil Ed)
4) The 7 Blues (ft Madame Pepper) (prod by Hey!Zues)
5) Cosmos (prod by Parental – scratches by DJ LOD)
6) 11:08 (prod by Option Command)
7) Love’s Stencil (ft Madame Pepper) (prod by OhBliv)
8 ) Heartless Island (ft Triple Darkness) (prod by Jehst)
9) White Russian (ft Roc Marciano) (prod by Anatomy)
10) Red Snow (prod by Anatomy)
11) Organised Democracy (prod by Tony Mahony – scratches by DJ Madhandz)
12) No Man’s Land (ft Triple Darkness) (prod by 7th Dan)
13) Colour Blind (ft Madame Pepper) (prod by Anatomy)
14) Marble (prod by Tony Mahoney)

Check the full feature HERE

Meanwhile, Stateside online magazine Surviving The Golden Age has reviewed the album, again picking up on the strong influence of the Golden Era of 90’s hip hop contained within the release.

Comparing his “raw, hard hitting hip hop beats” to that found on Nas’ “Illmatic” (not the first time the comparison has been made), and like Nas & Biggie “his lyrical content deals with his city….North London” the magazine cites the track “Heartless Island” and credits Melanin 9 as “a highly literate rapper as he references House of Flying Daggers in the same breath as soliloquies”

Read the whole review HERE

There has been extensive international media coverage on this release, with more on the way, and once you check out the album stream on Bonafide you’ll hear why

You can buy the album on iTunes now HERE

You can also purchase the CD physical format direct by mail order from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can follow him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazines @BonafideZine & @StGAdam

All press, radio and other media promotions has been handled by UrbanElite PR, and any other enquiries regarding the release can be sent HERE

Urbanelite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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“Proving that it is possible to deliver street-influenced, hardcore Hip-Hop without having to appeal to the lowest common denominator, with “Magna Carta” M9 has succeeded in his mission to elevate, stimulate and edutain, delivering one of 2012′s most essential albums in the process.” is how Ryan Proctor summarizes the new album from London’s Melanin 9 for his online blog Old To The New

Ryan has been writing about hip hop for several magazines over the years, contributing reviews, interviews and news, and has established a real tastemaker online platform with his blog, covering some of the best traditional hip hop international releases, videos, singles, albums and events

If in any doubt about his standpoint on hip hop & rap music today, his opening line about Melanin 9’s album and his overall view are combined with :

“Although there may be many artists today prepared to sell their soul and dumb down their content in an attempt to appeal to the masses and achieve their fifteen minutes of fame, there are still real emcees out there who aren’t willing to take the easy route, choosing instead to put hours of effort into mastering their craft, keeping their lyrical swords sharp as they walk in the footsteps of the greats that came before them. London-based lyricist Melanin 9 a.k.a. M9 is one such artist.”

A full in depth review follows HERE

The strength of the classic Tru Skool sound influenced by the Golden Era of the 1990’s is reflected by the international element of his album sales on iTunes throughout Europe and in the States, as well of course as in the UK. This would indicate that the genre is in good health, and still passes the test of time when others come & go.

You can buy the album on iTunes digital store HERE or if you prefer purchasing the CD format by mail order, or the limited edition 12″ vinyl of the single “White Russian” featuring Roc Marciano, go to http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Connect with him on twitter @Melanin_9 and reach out to Ryan on twitter @RyanProctor75

All international coverage on this release has been handled by UrbanElite PR, and any further media enquiries can be sent HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-MusicOMH

Multi genre online publication Music OMH are the latest to review London’s Melanin 9 and his debut album “Magna Carta” which released on iTunes on Monday 3rd December.

Contributor Thomas May gives this a thorough examination, and a 4 star rating, opening with :

“On this record, Melanin 9 remains admirably committed to his belief in the potency of hip hop as a socially transformative art form”

Of course as an artist, Melanin 9 is heavily influenced by the ethos of hip hop during the Golden Era, although in this album applies a contemporary take for 2012, a point picked up by the magazine when they say “it is the lyrical dexterity and poise of delivery with which Melanin 9 presents his sentiment that elevates this record beyond mere social critique.”

His lyricism and wordplay have been his trademark since the days of his mixtapes “High Fidelity” and “144,000”, and as debut albums go, to quote MusicOMH is one which is “made only more striking by the knowledge that this is the artist’s debut“. With the ongoing throwback to the 90’s scene happening in the United States right now, it’s little surprise that Melanin 9 has been enjoying such a level of media attention internationally.

You can read the whole review HERE

The album can be bought digitally on iTunes HERE

You can also buy the physical CD format of the album via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com where you can also purchase the 12″ vinyl version of his single “White Russian” featuring Roc Marciano

On twitter, you can reach him @Melanin_9 and the magazine @MusicOMH

Look out for much more international media coverage on this release in the weeks ahead. Any further press enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-GuestlistInterview

London’s monthly music newspaper and online platform The Guestlist Network had already given Melanin 9’s new release “Magna Carta” their full endorsement by naming it their “Album of the Month” at the beginning of November.

They have just followed that up with a new interview courtesy of Janine Francois

He speaks on his new album and how it was put together, the universal nature of hip hop culture compared to the more insular outlook of others, his thoughts on the Golden Era and the influence that has played in his writing style and his earlier days coming up through the scene

Read the whole interview HERE

The album was released on iTunes on 3rd December, and you can buy that HERE

If you prefer physical CD copies and the 12″ vinyl of his single featuring Roc Marciano “White Russian”, these can be purchased via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Follow him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazine @GuestlistDotNet

Any further media enquiries about this release can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-HipHopisAWOL

With Melanin 9’s debut album “Magna Carta” releasing on iTunes today, you will see a lot of international media covering the record in the next couple of weeks.

Latest is Hip Hop is AWOL, based over in Ireland, and as the name suggests regularly covers a lot of international videos, singles and albums. Owner Ruairi tells us that Magna Carta is in his top 3 albums for 2012 along with Roc Marciano (who features on Melanin 9’s video “White Russian) and Ka.

A great supporter of UK hip hop, he reflects on other British artists who have made some international headway this year citing Genesis Elijah’s appearance with Royce da 5 9 on Copywrite’s album (another handled by UrbanElite PR) together with Melanin 9’s own progress :

“Hopefully this is the start of UK Hip Hop getting its proper recognition on the international stage and no better album to lead the charge than M9’s Magna Carta”

The unprecedented support from Stateside onlines such as Nah Right, Hip Hop DX, 2Dopeboys, The Source and Complex combined with UK publications MOJO, Clash, Guestlist, Q Magazine (end of December) and many more does suggest that the traditional sound of hip hop isnt so much making a comeback, but now receiving wider recognition for its longevity and being introduced to a new generation.

Melanin 9’s wordplay, lyricism and subject matter leans towards the ethos of The Golden Era of hip hop in the 90’s, but the album is broader than that with a willingness to push the boundaries more in its beats and production. It takes from the past to be relevant in the present

You can read the whole review HERE

You can buy the album now via iTunes HERE

You can buy physical CD copies of the album and the 12″ vinyl of his single White Russian via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Connect with him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazine @HipHopisAWOL

Any media, press and radio enquiries about this release can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr