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SoulOnFire-HHK

Los Angeles (by way of Greensboro NC) emcee ethemadassassin releases his new Soul on Fire album on 17th September, the third solo LP from one half of the Veteran Assassins duo.

Coming up through NC’s rap battle scene during the Golden Era, the new single “80’s & 90’s” produced by UK beatsmith Sci Fi Stu speaks on these days. Anyone familiar with the sights and sounds of the time will recognize the fashions name-checked and lifestyle represented throughout.

Described in a recent album review “fired up by a dope reminiscing beat, the dreamy backdrop empowers Ethemadassassin to throwback to times gone by with inspiring effect” , the single is one for the Tru Skool heads through the generations.

The single was premiered today by the UK’s HHK Mag (aka Hip-Hop Kings) where he also gave an exclusive interview and insight into his days starting out as an artist during hip hop’s Golden Era, he speaks on the impact of the internet for artists by comparison to those early years, the current focus on 90’s fashions and culture happening now, opening for Immortal Technique and Wu Tang and of course his new album and working with international producers.

It’s a fascinating read for all those interested in the historical aspect of hip hop from the perspective of an artist who has lived through it and still performing and evolving his style to this day

Read the whole interview HERE

Check out the new single 80’s & 90’s on Soundcloud

80s90scover

You can follow them on twitter @EtheMadAssassin @SciFiStu and @HHKMag

Any djs not already serviced with the clean / radio edit of this track can request it from UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite PR
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T : @urbanelitepr

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ChaoticRevolt

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.

For more information, visit the official site www.firstandlastpride.co.uk

You can reach him on twitter @ApexZero00 or Facebook www.facebook.com/apex.omeza

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

UrbanElite PR
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T : @urbanelitepr

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MagnaCarta-HitTheFloorMag

Latest in what has been a long line of UK and international media coverage secured by UrbanElite PR for London’s Melanin 9 and his debut album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December 2012.

This time Sean Cloherty gives it his full seal of approval on behalf of British multi genre online magazine Hit The Floor.

“Don’t mistake M9 for another rapper who ignorantly spits about drugs and guns either, the talent he has with words is extremely impressive. He paints a picture in the mind’s eye; there is a lot of wordplay revolving around meaningful subjects” again follows in the same vein of many previous journalists’ analysis of what has been a landmark release for the artist, his first official album since releasing mixtapes 144,000, High Fidelity and the Orion’s Stencil EP.

Similarly, comparisons in lyrical approach to Nas, Mobb Deep, Wu Tang & Biggie have been a common theme in many of the reviews and interviews, and this one is no different, summarizing :

“Magna Carta is embedded with hyper-visual lyricism, dark soundscapes, gritty narratives, and hard beats, and really gives the impression that Melanin 9 is out to spread knowledge.”

Read the whole review at HIT THE FLOOR

Hear the whole album in snippet form

Available now on iTunes, and also in CD format by mail order via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com We understand that due to the large number of orders placed via his Bandcamp, there had been a slight backlog in shipping, however this has now been resolved and turnaround is expected to be only a few days.

Melanin 9 is currently working on some new material, including some international collaborations. He is also available for festival and show bookings, so any other press, media or booking enquiries can be sent to UrbanElite PR via the CONTACT page

You can of course keep up to date with him on twitter @Melanin_9 and the magazine @HitTheFloorMag

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
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MagnaCarta-RapReviews

Zach Gase, contributor to US online RapReviews, is the latest to cast his eye over the new album “Magna Carta” by London’s Melanin 9

“M9 is a skilled wordsmith, he pairs together syllables that work well together, and the things he raps about are of social importance”

Scoring a very creditable 7/10, the UK emcee has consistently impressed with his trademark lyricism and wordplay, even with those who’s own preference may lie outwith the 1990’s Golden Era tinged influence in the beats and rhymes.

The full review can be read HERE
Check out the sounds now, via the videos “Organised Democracy”, “White Russian” ft Roc Marciano and the album snippet stream first featured by Bonafide Magazine :

VIDEO : ORGANISED DEMOCRACY

VIDEO : WHITE RUSSIAN

ALBUM SNIPPET STREAM

The album is available to buy now from iTunes HERE

More media coverage to follow soon. All press enquiries about this release can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

Meanwhile you can connect with both on twitter @Melanin_9 and @RapReviews

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T : @urbanelitepr

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ECHOES MAGAZINE

MagnaCarta-Echoessml

INTERNATIONAL HIP HOP (FRANCE)

MagnaCarta-IHHfrontcover

MagnaCarta-IHHFranceblog

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

UrbanElite Promotions
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MagnaCarta-Rawroots
A couple of weeks ago, Melanin 9 chopped it up with the UK’s online Rawroots to speak on the release of his debut album Magna Carta which can be bought now on iTunes.

He talks about his early days of deejaying, comin up in London and the early crews he worked with, working with producers Chemo, Beat Butcha, Jehst and Bronze Nazareth and plans on working with them in the future, the eclectic production on Magna Carta and his approach to the art of emceeing and lyricism.

Check it out (as featured on www.rawroots.com)

As well as iTunes, you can buy the physical CD format of his album via http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Link with them on twitter @Melanin_9 and @Rawroots

Any further media & press enquiries can be addressed to UrbanElite PR HERE

UrbanElite Promotions
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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

MagnaCarta-ItchFM

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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MagnaCarta-Bonafide

MagnaCarta-SurvivingTheGoldenAge

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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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