Caffiends

Last week, my favourite UK rapper, Sway, dropped his long awaited mixtape, named “The Delivery”. It’s been in the works for months with the tracks “Pay Back” and “The Watcher” being leaked out, and has been pushed back time after time (Sway is the push back king, I guess… although Dr Dre could probably hold that title too).

So, you could imagine my relief when this finally did appear. It was originally free to download to everyone who purchased Sway’s “Everyday Valentine” and was able to prove so. I have to admit, I didn’t buy the single. I wasn’t impressed. The trailer for the mixtape popped up on YouTube and the single track over the cartoony animation actually impressed me. It reminded me very much of the old Sway that I was starting to miss. The one with the wordplay, the jokes and the killer delivery.

Anyway, it’s finally here! 27 tracks of mostly new material, including previews and freestyles. One preview to note is a collaboration with Dwele called “Body Rock” which I really like the sound of. But I wasn’t exactly keen on Sway’s lyrics. I don’t want to go into detail about the mixtape but I think it really is a mixed bag. There are some absolute gems and bangers, but there are some real weak ones as well. It can’t be denied, Sway’s commercial success has certainly influenced him now. The wordplay is weaker. But it’s not as doom and gloom as I was thinking this time last year. After the disappointment of “Mercedes Benz”, I am still apprehensively looking forward to The Signature 2…

Cop The Delivery mixtape here!

Can’t really talk about this track too much. Breakage’s output is just consistently high quality. And whilst I think this is another one of these quality tracks, it’s probably his weakest – simply because of the unnecessary electric guitar at the end. But he still manipulates that characteristic bass to produce an awesome feeling. And blimey, Donea’o needs to use his vocals more often. He sells himself short so many times. Here’s the official video – quite disturbing!

Foundation drops on March 15th and this single’s getting released on March 22nd – both on Digital Soundboy.

I know this dropped ages ago but I still can’t pass on the opportunity to get my two cents worth on this. This delivery is Skream’s epic remix of Donea’o’s “Riot Music“. It first surfaced around mix-December time but the full, 320, popped up late last month. I am seriously loving it as well. But it has made me think a lot more about Skream’s musical direction lately. Near the end of last year, Skream showed off a clip of a supposed “jungle tribute”. Well, this tribute seems to be extending itself over a few more tracks and this remix is no exception.

With the meteoric rise in popularity of dubstep in last few months, thousands of people have been piling onto YouTube and MySpace or whatever, and checking out otherwise unknown artists. The likes of Borgore and Doctor P have blown up before they’ve even had a chance to blink. But the likes of these artists bring a whole new dimension to dubstep – the “filthy” kind. Now I can’t speak for Skream, I don’t know what’s going on his head, but I’m get tired of every track being rated on “filthiness”. These are tracks that are now choked with more basslines than sense. I could record a jet engine, stick a random sample and a 140bpm drum pattern on top and I’ll be getting “FIIIILLTTTTH” all over it. Where’s the talent? It doesn’t help that so many of these fans are shunning the work of Caspa, Rusko, Skream or Benga claiming that they are now shit! It is unbelievable! These are the people that made dubstep what it is today. The stuff that those four artists, amongst others, have produced has exhibited far more talent and emotion and dedication to perfection than any other of these new filthy artists.

This what it looks like Skream has seen, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his dubstep output decreases in number much more.  He’s being shunned by the mass wave of new fans. The ones who are ignorant of the history. It’s great to see Skream embracing something different – in fact, this whole junglist vibe has been very quiet over the past few years so I wouldn’t be surprised if a few more Skream junglist tracks led to a resurgence of junglist popularity. I’m certainly feeling it and Skream’s got my support with whatever he plans to do.

Oh yeah, here’s the remix…! It’s been released on Digital Soundboy so be sure to cop it!

Donea’o – Riot Music (Skream Remix)

It’s been… what? 3 months? How could I have neglected this site for so long? I guess I reached the point where I lost interest in the site. I had bigger things to deal with. I even stopped drinking energy drinks – I haven’t recovered from that either.

So we’ve seen Christmas come and go. 2009 passed – this must be the only blog not to do a round up of the best tracks of the year. The Oscars have even been and gone (Avatar should never have been nominated in the first place!). Anyway, whatever. Here I am to say I’m back and I’m gunna get started in earnest.

So word is that Pendulum are polishing off their upcoming album after spending the summer at what seemed to be every festival going. As much as I am not a fan, I respect how hardworking these guys are and their unrelenting ambition. So in May 2010, they’re embarking on another summer tour, this time to promote their new album. Tickets are on sale now and if you’re not convinced then I give you this: Sub Focus is supporting!

ZincXmasCrackHouseMix by zinc

Shit guys, things have been a bit mad over the past few days with technical glitches and a mighty busy schedule… doing nothing. Anyway, here’s a catch up of stuff that I’ve missed and will round off into one post.

Firstly, I give my sympathies to the family of Brittany Murphy who passed away yesterday from what seems to be a heart attack. 32 years is not an age to die at, at all. Very talented and unique actress.

So let’s get going with some tunes! First up here is a track by a hip hop five-piece who I really can’t call one of my favourites. Hailing from Japan, they’ve copped huge names in the urban scene on their tracks for the past few years now and this track makes no difference with them landing a feature from the biggest name in rap right now – Jay-Z. Guessed who they are yet? It’s the Teriyaki Boyz! The track’s “Living the Life” and comes from the Delicious Japanese CD and DVD boxset. It’s more RnB as opposed to rap with the dreamy synths and piano keys. This isn’t one I rate highly, and Jay-Z’s feature is not exactly fulfilled – sounds like he wasn’t offered that much for the feature.

Teriyaki Boyz – Living the Life ft. Jay-Z

Next up is another hip hop chooon from rhyme meister Mos Def who’s been creating some eddy currents around his name in recent weeks. This joint here is a simple, little, lazy production. Not intended to be serious. He’s just being playful. Chopping, jabbing, fusing. We have seen quite a change in Mos Def’s attitudes towards his performance in the last year – with the emphasis being less on his actual lyrics and more on the actual overall feel of the track. I preferred him really giving us epic verses but I’m liking this one. It’s nice. It’s something that hip hop could do with more often and isn’t exactly difficult to do. Big names dropping little experiments from the studio. They don’t have to go hard all the time. Do we have too high expectations of them now?! Anyway, the track’s called “24 Hour Karate School” and is produced by Ski Beatz. Nice.

Mos Def – 24 Hour Karate School

Veering away from hip hop now but staying strictly urban for this track (which I have been very late on posting). No point giving it a wordy intro as I’m sure you’ve copped it already. It’s the epic garage effort by UK artist Solo. He’s remixed Wiley’s “Never Be Your Woman” which is due out next Feb – so this won’t be gracing your Christmas stockings I’m afraid. It’s got some sick synths, funky beats and garage treats. Will definitely be a big tune in the New Year!

Wiley – Never Be Your Woman (Solo ‘Loves Garage’ Remix)

Now let’s hit electro. And here I deliver a collaboration that promises big things. Three of the biggest names in the scene have brought their talents into one five minute effort. The culprits are Crookers, Soulwax and Mixhell. The result: “We Love Animals”. I’m surprised there was no Miike Snow influence here, because that really would have been joyful. Now, in this track you can really identify all of the individual collaborators’ styles. It’s quite a mash and it blends well though has no real structure there. I have to say, actually, I’m a little disappointed with the track considering all those that were involved but that’s not to say it is bad. I do like it. I just think there was a lot more potential for something incredible.

Crookers – We Love Animals ft. Soulwax & Mixhell

And whilst sticking to the electro curve with a detour into the rave scene, we have the latest dropping from Hostage. Dropping? You ask. Yes. This track is THE SHIT. I’m not usually a fan of Hostage tracks when they’re on their own but I love them when they’re in sets. However, this track ticks all the right boxes for me and really is my favourite Hostage track yet. Some funky beats in this one, where he seems to have let off with the bass. When this drops in the club, it will be sure to catch everyone’s attention. I give you “Achtung!”.

Hostage – Achtung!

Hope you like them goodies.

On an August morning in 1976, French filmmaker  Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris. Vintage.

Directed by Dribblez & Weirdcore.

I’ve been a long time fan of Steve Aoki. I really do consider him much of a silent genius and truly under rated in the circles of the music world. He tackles all sorts of tracks and really plays with the essence of remix to deliver his signature sounds and techniques. This week, the Dim Mak man has rained us with enough hot remixes to extend summer and postpone winter. His remix of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” went straight to number one on Hype Machine, and following closely in number 5 was this epic remix of Drake’s “Forever”. Also worth mentioning is his remix of “Warp 1977″ by The Bloody Beetroots.

I love how he singles out Em’s verse in this and really changes the tone so much in this. It’s been on repeat here constantly. So there’s only one thing you should do:

Drake – Forever ft. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem (Steve Aoki Remix)