MIA in action

The first installment of MIA's UK tour diary.




The second part of the diary went live in the last week. Thanks to Rich XL for the 'news', subscribe to XL's youtube channel for loadsa quality sounds, like MIA, 'dirtiest sound in Britain' - too right sister, that's why we love ya.

Step to the rhythm made outta

My review of Roni Size's Reprazent from today's Independent

Roni Size Reprazent, Scala, London (Rated 4/ 5 )

By Rahul Verma
Thursday, 21 February 2008

Reprazent's return made me uneasy. Dance music dates quickly, and jungle/drum'*'bass's moment passed when Reprazent beat Radiohead, Primal Scream, Chemical Brothers and Prodigy to 1997's Mercury Music Prize. Surely your heyday is over when your music is being sampled by a new generation of producers, as is the case with Reprazent's "Brown Paper Bag" and dubstep prodigy Benga's track "M2"?

But no. Reprazent seize the moment within seconds of taking the stage as a seven-strong band (Roni Size on keys and samples, two keyboard players, drummer, guitarist/double bassist and two vocalists, Onalee and Dynamite MC) by opening with what should be the closer, "Brown Paper Bag". Its teasing intro – double bass, jazz melodies and dreamy atmospherics – spirals into a crescendo of skittering beats and funky, kinetic bass.

Reprazent keep a tight grip, launching into the punchy hip-hop of "Dirty Beats" from sophomore LP In the Mode. "Heroes" shows why Reprazent worked so well in 1997 and still do: it's an odyssey as Onalee harmonies glide over sparkling jazz that slowly unfurls into metronomic breakbeat, satisfying both sing-along and dance urges.

There's buckets of energy and perspiration in the packed Scala, and a sense that this is a rare chance to celebrate, and express gratitude to, the pioneers of a genre that's still dominated by faceless producers. You can count drum'*'bass's icons on the fingers of one hand – Goldie, Roni Size and LTJ Bukem – yet the music, familiar to anyone under the age of 30, is as much a part of the soundtracks of global youth culture as hip-hop or Nirvana. As if to emphasise the "it's about the music, not me" point, Roni Size doesn't utter a single word all night.

The new single "Don't Hold Back" is apocalyptic hip-hop, rapped by Dynamite but sounding like Ludacris's anthem "Move Bitch". One of the classics, "Trust Me", appears on the re-edited forthcoming update of New Forms, and is performed tonight. With 15 years' experience of playing raves, Reprazent are tight, relaxed and give us a thorough workout.

The encore is breathless as "Brown Paper Bag" is rolled out again, and another classic, "Share the Fall", brings the curtain down on Reprazent's triumphant return. It confirms the suspicion that New Forms doesn't need updating because the original hasn't dated one jot. However, as the hook for Reprazent's live comeback, the best of New Forms couldn't be more welcome.

Rider gets four years

Courtesy of The Times, today

The Radio 1 DJ Grooverider has been sentenced to a four-year prison term in Dubai after admitting to carrying cannabis into the country.

Grooverider – whose real name is Raymond Bingham – told judges at previous court appearance: “The drugs were in my possession and I forgot I had them in my trousers.”

He was convicted yesterday and given the minimum sentence for drug possession in the United Arab Emirates, where deeply conservative laws sometimes collide with the liberal values of the millions of tourists who visit each year.

Grooverider’s lawyers had tried to argue in his defence that he was unaware of the laws. The 40-year-old DJ, who co-hosts the weekly BBC Radio 1 drum-and bass programme Fabio and Grooverider, was arrested at Dubai airport on November 23, with 2.16 grams of cannabis in his pockets just hours before he was due to play a sold-out show at a popular nightclub.

“I just want this to end and to never come back. It was a small amount. Back home I would not even get prosecuted,” he previously stated, in a published interview from jail.

A BBC spokesman said: “He made a serious mistake and is paying a very high price.” Grooverider has been off the air since his arrest last November.

Although not officially suspended by Radio 1 it is understood that the BBC is not paying him a salary, as the DJ is paid for each show he presents. Bingham has provided his own legal representation.

Drugs are strictly banned in the United Arab Emirates, however there have been several high-profile cases of foreigners being jailed for smuggling small amounts into the country.

A British tourist, Keith Brown, spent four years in jail for the possession of 0.002 grams of cannabis. Bert Tatham, a Canadian UN official who advised the Afghan government was also jailed for carrying 0.5 grams of hashish and two poppy seeds into the country.

The rulers of Dubai later issued Mr Tatham a rare pardon, deporting him to Canada. Highlighting a new crackdown on drug smuggling, the UAE recently installed new drug-sensitive detecting equipment in its airports.

Grooverider, who made his name DJing at illegal warehouse parties, is recognised as a pioneer of the abrasive style of dance music known as drum and bass.

He is a recording artist and record label owner in his own right and an in-demand DJ on the international club circuit. His colleague Fabio will continue to present the Radio 1 show in his absence.

The former Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening died of a heart attack last year, aged 44, after taking large quantities of cocaine, ecstasy and the drug GHB.

**************************************************************************************


Although I'm a firm believer in taking responsibility for your actions and more importantly respecting the culture of a country you're visiting, I can't quite believe Grooverider's got four years. Mind you the fact that 'A British tourist, Keith Brown, spent four years in jail for the possession of 0.002 grams of cannabis'is worse. 0.2gms isn't even a joint in anyone's book. Let alone .002 grams, that's nothing not even a speck. At this rate they'll be banging up any unsuspecting Briton with notes in their wallet with traces of cocaine on them.

I have to be careful here, as lots of good friends love the place, have gone out to work there and are from Dubai, but for me I don't understand why anyone would want to go to a crass mega-mall with ultra bling hotels and developments aimed at premiership footballers.

Do any tourists get beyond the cocoon of their five (or seven) star hotels and actually find out how locals get treated, or live? How do the Indian and Pakistani labourers and workers who construct all these penis extensions (sorry skyscrapers) and make the economy tick over get treated? Worse than a piece of shit. Each to their own I guess, personally I don't get it.

Back to the orginal reason for posting this: my thoughts are with you Grooverider, I hope the British Embassy/Consulate can do something to get you out sooner.

Update - You gots to chill

On February 12th I had a bit of a rant about the Big Chill and Pete Lawrence parting ways with the festival, how the festival has evolved and Big Chill Bar and Big Chill House. Well it turns out people actually read this blog - belief it was news to me - and more specifically I've been asked to sit down with Katrina Larkin who founded the festival with Pete, way back when, and a PR to discuss what I had to say. Eek. I'm sure it will all be very polite, I hope so. If anyone has thoughts or opinions they would like to communicate to the Big Chill's top dawgs drop me a line.

While I'm here, here's the latest line up news for your perusal,and allows me to include some ace music by Sengal's Orchestra Baobab for this posting:

NEW ARTISTS CONFIRMED FOR THE BIG CHILL 2008

Bill Bailey, Jilted John, Orchestra Baobab, Plaid and Racheal Unthank and the Winterset are the latest additions to the line up for The Big Chill 2008.

British Comic legend Bill Bailey will be joined by electronica pioneers Plaid; 1970's punk New Wave legend Jilted John, breathtaking folk from Racheal Unthank and the Winterset and Orchestra Baobab - eclectic African pioneers.

The new confirmations join an Eastnor bill that already includes....

Artists - The Mighty Boosh - Thievery Corporation - Random Dance - The Portico Quartet

If you're out and about this weekend

I'll be here tonight - mainly coz it's an ace night and I'm DJing for the second time in my life, woop woop. Here's the preview that ran in Metro as part of the clubs column on Thursday, apologies for the shameless plugging.

In the digital era of DJs mixing CDs and using laptops Size Doesn't Matter's policy of only spinning seven inch vinyl is a breath of fresh air. And over the last five years it's proved popular with public and DJs alike as respected names including Frank Tope, Mr Thing, Stu Patterson, and Pogo have jumped at the chance to join residents Mr Shiver, Si Kurrage, and Thor, and play an alternative set, dig deep into their collections and air 'big sounds with small records' with forthcoming guests include Bill Brewster, Fabric resident Craig Richards and X Press 2's Ashley Beedle. Tomorrow's Size Doesn't Matter, has a Valentines theme and features All India Radio spinning hopelessly romantic Bollywood 45s from the 1960s/1970s, and Hugo Mendez (Soundway Recordings and behind East London Latin warehouse parties) upping the ante with steamy Afro funk and Latin rhythms, with music from Ghana to Colombia via Togo to Colombia, and beyond.


I'd also like to go both You Don't Know and Stand And Point, but I ain't superhuman, so it's Size Doesn't Matter all the way, more info here:
Tonight, Size Doesn't Matter, Ginglik, 1 Shepherds Bush Green W12, 7pm to 3am, free before 8pm, £5 after (no entry 12.30am) £. Tel: 020 8749 2310. Tube: White City

Ninja Tune returns to London clubland with the quarterly You Don't Know, the label's first regular night since the days of Stealth. Whereas Stealth was at the compact, smart Bluenote, You Don't Know fills three floors of scuzzy, sprawling warehouse Electrowerkz, with a mind-boggling array of artists: the middle floor is Solid Steel and features beats and pieces cleverly threaded together by Strictly Kev (DJ Food), Coldcut's Jon More and Zero DB's incendiary beats, bleeps and bongos; the basement features Hackney producer Xrabit's experimental percussive, rowdy, retro beats, and Texam rappers DMG'. Upstairs Plastician navigates a path through dubstep and grime, while The Bug brings digi dancehall into the mix with Flowdan's (Roll Deep) bashy, patois flecked flow. Whether you chose top, middle or bottom, You Don't Know guarantees you've played your cards right.

Tonight, You Don't Know, Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens Street EC1V, Tel: 0870 060 0100. Tube: Angel

Music, fashion and lifestyle magazine, Notion begins a bi-monthly residency at Cargo with a line up of eclectic, cutting edge sounds: Seductively moody electronic indie duo The Black Ghosts (Simon Lord formerly of Simian Mobile Disco, and electro hero DJ Touche) headline, as fidget/thug house maestro Herve plays hip hop and dancehall flecked, jerking house, with support from Berlin trio Jahcoozi, who mash up grime and rap with glitchy electronica, bumping broken beat and anything sound that bubbles.

Tonight, Tomorrow, Notion, Cargo, Rivington Street EC1, 8pm to 4am, £10. Tel: 0870 060 0100.Tube: Old Street









This also looks good. Typically after my incessant moaning about having to trek to east London for decent nights, there's a kinda cool night less than ten minutes walk from my yard. But no I'm trekking to Shepherds Bush with a bag of records - no CDs for me - and Shepherds Bush tube is shut. Missions.

Tonight Southern Hospitality, featuring PA’s from Riz MC (www.myspace.com/rizmc) and the live debut of The Misphitz (www.myspace.com/themisphitz), DJs on the night: Dub & Frampster (Lady Sovereign's DJ),
Dex, 467-469 Brixton Road, 8pm til 4am, £5 before 10pm, £10 thereafter. Brixton SW9 8HH t: 0207 326 4455

Miss Kittin, Sebastien Tellier, Clark LP reviews

Electronic music round up - Music Extra - in today's Metro.

MUSIC EXTRA

Electronica

Whether it’s the mainstream in 2008 (Hot Chip, Hercules & Love Affair) or the underground in 2007 (Michael Mayer’s Supermayer LP, Cobblestone Jazz’s 23 Seconds, or Matthew Dear’s Asa Breed LP - Dear’s currently supporting Hot Chip’s UK tour), electronic music is enjoying its most influential, fertile and accessible periods in recent history.

First lady of electro Miss Kittin’s third LP Batbox (Nobody’s Business) is poised between the vocal and electronic: abstract lyrics and dry innuendo accentuate mystery as grinding synths and taut guitars divert your attention away from Caroline Herve’s coded messages. Miss Kittin playfully holds a mirror up to the world we inhabit and that ultimately made her: Play Me A Tape demands a tangible romantic gesture in the era of texts, emails, and MP3 playlists. Miss Kittin can come across as aloof and cold but the opposite is true: her increasingly catchy electro is plugged into – and a commentary on – the here and now.

Electronic music can suffer from trying too hard to be cool but Sebastien Tellier cocks a snoot at such posturing, with a gloriously kitsch and shamelessly sexy album, Sexuality (Lucky Numbers). Tellier’s best-known for the emotionally epic and wistful single La Ritournelle (2005), though Sexuality’s sauciness adds lust and post-coital euphoria to his palate. Sexuality’s built from the same blueprints as trance and prog house, its layering and arrangement is assiduous, and although it’s produced by one half of Daft Punk, Sexuality’s mini-symphonies are far closer to Air’s Moon Safari as seen through the blurry gauze of 1980s soft porn.

Clark’s sophomore LP Turning Dragon (Warp) is full-on banging, churning, clunking dancefloor electronica. Turning Dragon might be tough and relentless but it’s anything other than mindless, instead it’s a wonder that Clark fashions order and rhythm from sonic chaos. Turning Point’s not all high-octane, there’s an ebb and flow (a rave must have lows in order to scale the heights) and the dense dissonance is offset by melodies (for example church organ). Eerie menace gives way to shrill frequencies that sound like a post-apocalyptic attack of the killer bees. Turning Point’s extraordinary doom electronica - somebody give Clark a horror film to score.

Prosumer is resident at Berlin’s leading club Berghain which is set in a disused power station and doesn’t get going until Sunday morning and runs into Monday afternoons. Prosumer & Murat Tepeli’s debut LP Serenity (Kompakt) couldn’t be further from the pummelling machine music that soundtracks Berghain: it’s a mixture of contemporary electropop encompassing melancholic disco (Turn Around) and analogue ballads (I Go Mad), and instrumental grown up house and techno. Serenity stitches pop into a collage woven from Detroit techno, Chicago acid house, New York disco and new wave, and of course, Berlin’s avant-garde experimentalism, and can quite comfortably cosy up to Hot Chip on your CD rack or hard drive.

MPFREEEEEEEE

Nuff free music tis available on the t'internet. I've not been flagging up much of it, but intend to do so now. First up is man of the mo - Toddla T live at notorious Sheffield club Kabal where the young man learnt his bleeps-bass-house-techno-dancehall mashing trade. Toddla's favourite DJ is Pipes, who he goes back to back with on this mix. BIG. It's available here, courtesy of the lovely peeps at FACT magazine. But is likely to disappear soon, so get downloading (legally of course)! And I get to post the video for Fill Up Mi Potion again. Such a wikkid choon.



This is Lauryn Hill performing with DJ J Period on the decks. And here is a heavy, heavy J Period and Game Rebellion mixtape, Searching For Rick Rubin to download for free Think conscious, progressive hip hop and you're in the right ballpark, in short he's the hottest DJ in US rap at the mo.

Here's a review of the mixtape from Okayplayer - the label that put Jill Scott on her way, so a very a trusted and respected source and opinion.

J. Period & Game Rebellion
Searching for Rick Rubin
J. Period Mixtapes; 2007

Let me clear something up right off; I despise critic proclamations to the effect of “best (whatever) of the year.” Why? Because pandering “best of” platitudes pop up around February and then get vomited ad nauseam every 3 weeks for the remaining 44 weeks of the year. Praise of that level is like a fire alarm, best left on glass for emergencies. So in the words of Jay-Z, “get your umbrellas out,” because in this 4th week of December I’m busting the glass and declaring, this is the best record I have heard all year!

A while back a couple NYC journalist friends started bloating my inbox with Game Rebellion remixes. Their “99 Problems” remix was the universal “you have to check this out” track. What everyone failed to mention was “99 Problems” is one track on a record of “you have to check this out” tracks. Combined with remix master J. Period, Game Rebellion has twisted the entire Rick Rubin archive into their own artistic stamp.

Chances are J. Period hasn’t managed to slip by any OKP’s radar. And for those that missed his high profile exploits, you surely caught his pre-Game Theory mixtape The Best of the Roots. Game Rebellion’s own Brooklyn rock may have been swept under most of our Lesson rugs though. If you missed it, and I’m turning myself in as well, go get your late pass.

Searching for Rick Rubin remixes, and rewords, a number of tracks one would expect from a hip-hop record: “Public Enemy #1,” “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” “Going Back To Cali.” But a few surprises slip in as well. “Under The Brooklyn Bridge” re-invisions the Red Hot Chili Peppers with Martin Luther at the chorus wheel. I’ve got nothing against Anthony Kiedis, but Martin Luther could sing the last Paris Hilton record and I would be listening intently.

Lyrically emcee Netic toes the line between socially conscious and infectiously listenable. For all my commercial snobbery, I still need an emcee to deliver their intelligent lyrics with rhythmic bravado. Netic delivers lines like, “Who you think gets more death threats/ Barack or 50 Cent?/ Damn Barack you gangsta/ Hell yeah, you’re Gansta,” and makes you bob your head all the way through.

Netic delivers his thoughts with little need for help, though Jean Grae gets tapped for “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” in what is her second amazing Brooklyn related guest appearance I have reviewed in the last month. (See 9th Wonder’s Dream Merchant Vol. 2 for the other.) The musical interaction here between emcee and band/dj/producer intertwines intuitively in a way that is rare in hip-hop. I should say rare in music period, but particularly in an era of hip-hop quick to slap recognizable samples with any remotely catchy chant.

The record is not without its bumps. After 12 tracks of “bow down before me” greatness, many interludes in the late portion of the album feature the artists defending themselves and how good they believe they are. In all honesty, I agree, and I didn’t need defensive monologues to tell me. But if unnecessary bravado on a hip-hop record is my only complaint, then we have clearly struck oil.

I’ve tried to tire of this record for weeks since first tearing open the cellophane. It’s not happening. I recognize I have a relatively small forum in which to trumpet my praise, but let it be known, if I have your email address, I’m filling up your inbox with Game Rebellion tracks.
Brian Hull

More MPFREENESS to follow soon...

In Living The True Gods

My review of the Stones Throw DVD, which should have appeared in Metro today

In Living The True Gods DVD
Stones Throw
four stars

The second DVD from the Stones Throw label presents the music videos for 16 tracks of abstract, progressive rap (Madvillan, Quasimoto) and instrumental hip hop goodness (J Dilla, James Pants). Stones Throw’s appeal is many of its rappers are irrepressibly experimental and hence are brought to life visually through animation and motion graphics. Helium-voiced, sex-obsessed, criminal rapper Quasimoto becomes an animated half-man, half-hippo meandering through a Sonic The Hedgehog environment; J Dilla’s Nothing Like This begins as a gentle cartoon of a shark and a jellyfish falling in love until a fisherman snares the shark and the jellyfish wreaks revenge. The spirit of Hendrix and Dali courses through the veins of the music and promos gathered here. Also featuring revealing interviews with label founder Peanut Butterwolf and super-producer J Dilla (as well as a stylish poster), this is an essential and collectible slice of indie-hip-hop history.
Extras: Seven bonus features including Quasimoto live.

A slight expansion is that if you're a Stones Throw head this is a must get coz it has extensive footage of label founder Peanut Butterwolf and Charizma in the studio, goofing around in 1992. Charizma passing away inspired Peanut Butterwolf to start Stone's Throw...

You Gots To Chill

Pete Lawrence co-founder of the Big Chill has split from the festival. The official statement is below - the inside unofficial word is the Big Chill is now, despite the illusion, a corporate entity. Let's face facts the majority of the festival was bought by Cantaloupe Group (Cargo, Market Place) a few years ago, and it's been getting bigger and bigger, and not necessarily better, ever since. Cantaloupe Group isn't a charity, so naturally want to increase revenue - hence the expansion and increasing loss of soul at the Big Chill. How do you open a bar (Big Chill Bar) and bar/club (Big Chill House) off the back of a festival - festivals and bars are entirely incompatible - one takes place in a field the others in Kings Cross and Brick Lane. Go figure. That says it all, particularly as Big Chill House is a glorified student union - grubby with a shite soundsystem.

It's a sad day. The Big Chill was the first festival I ever want to in 1998 at The Enchanted Gardens, a Victorian landscaped garden with peacocks running around, and attended by a few hundred people. Me and my mate Alex got bollocked for raving the night away to his car stereo - yes you parked next to where you camped.
What can I say? We were young and having it. I've been to four or five since, and won't be going again. It's a pipe dream but I long for the day I can goto a festival with no corporate branding (without mobile phone or alcohol brands trying to sell, sell, sell). If anyone knows of any, please let me know. I beg you. For me this summer's festivals are all about the small and beautiful.

The above clip is of Chilled By Nature, Pete Lawrence's production guise. Here's the statement and maximun respect to you Mr Lawrence. Note the words 'mutual agreement' - usually legalease for 'gagging order' or 'silence clause' - as I'm sure will appear inHeather and Paul's eventual divorce settlement.


Pete Lawrence, the co-founder of The Big Chill has, by mutual agreement with the board, resigned as a director and shareholder with immediate effect, after fourteen years with the organisation.

From humble beginnings, Lawrence conceived an idea for a new type of Sunday multimedia club back in early 1994 and, with Katrina Larkin, created a unique environment in the back rooms at Union Chapel in Islington. This event soon evolved into The Big Chill festival, which rapidly gained respect for its attention to detail, choice of idyllic rural locations, and nurturing of a loyal online community. As it blossomed, it created a unique blueprint for a lifestyle ethos that went way beyond being just a festival, and which has since spawned many imitators, with varying degrees of success.


In the environment of the festival, Pete gave early exposure by programming names such as Lily Allen, Goldfrapp, Amy Winehouse, Gotan Project, Mr Scruff, Seasick Steve, Röyksopp, Zero 7 and Lemon Jelly, and was arguably the catalyst for the chill out boom at the turn of decade. After establishing itself as one of the top half dozen UK festivals, The Big Chill has recently branched out into opening London venues The Big Chill Bar in Brick Lane, followed in autumn 2006 with the three storey Big Chill House in Kings X. Most recently, after several trips to India to research and plan a new type of event there, Pete conceived a proposal to take The Big Chill concept to Goa for what turned out to be a successful first festival in April 2007 on Aswem Beach.


Explaining his reasons for stepping back from The Big Chill, Pete who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, said “For fourteen years I feel as if I’ve been on a mission to create something personally fulfilling, but it is the wider cultural context which interests me even more. There is no greater reward than seeing how peoples’ lives have been affected due to chance meetings at Big Chill events, and one of our most important roles has been as a platform and catalyst for that. At this time, I need to put myself first for once and do things I have not been able to do since the early 90s, like reading books, hanging out and having quality time with my children as they grow up fast, and concentrating on my own music and writing with less time constraints.”


“I have a restless spirit and I want to remain at the cutting edge, coming up with original concepts and fresh directions, and I have lots of new ideas. Who knows what exciting opportunities might bubble up to the surface. I won’t be severing my Big Chill links altogether however as I will be stepping into a consultant role.


"After fourteen years it feels almost like a child growing up and leaving home - a real conflict of emotions, and not easy to let go of, considering how obsessively hands-on Katrina and I have been over the years. Now, for a variety of reasons, and with some considerable regret, I feel that the time is right to step back and let The Big Chill take its own course. I’m leaving behind a great team and look forward to seeing them at future events.”

Pete’s online blog and website is at www.petelawrence.net and is contactable at pete@petelawrence.net.”

Mr Ozio (Ed Banger) Wets Himself

More cutting edge electro goodness this weekend. This time with Mr Ozio of Ed Banger - last year's hipster label, much like this year's Kitsune. I'm now officially an old git. The thought of raving on a Sunday night/Monday morning has me on the verge of tears. As does the thought that I no longer have the stamina to check out DJs and music that I'm a big fan of. Double glumness :-0(

Car Park Rave - Saturday - Miss Kittin

Jump Off tonight - The return of the mighty Sway

This is a blatant cut and paste of the Jump Off's press release. Nevertheless lots of interesting juicy info. Seems like Sway's been annointed by American hip hop's great (Lupe Fiasco) and not so good (Akon). The Jump Off's tonight, support coz it's always large and a laugh - and there ain't many hip hop night's you can say that about.

LONDON, Feb 1st -- The official launch of Sways latest release 'The Dotted Lines' Mixtape is to take place at the next monthly 'Jump Off' hip hop event in London's Astoria 2 on Mon 4th Feb.  Sway & Decypha Productions will be in the building with 200 free copies and whoever wins the MC Battle on the night will go into the studio with Sway that week to collaborate on a track.

Since 2004 Sway has dominated the UK Hip Hop Scene winning numerous awards, touring extensively and releasing several hit singles and albums.  The 'DOTTED LINES' Mixtape is Sways first release since signing to Akon's Konvict Muzik label.

The mixtape features Sway's version of Dizzee Rascal's 'Old School' (called 'New Skool'), 'Black Stars' a track about influential Ghanaian role models and based on Bashy's 'Black Boys' series of remixes. It features many of Sway's collaborations from the last couple of years, including those with Mr. Hudson, Ian Brown and Madness amongst many others. There are also recordings of numerous radio appearances, one in which he speaks to the Sway from American Hip Hop celebrities Sway & Tech. The US Sway argues with the UK Sway that Sway DaSafo should not use the same name. MC Charlie Boy also appears in the mixtape. Also featured are Rhymefest, Saigon, Remy Martin, Loick Essien, Tension, Stush and Clinton Sparks.

Established in 2003 'The Jump Off' is the UK's biggest live Hip Hop event, drawing a regular crowd of 700 people to witness the many talents of the UK's best dancers, rappers and fashion designers, its media partners include MySpace & Kiss 100.