Mark Devlin

GOOD VIBRATIONS PODCAST VOLUME 2, WITH NESHA (SINGER AND FORMER BBC 1XTRA DJ)

2012-02-01T10:05:00.001-08:00

On to the second instalment that cuts through the glossy veneer of the music industry to examine what's really going on behind the scenes. In this one, Mark Devlin engages in some real talk with Nesha, who many will remember as an R&B singer with hits such as 'What's It Gonna Be?'. She went on to become a daytime presenter on the BBC's 1Xtra radio station, before parting company a few years ago, somewhat disillusioned at some of the attitudes and practices she had found at the BBC.

More recently, she's been paying attention to the themes, subliminal messages and symbols contained in popular music, and has questioned what they are designed to achieve. Here, she shares many of her observations. Thought provoking throughout.

THE SOUND OF NOW ... COMING SOON

2012-01-26T05:22:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to confirm that I'll be back on the radio from early March, starting a new show on a brand new station, OX4 FM. I'll be on Saturdays 6-8pm, with a show called The Sound Of Now - adventurous new music from across the genres, (NO garbage electro-pop!) with a few revivals thrown in. Right where I want to be! The station goes live on 27th February on 105.1 in Oxford, and everywhere else here.

A.L VS J. DILLA: THE LAID BACK E.P - STUNNINGLY GOOD MUSIC!

2012-01-19T03:15:00.001-08:00

This is honestly the best music I've heard in months, if not years. So, so good. This 16-track E.P (so actually more of an album,) from 23-year-old East London newcomer AL has her singing classily over a sublime selection of archive beats from the legendary J Dilla, and with strong rap cameos from Stutta, Mercston and Bruts . As its 'laid back' title suggests, it's organic, neo-soul style the whole way. Absolutely cracking, and very highly recommended. You can get the official Bandcamp download here.

GOOD VIBRATIONS PODCAST VOL. 1: DAVID ICKE

2012-01-17T11:04:00.001-08:00

Why do only an increasingly small handful of artists ever seem to really 'make it' in the music game? What's with all the never-ending covering of one eye in all the videos? Why the insistence on rappers having so many pseudonyms? And why is the robotic vocal programme Autotune still being mercilessly rolled out despite everyone you speak to saying they hate it?

In the first of a new series of podcasts for 2012, Mark Devlin talks to world famous author and public speaker David Icke about the agenda being employed in the music industry as one of many, many facets of the global control system. As more and more people awaken to new levels of human consciousness, the controllers are getting ever more desperate to suppress the movement. The music game - and particularly what passes for 'hip hop' and 'R&B' - is now a much-favoured method of subliminal manipulation.

With names such as Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears being specifically addressed, this will be controversial, and will doubtless upset a few. But the truth will always be the truth, and it's time certain things were said.

Enjoy the ride.

Good Vibrations David Icke podcast by Mark Devlin

MARK CURRY: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL (BOOK)

2012-01-15T02:33:00.001-08:00

I know I'm late on this, but just got my copy of former Bad Boy Records recording artist Mark Curry's book 'Dancing With The Devil: How Puff Burned The Bad Boys of Hip Hop'. It exposes the various fuckeries of Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, and looks at the ultimate fate of the various artists that have worked for him, from Craig Mack, (broke, drugs, obscurity), to Shyne (8 years in jail) to Biggie (dead.) Puffy is DARK! But cause and effect/ Karma is a bitch.

MARK DEVLIN: JUST BUGGIN', QUARTER 4 2011

2012-01-12T01:27:00.001-08:00

Wrapping up the year with the heaviest underground hip-hop and associated genres from the last three months - another oasis of musical creativity in an ocean of mainstream pap!

Just Buggin Quarter 4 2011 by Mark Devlin

MOKA ONLY & CHIEF: CRICKETS

EVIDENCE: THE EPILOGUE

MURS: EPIC SALUTATIONS

LARGE PROFESSOR: KEY TO THE CITY (MAD SCIENTIST REMIX)

ONYX: IF THE HOOD WAS MINE

KONCEPT & TRANSFORMER: HIGH

EVIDENCE, FASHAWN & JERREAU: AMSTERDAM

NIGO FEAT. RAKIM: ONCE UPON A RHYME IN JAPAN

STREET BEAT OF THE QUARTER:  TORAE: THAT RAW

KURUPT FEAT. MURS & UNCLE CHUCC: THIS IS YOUR DAY

NATTY: JJ (DON'T GO)

HEATHER VICTORIA FEAT. HALO: WHAT I NEED

RAPSODY: FOR EVERYTHING

9TH WONDER FEAT. MARSHA AMBROSIUS: PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY

WRIGGLY SCOTT: BRAINCHILD

THE PROFORMS: GET READY

DTMD: MAKIN' DOLLARS

MAGESTIK LEGEND FEAT. FES ROC & AUDIBLE DOCTOR: FEEL WHAT I FEEL

LORD FINESSE: YOU KNOW WHAT I'M ABOUT (REMIX)

SHOWBIZ & A:G: SHOW & A

BUMPY KNUCKLES: FAKE

HEAVY D & THE BOYS: DON'T CURSE (1991)

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO AKILAH

2012-01-12T00:21:00.000-08:00

So now it's a big happy birthday to Akilah - one year old today! Zaina got Stevie Wonder the other week, so this one's dedicated to Akilah. (Altered Images were one of the great pop bands of the early 80s, and singer Clare Grogan was a real cutie!)

GOOD VIBRATIONS PODCAST VOL. 1: DAVID ICKE

2012-01-11T03:26:00.001-08:00

MYSTRO: UK RAP UP 2011

2012-01-10T02:19:00.000-08:00

Here we go then - Mystro's UK take on Skillz' 2011 Rap Up.

Catch it here

GOOD VIBRATIONS PODCAST VOL. 1: DAVID ICKE

2012-01-05T02:30:00.000-08:00

MD'S CLUB DATES, JANUARY/ FEBRUARY '12

2012-01-04T03:02:00.000-08:00

Friday 6th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 7th January
Grand Union, Ravenscourt Park, London, W14

Friday 13th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 14th January
The Earl, The Second Bridge, Bath

Thursday 19th January
The Living Room, Tower Bridge, London

Friday 20th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 21st January
Duplex Club, Pristina, KOSOVO

Friday 27th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 28th January
Grand Union, Ravenscourt Park, London, W14

Thursday 9th February
The Living Room, Tower Bridge, London

Friday 10th February
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 11th February
The Earl, The Second Bridge, Bath

Friday 24th February
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 25th February
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

MARK DEVLIN: JUST BUGGIN', QUARTER 4 2011

2012-01-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

MYSTRO: UK RAP UP 2011 (RADIO RIP)

2012-01-02T20:26:00.000-08:00

... and here's Mystro's UK take on the Rap Up...

SKILLZ, AKA MAD SKILLZ: 2011 RAP UP

2012-01-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

Here it is...

MD'S DIARY, DECEMBER '11

2012-01-01T02:46:00.000-08:00

With a Saturday night gig, and lots of peripheral non-DJ stuff involved, the first weekend of December was always going to be an inspiring one, given that I was due to spend it in Croatia. I set off from London Gatwick on Friday 2nd December, to be picked up in Zagreb by Kreso, manager of Maraschino Bar, and resident DJ Aldo Morro, who had recently relocated from the venue's other outlet in Zadar.

We stopped off for a quick drink at Maraschino, where I was shocked to find punters still smoking openly. Aldo explained that, while there's now officially a public smoking ban in Croatia, it's not strictly enforced, and many venues choose to still permit it for fear of losing customers. From there, Aldo helped me find the place I was staying. To keep costs down, I'd opted for a private room in a hostel. I had no idea how crusty and roach-infested this might be, so I crept up the dark concrete steps with trepidation. The Hilton it wasn't. One saving grace was that it was equipped with wifi enabling me to pass my time there on-line, but by the following morning, after a freezing night shivering under thin blankets, I'd had enough, and I transferred to the far more respectable Laguna Hotel for the rest of my stay!

Saturday daytime encompassed the main reason I'd come to Zagreb - to attend David Icke's all-day talk at the city's conference centre. For anyone unaware of Icke, he's an English author and public speaker whose subject matter includes ... how can I put it? ... OK, who, or what is really controlling events in this world, the false history of humanity that we've been systematically fed, and the very nature of reality itself. Did I really just summarise Icke's theories in one sentence? There you go. It probably explains why his talks last for upwards of nine hours. If your interest has been sparked, you can find out more at http://www.davidicke.com, or search for his name on Youtube for a multitude of revealing videos.

A former TV sports presenter, Icke became a figure of ridicule in the UK when he first came out with his theories. 22 years and 18 books later, many, many thousands of people have re-assessed their views and have come to accept that he was right all along. The Zagreb date came at the tail end of a world speaking tour, which has seen him address thousands of people across three continents. Whatever your view of him, there's something going on here!

The day, as expected, was nothing short of fascinating, and involved a lot of meaningful synchronicity for me. Having arrived at 10 in the morning, the talk was still in full flow at 6.45pm when I sadly had to pull myself away to get a couple of hours' kip ready for my gig.

By 11pm, I was installed back at Maraschino, ready for a marathon DJing session as part of the venue's 9th birthday celebrations. I spun until 4.15am, ripping through party joints, and the place was rammed from start to finish. I left tired and stinking like an ashtray, but with a very satisfying session under my belt.

At 2pm on Sunday, I was at David Icke's hotel, where I'd arranged to record a podcast interview with him, as an add-on to the Just Buggin' Illuminati series I've been putting out. This one was addressing the underground hip-hop movement, who have embraced so much of what he talks about in their lyrics, and the infiltration of the mainstream music business by the corporate control system. It made for a cracking interview, and anyone whose first instinct is to scoff and say 'what the hell does David Icke know about hip-hop?' should take a listen and then decide. The guy is extraordinarily well-informed, and our chat shed light on such commonly-asked questions as 'why is today's music so bland and formulaic?', 'why do only certain artists ever find success and others struggle in poverty?', and 'why the hell is Autotune being used so much?' I'll be putting out the podcast in January. Watch this space.

I headed home on Sunday evening at the tail end of a highly useful and worthwhile weekend's activities.

This month marked the appearance of my three 2011 Bangers mixes, which are available to download on the following links. The "hip-hop" and "R&B" mix is there purely as a record of what constituted those genres in the mainstream this year, (no further comment.) Far more interesting are the Bashment/ Dancehall and UK Funky/ Dubstep mixes. 2011 is also the tenth consecutive year of the Bangers mixes, and all the previous instalments from 2002 onward are available to download on the fourth link.

"HIP HOP/ R&B" MIX:

2011 Bangers Hip Hop/ R&B Mix by Mark Devlin

BASHMENT/ DANCEHALL MIX:

2011 Bangers Bashment/ Dancehall Mix by Mark Devlin

UK FUNKY/ DUBSTEP MIX:

2011 Bangers UK Funky/Dubstep Mix by Mark Devlin

Download vintage 2002-2010 Bangers mixes here

On Saturday 17th I'd been due to play Black Sheep Mag's Christmas party at Lounge 31 in Manchester. Unfortunately, a week before came the news that the venue had been forcibly closed for the rest of the month by the police, taking me back to the days when this was a regular occurrence at the type of spots I used to play. Instead, I scored a replacement booking at Grand Union in Shepherd's Bush, London. More drama on arrival when it emerged that only one side of the Numark CD decks was working. Having exhausted all other options, all that remained was to play my set on just one CD, dashing to juggle discs as quickly as possible. Incredibly, not only did I seem to pull it off, I got cheered by the crowd who didn't seem to mind (or notice?) at all. Another strange experience to add to the memoirs.

The last gig of the Silly Season was on Christmas Eve back at TLR Milton Keynes. It was a relatively quiet one, in keeping with the general pattern in recent years. I next touched down on Friday 30th, before hitting the road to London on New Year's Eve. I'd been due to play the Living Room venue near Tower Bridge, but with the NYE-related drama that seems to occur every year, this also fell through at the last minute. Fortunately, my hustling expertise enabled me to find a replacement, so I saw in 2012 at Grand Union in Islington, which was every bit as booze-soaked, (the punters, not me) and lively as I expected.

The end of the month saw the appearance of the Quarter 4 2011 instalment of my Just Buggin' podcast - the heaviest underground hip hop joints from the last three months of the year. You can catch the download for that right here -

Just Buggin Quarter 4 2011 by Mark Devlin

And that was 2011!

MARK DEVLIN: JUST BUGGIN', QUARTER 4 2011

2011-12-31T05:31:00.001-08:00

2011 BANGERS - MIXES READY TO DOWNLOAD

2011-12-30T01:36:00.000-08:00

So here we go with the latest three-part instalment in the Bangers series - the big dancefloor slammers of the past twelve months.

It's getting harder to label these given the continued blurring of genres, but the first consists of what passes for mainstream "R&B" and "hip-hop" in 2011, and gives a useful indicator of where the music has been at for the past 12 months. I'll say no more on that.

For a more interesting excursion, therefore, hit the Reggae Dancehall mix, while once again, the most musically inspiring one for me is the UK Funky/ Dubstep offering. Plenty of exclusives there that will be of particular interest to anyone outside of the UK, and some speaker-shattering basslines.

2011 BANGERS

2011 Bangers Hip Hop/ R&B Mix by Mark Devlin

BEYONCE FEAT. J COLE. PARTY
CALI SWAG DISTRICT: TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE
CHRIS BROWN FEAT. BUSTA RHYMES: LOOK AT ME NOW
YC FEAT. WIZ KHALIFA: RACKS
MEEK MILLS FEAT. RICK ROSS: TUPAC'S BACK
NICKI MINAJ: DID IT ON 'EM
LIL WAYNE: SIX FOOT SEVEN
WIZ KHALIFA: ROLL UP
GAME FEAT. CHRIS BROWN: POT OF GOLD
J COLE: WORK OUT
JAY Z & KANYE WEST FEAT. STYLES P & JADAKISS: OTIS
LUPE FIASCO: WORDS I NEVER SAID
SNOOP DOGG FEAT. T-PAIN: BOOM
MARY MARY: WALKING
MARY MARY: WALKING (AGENT X TRIBE REMIX)
BEVERLEY KNIGHT: FAIRPLAY

2011 Bangers Bashment/ Dancehall Mix by Mark Devlin

RIHANNA: MAN DOWN
WAYNE WONDER: PUT YOUR DRINKS UP
KC JOCKEY: TOAST TO THE DADS
DE MARCO: LOVE MY LIFE
VYBZ CARTEL: SUMMERTIME
(SEXY BAK RIDDIM)
BUSY SIGNAL: GRAB & WINE
ICE MAN: RUDE WINE
KIPRICH: CAAN GET BROWN
TREVOR OFF KEY: WORK IT OUT
VYBZ CARTEL: CHEAT PON HIM
VYBZ CARTEL: CAKE SOAP
GYPTIAN: DUGGU DUGGU
GYPTIAN: NAH LET GO (SOCA REFIX)
FAMBO FEAT. BEENIE MAN & BUSTA RHYMES: RUM & RED BULL (REMIX)

2011 Bangers UK Funky/Dubstep Mix by Mark Devlin

TASHA: SUMMER ROMANCE
SASHA: CHEAT ON U
DJ PIONEER FEAT. EGYPT: STRONGER
ANISA: MUSIC (MISCHIEF MAKERS SPEED GARAGE MIX)
ZED BIAS: FAIRPLAY
YOGI FEAT. AYAH MARA: FOLLOW YOU
DONAEO: MOVE TO DA GYAL DEM
ZINC FEAT. MS DYNAMITE: WILE OUT
PRINCESS NYAH: DO WHAT I WANT
XPLODER: HYPE SHOW
DJ FRESH: GOLDUST (VOCAL REMIX)
ZED BIAS FEAT. ROSCO TRIM: PHONELINE
WILEY: NUMBERS IN ACTION (STICKY REMIX)

Meanwhile, this year marks the tenth year of the Bangers mixes, so for convenience, here are the download links to all the previous volumes from 2002 right through to last year.

2002-2010 BANGERS LINKS

2002 Bangers R&B Mix

2002 Bangers Hip Hop/ Ragga Mix

2003 Bangers R&B Mix

2003 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2004 Bangers R&B Mix

2004 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2004 Bangers Ragga Mix

2005 Bangers R&B Mix

2005 Bangers Dancehall Mix

2005 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2006 Bangers R&B Mix

2006 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2006 Bangers Dancehall Mix

2007 Bangers R&B Mix

2007 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2007 Bangers Dancehall Mix

2008 Bangers R&B Mix

2008 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2008 Bangers Bassline Mix

2009 Bangers R&B/ Urban House Mix

2009 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2010 Bangers R&B Mix

2010 Bangers Hip Hop Mix

2010 Bangers Reggae Dancehall Mix

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2011-12-29T03:32:00.001-08:00

Big Happy Birthday to my little girl Zaina, three years old today.

MARK DEVLIN: JUST BUGGIN', QUARTER 4 2011

2011-12-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

TALES FROM THE FLIPSIDE PODCAST EXCERPTS

2011-12-23T23:53:00.001-08:00

‘Tales From The Flipside’ is a witty and candid expose of life at the sharp end of the DJing game. Armed with 20 years of anecdotes from out on the road, Mark Devlin breaks down what life is really like for the average non-superstar DJ ... and the truth is often very different from the common perception.

In this special podcast, MD relates some of the favourite stories in the book.

'Flipside' is an ideal present for any DJ, aspiring DJ, or anyone who's ever been curious about what it is that DJs actually do! Copies are available for £9.99 inc. P&P as part of a current special promotion. Please e-mail mark@markdevlin.co.uk direct to request your copy.

Mark Devlin: Tales From The Flipside podcast excerpts by mark devlin

2011 BANGERS - MIXES READY TO DOWNLOAD

2011-12-23T00:19:00.001-08:00

RAS KASS: JACK FROST II (WHITE CHRISTMAS)

2011-12-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

Oh my days! Ras Kass has come with a 'Nature Of The Threat' part 2, breaking down the real history behind Christmas and Santa Claus. Shakin' Stevens and Cliff Richard it is not!

2011 BANGERS - MIXES READY TO DOWNLOAD

2011-12-20T05:38:00.000-08:00

WAYNE WONDER & BABY CHAM: WARM JAMAICAN CHRISTMAS

2011-12-17T03:30:00.000-08:00

If I must play a Christmas tune at the end of the night, I can cope with this one.

MD'S CLUB DATES, DECEMBER '11/ JANUARY '12

2011-12-16T02:02:00.001-08:00

Friday 16th December
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 17th December
Grand Union, Ravenscourt Park, London, W12

Wednesday 21st December
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

CHRISTMAS EVE
Saturday 24th December
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Friday 30th December
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Saturday 31st December
Grand Union, Islington, London, N1

Friday 6th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Friday 13th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 14th January
The Earl, The Second Bridge, Bath

Friday 20th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes

Saturday 21st January
Skopje, MACEDONIA

Friday 27th January
The Living Room, Milton Keynes