The Sting marks Paper Tiger‘s return to working with Stones Throw affiliated artists, having teamed up with Dudley Perkins on their first EP for Jus’Like, Worldwide Takeover.

PT now call Wah Wah 45s home, and their third release for the label (following the Priceless and Come Correct EPs) is bittersweet synth hop for the summer led by PT resident rapper Raphael Attar. Homeboy Sand guests on the single following a recent hooking up of great minds in London recently. Can’t wait for the full length.

Buy the 7″ vinyl, limited to 200, on the Bandcamp page. Digi links below.

My favourite part is when Raphael gets slapped with flowers, because it looks like it took a few takes…

Paper Tiger live in London Saturday 11th May

Homeboy Sand x Groovement Interview 1 and 2

Paper Tiger Groovement Mix and Interview

Paper Tiger ft Homeboy Sandman: The Sting

iTunes / Bandcamp

Seems like an age ago that Groovement sat down with Del The Funky Homosapien and Noel Edge was bringing Hiero crew over to Manchester. Here’s some new material, prefacing upcoming project The Kitchen. Konny Kon, your chimp’s in this vid.

“Gun Fever” by Hieroglyphics (Produced by Gully Duckets)
Purchase on iTunes: http://bit.ly/12W4vxj
Video by: Casual for Wetfoot Filmworks
New Single off the upcoming project: “The Kitchen”

Press release:

Tajai, of the seminal rap group Souls of Mischief and active member of several other projects and crews including rap collective The Hieroglyphics, is no stranger to gun violence. Growing up with fellow group members in Oakland, California, one of the United States’ most notoriously dangerous cities, violent crime and urban warfare became an integral part of their developing social consciousness. In their latest video for the track “Gun Fever,” edited by group memberCasual, The Hieroglyphics address America’s ongoing fetishization of violence, particularly the mainstream media’s current obsession with guns. Rife with images that juxtapose our government, elected officials and media reports against the violence perpetrated with guns at home and abroad, the video could not appear at a more relevant time in our larger cultural discourse, although that wasn’t necessarily the group’s original intention.

The track was originally “recorded in the summer of 2011, pre-Trayvon Martin, pre-Newtown” and was “expressing what was going on in our neighborhood,” Tajai recalls. Though he believes violent crime in general has decreased in Oakland and perhaps the rest of the country as well, Tajai acknowledges how his own personal relationship to a larger society that romanticizes guns, violence and destruction has changed over time. “I feel safer, but I’m grown,” he states. “As a kid, there was a lot of fear and fascination with violence…our national anthem is about bombs…the glorification of violence is par for the course in American culture.”

Indeed, social commentary has always been a critical aspect of The Hieroglyphics’ material, its members all having grown up in an era where early rap music was, as Tajai explains, “more reflective of an anti/countercultural point of view.” This is clearly evident in the “Gun Fever” video, the message of which Tajai acknowledges has become more politicized, poignant and provocative “because of the current climate of the country.” Arresting, engaging and thought-provoking subject matter continue to drive The Hieroglyphics to do what they do, and Tajai admits there’s no easy solution to this dangerous facet of our culture, “Pandora’s box is open…life is cheap now…I wish I could be a pacifist, but I’ve been raised in American society and Oakland society where violence is real.”

In the midst of a nationwide highly controversial debate about gun control the Hiero Crew chimes in with their unique perspective. Known as pioneers of the underground Hieroglyphics continues to push the envelope with this stunning visual directed in house by Casual.
“We are not promoting guns or violence,” explains Tajai (Hieroglyphics / Souls Of Mischief), “but simply expressing our thoughts on the issue and encouraging further dialogue.”

Accompanying the song and video is the Hiero Camo merchandise capsule featuring custom camoflouge print on the classic Hieroglyphics Third Eye Logo. (Available on http://www.shophiero.com)

Website - http://www.hieroglyphics.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/hieroimperium…
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/hieroimperium
Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/therealhiero…

http://www.ineffablemusic.com

Manchester’s Mouse Outfit have today offered a clip comp previewing their long awaited debut album, to be released digitally in the coming weeks. Although having gone through a number of variations in their live form over the past few years, the Mice have settled into a Herbaliser-style repertoire of guest emcees over their own beats, driven by producer Chini and MPC don Pitch.

Rappers on the album are the cream of the Northern crop right now, naturally Manchester-centric owing to the Mouse Outfit’s geography.

For now, enjoy this well-edited preview of the album tracks and keep an eye on the below links for the album release date. Check their previous videos here.

THE MOUSE OUTFIT // ESCAPE MUSIC featuring Dr Syntax, Sparkz, Dubbul O, Fox, Kosyne, Truthos Mufasa, Black Josh, Lyricalligraphy and DJ Sammy B-Side.

http://www.themouseoutfit.com/
http://www.twitter.com/themouseoutfit

Listen on YouTube

BUY TICKETS

2013 is shaping up to be another mad year for hip hop bookings in Manchester. Suitably for the 40^th anniversary of the genre, a true pioneer of hip hop music and culture  hits town in the form of KRS One – “rap is something we do, hip hop is  something we live” goes his philosophy. Back in ’86, KRS debuted as Boogie Down Productions (with the late Scott La Rock) with ‘South Bronx’, but found possibly his most commercially well known and certainly perennial track with ‘Sound of da Police’ from the first album under the KRS One name, ‘Return of the Boom Bap’ in the golden-tinged 1993. He continues to preach the peaceful side of  hip hop around the globe. Co-headlining this one is Peruvian-born, Harlem-raised Immortal Technique, a fiercely independent and politically active figurehead for socially relevant rap.

So yep, the scene’s healthy. When a few of us held a ‘hip hop meeting’ with a view to starting a new night a few years back, there was a void to be filled. Neighbourhood and In The Loop both emerged around the same time as Taste the Diff’rence and Juicy, so the need was obviously there. 2013 looks hella interesting as nights strive to provide – the Estate Recordings crew are about to rise from the Ballin on a Budget ashes with Play Doubt about to claim Thursdays…

All this and Hot Milk returns to the Roadhouse, Hoya Hoya continues its onslaught on pioneering bass, the Soup Kitchen’s making quality bookings, Red Laser Disco corner the BBQ and handcrafted record label market … too much going on to mention here.

On to the gigs – let me know if I’ve missed anything out and I’ll adjust as more stuff gets announced! And yes, that is my gig in the largest font.

SAT 27 APR: JUNCTION ft JAMES GILL // THE ATTIC

THU 2 MAY: MASTA ACE (MORE BOUNCE) / / THE ROADHOUSE

SUN 5 MAY: BIG DADDY KANE (WILL NOT BE TELEVISED) // ANTWERP MANSION

MON 6 MAY: DMX // THE RITZ

MON 6 MAY: CHESTER P / RAMSOM BADBONEZ // BAND ON THE WALL 

FRI 10 MAY: SO FLUTE ft NO FAKIN’, PETER PARKER {FINGATHING} // THE ROADHOUSE

FRI 17 MAY: IN THE LOOP BEDOS BIRTHDAY ft SKITTLES (+ LIVE BAND) & FOX // THE ROADHOUSE

FRI 17 MAY (EARLY SHOW): SLUM VILLAGE (MORE BOUNCE)

SAT 18 MAY: DJ YODA + JUICY DJs // GORILLA 

THU 13 JUN: KRS ONE x IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE // RITZ

THU 11 JULY: ULTRAMAGNETIC MCs // BAND ON THE WALL 

Event

Following last years’ AV blow out with DJ Woody at Sound Control (catch Groovement interviewing both on the night here), DJ Yoda returns with a focus on ‘old school’ hip hop.

Event

TICKETS

http://www.skiddle.com/events/11862874/
https://www.tickettext.co.uk/
http://www.residentadvisor.net/

The 20th release on Hyperboloid Records is by Raumskaya from St.Petersburg, with his debut EP for the label. Remixes come from Pixelord, Gillepsy and Koloah.

Artwork by Raumskaya.

Check the label’s previous releases over at Bandcamp.

Video

Bangin’ production from our pal The Colonel on this one. Hit up Smuttz on Twitter here and slap up the Colonel pon the side of the head here.

Download the Eagle Eyes EP here.

Big up all the bald man.

I knew I’d have to wait for the deluxe set I ordered a while, but everyone raving about how good Ghost’s new LP is doesn’t help.

Part of that deluxe pre-order was the Apollo Brown version of the album, which up until now was cassette only – cop it now on a CD or vinyl (there’s even an instrumental wax , too) courtesy of Soul Temple Music.

Purchase/listen/download at Bandcamp

Nice to see some love for this on Record Store Day!

**EXCLUSIVE TO RECORD STORE DAY 2013**

Jneiro Jarel and Khujo Goodie’s critically acclaimed 2009 album Georgiavania sees a limited deluxe vinyl release for Record Store Day 2013.

The 2 x 180gm vinyl are house inside photographic sleeves that form a snapshot of Jneiro and Khujo. These are encased in a 4 panel, large scale fold out card poster with an expansive artwork by James Jarvis (Amos Toys). 

Read about the release on the Lex website - www.lexrecords.com

Willie Isz is also available to stream in full on the Lex Youtube.

***

“Man, Georgiavania is dope as **** – it’s that next level ****!” Big Boi from Outkast

“I’m starting to think we need some Jnerio beats on this imaginary Goodie Mob reunion album that is never going to happen. Dude is on some serious Dungeoneze ****.”Cocaine Blunts

“Hip-hop needs more albums willing to be this strange…” 7.7/10 Pitchfork

“Bridging the North and the South, the abstract and the gangster, Georgiavania in anothermasterpiece in Jneiro’s collection” Waxpoetics

***

Way back when Groovement started on Unity Radio in 2007, I asked Diesler, then a recently added resident of Manc institution Roots Before Branches, to drop into the studio for an interview and guest selection as I’d dug his funk on Tru Thoughts and Freestyle. It’s a pleasure to welcome him back.

In 2012 he was exec producer on the Hannah and the Tastemakers album on Record Kicks, plus pushed his own Monster Sneaker project. Most recently he’s remixed Sheffield’s Renegade Brass Band and put out a limited 45 on Buried Treasure. Somehow, he’s found the time to squeeze a little Groovement mix in for us. Enjoy.

(While you’re here, check out last week’s podcast from Wah Wah 45s’ Neil Bopperson. A suitable accompaniment.)

http://www.dieslermusic.com/
http://www.soundcloud.com/diesler
http://www.facebook.com/dieslermusic
http://www.twitter.com/dieslermusic

Mixcloud iTunes Download: DIESLER x GROOVEMENT APRIL 2013

DIESLER // APRIL 2013 by Jamie Groovement on Mixcloud

Diesler x Groovement April 2013 Tracklisting

1/ Diesler ft. Double Yellow – You’re Not Dead (Buried Treasure)
2/ Omar – The Man (Freestyle)
3/ Vindahl ft. Coco – Head Over Heels [Ishfaq Remix] (Tokyo Dawn)
4/ Alley Pat – Pat’s Rubber Band (Tramp Records)
5/ Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators – Now I Fly (Timmion Records)
6/ Abayomy Afrobeat Orquestra – Malunginho (EBS Diggin)
7/ Dusty – Seventy Three (Jazz & Milk)

A little treat for Doctor Who aficionados which I totally didn’t spot in my Record Store Day rundown. Last year saw a heavyweight blue vinyl resissue of the Sound Effects LP, preceded the year before that by a 45 featuring music from the film Dr Who and the Daleks. This year’s Whovian vinyl is slightly more subtly played, being library music used in the show in the sixties – most prominently listened to by Susan in debut episode An Unearthly Child, 1963.

Precise uses of music by the ficitonal group can be found over at the TARDIS data core.

Taken from the forthcoming LP You’re Welcome, due in autumn.

Listen

Listen on Soundcloud.

It’s great to hear this much unashamed soul in 2013. Bliss.

Digi available now, CD soon. Buy here.

OY – Market Place [Official Music Video] from Creaked Records on Vimeo.

http://oy-music.com/

Beautiful vibes emanating forth from OY, whose new release Kokokyinaka is out now.

Press release:

OY aka Joy Frempong, the half Ghanaian and half Swiss multi versed vocalist is definitely one of a rare breed – at home in the left-of-center sound but gifted with a penchant for writing sticky unforgettable melodies.

Three years after her vivacious debut First Box Then Walk, which effortlessly sold out the first pressing and commenced a demanding touring schedule, OY is back with another rich offering – a new LP cryptically entitled KOKOKYINAKA. The result is a genre bending, generously seasoned stew of African inflected Electronica, garnished with lavish, colorful stories and proverbs – the whole effort packaged into an infectious, melody driven concept record designed to play like a road trip juggernaut of a soundtrack.

KOKOKYINAKA is a highly immersive experience and a joyful celebration of a culture, intense like a stroll through an African market at high noon.

Joy’s voice remains mutable throughout, changing color palettes, textures, styles, and even accents with playful chameleon like ease, not unlike the stories being told which segue between overheard dialogues, proverbs, and folk tales, often in one breath.

The wildly vibrant sample base includes a parachute, fufu pounding, fireworks, and a shoe. Along with all of the animated stories it was mostly collected on trips to Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and during a residency in South Africa.

The actual writing and the production for the record took place at studios located in Berlin under the guidance of talented drummer, producer, and co-writer Lleluja-Ha.

His textural drumming and feel for well fleshed out arrangements is present throughout. If anything, KOKOKYINAKA is a mature work which thoroughly exhibits Joy Frempong’s versatility as composer, vocalist, and storyteller, but most of all it’s a testament to her unique take on Electronica – mercurial, downright experimental, yet flushed with soulful melodies.

Further One Handed business, this time from Mo Kolours who was recently spotted playing drums for Paul White in Manchester.

We spoke to Paul White recently, check it out.

Kool Herc gave his okay for this – the first in a series of releases by HS in 2013 on Stones Throw, each with a different producer. Buy the 8-tracker here (vinyl soon come). Happy birthday Kool Herc!

Groovement talks to Homeboy Sand here and here.

Mello Music Group:

Trek Life’s new album “Hometown Foreigner” is out everywhere now, but we wanted to take a moment to point out the mixtape DJ Rhettmatic of the world famous Beat Junkies put together featuring some of Trek’s greatest moments. The mixtape called “Hometown Heroes” was pressed on cassette and is available for free when you pick up the new album on CD. It features Oddisee and Exile among others, as well as production from Evidence, DJ Babu, Duke Westlake, and more.