NEW VIDEO: Wretch 32 ft Shakka- Blackout

The UK's favourite rapper, (in my opinion, anyway)Wretch 32 teamed up with newcomer Shakka, to make the hot record 'Blackout'. Now, the equally hot video is available for your viewing pleasure. Check out  this atmospheric, visual stunner.

NEW VIDEO:Laura Mvula- That's Alright

Shortly after releasing the audio of her new track 'That's Alright', Laura Mvula is back with the accompanying video for the infectious song. And she's making a powerful statement in the wonderfully striking visual, which features a "blacked-up" Laura Mvula; mysteriously, jaunty dancers; and fabulous,couture fashion.

Click to see here

LIVE GEMS: JP Cooper- For The Man I've Known

If you like live music then JP Cooper is a name you really must get used to. He is one of those artists you have to hear live, to get the full impact of his music. He possesses amazingly versatile vocals injected with a seriously soulful personality. If that's not enough, Cooper's stunning humility, and lovingly crafted songs will have you completely entranced- plus he is quite handy on the guitar too.

His aptly named third EP, EP3 came out at the top of 2013 and after playing a string of sold out shows across the UK, Cooper will be returning to London again in spring 2013, and  to whet your appetites here's 'For The Man I've Known', a beautiful soul-folk ode to his father- Enjoy.

Peep my review of JP Cooper's music here

NEW MUSIC: That's Alright- Laura Mvula

The awesome Birmingham singer, Laura Mvula releases her second official single 'That's Alright'. The thundering drum beat will catch your attention from the outset, but don't be fooled, this song is about a lot more than a catchy beat. 'That's Alright' is saying a lot of what needs to be said in terms of commercial beauty ideals for women. It's sassy, smart and strong- another great song from this class act.




Peep my Laura Mvula Album review here

NEW MUSIC: Estelle ft Roses Gabor- Whatever You Like

Estelle released her third album All Of Me in 2012 and now she is back with some new music. 'Whatever You Like' is a fresh sounding, percussion- laden track produced by Wizzy Wow and featuring fellow UK singer Roses Gabor.  There's no word yet on whether this song will make it onto her next project but it's always nice to hear something from this talented singer.

NEW VIDEO:Duke Dumont ft A*M*E- Need you (100%)

This new house track by the DJ/producer Duke Dumont feels like a classic 90s house banger. It features awesome vocals by the rising UK popstar A*M*E.  Dance videos always tend to have crazy creative concepts/narratives; 'Need You (100%)' is no different. A man has a tape player stuck in his abdomen and it's stuck on the play button, everywhere he goes he take the music with and people just cant help getting down to the beat. Poor guy. This video is really funny and the song is hot- Check it out!

NEW MUSIC: John Legend- The Beginning

'The Beginning' is the first taste of John Legend's forthcoming album, Love In The Future, and I really like it; but then, there is something about John legend's voice that makes it almost impossible for me to be critical of anything he does. I'm going to be as objective as I can. Some have found the song to be a bit drab and disappointing, but I think it's fitting.

Yes, it is a little bit on the soft, safe, (grown) pop-R&B side- but come on, can you really see Mr Legend jumping on the David Guetta fast train to the land of acid-R&B? Nope, neither can I.  And yes- the lyrics are riddled with clichés, but it's a love song- surely that's allowed. 'The Beginning' doesn't particularly pop or sparkle, but Legend's vocals sound amazing. Plus, I don't think it has ever been John Legend's aim to shock, or cut edges- this is a big, unashamed slice of easy listening R&B, and it works.

Do you agree?

NEW VIDEO: Justin Timberlake- Mirrors

'Mirrors' is the second single to be taken from Justin Timberlake's third solo album, The 20/20 Experience. The video is a haunting narrative about love found, love lost, and lessons learned. It's a beautifully shot visual and even though JT does not appear in the main part of it, the story moves with enough pace and intrigue to keep you gripped. When Mr Timberlake does actually appear (in the outro part of the song), he is surrounded by full length mirrors, and spooky mannequin-style dancers. He throws a couple of his trademark shapes. which are always a joy to watch (for me anyway). This is a nice video; it's arty and entertaining.

Justin does 'grown, and in love' so well, doesn't he?

NEW MUSIC: Beyoncé- Bow Down/I Been On

I know you must have already heard this by now, but for those who might have missed it- here's what it sounds like when Beyoncé Knowles embraces ratchet mentality...



This site is not for shade throwing, but with all due respect Mrs Knowles, if you make the decision to board a bandwagon that is already leaving town, you must ensure that you are able to jump the distance. Anyway- I'd  have thought a "queen"- or indeed, a "king", such as yourself, would have been able to arrange their own transport, instead of scrambling onto the last bus to Ratchet Avenue. No shade intended, really.

I bet Beyoncé is secretly laughing at the world going crazy about this tune. I don't even think she was being serious; this has to be parody, right?

NEW MUSIC: Kendrick Lamar ft Jay-Z- B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe

Here it is: Jay-Z's treatment of the Kendrick Lamar track that has already become something of a modern classic in the hip hop world.

Cop a listen to this (clean) version. What do you think?

NEW MUSIC: Kendrick Lamar ft Jay-Z- B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe

Catch the remix of Kendrick Lamar's 'B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe' featuring none other than Jay-Z. The track was debuted at America's annual South by South West (SXSW) festival. The version has not been officially released yet, but have a little listen here... 

Source: MTV RapFix

NEW MUSIC: MKS- Lay Down In Swimming Pools

MKS, (Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan) released an audio rip of their a spin on Kendrick Lamar's cult hit, 'Swimming Pools (Drank)'. I've got to say the (original) Sugababes treatment is really quite hot! Mutya's voice suits the heavy bass line and their classic sugary sweet harmonies are nicely juxtaposed against dark intensity of the music. I think this is quite juicy- what do you think?

NEW VIDEO: Jacob Banks- Worthy

The completely awesome UK singer, Jacob Banks released the stylish new video for 'Worthy'. The black and white visual portrays a series of characters facing a series of emotional hurdles. The song is taken from Banks's critically acclaimed EP, The Monologue.

It's a simple, but beautifully shot video that fits perfectly with the intense song.

Peep my review of The Monologue 

Have a listen below:

NEW VIDEO: Kelly Rowland- Kisses Down Low

Kelly Rowland brings us the colourful new visual for her cheeky, freaky song, 'Kisses Down Low'. Ms Kelly looks gorgeous in the video: she's all smiles and winks as she playfully struts and poses in a variety of different hairstyles and outfits.

WEB STUFF: Jabari Presents- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Months before 'Thrift Shop' blew up the global charts, the very cool film maker, Jabari Johnson caught up with rapper, Ben Haggerty- better known as Macklemore- to talk about his journey so far.

 Macklemore has been working as an independent artist, releasing music for years. A lot of the time when a record by a non-mainstream artist song blows up, people tend to think that the entertainment fairy godmother waved her magic wand and made it so. But in this film Macklemore, along with his long time collaborator, Ryan Lewis talks the ferocious belief and work ethic required to build a career as an artist. He also talks about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

This is an awesome piece, a great insight into the story behind the music and lovely to watch it now, knowing that all the hard work paid off.

And here's 'Thrift Shop'...

LIVE GEMS: Ed Sheeran & Passenger- No Diggity Vs Thrift Shop

Ed Sheeran performed an acoustic version of 'No Diggity' for the Australian radio broadcaster, Today Network. Accompanied by fellow singer, Passenger, Sheeran combined Blackstreet's 90s hit with  Macklemore's debut smash, 'Thrift Shop'.

This is a great re-imagining of an R&B classic and a modern, indie-hip hop smash. Check it out.

WEB STUFF: Link Up TV- UK Rap Documentary

Online broadcaster Link Up TV take an insightful look at the the history and evolution of the UK rap scene.    The twenty minute film contextualises the music, the culture in terms of its "Britishness", authenticity and commercial viability. It packs a lot of information and opinion from the perspectives of artists, DJs, industry executives, and fans.

UK Rap: The Story So Far provides a much needed education on the roots, and more importantly, the potential of the scene; plus it features opinions on the contentious, UK rap Vs US rap issue.

This is an entirely necessary piece; I urge you to watch it and learn from it.

ALBUM REVIEW: Laura Mvula- Sing to the Moon

Laura Mvula is a classically trained musician with a sound as melodically intriguing as her name. The Birmingham native merges elements of jazz, soul, classical and gospel music with a versatile, velvety voice that is reminiscent of iconic jazz singers, like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. Mvula’s music has had critics completely agog; and she’s been popping up on just about every music tastemaker list around. She came fourth on the BBC’s Sound of 2013 shortlist and was also a contender for The BRITS Critics Choice Award. The album marries so many musical influences together to create something that feels simultaneously current and timeless. Every song contains a delicious engorgement of sound that completely engulfs your imagination. The combination of sounds and dramatic musical changes give the music a feeling of tangibility- like you might be able reach out and touch it. Her first single, ‘Green Garden’ is an example of this. It’s an infectious, toe-tapping track steeped in polyrhythm and summery sophistication.

                                        

 The album places particular emphasis on female perspective and experience. Mvula makes an insightful comment on social and spiritual aspects of female identity, and she does so with charming wit and tender wisdom. The song, ‘That’s Alright’ points an incredulous finger at ideological concepts of female beauty.

“I will never be what you want you want and that’s alright, ‘cause my skin ain’t light and my body ain’t tight[...] But if I might I will stand and fight [...] I’ll play my own damn tune [...] I’ll shine like the moon”

This upbeat song is skilfully balanced. Its bold, brassy yet quirky tone makes the song both fierce and fun in equal measure. There is a message of empowerment and a celebration of more varied beauty that might not fit into the commercial mould. Part of the genius of this song and, indeed, Mvula’s project as a whole is that she somehow manages to console and empower while ever so gracefully flipping the proverbial bird toward mainstream concepts that seek to undermine individuality. The beautiful track, ‘She’ tells the story of a girl’s spiritual journey from pain and longing to hope and triumph. It’s an ode to the endurance of the female spirit. The music expertly depicts these emotions from the delicate bell-like sound of the keys to the rich, orchestral montage of strings, drums and vocal harmony. The way ‘She’ lyrically and sonically captures the essence of perseverance and endurance is truly compelling.
 

One of the most striking things about Sing To The Moon is the cinematic quality of the music. There’s a sort of classic grandeur; a richness of texture; and a boldness of sound that wouldn't be out of place on a film score. The vast string arrangement and Oriental musical influence on the title track, ‘Sing To The Moon’ turns the song into a epic, dramatic experience; while the psychedelic ooze and ebb of the music on tracks like ‘Make Me Lovely’, ‘Can’t Live With The World’ and ‘Like Morning Dew’ creates a world of dreamy, jazzy euphoria.

Mvula uses music to communicate a specific mood for each song. On ‘Is There Anybody Out There’ she creates an atmosphere of intriguing, intergalactic emptiness using sweeping echoic vocals and brilliant harp strokes. This contrasts with the intensely grounding ‘Father Father’, which stands out as the most the paired down composition on the album. Structured like a hymn, it nods to the traditions of Negro spirituals and gospel music. The slow, measured piano, homophonic harmony and deep, mournful tone of Mvula’s voice captures the feeling of heavy, solitary sadness. The song has a kind of gravity that pulls you into the melody and melancholy of the moment. ‘Father Father’ is a truly an exquisite ballad.

 Sing To The Moon is totally enchanting. There’s a thread of spirituality that links each of the songs on the album. The optimistic tone of the project acts like a gentle reminder to believe in something- whether it’s love, music, the universe, religion, or even just yourself. By the end of the album, you realise that the actual phrase- “sing to the moon”- is used as metaphor for faith. It’s a stunning irony that this intricately layered, mood altering album has a really simple, timeless message: have faith.

Laura Mvula is a different kind of musician, bringing a different sound to the mainstream, everything about her is exciting and fresh. Like Amy Winehouse, Adele and Ed Sheeran, Mvula represents a new breed of popstar; one that has the guts to bring unique variety and artistry to the pop music table.

As seen on wepluggoodmusic

NEW MUSIC: Karim Kamar- Kissing You

I blogged about this wonderful pianist a little while back; Karim Kamar reworks classic songs into beautiful piano instrumentals. Now he has released this stunning version of the Des'ree song, 'Kissing You', from the 1996 film, Romeo and Juliet.

I just love it- I love how luxurious and indulgent the piano melody is; There's pathos, romance, and passion; Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Please enjoy-

LIVE GEMS: Daley- Be

This instalment of Live Gems features Manchester singer Daley. He is one of my favourites, I'm always singing his praises but only because he is really good. 'Be' is a song from his hotly anticipated upcoming debut album. He has already worked with Marsha Ambrosius, and he recently tweeted about working with some other pretty special people including Pharrell Williams, so I'm really looking forward to what the album will bring. For now, please enjoy the easy, breezy, beautiful, 'Be'.