It is five years since rapper TUPAC SHAKUR was gunned down on the streets of las vegas in a gangland-style shooting that took place on September 7, 1996. Since then he has become the subject of one of modern music’s most bizarre death cults, as he continues to sell millions of records and to top charts all over the world. but behind his death lies a story of hip-hop babylon – a sordid tale of intrigue, egos, drugs, sex, intimidation, violence – and, almost by the way, some great and enduring music.
By PETER MURPHY
From frontman with incendiary collective Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy to his current incarnation as hip-hop zen master, Michael Franti has remained one of the true radical voices of the US underground.
Nas continues to turn out some of the most original rap around. ‘Hip-Hop Is Dead’ is a pretty damning critique of the state of the genre, but is undermined by the appearance of Will.I.Am of the flipping Black Eyed Peas.
When not touring with Republic Of Loose, Mick pyro is free to kick back in his basement pad in a 1960s Swedish-style Terenure house, where he indulges his love of CDs, books and movies – and ponders the aesthetic similarities between Shakespeare and hip hop.
That’s ICE T, mind, and make sure you use capitals. The rapper turned TV star is coming to a stage near you, and still has plenty to say about hip hop/rock, Michael Moore, George Bush, acting, porno and, of course, ho’s.
After years as son of Charles , ERIC MINGUS is forging his own musical identity. He talks to PETER MURPHY about jazz purists, hip-hop and playing bass with Nick Cave.
With Kid Rock, Eminem and D12, Detroit has challenged the supremacy of east coast and west coast hip-hop acts.
COLM WALSH caught up with D12’s Kuniva and Wendy Case of the Detroit news to find out what’s going on.
At a time when the British hip-hop scene is again witnessing extreme violence, COLM WALSH meets MC HARVEY of SO SOLID CREW and discovers how the problem is affecting the UK garage scene
The enigmatic DJ Shadow - aka Josh Davis - on why the time is right to speak politically, how hip-hop is regaining its radical edge and why most advertising sucks
Corkonian hip-hop homeboy, sometime music-biz mogul and supremo of the International Bar s International Comedy Club New Yorker DES BISHOP is all these things and more. NICK KELLY collared him for a quick chinwag.
He's done it again. Arguably the most credible and without doubt the most adventurously talented figure in mainstream hip-hop, ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean has managed to outmatch his first solo outing, 1997's Carnival.
Run DMC practically invented hip hop, they were the first rap act to appear on MTV, the first to be nominated for a Grammy, and the first to sign to a product endorsement deal
French producer D’Julz takes the current fascination with acid house a few steps further on ‘Hip House’, which harks back to a hazy time when hip-hop and house inhabited the same sphere.
The title track is a dubby hip-hop skank that’s hard to care about. ‘Vocal Chords’ is bog-standard British hip-hop. This EP is worth a look only for Dizraeli’s bizarre Antony (of ‘and the Johnsons’)-esque falsetto and his expressive, original rap.
An acoustic hip-hop album? Yup, that’s what we got, or very nearly, as this young singer/songwriter uses R ‘n’ B rhythms coupled with jazz infused guitars to produce a hip swaying but delightfully intimate collection.
The producers of choice for everyone from Justin Timberlake to Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are also earning plaudits for their rock and hip-hop influenced side project, N*E*R*D
Having been shot five times and survived a coma in his previous life as an LA gang member, hip hop sensation The Game has been offered a reprieve courtesy of Dr Dre's patronage and a deal with Interscope Records. But is the 25-year-old star already succumbing to his own hype?
One of the most eagerly-awaited comebacks in recent years, it seems that, with Art Official Intelligence, the reformed hippies are anxious to reclaim their place at the vanguard of hip hop.
All-girl rap duo Yo! Majesty are the hottest thing in hip-hop but that's not to say they're the best of mates. Shunda K explains why she's peeved at both her record label and partner in rhyme.
Three tracks in, you begin appreciate his honesty - plus he's got a great gift for what you could argue is a forgotten talent in contemporary hip-hop: storytelling
He used to be a music journalist but now rapper Cadence Weapon is lighting up the hip-hop scene. The Canadian tells us he's not quite as clean living as he's made out to be.
Hip Hop guru, political activist and occasional visitor to Inishturk, Speech tells Paul Nolan why his group are still as relevant in the 21st century as they were during their mid ‘90s heyday.
The latest cut from the excellent Stankonia to be culled as a single, ‘So Fresh, So Clean’ doesn’t have the toe-tapping, singalongability of ‘Miss Jackson’ but it is a wonderfully funked-up, soulful slice of modern hip-hop that avoids the genre’s more tiresome clichés.
The Roots have always seemed to exist somewhere on the periphery of the hip-hop world. 2004’s The Tipping Point, however, suggested that they were moving in the right musical direction. Free-flowing and upbeat, it was easily their best record to date.
Although darker in tone, Game Theory is no less engaging, and has strong political undertones.
If you’re gonna be a one hit wonder, you might as well invent the dominant form of music for the ensuing decades. Released in 1979, The Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was the first hip-hop single to go gold, putting the group on American Bandstand and Soul Train long before Grandmaster Flash and Run DMC.
Ignition, who number former hardcore hero Eon in their ranks, create an inspired melange of hip-house, streetwise electronic hip-hop and 80s funk on ‘Love’.
Gerry McGovern talks to Dael Orlandersmith, one of the leading lights of the new generation of New York-based street poets,about the inherent subversive energy of the medium and about why the movement takes its cue from Lou Reed, rap and Hip Hop.
Messiah J and The Expert aim to put Dublin hip-hop on the map. To do so, they must tackle several deep-set prejudices – such as the belief that Irish people can’t rap.
Immersing himself in kitsch easy listening and lazy hip-hop, Vibert also employs sweet electronic melodies, cheeky acid lines and hilarious spoken word samples to create a work that’s equal parts infectious playfulness and wilful experimentation. Whatever direction his restless muse explores, he’ll always have the last laugh.
Just because you’re not “slapping a bitch” or “shooting people” doesn’t mean you’re a “christian rap act”. DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 makes the case for the defence.
After playing second fiddle to the Fugees and the Roots on support tours since 1995, Atlanta hip-hop collective Goodie Mob (an acronym of sorts for the Good Die Mostly Over Bullshit!) launch an all-out assault for major league hip-hopping glory.
The MC – straight outta… er… Wexford (and why not?) – is a lippy customer, full of the same recycled braggadocio, tough guy, chin-out posturing, and boil-in-the-bag misogyny favoured in the world of commercial hip hop.
In the '90s, hip-hop moved out of the streets into the world of big business. An avant-garde street art that expressed black consciousness lost its DIY ethic and became a commercially driven industry, spearheaded by Suge Knight and Puff Daddy.
In the '90s, hip-hop moved out of the streets into the world of big business. An avant-garde street art that expressed black consciousness lost its DIY ethic and became a commercially driven industry, spearheaded by Suge Knight and Puff Daddy.
Having battled their way through eight weeks of the Raw Sessions, hip hop collective and noble underdogs THE INFOMATICS were awarded the title of Sony Ericsson Artist Of The Year. We caught up with Bugs, Mr. Dero, Konchus Lingo and BOC (try saying that three times fast!) to hear how appearing on the country’s first ever rockumentary series is going to change them and indeed the face of Irish hip hop.
Check thy bearings: it's the latest installment of No Disco's sister programme devoted entirely to hip hop, Yo! Disco (tonight, N2, 11.20pm) - featuring DJ Shadow, The Herbaliser and Dalek among others
Her political lyrics and aggressive rapping have made Ms Dynamite a singular presence in hip-hop. In an exclusive interview, she talks about her troubled family background and explains why she took three years out to have a baby.
Fun and funky hip-hop that sounds just like the last LP – but the last one was good, so this is too. If you like J5, you will like this. Hell, so will your mother.
Hard Working Class Heroes, featuring big names and rising stars – and everything from rock to hip-hop – is set to provide a snapshot of one nation under a groove. Phil Udell reports
Mr. Hudson talks about his mentor Kanye West’s Taylor Swift meltdown, the challenges of hanging with the hip-hop elite when you’re a skinny white guy from Birmingham and why the death of Auto-Tune is greatly exaggerated.
Choice Cuts are a promotional collective specialising in hip hop, soul and funk gigs around Ireland since 2001. Now, as mainman Mark Murphy explains, they're on the verge of starting a regular residency in London and launching a label.
FORMERLY WITH the New York soul/hip-hop combo Groove Theory, Amel Larrieux is no stranger to the world of soulful sounds. 'Infinite Possibilities' is her first solo effort, and it sees her trade confidently in r&b.
From the name you might think Celtic trad, from the album title you might think indigenous Australian and on first listen you might assume French, but hip-hop three-piece Daara J are 100% Senegalese.
Floetry’s success in taking their brand of soulful hip-hop to million-selling status in the US is reminiscent of Bush taking their grunge coals to Newcastle, Delaware in the 90s – massive over there, hardly known back in Britain.
Are you ready for hip hop, be-bop trad? Then EILEEN IVERS is ready to take you to the bridge. SIOBHAN LONG meets the fiddle player with the world at her fingertips.
How Bubba Sparxxx went from being nose-down in a bowl of coke to becoming hip-hop's greatest white hope since Eminem. Peter Murphy hears how the southerner fell and rose
Four tracks of electro/hip-hop ‘riddims’ from the prolific Diplo – our favourite being the short ‘Percado’, featuring snatches of ‘Tour De France’ crossed with an off-the-wall Portugese female rap.
They may have a combined mental age of 12, but that hasn't stopped Goldie Lookin’ Chain from infiltrating the grown-ups' singles chart. Phil Udell talks bad heavy metal, secretarial work and burnt nipples with Newport's most notorious hip hop crew.
The title’s claim might be somewhat misleading: apart from a collaboration between Kurtis Blow and Krafty Kuts on ‘Gimme The Breaks’, this mix features a succession of run of the mill, hip-hop influenced breaks from the label’s back catalogue.
Ever wondered what a dub hip hop record featuring Barrington Levy, Del The Funky Homesapian and Alex from Franz Ferdinand would sound like? Probably not, but you’d be surprised how much we’ve been missing. This very much hits the target.
Musically, it’s akin to taking a high-speed walk around the dodgy fringes of Notting Hill Carnival – gritty hip-hop and digital ragga get roughed up beside aggressive d’n’b basslines, psycho garage and Playstation FX.
Compiled and mixed by Joe Ransom – no, we’ve never heard of him either – this mix features some breaks, some hip-hop a dash of house and electro and, as a grand finale, Dynamite’s tale of woe about working in the music business, ‘Industry’.
Elusive come good with a collection of Irish electronic music that ranges in styles from dreamy sound scapes, glitchy cut-ups and wiry hip-hop to the beautiful folksy feel of Jimmy Behan’s ‘Normal Situation’.
He helped invent disco, funk, r 'n' b and hip-hop. And when he wasn’t changing the face of popular music, Chic leader NILE RODGERS found time to chin-wag with pop’s best, bravest and weirdest. Here he talks about hanging with David Bowie, Slash and Madonna and reveals his oft-overlooked hippy leanings.
She’s acted in big screen Joyce adaptations and appeared in hip-hop cinema. Now Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan is set to enter the major league, following her turn in the acclaimed – and Oscar nominated – Transamerica.
She may be one of the biggest r&b stars on the planet, but that doesn’t mean MARY J/ BLIGE is happy with her lot. in one of her frankest
intervews yet, she tells HELEN TOLAND why she’s been given a bad rap
With some bands you sense the difference between cult obscurity and the mainstream could come down to just one record. Mr Hudson and The Library would seem to be just too off kilter for mass consumption but ‘Too Late, Too Late’ distils their scattergun approach into a radio friendly mix of reggae, ska and hip-hop.
An odd little records that flits between genres – the common thread being the low-end action. The hip-hop numbers are passable, but the stand-outs are the digital bogle of ‘Chemical Reasons’ and the Paul St Hilaire-led ‘Dundy Lion’.
Veteran hip hop soul princess Erykah Badu's newest creative contribution is ambitious, but lacks the smoothness and cohesive feel of her previous work.
Brit-rock heroes Maximo Park are back with a new album – and without the novelty hair-cuts. Here they talk about death metal, hip-hop and missing notebooks.
Norman Jay may have been accused of pandering to the establishment when he accepted an MBE – but he’s still fired by a love of the underground, and a desire to change things.
Until Plan B came along, Sway was pretty much fighting a rear guard action in the name of UK hip-hop, although his beats were a little abrasive for mass consumption. The Stanton Warriors have done a fine job placing him in a more electronica-styled setting that allows him to deliver his one liners with an easy poise.
Every day must be as easy as Sunday morning for London new jazz act Bugz if this compilation is anything to go on. Classic soul and funk from Marvin Gaye, Donald Byrd and Herbie Hancock feature here, with a sprinkling off new school hip-hop from the likes of Slum Village.
After the relative disappointment of their debut record, we really need these two to come back strongly and prove that Irish hip-hop actually is a viable concern. The good news then, is that ‘Something Out Of Nothing’ is a belter: a cool and funky old-skool tune topped off with a classy female vocal. Nothing particularly new to be sure, but carried off with confidence and humour.
The Elektrons debut album moves through a whole range of styles – soul, funk, hip-hop and house – but the duo’s ambition is not always matched by achievement.
After the career revitalising collaboration with Jay Z, Linkin Park head deeper into hip-hop via Mike Shinoda’s side project. Produced by Jay himself, this is great – a fresh track with an infectious spring in its step. Sounds like the album might be worth a listen.
After the career revitalising collaboration with Jay Z, Linkin Park head deeper into hip-hop via Mike Shinoda’s side project. Produced by Jay himself, this is great – a fresh track with an infectious spring in its step. Sounds like the album might be worth a listen.
They're Ireland's leading hip-hop duo but there's more to Messiah J & The Expert than gangsta stereotypes. Over brunch, they talk about their move towards using live instruments and their hotly-tipped new record.
Daddy Yankee has been touted as a spearhead of the reggaeton movement, a musical hybrid born in his native Puerto Rico, which incorporates elements of reggae, salsa and hip-hop.
An indispensable round-up of recent goings-on at backpacker-friendly hip-hop stamp Def Jux. Highlights are the remix of Aesop Rock’s ‘No Jumper Cables’, The Perceptionists and EL-P’s offerings.
Behan’s self-titled EP is also the first release on the Dublin based Kin label. A mixture of dreamy piano lines, folky guitar strumming, mellow hip-hop beats and atmospheric textures, it’s an endearing oddity and a promising debut.
Following Tiefschwarz, it’s the turn of Anu Pillai to mix it up for Fine, which he does in a wide ranging style that takes in nu Italo, electronic hip-hop, Seymour Bits’ electro funk and even Aphex Twin’s off the wall ‘Windowlicker’. It’s a real mish mash.
Given his self-promoted position as the saviour of hip-hop, Afro American culture and the third world’s water supply, you’d have thought that Jay Z would come out of retirement with something of a killer. What we get instead is a very run of the mill effort, weighed down with a ton of busy samples and the usual tired bravado. Kanye won’t be losing any sleep.
With Kanye West supplanting him as the hottest hip-hop producer on the scene and N*E*R*D no more, Pharrell Williams needs to do something special to put himself back into the game. ‘Can I Have It Like That’ is an uninspiring, tuneless dirge, in sharp contrast to West’s vibrant wall of sound. And getting Gwen Stefani to repeat four words a few times is hardly going to help matters.
“Rick Astley, Glenn Medeiros, Shakespeare…” – the beauty of a MJEX record is that you know that it’s going to do something different. This has gone beyond a question of ‘Irish’ hip-hop, the duo make great records full stop and ‘All The Other Girls’ is no exception, a rap track about women that is neither offensive, clichéd, tiresome nor afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve.
Not enough hip-hop mentions Safeway trolleys, nutters with ginger beards and Sega Megadrives. For that reason we should cherish Lady Sovereign, who managed to take such arcane references and turn them into US gold dust. It helps that her beats follow the standard American pop rap model. You have to admire the sheer absurdity of it all.
The original's a fairly unlistenable Jagz Kooner-esque romp featuring The Chuckle Brothers aka Alan Vega and Bobby Gillespie. The big beats remain, but the hip-hop nods have been replaced by an almost industrial dirge. The diskoid Padded Cell remix of 'Boy Bitten' is far more palatable.
They may have been overshadowed by the activities of their musical mastermind The Rza with his day job in the Wu-Tang Clan, but GRAVEDIGGAZ prime exponents of New York horrorcore hip-hop still produced one of 1997 s best albums, The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel. Interview: PETER MURPHY.
Hip hop is in crisis, what we need is a new soldier to rise from ghetto streets to tell it like it really is, someone to do justice to the legacy of NWA and… well stop if you’ve heard this one before. It certainly feels like this isn’t the first time I’ve sat down to write this review. Indeed, it seems like I can hardly escape Eminem, 50 Cent, Obie Trice or the rest these days. So are we to hope that The Game actually is capable of offering something different? The signs aren’t good.
Debut album from hip-hop R&B singer/songwriter/producer sounds to my ears like a dozen other like-minded artists. True, he hasn’t a bad voice but the subject matter and the song titles (‘Gangsta’, ‘Ghetto’, ‘Gunshot’) are clichéd in the extreme while on the sleeve notes he even thanks the people who continually bailed him out of jail.
First kisses, hanging with the hip-hop aristocracy and why life is better on the wagon are some of the topics for conversation as Hot Press hitches a ride on the tour bus with domestic goddess and soapy bath enthusiast Amy Winehouse.
On Shabba Ranks And Friends, Shabba brings his deep ragga voice and pop/soul/hip hop treatment to a range of diverse songs, most of which were recorded six or seven years ago.
The Sounds Of Science is a beautifully packaged, comprehensive anthology of the work of Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horowitz, Michael 'Mike-D' Diamond, Adam 'MCA' Yauch and, latterly, Money Mark Nichita, from their early hardore days, through the Bratpop of Licenced To Ill right up to Hello Nasty. Since the start of the '80s, when the Boys first inflicted their cacophonic buzzsaw guitarfest on New York, they have experimented with genres from hip-hop through to country, from punk to bossanova, sampling everyone from Run DMC to Rachmaninoff into the bargain.
Although Ireland’s still finding its own sound in terms of hip hop, MJEX keep the bar raised with this sweet little ditty. Featuring Def Jux’s C Rayz Walz, bolstering both their reputation and record sales, it’s a catchy track with simple beats and an infectious hook that will definitely keep our heads nodding into the summer. An indication that their second album, due out in autumn, has been worth waiting for.
If there’s one thing LA’s Dilated Peoples are good at, it’s coming up with a killer lead track to celebrate their return. You wonder how you ever managed to fill up the time in between. And while this doesn’t exactly knock all their previous work for six, ‘Back Again’, produced by The Alchemist, has enough of a laidback vibe and entertaining lyrics (“Back, for the very fourth time”) to ensure that yup, we did miss their hip-hop selves.
An unexpected resurgence in UK hip-hop anyone? JTWR has been known to rap in similarly irreverent tones to Goldie Lookin’ Chain but – probably given the latter’s new found prominence – ‘Ourtime’ is a far more edgy affair than some of his more light-hearted work, although still blessed with clever word play.
Never trust anyone who tells you they're honest‚ as la mère Porcelli used to say. Advice like that might give one pause when listening to Black Eyed Peas' sophomore foray into Keeping Hip-Hop Real For The Masses.
I Want It All will undoubtedly prove hugely popular in Warren Griffin’s homeland of the USA, where its mixture of hip hop and r’n’b is proving all the rage. He will find it harder, however, to find a large slice of the market outside the States.
The very talented indeed Tadd Mullinix (he also makes great wonky techno as James T Cotton) delivers his second LP of, um, ghostly hip-hop as Dabrye. Ears more accustomed to conventional sounds will be confused by his meticulous blend of intricate beats, electro, electronica and jazz touches and the myriad of underground MCs. And while the guests occasionally fail to fire, this is one for the head-nodders.
The recent murder of
the notorious b.i.g., following the killing of Tupac shakur six months ago, has been linked by many to the prolonged East Coast-West Coast feud which threatened to tear the US hip-hop community apart. jonathan o brien reports on how life
chillingly imitates art in the gangsta rap wars.
Poet, actor, philosophy graduate and rap lyricist Williams’ main shtick is to utilise unorthodox backing on his spoken word diatribes. On this follow-up to the Rick Rubin produced Amethyst Rockstar he brings in everything from chamber music, lush orchestration and heavy rock riffs. Like much hip hop, it can come across as repetitive and overly angst-ridden but there’s no doubting his skills with textures.
‘Just Lose It’ is the worst kind of Eminem record – a cartoon pastiche of hip hop that seeks to strike out at a number of targets but ultimately fires blanks.
Hip/hop R&B from this Philadelphia crew who scored with cuts like ‘Friday Night’ and ‘Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop’ from their debut (Tough Love). Nothing here to set the world alight although ‘Set It Off’’ is undeniably catchy while ‘Grown Man Pt 2’, featuring Kanye West and John Legend, has a backing melody that recalls the '70s soul of Stevie Wonder's Innervision era.
Crackpot come across as a funkier, straighter verson of fellow Aussies the Avalanches – quick! rush out and buy it! – less samples, more soul. All tracks are worth seeking, but ‘Love Expecting You’ with its sexy, vocals and oddball, funky hip-hop and the weirdly spanish vibe of ‘Heavy Flowers’ sound best. A promising prospect.
Being lazy, one might dismiss Baltimore’s Spank Rock as a sweltering East Coast riff on Dizee Rascal. Squelchy beats, blink-and-they’re-over samples and front-man Naeem Juwan’s frenetic delivery mark this out as hip hop unabashedly of the left-field. Then the chorus, a looping girly-girl chant that burbles like a waterfall kicks in and you forget these guys are pure hipster bait. Marvelous, despite itself.
‘Click..Click..Boom!’ sounds for all the world like it should be a hip-hop track and there is a certain swagger and assurance at work here. Musically, this is a duet that sits on the edge of darkness and a track that places itself firmly in the eye of the storm. Producer Karl Odlum continues to bring out the best in Ham Sandwich (b-side‘Song In D’ is, to be honest, equally good) and there is a sense that they could take this anywhere they please. Best new Irish band? At the moment they’re a shoo in.
Having put his psychiatric problems very firmly behind him, hip hop genius Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva has returned with another landmark album, Awfully Deep. Interview by Danielle Brigham.
Alex Smoke’s debut album, Communicado, impressed with a wide techno focus and, although this follow up is narrower in its vision, the results are more rewarding. Combining cut-up hip-hop sensibilities with stripped back, intricate grooves, the Scotsman avoids the sterile sound many minimalists make, adding rough, sinewy basslines and Warp-style melodies to his non-linear arrangements.
Alex Smoke has got the funk and a whole lot more besides.
Long before hip-hop went Disney, a young Pras delivered the killer rhyme on the Fugees classic ‘Nappyheads’ hit. Nowadays he might as well join the Black Eyes Peas because his menacing MC talents of old have deserted him. Instead of spitting fury about blunts, hos and all the classic things any-self respecting rapper talks about, Pras spouts on about international terrorism over a badly chosen U2 sample. To be avoided like the plague.
Guidance slow the beats down for this delightful four-tracker. ‘M.Dupont’ is a lounge-noir treat, thanks to gentle keys, rising strings and, eventually, slo-mo hip-hop beats. The DJ-Shadow-ish ‘Invoaction’ is a tad lo-fi, but the dark, dubbed out jazz of ‘Pure and Easy’ evens things out.
On the eve of Kraftwerk’s headlining appearance at the Electric Picnic, mainman Ralf Hütter talks with rare candour about David Bowie, U2, hip-hop, cycling and why sometimes even man-machines have to smile.
“Rap is something you do, hip-hop is something you live”. So say the liner notes to this essential best-of compilation from KRS-One and longtime collaborators
Boogie Down Productions. Anti-violence, anti-guns and anti-materialist, they spread their hip-hop philosophies – “strategies toward enhanced health, love, awareness
and wealth‚” in the late 80s/early 90s via astute and highly socially-conscious raps they termed “edutainment”.
This year’s Brits provided few moments of genuine horror, with the notable exception of Stone’s stupefying turn, who tottered around, sending out love to Robbie Williams in a god-awful trans-Atlantic accent and trying to upstage Amy Winehouse. A bad move and one that could single handily de-rail her comeback, which is a shame because ‘Tell Me ‘Bout It’ is a decent record, brimming with hip-hop attitude and Motown cool and perhaps the first real indication of what she could be capable of.
Plan B has done for UK hip-hop, so might Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly do for punk rock. Similarly based around one young man and a bashed-up acoustic guitar, ‘The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager’ has a terse, tense intro that suggests it might explode into some kind of emo anthem – and it duly does. We’ve waited too long for someone to rescue the singer-songwriter tradition from the bland mush it’s turned into; in this impassioned 20-year-old from Southend, we might just have found our own superhero.
He’s collaborated with Bono, Mick Jagger, and Destiny’s Child, hung out with Bill Clinton and co-wrote the biggest selling rap album of all time. but that’s only the beginning. The multi-talented Wyclef Jean here discusses George W. Bush, the death of his father and why Michael Jackson might not be such a strange guy after all
How nice, if a little surprising, to find the Chemical Brothers still flourishing creatively after a decade of electro releases. This year sees the duo move into hip-hop territory.
"All real Niggas step up. Fake niggas step the fuck back. This is not for you". Brooklyn’s hardcore hip-hop outfit Mash Out Posse make no attempt at inclusion with the intro to their Warriorz album and it’s easy to see why you’d love to hate them.
Iicons is mercifully devoid of the usual filler that is the bane of hip-hop, namely unfunny skits based on outdated gangsta posturing, off-the rack bitch-dissin’ and equal-opportunities deployment of the epithets nigga, pussy etc.
We should always make room in our lives for a bunch of eccentric Brazilians peddling their own brand of down and dirty dance music, and just because CSS happened to pop up first doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give Bonde Do Role a bash. Their own particular remit is a mad take on funk carioca, the sound of Rio De Janeiro’s shanty towns, and one that mixes old skool hip-hop with punishing electro (courtesy of M.I.A. collaborator Diplo) and comically dirty shout-rapped Portuguese lyrics. Solta O Frango translates as Release The Chickens, which is all you need to know.
The soundtrack features eight tracks from the canine one himself, and contributions from any hip-hop crew who happened to have a free weekend around recording time
Irish hip-hop act The Infomatics are to release their second single 'Back To Front' – and have teamed up with streetwear label Counter Propaganda for the occasion.
From hip replacement to hip and onto hip-hop, the second coming of texas has been one of the most unlikely artistic and commercial triumphs of recent years.
But as olaf Tyaransen discovers, the new-look
sharleen spiteri remains very much her old self.
Beck's The Information veers between two distinct styles – the kind of blues/folk/hip-hop mash-ups that Beck has made his own, and a more melancholy, plaintive type of tune that he has increasingly favoured in recent years.
Something of a minor classic, the debut EP from Kilkenny's Blue Ghost is almost unclassifiable. Equal parts Gorillaz and Republic of Loose, Collapse Or Keep Going floats between jazz, electronica, funk, rock, hip-hop and blues. 'The Altitude' builds with a frantic funky bass line pumping through a punk infused jazz odyssey, 'Float Feet First' is a poignant fusion of summery funk and soul, and the frequently brilliant 'Why Good Guys Die' investigates darker, more Blur-y territory. Only the lack of real vocal power dulls an otherwise fine introduction.
The Pharcyde have probably seen a lot of things in their time, but even they might have been intrigued by the sights that greeted them as they arrived in Dublin. Giant leprechaun hats and beards, faces painted and a lot of bodily fluids flooding the streets, maybe St Patricks Day isn’t the most ideal time to form an opinion of the city. Yet, given the day that’s in it, it also serves as an opportunity to take stock of the state of homegrown hip-hop.
MAW man Louis goes off on a solo tip for this project. Where Kenny revels in all things hip-hop on his one-man missions, Louis’ territory is jazz, funk, soul, bossa and latino.
With its tales of skateboarding, girls and bunking off biology class, ‘Heaven Is A Half Pipe’ shouldn’t really appeal to anyone who isn’t blond, a teenager and called Brad but, in an issue stuffed full of feel good records, even a thirty year old English bloke can’t help shaking a leg to OPM’s infectious mix of hip-hop, rock and pop.
What better way to gauge the state of contemporary hip-hop than checking out the latest singles from 50 Cent and Chingy, two of the genre’s brightest young things.
Esentially a hip-hop version of Dirty Dancing (yes, that bad) Save The Last Dance is a crushingly predictable affair of the all-too-familiar 'boy meets girl from opposite side of the tracks and they get together through their mutual love of dance' variety.
Massive Attack explain why they are outspoken opponents of the proposed war in Iraq, give high praise to Sinéad O’Connor and reveal how a porn soundtrack left them gasping for airtime.
In an issue stuffed with domestic releases of great variety and admirable quality, it’s a pleasure to give the nod to some home grown hip-hop for a change. Flip has made his name behind the decks (he was World Champion mixmaster a couple of years back) but has now started to forego playing other people’s records in favour of his own. This EP, however, could sit happily in his record bag next to the more established releases. The appearance of members of The Arsonists and Foreign Legion confirms his standing among the big underground hitters, and although their presence gives the two main tracks a more US than home feel, they suit the old school approach and sound perfectly. Now let’s see him turn his spotlight on his home town
It’s telling that folk from the rap and hip-hop industry fare much better as thespians than the average errant pop star with screen aspirations. Regardless of Sam Jackson’s claims to the contrary, it’s hard to think of a single self-styled gangster that’s actually ‘unproven’ as an actor.
First-rate rapping is not the focal point, instead you’ll be seduced by boundary-pushing productions along the lines of Common, strong songs utilising live instruments and samples, all deep-rooted in hip-hop
One of last year's big finds on the soul scene was Philadelphia native Jill Scott who injected a well-needed bit of class and pure talent into the hip-hop world. Hot on her heels comes a male contender by the name of Musiq Soulchild, who shares both a hometown and a musical direction with Ms Scott.
Hip-hop does not usually mesh well with singer-songwriter earnestness, yet the UK rapper (real name Ben Drew) somehow manages to strike the right balance.
It's got lounge jazz ('Waltz For Koop'), big band meets hip-hop ('Tonight'), Herbert-esque samba ('Baby') and a standout cut featuring Terry Callier that’s worth most of the asking price
What a filthy record! I’m gonna be honest with ya, chopped-up hip-hop with a funked-up groove ain’t really my thang, but this is beautifully big and dark with clever usage of some unusual spoken-word samples.
Sad Rockets is actually one man, the not-very-sad-at-all-really Andrew Peckler, an American who resides in Germany. What Sad Rockets is about is more difficult to tell you, since the music here sways gently from trance to jazz to hip-hop and just when you think you’ve got a handle on it a Hammond organ drifts by and whoosh, it’s gone.
Older jazz sources may have been incorporated into techno, house, hip-hop and drum'n'bass in recent years, but this phenomenon hasn't stopped the sound itself from progressing independently, on its own terms.
The current perceived wisdom on hip-hop is that (a) no-one makes decent albums anymore, (b) the gangster culture and it’s huge mainstream success has left it a joyless, soulless beast with no social conscience, and (c) it makes for a crap gigging experience.
The word on Kanye West is that he is the one who could change all that.
Jurassic 5 have been one of the most consistent acts in hip-hop since their classic debut was released in 1997. So it’s sad to report that their fourth album doesn’t come anywhere near the standards set by previous efforts like Quality Control and Power In Numbers.
This is a 22 track (though many are short fillers) trip through instrumental hip-hop, backed up by strings, cello, double bass and other bits and bobs.
Just what the hell are Wu-Tang Clan these days anyway? A finishing school for loony-tunesters like ODB, Raekwon, Redman and Method Man? A clothing label/video game franchise? A hip-hop Freemasonry who’ve ceased to exist as a unit per se, but whose name and trademark represent a code of ethics by which the new breed must be measured?
The gig is no mere nostalgia trip though. ‘Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos’, ‘He Got Game’ and ‘Don’t Believe the Hype’ explode out of the speakers, still bristling with the verve and attitude that made Public Enemy one of the pioneers of conscious hip-hop.
GIVEN HIP-HOP/film industry synergy, it's hardly surprising that the whole Wu Tang Clan-inspired Samurai-rap assassin ideal should eventually become immortalised on celluloid.
Though it doesn't exactly live up to its name, Legend manages to capture the optimistic sprit of Barack Obama in addition to his mastery of soul, pop and hip-hop in this album.
A mixture of singer-songwriter narrative and hip-hop savvy, courtesy of Milk D (of Audio 2 fame), the single and album opener serves as a perfect appetiser for what is to come.
Adrian Thaws revolutionised music nearly a decade ago as the darkest and most fascinating architect of trip-hop, seamlessly fusing claustrophobic urban isolation-scapes with sheet-metal guitars and jagged hip-hop arrhythmia, resulting in a kind of fractured, unbearably bleak yet transcendental ghetto poetry.
This is her fourth album, a hugely ambitious concatenation of every kind of black American music you can think of, from jazz, r 'n' b and soul to funk, go-go and hip-hop
“When you think of hip hop you think of something grimy, grungy, kind of like gritty concrete. And when you think of R&B you think of something soft, sensual…kind of like a rose.” So breathes Ashanti in her slushy and pointless introduction to Concrete Rose as she helpfully interprets the mystery behind the album’s title.
The idea of a hip-hop act on Epitaph might have raised a few eyebrows amongst the West Coast Mohican Mafia, but Minneapolis trio Atmosphere are definitely imbued with the attitude of their spiky guitar label mates, if somewhat heavier on the funk then punk.
UK hip-hop has begun to wake up and stretch its wings in recent years, decisively moving past a chequered history of ineptitude or indifference. Two veterans from back in the day, rare breaks predator Mark B and the windmillin’, body-poppin’, train-bombin’ scenester Blade have joined forces on The Unknown in a stab at Roots Manuva-style ubiquity.
Buck 65’s last album, Talkin’ Honky Blues, was something approaching a revelation, proof that hip-hop could still be a potent, astonishing force. It was never going to top the charts or thrust its author onto MTV but it did promise much for the future, a promise that Secret House Against The World resolutely fails to deliver on.
A slight change of pace can be seen in this EP with a hip-hop icon cameo and some Eastern embellishments that may hint to new musical endeavors for Coldplay.
Stereo MCs 1993 breakout album, Connected, was the record that suggested indie and hip-hop could enjoy a beautiful friendship together. Since then, they, and the rest of the world, have struggled to find anything else to say on the topic.
Luscious Jackson have created possibly the album of the summer in Electric Honey, a wonderful mixture of experimentalism, bubblegum pop, hip-hop, folk and rock, all served up with a dollop of sunshine and a smile.
The Black Eyed Peas emerged in the mid-‘90s as “positive” underground rappers, who aimed to provide good vibes as an alternative to gangsta fraternity’s macho excesses. More recently, the group have attempted a balancing act between indie-rap’s relaxed outlook, and the pop immediacy of more primal hip hop. This is not as exciting a cross-pollination as it sounds – frequently feeling like a tame, uninspired compromise – though still managing to throw up some undeniably fun pop moments.
The concrete jungle of London’s downtrodden and multi-racial East End is home to some of the most terrifying statistics BBC news has to report, as well as some of the hardest, filthiest hip hop and drum ‘n’ bass beats in the UK. The area’s many big mouthed, bigging-up MCs frequently play with the term urban poet, but rarely is it so aptly claimed than in the case of this young acoustic guitar-playing, Bukowski-reading, Radiohead-loving rapper.
For this his third album, DJ Shadow attempts to shed the “indie rap” tag which sticks so easily to instrumental hip-hop producers. To that end, Shadow collaborates with the likes of Keak Da Sneak, David Banner, and several other rappers. The result is an album which, in places, takes a far more conventionally “rap” direction than previous outings.
The Sabbath means no work and all play; The Last Post wrap up number two; Exile Eye find hip-hop equilibrium; and The Road Relish Singles Club says, We are ten
Nas arrived in Dublin immersed in the sort of controversy for which rappers are renowned. At a London gig earlier in the week, three bullets were fired during his set at the Brixton Academy, bringing an abrupt halt to the concert while a worried Nas scurried off the stage. Once again hip-hop grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
There may not be a big hip hop scene here, but we are now finally getting some quality. That much was clear from the support acts at Academy 2 for the debut Irish appearance of Speech Debelle – namely Infomatics and Maverick Sabre.
As expected, it turns out to be a superb performance: an awesome collision of thumping bass-lines, crunching hip-hop beats, chaotic samples and funked-up wah-wah guitar, all underpinned by an incredibly powerful political message.
Odelay! The undisputed master of rock/funk/hip-hop/blues has come to spellbind us with his magical sonic sound-dust. And – to quote well-known indie authority, John Motson – my word, he doesn’t half deliver the goods.
IN THE cold light of 1999, it's easy to forget that reggae was once the hip-hop of its time, a well of indigenous black music used by every other mainstream act as a source of rejuvenation and inspiration.
Y’know I never thought I’d say it, but either this hot hip-hop-chicks-shaking butt-flossed-booty-all-in-ya face routine is getting old, or I am. A nocturnal stroll through the blue neon urban R&B arcade leaves the accidental tourist peering in exhibitionistic windows with pupils dilated in incomprehension at the audacity of the latest acts on parade.
The only serious present-day heir to sainted founding fathers DMC and NWA, ex-crack dealer 50 Cent became an overnight hip-hop Godhead with his beyond-phenomenal debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’, an echoing, booming, bloodthirsty beast saturated with paranoia, claustrophobia and general violent vibes. It sold ten million-plus copies, and Eminem aside, the spliff-toting kids in my less-than-Bronxlike suburb scarcely listen to anybody else.
’86 inspired the realisation that rock’n’roll now encompasses such a broad spectrum of self-contained categories (Hip-Hop, Metal, AOR, ad infinitum) operating simultaneously that the possibility of any truly revolutionary movement on the scale of ’78 would appear to be singularly remote.
There are a glut of new Irish dance releases to tell you about, not least the fantastic debut album from Third Eye Surfers, also the first Irish hip-hop collection.
There are a glut of new Irish dance releases to tell you about, not least the fantastic debut album from Third Eye Surfers, also the first Irish hip-hop collection.
Once in a while an album comes along that makes critics frantically proclaim it as the new this or the next that or the record that will do this, that of the other for the scene. This isn't one of those albums. But it should be.
Last year's A Little Bit Of Something proved to be a sadly neglected summer classic, lost in the grey noise of Britneyism but lovingly cherished by many here in HP Towers.
Unusually but helpfully the first track on this debut from the New York City born identical twins is a spoken word explanation of who exactly Nina Sky is (are?)
A pair of self-confessed "sonic nerds" from Manchester, Mark Rae and Steve Christian are classic studio backroom boys whose attempts to fuse hip-hop dynamics with soul/R&B stylings have, until now, enjoyed a startlingly high success rate.
Blame Canada. And a bit of Portugal, apparently. Nelly Furtado is a twenty-three year old singer-songwriter who's 'I'm Like A Bird' single has proved a hit in the US, and if I'm not very much mistaken it's not going to be her last.
Now that Andre 3000 has shaken the world’s booty with the genius that is ‘Hey Ya’, it’s up to partner-in-beats Big Boi to – if you’ll pardon the expression – bring up the rear.
While the MC’ing throughout Date Of Birth is on point for the most part, styling a little like Busta Rhymes without quite so much unecessary snarling, there’s little here to suggest that the Arsonists are the rhyme pioneers they’ve been inflated as.
Nobody's record collection is ever truly finished, but you can reach a stage of your life where you can be pretty sure you've got a song to hand for every day of the week and every swoop and soar of the heart and body.
CADENCE WEAPON is that rarest of talents: an old school rapper worth getting excited about. Here he talks about his love of retro pop and explains why he quit music journalism for a career behind the mic.
Now that the word 'eclectic' has been devalued to the extent that any DJ who plays Orbital back-to-back with Funkadelic is seen as some kind of radical selecta savant, it's good to be reminded that there's at least one person out there who actually deserves the label.
As far as self-aggrandising and self-promotion goes, Love & Life is truly an exercise in excellence. Just don’t expect the tunes to be quite as inspirational.
He may have stopped smoking superhuman amounts of weed, but otherwise it’s business as usual for Ghostface Killah as he continues to spread the Wu-Tang gospel.
From sweeping the steps of lauren hill’s manager’s house to teetering on the brink of a massive hit – native american Jason Downs tells his story to John Walshe
No, the term “sexy tech” doesn’t refer to the HP design department; it’s Philadelphia producer King Britt‘s mission to put the hip-shake back into techno under The Nova Dream Sequence banner.
Its Western wing may have gone to pot (and Crystal), but hip-hop’s original agit-prop spirit is alive and thriving in the Eastern Bloc, as evidenced by Polish crew WWO.
Shop-assistant by day, budding songwriter by night, Funzo's Liam McDermott has finally gotten around to unleashing his debut album. He talks about forging his own path and his love for musical cross-pollination.
Graduates of the Manhattan avant-garde scene The Virgins join us from somewhere to the left of the middle of nowhere – that would be Madison, Wisconsin – to talk hype, art and modelling shoots.
Having released one of hip-hop’s seminal records, DJ Shadow has struggled for years to leave behind his repuation as a sample wizard. He may finally have succeeded.
He’s remixed Franz Ferdinand, Mylo and Radio 4, and released one of the most innovative titles of recent years in 2001’s It Rough. Now Robi Insinna, aka Manhead, is set to take his music to a larger audience with his eponymously titled new album.
The Manuva tune is heavy of bass, vocal and theme, something enhanced by the brooding Nightmares On Wax remix, while the Go! Team bring a hitherto untapped playfulness to Rodney Smith’s personal demons.
She’s been dubbed America’s answer to M.I.A. and blown Bjork off stage in Madison Square Garden. Brooklyn rapper Santogold explains how it feels to be hyped as New York’s next big thing.
You can’t help thinking of Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, even Simon & Garfunkel, as ultimately this is a collection of simple songs and beautiful melodies wrapped in throbbing basslines and lo-fi beats.
Bristol duo Day One are the latest proteges of the ever-expanding Massive Attack/Wild Bunch circle. Signed by none other than 3D himself, 'Ordinary Man' represents a far sunnier take on the dark, moody soundscapes of trip-hop.
Belfast/Glasweigan quintent Snow Patrol entertained the crowds at the American Music Awards last night, where Black Eyed Peas and The Red Hot Chili Peppers were the big winners.
Unwilling to remain confined in a drum'n'bass pigeonhole, Justice, aka Tony Bowes makes music that straddles all modern electronic genres. Richard Brophy caught up with him prior to the release of his fourth album, Hears To the Future, to find out why he's become disillusioned with jungle.
Now in its second year, Cork Live At The Marquee is one of the highlights of the Irish music calendar. Here, Hot Press presents a complete preview of what's in store for music fans in the southern capital - and looks at the great legacy of Cork music.
In addition to being an internationally renowned centre of artistic activity, Ireland is also famed for its party-friendly atmosphere. So, what better way to spend the summer than combining both equally noble pursuits – below is a comprehensive guide to the arts events on offer throughout the country over the next few months, and the sheer level of diversity on show offers further proof of our enduring love affair with the festival experience.
He's the original soul brother number one love machine (with respects to the late James and Issac) and he's got the kind of honeyed voice that could charm the knickers off a nun.
Having lost his way for a bit, Liam Howlett is back with a new enthusiasm and a new sound for The Prodigy. “No one has filled our shoes – now we’ve come back to tread on everyone else’s feet,” he tells Tanya Sweeney.
Matisyahu is a rapper with a difference. As a Hassidic Jew he lives a strictly orthodox lifestyle. Whatever you do, don’t describe his music as ‘heeb-hop’.
Dig out your old records by The Rocksteady Crew, Break Machine and The Soul Sonic Force. Locate that Betamax video of Wildstyle and purloin grandmother's kitchen linoleum for those almost-forgotten spins and whirls. Because, B-boys and girls, since the return of Run DMC and that all-grooving video, the return of breakdancing is imminent.
Within a minute of meeting Olivia, you realise you're in the presence of a future R&B star. It's depressing. Depressing because you don't even need to hear a record to know that the 23-year-old New Yorker is destined to be all over MTV and the music media within the blink of an eye.
In anticipation of the Guinness-sponsored SOUTHERN SOUL AND DISCO FESTIVAL '98, which takes place in Cork over the June Bank Holiday Weekend, ADRIENNE MURPHY shares a chinwag with MIKE G of New York rap luminaries THE JUNGLE BROTHERS, and gets the lowdown from the highly-touted AOIFE Nic CANNA on what it's like being a female in the testosterone-dominated world of DJing.
Dizzee Rascal’s third album is an inspired affair, building on the basic sonic template of his acclaimed first two albums and adding new layers of audio trickery. Make no mistake about it – this is one mean sounding record.
They’ve performed in front of Will Ferrell and created a huge stir with their RTE debut. Just back from Edinburgh, Dead Cat Bounce are now setting their sights on the live arena.
Although still in their teens, the career of English popsters the Sugababes has been more eventful than most bands twice their age. Co-founder Mutya Buena tells us how they pulled through the dark times and why she’s pleasantly shocked at the NME’s coverage of the band
Make no mistake that the Jurassic 5 six are working firmly to their own agenda, distilling elements from rap’s history and taking them to new and exciting places
Live at the Marquee on Friday June 29: They were the gaudiest of the ‘80s pop sensations. 20 years on, Duran Duran leader Simon Le Bon explains why the good time boys are a band for the long haul.
Razor sharp lyrics, street smarts and a voice that most teenage pop sensations would give their breast implants for. Phil Udell discovers why Nellie McKay is being hailed as the anti-Britney.
Their's is a blend of jazz, beats, bossa, more jazz, drums and bass and oodles of noodles - yet there is, for the most part, something that sets them apart from the rest of the loud minority
How much of the 50 Cent phenomenon is for real and how much for effect? Danielle Brigham meets the mainman and his crew in Dublin and attempts to make sense of the shootings and the sales figures.
This is the time of year when two major national events, the Galway Arts Festival and the Galway Races, make Galway the destination of choice for many Irish and international funsters. But the City of the Tribes has a lot more to offer – including some of the best live music and clubbing in Ireland.
For Black Music Deep Burial have taken samples, and influence, from zombie movies and horror films. The result is an album full of black humour that conjurs feelings of beautiful darkness, without ever being heavy.
When ‘Theme From S’Express’ became a massive hit back in 1988, S’Express mastermind Mark Moore found himself surfing the crest of a rave wave. 18 years later, he’s still proud of it.
It seems that Mike’s got a chip or two on his shoulder, and his heavies – including members of The Roots, Cypress Hill and Jay-Z, who is “executive producer” – are on hand to right a few wrongs that would be too personal to mention in his Linkin Park overalls. If it passed the quality bar. Which it doesn’t.
24-year-old reggae star Natty takes time off from touring Dublin in a horse-drawn carriage to discuss Bob Marley's legacy, and the 'institutionalised racism' inherent in British society.
Ireland beating the mighty Dutch on an enchanted evening at Lansdowne Road. The Frames at Vicar St. Liverpool lifting three trophies in one season. BellX1 at the Music Centre
Being assaulted by irate audience members at Donnington, working with Iggy Pop, asked to write songs for Britney – and shocking Marilyn Manson’s crowd. It’s all in a year’s work for electro-punk princess and ‘Erotic Performer Of The Year’ Peaches.
With their debut single 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' zooming to no.1 in the UK, Arctic Monkeys ended 2005 on a high. They are destined to be the new band of 2006.
Colm O’Hare talks to Katie Larmour, presenter of UTV’s new music show Live At The Limelight, which will be showcasing the best young artists from around Ireland.
Ahead of their Electric Picnic shows, The Beastie Boys talk about Politics, the influence of punk on their sound and explain why Ireland is one of their favourite places to play
Their contribution to Robbie Williams' 'Rock DJ' may have gone unacknowledged, but Soul Mekanik, aka brothers and acid house veterans Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer, are now earning kudos in their own right for their dynamic and eclectic '80s-influenced debut album, Eighty One.
When he first arrived in the Northwest to attend college last year, Josh Clarke had no aspirations of becoming a radio DJ. Pretty soon, though, he had caught the bug in a serious way.
Being sued for rape didn’t stop Snoop Dogg giving Phil Udell the benefit of his views on NWA, record labels, going solo and how the Bible encourages him to party. Photos by Liam Sweeney.
Edwyn Collins, late of Orange Juice and whose third solo album was recently released, gets all acidic about the state of the music business. Interview: Patrick Brennan.
Now that minimal techno has become a trendy cliché, it’s time for the cutting edge of dance music to find a new direction. Trentemoller has pointed the way with a compelling new album.
Funk, Disco, Breakbeat and a testicle-admiring Gary Numan. All this - and more - is to be found on the new Plump DJs album. Ronan Fitzgerald meets the Glaswegian dance mavericks.
They’ve played with Bloc Party and Muse and shared a studio with Fionn Regan. Now, London garage rockers The Noisettes are set to make a splash of their own.
Wyclef uses the majority of the tracks here to highlight the heinousness of a society that encourages its youngsters, particularly its black youngsters, to adopt guns and crime as a way of life
Previously unpublished extracts from DAVE FANNING’s recent interview with BOB DYLAN in rome during whIch zimmy tries to recall a night with bono, expresses his fear of the internet and answers the ultimate question: ever meet Elvis?
Australia s the churcH have survived nearly 20 years of changing fads and fashions by maintaining their commitment to pure pop. siobhan long takes a pew.
White English writer WILLIAM SHAW spent months in South Central LA documenting the lives of would-be rap stars and the young men fighting to survive in the ghetto. His book, Westsiders, is the result. He spoke to PETER MURPHY
Radio has studiously ignored it but that doesn’t mean that Republic Of Loose’s ‘Girl i’m gonna fuck you up’ isn’t the best Irish single of the year. Tanya Sweeney meets the Dublin boys who just want to have fun.
Radio has studiously ignored it but that doesn’t mean that Republic Of Loose’s ‘girl i’m gonna fuck you up’ isn’t the best Irish single of the year. Tanya Sweeney meets the Dublin boys who just want to have fun.
Radio has studiously ignored it but that doesn’t mean that Republic Of Loose’s ‘Girl i’m gonna fuck you up’ isn’t the best Irish single of the year. Tanya Sweeney meets the Dublin boys who just want to have fun.
DIY r’n’b artiste, support act to the new-garage glitterati and unlikely sex-bomb Har Mar gets undressed for success. Superstar skinning up Kim Porcelli
30th Anniversary retrospective: From the murders of Tupac and Biggie to the bizarre implication of Marilyn Manson in the Columbine massacre; from Courtney, Axl and Spector’s falls from grace to the canonisation and demonisation of Peter Doherty... here’s a potted history of the most controversial events in the last 30 years of rock ‘n’ roll.
They may make an unholy racket, but Slipknot are definitely on the side of righteousness when it comes to the Iraq War. Corey Taylor tells Phil Udell why George Bush is vying with Rick Rubin for top spot on their hate-list.
Nordic indie sensation LYKKE LI on charming Conan O'Brien, living it up Amy Winehouse-style (well, sort of) and why it's important to keep the odd thing secret from the media...
Colin Dale has had a long and impressive career. His love for music and his talent have cut through the dance scene s rampant egos and petty policking. He spoke to Richard Brophy
It’s a good life being a FUN LOVIN' CRIMINAL. You get to party at your own club in Dublin, chill out in Maui, dress like "an irish soccer hooligan" and watch astral television in germany. All this and you’re a nice guy too. HUEY MORGAN tells FIONA REID about life on the town
Northern rockers Therapy? are back in the saddle with their tenth studio album Never Apologise, Never Explain – and as Andy Cairns tells Tanya Sweeney, their rabble rousing punk ethic remains as sharply ingrained as ever.
Freebird Records owner Brian Foley explains why over the past 25 years his store has become a firm favourite with such luminaries as Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello and U2.
Back in the saddle with their eagerly anticipated second album Demon Days, subversive animated quartet Gorillaz here talk to Paul Nolan about striking out against celebrity culture, what went wrong with the Gorillaz movie, collaborating with Shaun Ryder, Roots Manuva and Dennis Hopper, and why they didn’t vote Labour. Oh, and Mexican brothels.
The twisted dance-punk of Hard-Fi is inspired by the angst of suburbia. But that hasn’t stopped them reaching for the stars – or breaking into an airport.
Gym Class Heroes, The New York foursome best known for the hit singles 'Cupid's Chokehold' and 'Clothes Off!!' pay us a visit for two Irish dates in September.
German dance music may be characterised by the likes of Paul Van Dyk, Sven Vath and Hardfloor, but the country has always boasted an underground
alternative. Richard Brophy talks to one of its main proponents, Pole.
Steve Earle is known for his passionate political views. But never mind standing firm in the face of conservative America. The hardest thing he ever did was follow Christy Moore onstage.
Having survived the Stone Roses and a spell in jail, IAN BROWN briefly toyed with the idea of a career in gardening before re-inventing himself as the man most likely to bridge the gap between rock and dance. Ahead of his appearance at Homelands, he talks to RICHARD BROPHY.
He may be a high profile DJ with his own Saturday night show on 2FM, but in his heart Conor G will forever be 15. Just ask his parents who have thousands of his records in their front room!l Photography by Emily Quinn.
RAIDIS NA GAELTACHTA seems an unlikely home for one of the most adventurous music shows on the Irish airwaves. Drop your prejudices and check out An Taobh Tuathail, says EAMON SWEENEY.
englebert humperdinck s legendary career stretches over the past 30 years. Now, however, it s reinvention ahoy! as he releases . . . a dance album. adrienne murphy meets The King Of Romance and is told she has a beautiful handshake .
Generalistation is Damien Harris’ debut album and it manages to capture a diversity that the big beat posse never delivered.
Eclectic might be a dirty word, but Generalisation finds inspiration in a number of different sources, without sounding like a hotch potch succession of snapshots from an oversized record collection.
The most brilliantly outspoken mind in rock’n’roll, or just a mouthy Sheffielder who says mean things about Johnny Borrell? As the second REVEREND AND THE MAKERS album hits the shelves, Celina Murphy chases down the ever-intriguing Jon McClure.
Despite predictable criticism from certain quarters, Sarah McLachlan’s vision of “a celebration of women in music” has made the touring Lilith Fair one of the hottest tickets in rock in 1998. Tim Perry reports.
Idlewild is the soundtrack to Outkast’s upcoming movie of the same name, and the follow-up to 2003’s massively acclaimed double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
Spare a thought for Julian Casablancas. His bandmates having flown the nest to do their own side-projects, he’s confessed to feeling, well, at a bit of a loss these days. To fill those empty days, the lead singer for The Strokes has embarked on a solo career of his own. Edwin McFee catches up with the frontman on the eve of the release of Phrazes For The Young and finds out all about the record that he never thought he’d make. Plus, Casablancas also reveals why he doesn’t miss his old sparring partners one bit.
Commuting to Dublin makes life a pain for Geoff McArdle of The Gorgeous Colours. Still, it will take more than a few late buses to ruin his dreams of pop stardom
While some white label mixes are illegal, Belgian outfit Soulwax have gone through an arduous process in order to licence the music featured on their 'legal bootleg' album 2 many DJs, as Eamon Sweeney reports
LAURYN HILL s debut album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill was the fastest selling album ever by a female artist in the United States. What s more it s just garnered her five Grammy Awards, confirming her status as one of American music s most important new icons. OLAF TYARANSEN went to London to hear the singer talk frankly about success, motherhood, the future of The Fugees and her father-in-law, Bob Marley.
Sunshine, killer skunk, low riders and being cool in the barbershop – even allowing for all the “shooting people and shit”, it’s easy to see why Tricky is happy with life in Los Angeles. And he’s also just made his best album since Maxinquaye.
Though her hippyish sensibilities are a throwback to the flower-power era, Florence Welch - aka Florence And The Machine - is one of the year's most hyped new artists. She talks about domestic violence, Andy Warhol and why sometimes hangovers can be good for you.
Phuture are the creators of 'Acid Trax', and the people who introduced the Roland 303 'acid box' to the music world. They are arguably one of the most influential groups ever. So why are they still doing day jobs? Richard Brophy talks to original member Spanky and new addition Professor Trax, and reports on a travesty of justice in the dance world.
They may not have released an album in over fifteen years, but seminal electronic funkers 23 Skidoo were never too far removed from developments in contemporary electronic music.
They’re German, they’ve been making music for years, have been unfairly compared to Daft Punk, and are about to blow up with their debut album, Selected Funks. Richard Brophy meets the strike boys and says ‘gut, gut super gut!’
The MTV Europe Music Awards 2002 may have been a bit of a damp squib, but an electrifying Foo Fighters, a boards-sweeping Eminem and a nekkid Christina Aguilera prevented it from being a total washout.
Roots music may help build bridges between past and present and us and them, but the media stance is still often isolationist. So says simon emerson of the afro celt sound system. siobhan long takes notes.
Roots music may help build bridges between past and present and us and them, but the media stance is still often isolationist. So says simon emerson of the afro celt sound system. siobhan long takes notes.
Currently riding the crest of a wave following the unexpected chart success of ‘Danger! High Voltage’, Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine here puts paid to those rumoured Jack White/Bill Clinton collaborations.
Twenty-four-year-old ANDY VOTEL is the man behind Badly Drawn Boy s Twisted Nerve label, and he s just released a self-penned new album. COLIN CARBERRY gets jealous RICKY ADAMS gets pics
Annual article: The Electric Picnic wasn’t just one of the musical events of the year; it also let us chow down and have a natter with some of the top pop combos of the day, including Bloc Party, Gang Of Four and New Order.
Not content with her million selling success with Destiny's Child, Beyonce Knowles has just released a solo single 'Work It Out' from the Austin Powers - Goldmember soundtrack and is shortly to release a debut solo album
Given the generally high quality of her output since 1986’s Control, you really have to wonder why Janet Jackson felt the need to resort to such gimmicks as the recent Superbowl “wardrobe malfunction” incident.
Newly divorced from the Theatre Festival, this year’s Magnet Entertainment Dublin Fringe Festival is a more compact but also more diverse event than ever before.
They may not be that just yet but if current plans for global domination go according to the script Linkin Park will be very soon. Stuart Clark travels to London to hear the band’s new album Meteora and finds that American rock’s hottest property are surrounded by the kind of security normally reserved for Michael Jackson
Irish teen popsters B*WITCHED last month became only the seventh act in chart history to see their debut single go straight in at Number One in the UK Top 40. Are they the latest great white hope for pop music, or simply a troupe of over-hyped cod-ceili dancers? And what does all this signify for the Irish music industry as a whole? peter murphy reports.
Falling snow, falling bodies and equipment, and music to fall in love with: it’s Australian mod-disco anarcho-samplers THE AVALANCHES. Text: KIM PORCELLI
Unheard of a year ago, the astonishing Cansei de Ser Sexy are one of the hottest indie outfits in the world. With an acclaimed debut album to their credit, the Brazilians bring their twelve legged groove machine to Dublin for BudRising Winter.
One of Belfast’s best-loved indie clubs has undergone a radical reinvention – but is still going strong after more than ten years at the front line of alternative culture in the city.
If you know who to call, it's as easy to buy a gun in Dublin as a microwave. No wonder there are more firearms in the streets – and more gangland murders – than ever before.
BECK is one of the most eclectically talented musicians of his generation. STUART CLARK sees the man play a stormer at Witnness and hears him talk about fame, musical obsession, heroes like Bowie and Black Sabbath and 'Britney fascism'
Since their Saturday night show sold-out at the Village, Cut Copy have been generous enough to add on a DJ Set that night when they stop off at Crawdaddy.
Having had a whale of a time readying it for the Meteors, Sinéad O’Connor and Republic Of Loose have decided to release their cover of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘We People Who Are Darker Than Blue’.
She’s been lumped in with the nu jazz movement, but Amy Winehouse has no interest in keeping up with the Norah Jones’ or Jamie Cullum's. Phil Udell gets music lessons from the 19-year-old Londoner.
Those angry young Marxist Punk-Rockers THE MEKONS are back with a new album I Love Mekons and a contribution to a pro-abortion Woman’s Rights compilation . . . but they’re no longer quite so angry or young, not exactly Marxist, and their Punk is reinforced by Folk, Country and World Music! ANDY
DARLINGTON finds out what the hell is going on in Club Mekon.
On route to Dublin for a special Music Show gig at The Academy, woman of the moment Speech Debelle talks to Edwin McFee, about winning the Mercury Music Prize.
It’s hard to think of a more perfect setting for Jurassic 5’s good-time party vibes than twelve o’clock on a Saturday night in Vicar St. The venue is sold out and from the off, everybody is up and dancing for what proves to be a pulsating couple of hours’ entertainment.
Three bands, 10 venues, 12 dates, four DJ comperes and two high-profile corporate sponsors, including the official national pop station. Jackie Hayden talks to the bands scheduled to play this year’s RTÉ 2fm 2moro 2our, coming to a town near you.
Luke Unabomber explains how Manchester’s electric chair night has progressed from a “shitty little club” into one of the UK’s most successful dance events, with special guests, mix cd on release and worldwide touring dates. It’s about the music, apparently
A former drug dealer, he’s been shot at nine times and lived to tell the tale, emerging as one of the most controversial and uncompromising figures in rap. But there's more to 50 Cent than the popular legend suggests. For a start, there’s a new commercial edge to the music, as his US and Irish number one album The Massacre demonstrates. Plus, as one of the new faces of Reebok’s ‘I Am What I Am’ campaign, he’s taken to the role of cultural icon with considerable zest. Oh, and besides, he’s a bit of a wow with the ladies.
They’re the quirky electro-rockers who have got the music industry buzzing. But don’t mistake Passion pit for another bunch of MGMT clones. As their viral hit ‘Sleepyhead’ confirms, their whimsical sound is entirely unique – as is their enthusiasm for sampling obscure Irish harpists
MACY GRAY’s latest album "THE ID" documents two years of “love-life changes, sex-life changes and body changes”. FIONA REID hears her tales of drugs, men, music and late nights
End of the millennium psychosis techno? Political partying house? Dance music with a social conscience and a sense of humour ? If you re looking for all of the above, then look no further than Green Velvet s new LP, Constant Chaos . On the soapbox: Richard Brophy.
So says Phil Harnoll of the hugely influential electronic duo, Orbital, but then he's a man whose views are just as radical and progressive as the band's music. Interview: Helen Toland
We re surrounded by American culture from the breakfasts we eat through the beer we drink to the music and movies we define our lives by. And with Independence Day coming on July 4th, you might as well go ahead and enjoy it to the full. Here EAMON SWEENEY suggests how to become an American for a day.
Radiating disinterest Tinchy Stryder performs alongside an equally bored looking DJ and an only slightly more enthused MCing wing-man, all against the backdrop of a light show to rival The X Factor.
Tinchy Stryder is the fast-talking Star In The Hood who’s pretty much dominated the charts in 2009 with a nagging brand of infectious hip hop. Hot Press caught up with the Prince Of Grime to see if we can figure out his formula for Number Ones.
Having been widely mooted as one of Ireland’s most promising young artists, Laura Izibor delivered the goods earlier this year with her debut album, Let The Truth Be Told, a sparkling collection of R&B and hip-hop tunes. Critically well-received, it also performed well commercially, hitting the number two spot here, and – perhaps even more impressively – charting in the US top 30.
They can’t decide whether they want to be dance band, a rock group or a hip-hop outfit. One thing’s for sure: you’ve never head anything quite like Super Extra Bonus Party before
IT S A great concept, you ve got to admit. A Limey journalist who doesn t know his Big Punishers from his Lil Kims goes to South Central, spends a year hanging out with the local hip hop hopefuls and produces the first book on gangsta rap that you don t have to be dope, fly or packing heat to understand.
Albums such as Streetcleaner and Pure have established Brummie noise terrorists godflesh as one of the most exciting alternative bands on the planet. Their latest effort, Love And Hate In Dub, is a radically overhauled remix version of its predecessor, Songs Of Love And Hate. The band s
talkative mainman justin broadrick explains all to jonathan o Brien.
From Prince through playboy and baywatch to her current position as queen of the cameo, carmen electra has never been shy about making the most of her assets. But all in the best possible taste, of course, she assures tara brady
This time last year, Mike Skinner of The Streets was a complete unknown. 12 months later, he reflects on being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, shrugging off the attentions of Damon Albarn, turning down a stack of film roles and partying in Dublin. “There’s been a lot of mad moments,” he acknowledges
Having built up a solid reputation on the gigging circuit, blues outfit Ali and The DTs have just released their debut album. Harp player Christian Volkmann discusses the details of their unique sound with Colm O’Hare.
Well it’s one for the money Two for the show
US3 GET READY . . .
. . . Now go cats go! When a critic talks about awarding his favourite gig, album and band of the year accolades to the same outfit then we gotta be talking about something special. In this case it’s transatlantic Jazz Rappers US3. And the, er, critic in question: MR. STUART CLARK
Ten, nine, eight… we count down the contenders for 2003. Words Hannah Hamilton, Colin Carberry, Niall Stokes, Richard Brophy, John Walshe, Eamon Sweeney and Stuart Clark
Part two of our glance back over the year that was, complete with clickable quotes so you can read each and every article in full, if you like. And you know you like! So don't just sit there. Get reading...
IT IS OFTEN DISMISSED AS BIGOTED, SEXIST, VIOLENT AND TUNELESS. THERE IS, HOWEVER, MUCH MORE TO THE STORY OF RAP THAN THAT, YES, BIGOTED VIEW MIGHT SUGGEST. GERRY McGOVERN SINGS A HYMN OF
