UK Hip Hop

The UK has one of the most dynamic and biggest emerging hip hop scenes in the game. Generally ignored on this side of the pond, (except for The Streets, Lady Sovereign and now M.I.A.) it seems as if British hip hop is finally getting the respect it deserves.

Klashnekoff
Try "Black Rose", "New Era" and "Can't You See?"

http://www.myspace.com/officialklashnekoff

Wretch 32
Not a huge fan of the auto tune on "Superhero"...but I'll let that slide. Listen to "Ina Di Ghetto" and "Be Cool"

http://www.myspace.com/wretchclart

Kyza
My favorite one of the bunch, comparing him to biggie or pac is a big of a stretch but if there was ever a British artist that comes close this is your guy and I don't say that lightly. Try "Love & Music", "Judgement Day", and "Fight Club."

http://www.myspace.com/saysoseddso

J2K
Not my favorite hip hop artist but the one definitely enjoying the most commercial success.



Terra Firma
Yes this is the good stuff, its hard, raw and fast...and I am aware of how X rated that last statement is. keep your dirty thoughts to yourself. Listen to the "Git Down Remix", "Rollaball" and "Black Tigers" is a must.

http://www.myspace.com/firma4life

Kombo
Adding a heavy bass and drum set as his hooks, its just good ok! Try "Alpha."

http://www.myspace.com/mckombo

Company of Thieves - Pressure

I am on the fence about this single, there are some moments when I am really into the song and others where I am bored. It somewhat reminds me of the resurgence of late nineties pop rock.

Guilty Pleasures List 5 - Throwback Edition

Nivea - Don't Mess With My Man
I hate most mainstream R&B today, its too whiny and ballad-y. But Nivea could always bring it, her older stuff was fresh, tight, and had urban flavor which most newer stuff lacks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDXjVIl2Asg&feature=related

Mya - Case Of The Ex
I'm not going to deny it, I loved this song when I was eleven, I would dance around and sing it in my room, and listening to it now it still holds up to most pop music today.



Britney Spears - Overprotected and Lucky
Yes although I was raised on The Beatles, The Clash and The Velvet Underground we all have our moments of weakness, retro Britney Spears is mine. And these songs are so on point and I think in some ways foreshadowed the tabloid fiascoes that would come later in her career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAY_HaH3B9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRlw9jqyZ4c

Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
This may not be so much of a guilty pleasure because I feel no shame in admitting I love this song, and the video is so neat, it was really ahead of its time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00Kgm-Kjic

Tal Bachman - She's So High
I always thought this was sung by U2 for some reason till I found the music video three months ago, I still love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVKcfwJxa54

Brandy and Monica - The Boy is Mine
One of the best duets about a player boyfriend I have ever heard, its a great song.



Ashanti - Only U
The beat is what makes this song so hot, I could care less about her lyrics, the hook is crazy addictive. The heavy base guitar and synth, I remember they used this in the remix of the Ja Rule (or was it Busta Rhymes?...someone please tell me) song "New York" and it worked just as well.

Hey does anyone remember "The Subways?"

I was just thinking about it today they made that one album with that really huge single "Rock n Roll Queen" and some other decent songs "I wanna hear what you got to say" being the most notable and have seemed to all but disappeared. So I checked their myspace and they are still around, I thought they broke up...

I was actually pleasantly surprised by their new sound. Its a lot more polished, however I think they have also lost a bit of their old charm, some of their new stuff sounds a lot closer to American pop punk/ emo.

Check them OUT
http://www.myspace.com/TheSubways

Skyzoo - The Beautiful Decay

A street corner banger with some soul. Hip Hop ain't dead Nas...it just went underground. The only thing I have to add is where is Cali with this new hip hop rebirth? New York, Chicago, Detroit, The South they have all answered but besides Nipsey Hussle (and you know I'm not enthused about him) LA's mythical rap scene has remained quite quiet. Where is the next great West Coast hope?

Pin Me Down

A duo consisting of Russell Lissack of Bloc Party and Milena Mepris.

August Playlist

The Ropes - I Don't Like To Get Dirty and Kill Her Off
A great sardonic rock anthem about someone who is quite unstable, or right on the edge. "Don't worry I won't hurt me" This track actually really hit home for me, because I can honestly say there have been times in my life where I have felt like this.



I heard "kill her off" about two years ago when they added me on myspace, and there was something really hard and edgy about their sound I was drawn to.



http://www.myspace.com/theropes - you can download some of their new songs for free.


Elevator Music - The Rocketeer
It's a wall of sound that appears to be chaotic at first, until you realize how artfully it all blends together.

check it out as well as their other songs on their myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/elevatormusiconline

Lillix - Dance Alone
This band has gone through more line up changes than even the Pipettes, and their sound has evolved as well, from the pop rock infused self titled debut to a more power pop sound they have today. (They use the same producer as The Killers, so if it sounds similar it should)



http://www.myspace.com/lillix

As Tall As Lions - Circles
ATAL have always had a sort of haunting dreamy sound, "Circles" displays what the band can do best, get you lost in a sea of noise.

http://www.myspace.com/astallaslions

Rock Kills Kid - I Don't Mind
I have their first album which sort of sounded like a Brandon Flowers fronted U2 without Bono, this new song feels more like Rock Kills Kid are finding their own sound. I am glad they have seemed to found their identitites as musicians but I feel bad for their record company problems (their company is refusing to relese their new EP on their label).

http://www.myspace.com/rockkillskid

Vertigo - Evaporate
This is from their first album, and the first song I heard from them in 2006. They do have new material and I encourage you to check out their myspace, however even when I listen to their new stuff, I am always drawn back to this song. I always felt that this band should of been bigger than it is.



http://www.myspace.com/listentovertigo