Music and hip-hop

Lil B - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow, Sun 6 May

22-year-old Berkeley rapper describes himself as ‘an art history project’

22 May 2012

It must be the Californian in him, but the BASEDGOD, despite his lyrics about eating white booty, his VIP lifestyle, and his resemblance to Jesus/Michael Jordan/Miley Cyrus and Paris Hilton, is basically a hippie. Top off, shades on, tiny muscled torso…

Trailer from Ice T's Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

New documentary marks new wave of hip hop films

16 Apr 2012

Hip hop, like most trends to grace the cinema, comes in waves. The last big one was in the early 1990s, with the likes of Boyz N The Hood, New Jack City and Menace II Society following the era-defining late 1980s releases of NWA's Straight Outta Compton…

Souls of Mischief - Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Tue 13 Mar

Hip hop pioneers refuse to rest on their laurels

28 Mar 2012

As creators of a classic 90s hip hop hit (‘93 til Infinity’), it would be easy for Souls of Mischief to tour on the back of that alone. However, the California-natives did not disappoint the sold-out crowd with a dull and lazy performance, like some of…

5 reasons to go and see OFWGKTA

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All set to play O2 ABC gig

27 Mar 2012

1. We might find out what they are Are they an ironic comedy hip hop troupe? Or are they a wilfully nasty, relentlessly violent, misogynistic and homophobic throwback whose goofy nonsense just happens to distil the finest styles of rap created in the…

Sway, Studio 24, Edinburgh, Fri 27 Jan 2012

Crowd-pleasing night from the grime superstar

1 Mar 2012

Although not completely absent from the music scene, Sway (real name Derek Safo) has not released an album since 2008. This perhaps explained the semi-low turnout at this Friday night gig, which seemed unusual for one of the UK’s most successful…

GZA/Genius - The Arches, Glasgow, Mon 13 Feb

Disappointingly sluggish set from the cerebral Wu Tang Clan member

29 Feb 2012

There’s nothing more frustrating than ritual disappointment from someone you hold in high regard. First up there was GZA’s lazy, bonged-out mumble-athon at the ABC in 2008, then a ghost-like contribution to the Wu Tang Clan’s appearance in the Academy…

Ed Sheeran - Tue 10 Jan 2012, HMV Picture House, Edinburgh

Unlikely chart-topping teen idol performs angsty ballads

3 Feb 2012

‘I have some news’, Ed Sheeran casually mentions amidst the screaming adoration, after a nice loop-pedal driven cover of 'Wayfaring Stranger'. ‘My album’s just gone triple platinum’. (More screams). Quite impressive, really, for the unlikely teen idol…

Five reasons to go see . . . The GZA

The GZA of Wu Tang approaches the Arches

1 Feb 2012

He’s a genius The Genius, to be precise. GZA, aka The Genius, (Gary Grice to his mum) is a founding member of Wu Tang Clan, along with his cousin, producer The RZA, and gravelly-voiced rap heathen Ol’ Dirty Bastard (RIP). The Clan emerged out of New…

Young Fathers - Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Fri 02 Dec 2011

Thought-out moves allowing for improvisation and spontaneity

13 Dec 2011

It was a night full of surprises. First off, early-comers were treated to a plate of chicken and rice, homemade by Young Father’s member Alloysious Massaquoi. As Jamaican street-party videos projected onto the screen and deep dancehall pumped through…

Professor Green – HMV Picture House, Edinburgh, Tue 29 Nov 2011

Confident and professional show from favourite Hackney rapper

13 Dec 2011

The majority of the Picture House crowd is screaming teenage girls and skinny chino-clad boys, eager to see their favourite Hackney rapper, Professor Green. Booty-shaking duo Rizzle Kicks warm them up with a fun, high-energy performance, featuring their…

DJ Shadow - O2 ABC, Glasgow, Mon 5 Dec

Stunning live show continues to break new ground

9 Dec 2011

For innovation and impact, genre-mashing LA turntablist DJ Shadow, aka Josh Davis, has never bettered his entirely samples-based 1996 debut Endtroducing... But his visually stunning live shows continue to break new ground, and prove DJ sets can be just…

The chart-topping ‘Read All About It’ rapper Professor Green - interview

16 Nov 2011

First record you ever bought The ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ 7”. And what!? Last extravagant purchase you made A Balenciaga jacket. First film you saw that really moved you E.T. Last lie you told I’ve never lied.

Ever been to a silent disco with a Chinese dragon?

25 Oct 2011

Ever explored a museum at night? Ever had a cocktail surrounded by thousands of years of history? Ever been to a silent disco with a Chinese dragon? Thanks to the support of RBS and The List, the National Museum of Scotland is bringing you an exclusive…

Young Fathers, Liquid Room, Tue 13 Sep

Joyless hip hop show at odds with club setting

19 Sep 2011

Club night Zzzap! is squarely aimed at the fun-loving, party-hearty student crowd: there’s a booty-shaking combo of house and techno music, an easygoing atmosphere on both the dancefloor and the smoking terrace out back, and a name spelt with three Zs…

Example

Picture House, Edinburgh, Mon 15 Aug 2011

24 Aug 2011

As Mike Skinner’s sometime protégé it’s easy to pigeonhole London rapper Elliot Gleave as the new bearer of the crown soon to be abandoned by The Streets. Yet what he does is subtly different – where both men are outright crowd pleasers, Skinner’s…

Review - T in the Park 2011

All the rain, mud and rock action from Scotland's biggest music festival

8 Aug 2011

Saturday Ke$ha proves trashy entertainment with a set that refuses to take itself seriously. A party up glam stomp though a series of electro pop hits that while low on art is high on glitter and cheap thrills (and inexplicably includes a six-foot…

Interview - Mike Slott, Eclair Fifi and Machinedrum of LuckyMe

Glasgow DIY label set for Edinburgh Festival clubnight

8 Aug 2011

Mike Slott (producer) I met Dom [Flannigan] who runs LuckyMe in Borders Books. He was sneaking flyers into hip hop magazines. We got chatting, we liked similar music and in Glasgow if you’re into a certain kind of music, you bump into the same people…

Wu Tang Clan - Legendary Weapons

New album from RZA, Ghostface Killa et al - or disappointingly not, as the case may be

21 Jul 2011

(E1) Were this legendary NYC rap crew’s identity not fragmented enough between their myriad solo albums and side-projects, there’s now apparently no such thing as a full Wu Tang Clan album anymore either. Legendary Weapons is the first ‘official’ Wu…

Singles of the month: Blood Orange - Sutphin Boulevard

Radiohead, Seafieldroad, Bright Eyes, and more also reviewed

18 Jul 2011

It’s a good month for Scots musicians, both electronic and otherwise. Probably the best ever, in fact, for 24-year-old Aberdonian Emeli Sandé with ‘Heaven’ (EMI) ●●●●, her instantly recognisable, ‘Unfinished Sympathy’-like major label debut after…

Hugh's Jukebox is Coming to Glasgow

30 Jun 2011

In the spirit of festival season, Tennent's is tomorrow rolling out some Friday fun as Hugh's Jukebox - named after the lager legend himself Hugh Tennent - will be touring various locations in Glasgow to mark the 1 week countdown to T in the Park 2011.

Ms Dynamite, Yasmin, Niki & The Dove announced for RockNess 2011

Yet more names join this year’s bill

31 May 2011

Garage MC Ms Dynamite who recently collaborated with both Katy B and Magnetic Man (who also appear at this year’s RockNess) leads the latest additions to the line-up. Joining her is female British rapper Yasmin, Highland singer-songwriter James…

Beyoncé added to T in the Park 2011 line-up

The global pop star joins an already impressive bill at Scottish festival

5 May 2011

Pop sensation Beyoncé has been added to the T in the Park bill, which is taking place at Balado from 8–10 July. She will join a host of acts such as Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and many more. Beyoncé is now one of the best-selling artists…

Kobi Onyame - Green Green Grasses

Ghanaian-Glaswegian rapper presents rought and ready album brimming with Scottish underground guests

25 Apr 2011

(iTunes) Formerly known as Jae P, Ghanaian-Scots rapper Kwame Barfour-Osei has returned here with a debut album under his new name which demonstrates ability as a vocalist and a songwriter, and real skill as a producer. Featuring a bunch of guest…

Laidback Luke, Derrick Carter, Andrew Weatherall, Beardyman, Nero and many more join 2011’s RockNess line-up

7 Apr 2011

Tons and tons of new names have been announced for this year’s RockNess. Laidback Luke, The Japanese Popstars, The Boxer Rebellion, Morning Parade, Twilight Sad, Nero, Skrillex, Beardyman, Sub Focus (live), Sons & Daughters, Broken Records, Chapel Club…

The Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon set for UK tour

The Wu-Tang Clan member comes to Scotland with new album

3 Mar 2011

Two years ago, when Wu-Tang Clan MC Raekwon announced the sequel to his acclaimed 1995 solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx …, you could’ve been forgiven for thinking it was merely some kind of clever ploy to stir up interest in a career that had…

Jay-Z's early lyrics a 'cry for help'

Music Gossip

1 Mar 2011

Jay-Z's early lyrics were a "cry for help". The 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder' hitmaker explained how his first raps were "defiant" in their message and designed to bring attention to his poor background and violent neighbourhood, the tough Marcy Projects…

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Samples King Crimson, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver - justifying the hype

23 Nov 2010

(Mercury) In the two years since he recorded the singular 808s & Heartbreak, Kanye West has opened a couple of Fatburger franchise restaurants, designed a line of shoes for Louis Vuitton, played himself as an obnoxious drunk in a Spike Jonze short…

Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man

6 Oct 2010

(Colombia) Newsflash: dubstep is still hot right now. Hence, we presume, this album from Magnetic Man – aka Benga, Skream and Artwork – a dubstep supergroup, if you will. Evidently aimed at the upper echelons of the hit parade (why else would…

Glasgow clubnight I AM reinvents Tuesdays at Sub Club

Mystery duo launch night playing electro, disco, Italo, hip ho and dubstep

15 Sep 2010

Residents: They go by the names Beta and Kappa. ‘We do a few things in Glasgow but we’d rather go with these faceless names, we might even perform in masks,’ explains Kappa. ‘It just gives you that chance to start from scratch and you know people aren’t…

Tinie Tempah - Disc-Overy

15 Sep 2010

(Parlophone) South London has just coughed up another gifted young MC in the form of Patrick Ogwugu aka 'Talk of 2010' Tinie Tempah. And Rascal needs to watch his back, Disc-Overy is a fiery first effort from the 21-year-old, packed full of…

Spotify Playlist: In Defence of Kanye West

Forget everything else, it’s all about the music

7 Sep 2010

Ever since it emerged, hip hop has sampled songs to create new songs. Be it a loop just a few seconds long or a reworked entire chorus, there’s no denying that samples are the lifeblood of the genre. The process of sampling is one that has fascinated…

Plan B

Rap and hip hop and deep heart-felt soul

7 Sep 2010

There is no doubt that Plan B's Ben Drew is an accomplished rapper and singer, but it's not until you see him live that you can appreciate how immensely talented he is. Many artists work across several genres, but very few have successful attempted…

Dizzee Rascal plays Edinburgh show

East London rapper set for Edge Festival show

14 Aug 2010

Fix up, look sharp. The East London rapper that Jeremy Paxman once called ‘Mr Rascal’ (he was a slightly ill-advised guest commentator on Newsnight’s Obama special), is coming to town. Corn Exchange, 08444 999 990, Thu 26 Aug, 7.30pm, £20. Part of…

Professor Green

Hackney rapper loves a Nando's

12 Aug 2010

Professor Green knows how to party. When his debut album, Alive Till I’m Dead, charted at number two last month, the East-London rapper let it rip: ‘I was so over the moon that I celebrated with a full chicken platter, two large sides and a refillable…

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Chicago fusion of jazz, hip hop and funk

8 Aug 2010

This nine-piece comprising eight horns and a drummer are not what you might expect at the Jazz & Blues Festival.

Tinchy Stryder to take over the HMV Picture House

The East London grime boy done good, and Third Strike is on its way

6 Aug 2010

If Tinchy Stryder’s second long-player, Catch 22, saw him vault the grime underground and snare the pop mainstream (number one hits, collaborations with N-Dubz and a Sugababe, the best-selling UK solo artist of 2009), you wonder what level of stardom…

Five hirsute gents tickling our fancies (and chins) this month

Look out for these bearded men at this year's Festivals

5 Aug 2010

Phil Kay Furry Fringe veteran Kay makes no fewer than four fuzzy-faced appearances this year. His kids’ show Gimme Your Left Shoe makes a welcome return; there’s a solo show in the evening called In Tweed; a late-night radio show titled RadioFree; and…

Rhythm Drum & Dance

High-energy show comes to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre

30 Jul 2010

We needed a lie down just after watching the YouTube trailer for this one. A high-energy, high drama drum show which began as a 20-minute show in Berlin (and has since expanded to tour around Europe) – this is a celebration of rhythms. And the RD&D…

Snoop Dogg delivers a more intimate set at the Glasgow Academy

The rapper performed a series of newer and classic hits.

22 Jul 2010

What is this, rap week in Scotland? A few days before Eminem and Jay-Z landed at T in the Park, another superstar of the genre played what must count as an intimate set by his standards here. Even those other icons would have trouble outdoing Snoop…

Wu-Tang Clan set for 2010 UK tour

Five reasons to go see: Wu-Tang Clan

21 Jul 2010

1. They’re back and ‘formin’ like Voltron’ This is the first Scottish performance to feature ALL associated Wu members since 2007’s T In The Park. So expect RZA, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-god, Masta Killa and…

Eminem - Recovery

7 Jul 2010

(Polydor) Originally intended as a sequel to last year’s Relapse, Recovery looks to re-establish Eminem as the strong, inescapably bratty voice of modern rap he once was. Fully embracing his struggles – drug addiction, loss and the mixed response to…

Deadly Hunta appearing at One Drop, Edinburgh

24 Jun 2010

Covering a broad church of complimentary styles, One Drop promise that you’ll hear reggae, dancehall, hip hop and more at their latest event. It’s a good thing, then, that their headliner is Brit MC Deadly Hunta, whose own CV is similarly…

Make Sparks and Three Blind Wolves among highlights of T in the Park’s T Break stage 2010

19 May 2010

The acts for this year’s T Break stage have been announced, and there’s quite a few names to get excited about. Glasgow guitar-pop purveyors Make Sparks have been garnering a lot of attention recently, not least from the authority on such subjects, the…

Stanley Odd - Oddio

18 May 2010

(Circular) Stanley Odd are, with Young Fathers and Northern Xposure, part of a hip hop scene currently on the rise in Scotland. Rather than sticking to the gangsta-rap themes of guns, bitches and bling preferred by certain Stateside artists, the…

Krash Slaughta guests at one of the last nights of Headspin

14 May 2010

‘It was the video for [Malcolm McLaren’s] “Buffalo Gals” that first got me into hip hop,’ says Paul Smith, aka Krash Slaughta. ‘I remember it had The Rock Steady Crew breakdancing in it, and I loved that, so I became a breakdancer myself.’ It wasn’t…

Big Picture: Uffie

16 Apr 2010

Expect looping electro-heavy hip hop from Hong Kong via Paris rapper Uffie (aka Anna-Catherine Hartley). Signed to taste-making label Ed Banger and frequent collaborator with Feadz, Justice and Mr Oizo, she heads another Annie Mac special at Death…

Cypress Hill - Rise Up

15 Apr 2010

(Priority) Seriously. Although this is Snoop’s record label, even the Doggfather takes a break from the chronic sometimes. Despite (uninspired) contributions from Tom Morello and Daron Malakian, this is a one-note affair, too addicted to weed to let…

Stanley Odd

Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Mon 22 Mar 2010

13 Apr 2010

As you might surmise from the name, Stanley Odd are quite separate fishes from the UK hip hop shoal currently gliding their way to mainstream chart positions these days. They can hardly be accused of jumping on the grimewagon led by the likes of Tinie…

Exposure: Egyptian Hip Hop

19 Mar 2010

This teenage Mancunian quartet – singer Alex Hewett, guitarists Louis Miller and Nick Delap and drummer Alex Pierce – are at the forefront of the new wave of bands emerging from their city, but don’t expect a history lesson from them. Miller brings us…

Skinnyman guests at Edinburgh's One Drop night

10 Mar 2010

Initially signing to Talkin’ Loud, his calling card was his debut album Council Estate of Mind, that summed up the reality of city life with sharp rap, grime beats and heavy bass. Describing his own productions as ‘rhythmatic urban poetry’ he…