Ralph Rip Shit and Stophe; "OCDC Vol 1": FREE DOWNLOAD

Ralph Rip Shit (Associated Minds, Wales) has just put out a real solid free download. Get that here

Highly reccomended!

For those not familiar with Ralph's work.. check these... safe

(Ralph is 5th to spit on this..)

Scratching on the MPC

More features up soon people.. in the meanwhile check this video out.. good to see people exploring the capabilities of the machine thats has for so long been a staple feature in hip hop production..

Breakage Feat Newham Generals - Hard

The music does the talking on this one..

Wu-Tang International; Shaolin Worldwide!

Wu-Tang are one of the best things to come out of Hip Hop. This is common knowledge. Check out some of the international collabarations that they've dropped over the years..

I Am Feat Sunz Of Man, Royal Fam - La Saga (France)

DJ Tomekk Feat GZA, Prodigal Sunn - Ich Lebe Fur Hip Hop (Germany) 

RZA - Boing Boing Feat Skinnyman, Blade & Mr Ti2bs (UK)

RZA Feat Ghostface Killah & Saian Supa Crew - Saïan (France)

If you enjoyed these check this album out.. RZA needs to make a sequael to this..

The World according to RZA features Hip Hop artists from all over the world..

Stateside Grime: UK music in an American context...

ManVsMachine are a production crew out of the Bay area, California. After stumbling across a mixtape they put out in 2008 my eyes were opened to the formation of a Grime scene across the pond. 

Please take a few minutes to read my interview with them. Safe

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OK, First and foremost, introduce yourselfs and let me Know how Grime music was bought to your attention...

MBZ: I go by MBZ which came from people calling me M-Beezy from back in the day. I've always been a fan of Drum & Bass and Jungle, especially the MC aspect of it. I especially remember Wiley's "Pies" video, and also hearing certain Dizzie Rascal tracks.

The One: Im The One, and I been in the music scene for a long time producing various styles of music mostly hiphop and rnb. I got into electronic music in the late 90’s and was a major fan of drum’n’bass. I got real bored of hiphop and saw it had no more direction. It wasn’t until 2005 when I came across a show on 1xtra and heard a different kind of uk urban music. After hearing singles from Wiley and Dizzie, I searched to see what other artists were making that kind of music. Since then I been hooked.

'After hearing singles from Wiley and Dizzie, I searched to see what other artists were making that kind of music. Since then I been hooked'

ManVsMachines remix of Tempa T's infamous 'Next Hype'

To what extent is there a Grime / Dubstep scene in America? Is there any state or city in particular where the music has a strong following?

MBZ: Yes, the Grime/Dubstep scene is growing very much. There's are growing scenes in New York, Houston, and also in the Bay Area (San Francisco).

The One: I think the biggest scene so far is in Los Angeles right now. Pure Filth and Smog throw huge dubstep parties at the moment and I totally respect how they do their parties. As far as the Grime scene in America, there is the First City crew in New York, and our mc’s and producers in the Stateside Grime Movement here on the west coast. I am the only all-grime dj here in America.

What Grime artists are you feeling from the UK? Have you had the chance to see any of them live?

MBZ: Wiley, JME, Skepta, Tinchy Stryder, and many more. Haven't been able to see any of them live.

The One: As far as producers and mc’s, im feeling Dot Rotten, Terror Danjah, Wiley, Skepta, Ghetto, Rude Kid, Maniac, Griminal, Frisco, Silencer, D.O.K., Jendor, P-Money, Wolf, Vener Reamah, Crayzee Banditt, Kano, Rapid, and theres plenty more but the list will go on forever if I continue. Off the top of my head that’s who I can think of.

Is there any regular Grime events in California?, if so let us know the info..

The One: Not at the moment, but I am planning on starting a monthly under our ManVSMachine label and bring out Grime Dj’s and Mc’s.

Do you see Grime as an extension of genres such as Hip Hop, Garage, Dancehall etc or do you consider it to be a genre in its own right?  

MBZ: Yes and no. Even Hip Hop, Garage, and Dancehall were extensions of other genres of music, until they developed into their own. So has Grime in a big way.

The One: I feel Grime is an extension from Hip-hop. I heard may people argue that it is its own genre, and I heard people say it came from garage. But when I listen to it, its simply beats and rap at a different tempo from a different region, like Crunk, Hyphy, etc. I never liked garage and I really cant point any similarities to Grime. Garage sounds like its mopre for the rave, when Grime is for the hood.

'I feel Grime is an extension from Hip-hop. I heard may people argue that it is its own genre, and I heard people say it came from garage. But when I listen to it, its simply beats and rap at a different tempo from a different region, like Crunk, Hyphy, etc'

Have you (or do you have plans to) collaborate with any Grime artists from the UK?

The One: Me and Wiley have talked about collaborating and other ideas to push grime in the states and its still in the works. I also talked to a few other Mc’s such as P-Money, Germz, Desperado, and Durrty Goodz, but its hard to get in the studio WITH them being we are halfway across the world. As far as producers, I have spoken to Maniac, Ratchet, and Silencer about having them produce some American mc’s. There are many things in the works and we would love to work with more artists however way possible.

'Me and Wiley have talked about collaborating and other ideas to push grime in the states and its still in the works'

How would you respond to those that condemn Grime on the basis of its negative subject matter? 

MBZ: First of all, not all Grime has negative subject matter. Individuals who feel that way probably haven't taken the time to explore the genre and realize that it's more positive than negative.

The One: Its nothing new really. HipHop has been portrayed as negative from the beginning. Anything we do will always get hated on if it involves a rapper on a mic. People need to wake up and realize that they watch movies that are far more worse than most music today.

'People need to wake up and realize that they watch movies that are far more worse than most music today'

What are your musical backgrounds outside of Grime?
MBZ: Hip Hop, R&B
The One: Jazz, HipHop and Rnb

In terms of production , what do you use to build Grime tracks?

MBZ: FL Studio, Cubase, Reason.

The One: Cubase Sx, a lot of samples and a lot of hardware and software synths.

Living outside of the UK, how do you keep up to date with the latest Grime releases?, are there any websites you check reguarly?

MBZ: Most Grime releases are easier to access now that it's becoming more recognized. I usually check Grime Forum, YouTube, Myspace Music.

The One: ukrecordshop has all the latest, that’s where I buy all my releases from. Other than that, Grimeforum and youtube is how I keep up to date on everything.

Any shout outs that you'd like to give?

MBZ: Bri, Patrick

The One: I give a shout to Nane, the ManVSMachine crew, Bookz, Kush, Sam XL, Skurge, Konkrete Jungle, JadaMane, Logan Sama, Dj Limemight, Wiley, 12th Planet, Photek, ASC, and the whole world!