I hope this lives up to expectations. Probably too much to expect a standard like 'Ray' as far as biopics go but with BadBoy heavily involved they shouldn't let any of the minor details fly by. I suppose this means a 2Pac film is going to follow. I still don't see the fuss with his work. At a stretch a couple of songs I can nod my head to but on the whole when one comes on in a club I'm the one walking to the bar rather than pretending to act thug life to California Love. Once I played football against a guy who had thug life tattoed on his back. Smart.

Speaking of songs that make me head to the bar. Isn't it annoying when you're having a great time, you're hitting the floor with some moves, maybe with a girl on your arm and some song that you can't stand gets played. I can't stand Lil Wayne (I'm sure I'm not the only one) and the other day when Lollipop was played it was time for a Jack Daniels break. I admit I can be a music snob but I can't get down like that. It's not just Lil Wayne though you will often see me head to the bar when Akon comes on, Eminem, 50 Cent...

Keri Hilson - Energy


Keri Hilson is fine. That is all…

Actually I must add that she deserves her shine on the solo tip after her numerous features and providing song writing heat for every one else.

Musiq Soulchild – Radio


Very different sounding song from Musiq Soulchild but always a pleasure to hear new music from him. A grower.

Donaeo. Devil in a Blue Dress. from Luke Van Boom on Vimeo.

There is so much funky house getting playlist love on 1xtra at the moment, which is only a good thing in my view and nice that it isn't just kept to the specialists shows. Devil In a Blue Dress by Donaeo has been around for a while and now has a video to accompany it. Won't be long until the big tunes by Wookie & Ny, Kyla and the Crazy Cousinz get the video treatment surely.

Check out the two post Napa updates from Skepta as he finds out his mum has cleaned his bedroom and he checks in on myspace. He is hitting a town near you soon with a big tour to support Rolex Sweep so if he’s in your area then get down and do your best rolex sweep.

Part Two Here
Tour Dates

Sneaky Sound System – Pictures



Been a round for a while but still can’t get this out of my head. Plenty of influences in this one and appeals to plenty.

Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life



One of the standouts from one of my favourite albums this year so far. We can all relate to the lyrics here.

Roll Deep feat Janee – Do Me Wrong



The vocals of the lovely Janee are all over this but Flowdan, Manga and new recruit J2K still make their input count on Roll Deep’s new tune. Perfect material for the club, or getting ready for the club with its feel good vibes.

Shapeshifters – Chime



Acid House is back!!!!!!!!!

Wookie feat Ny – Fallin Again


Wookie’s excellent Gallium gets a vocal from Ny and takes it to a new level. Now under the guise of Fallin Again, this track is doing a lot right now.

Behind The Scenes of The Rolex Sweep Video

Kanye West "Champion Video" Official Directed by NEON from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

On the last night of the Glow in the Dark tour Kanye West announced that he is producing tracks for the Blueprint 3 and broke into a track with the chorus 'Jockin Jay-Z'. The man himself then hit the stage at Madison Square Garden and had something to say about Noel Gallagher and the down talking of his Glastonbury appearence by the Oasis man. He rapped "That bloke from Oasis said I couldn't play guitar/Somebody should have told him I'm a fuckin rock star". However despite the lines Jay-Z has stated that he wouldn't object to working with the Gallaghers, "Anyone...Oasis as well — it doesn't matter to me, I don't bear any grudge, it's all good." The Blueprint 3 could see a release as early as the winter and Swizz Beatz is another producer who has submitted tracks to the project.

See Jay-Z perform Blueprint 3 below.


BLUEPRINT 3 from kwest on Vimeo.

Well, in his new video. I love it when Roots Manuva brings out a video. Not only is 'Witness' one of the greatest Hip-Hop tracks of all time (not UK, Hip-Hop period), but the video was pure jokes with Roots playing an athlete on Sports day. His new video sees him trying a new vocation working as an Ice Cream vendor. The single Buff Nuff is the first release from his new album out in August 'Slime & Reason'.

Robin Thicke is back with Magic, leading the way to his next album 'Something Else' out in September. Taking a more live instrumental route, Thicke will be looking to carry on where 'The Evolution' left off and make up for the lost time when he couldn't get a break. This mid-tempo track is big on horns and is a nice warm up for the album. If the tune is familiar to you then it's because it was used by Samsung to advertise their U900 phone. As well as the creative process for his third album he also found time to play keyboards on Usher's 'Love In This Club'.

Watch the video here.

Also Ashanti is back from her hiatus with 'Good Good', produced by Jermaine Dupri. Sounds a bit like the leftovers from Mariah's latest album but still a nice little head nodder and welcome return.

Ghetto, Tinchy & Skepta take Westwood to the cleaners, I think you can almost hear him cry.

Another helluva summer tune is Sun, Sea & Sand by JME. Serving up all the right ingredients of your holiday whether you're looking forward to it, already on it or reminiscing about it, your summer holiday is summed up on this track. This is off the 'Famous?' album where plenty of words have already been said so I'll just add that as long as JME is around, the grime scene will always be in a healthy state. Now back to reminiscing about that sun, sea & sand.

This is the tune of Malia at the moment. The Baltimore club influenced remix of Kid Cudi's 'Day & Night' from Italian House duo Crookers. The original itself is a very good track but the bassline on this takes it to a new level. Crookers are featured in the latest issue of the Fader out now and should be heading over to these shores soon. Check out their remix of 'Salmon Dance' too. Cudi, the Cleveland born, Brookln based mc is affiliated with A-Trak's Foolsgold imprint and his mixtape 'A Kid Named Kudi' is out now and worth checking if you've been feeling music from The Cool Kids, Kidz In The Hall and Wale.

"During a great period of intense mixing we decided that it might be nice to shoot a video. This isn't the way the record industry works and so it was under the radar of the label and done totally for us by us on a shoe string. It was totally different from any other promo that I've made in that it was something real that we just filmed rather than trying to create something real looking using lots of people and lots of angles. I feel like it's more than a video in that sense. Aswell as looking quite odd without all the singing and quick cuts."

The Streets are also on tour again, www.seetickets.com for info.