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Its Me Again...

Published by Warren Dell under on Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Example

We may have had to wait three years but with Its Me Again, Tweet has made sure that its been worth the wait.

On the albums intro, over a piano loop Tweet recites her happiness at being able to deliver another chapter in her life and I’m glad that she has.

The first single Turn The Lights Off will by now be familiar to you and this sets the scene for the album. There may not be an up-tempo track in the vein of Oops (oh my) or Boogie 2 Nite but there is plenty of soulful ballads and laid back R’n’B to keep everyone happy.

From Tweet dealing with a relationship turned sour on Iceberg to falling in love with someone un-expectantly on the Rell assisted duet Could It Be, Tweet displays less of the uncertainty she faced on SouthernHummingbird. Now she has come to terms with the trials and tribulations of love and this maturity is displayed throughout.

Tweet brings her daughter in on the project on the lovely Two Of Us. Her voice sounds like her mum and at 15 we may have a future talent on our hands.

The track Sports, Sex & Food has a great retro feel with its piano and hand clapping beat. This is almost like a calling for woman as Tweet drops knowledge by telling woman how to get their man.

Other highlights include the Missy Elliott featured Things I Don’t Mean and Taxi.

The only disappointing aspect of the album is that Missy throws in one to many shout outs, which interrupt the flow of a song. Apart from that this is an album that will be on many peoples lists at the end of the year for best album. Another modern classic from the Southern Hummingbird.

For your listening pleasure...

Published by Warren Dell under on Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Highlights on the live front this month come in the form of Nate James. After selling out the Jazz Café Nate will play a one off date at the end of the month at the Shepherds Bush Empire with support coming from Dawn Robinson. Meanwhile due to public demand John Legend and De La Soul have both added extra dates to their UK tours with Estelle supporting the formers London gig and Doc Brown supporting on the latters tour.

Nate James

May 26 – Shepherds Bush Empire

De La Soul

May 15 – Bristol Academy
May 17 – Manchester Academy
May 18 – Leeds Met University
May 19/21 – London Forum

John legend

May 15/16 – Shepherds Bush Empire
May 18 – Manchester Academy
May 19 – Birmingham Academy

K-Os

May 25 – Brighton Concorde
May 26 – Manchester Academy
May 27 – London Jazz Café

Rhian Benson

May 19/20/21 – London Jazz Cafe

Homelands Festival


The Streets, Root Manuva, Jazzy Jeff, Rodney P & Skitz, Skinnyman & DJ Flip, Kano, Mitchell Brothers, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Melle & Scorpio, Scrath Perverts, Kentaro

May 28

Media Watch...

Published by Warren Dell under on Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Here’s a brief round-up of what’s on the shelves this month in the world of urban music press.

Hip Hop Connection’s cover star is R.A Rugged Man who gives a revealing interviewing and shares his views on Biggie, almost working with The Neptunes and dealing with P.Diddy. There is also an interview with the rotton one Blak Twang and news on the Ghostface and MF Doom collaboration.

Kano is Undercover Magazine's cover star and he speaks about his upcoming album release. This months cover mount CD includes a great track from Wordsmith.

Touch Magazine is running with a double cover of Faith Evans on one side and Roll Deep on the other. Touch speaks to Faith about Biggie and her new album while Roll Deep give us the low down on their debut set. Teedra Moses gets some shine while there is an interesting round the table discussion with Chantelle Fiddy, Disorda, Martin Moulton and Riki Bleau about some of the latest issues including Grime and Channel U.

Blues and Soul has the usual respected columns and cover star Faith Evans speaks about her new project.

Roll Deep have taken over Rewind magazine for a month and includes various features around them including news on their upcoming album, Danny Weed on why skunk is bad for you and Riko get’s off his chest how he feels about weak DVD’s trying to create beef.

Style magazine I.D has a 12 page feature on the new sound to be breaking out in London, Grime. Written by Hattie Collins and Chantelle Fiddy the spread features some of the key players in the scene from artists such as Kano and Sway to the behind the scenes people.

Even publications such as the New York Times and Montreal Mirror have touched on the subject of Grime. Expect The Sun’s Bizarre columnist Victoria Newton to soon tell us that Kano is the next big thing in British Music!

Mos Def is the subject of an interview in the May issue of Dazed and Confused which mainly focuses on his role in The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy but he does find time to talk about his next album.

If commercial ish is what takes your fancy then XXL are running with a double cover of Fat Joe and T.I. They also give an XXL rating to Common’s new album. Meanwhile the once great Source Magazine continues it’s attack on all things Interscope in a report on corporate manipulation in the Hip Hop game. Cover star is Interscope recording artist The Game but the article inside is an interview with a Black Wall Street affiliate who dishes the dirt on the recent beef with 50 Cent. Vibe asks the question, Why haven’t we learned anything from the murders of Biggie, Tupac and Jam Master Jay.

 

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