Apart from a Bo Selecta caricature, we haven’t heard much from Southampton’s finest Craig David in almost three years. But that is about to change with the release of his new album, The Story Goes. Out on the 22nd August Craig is back with a bang if the first single is anything to go by.

All The Way is perfect club material while still being radio friendly and sees Craig re-united with co-writer and very underrated producer Mark Hill (ex Artful Dodger and The Stix for those that don’t know).

The song is on a very upbeat tip and reminiscent of Donnell Jones, Put Me Down. Yes we are talking big here and if this doesn’t put Craig back at the forefront of UK Urban music then there is something wrong.

If the sun actually surfaces soon then this is wind down the car windows/drop the top down music at it’s best. A perfect vibe for the summer and sets us up nicely for the album.

After the success of Born To Do It, Craig branched out and worked with the Ignorants production team for Slicker Than Your Average, only working with Mark Hill on the second single Hidden Agenda, but he handles the bulk of production on the new album and should see Craig back to making tracks as good as Fill Me In, 7 Days and Walking Away.

The single, All The Way is released 8th August and Craig will be performing his only concert date of the summer at the Somerset House, London on the same day. The album is out 22nd August.

Welcome back Craig.

Another favourite of mine, Rump Shaker was a massive crossover hit for Wrecks-N-Effect back in 1992. The New Jack Swing sound was in full flow thanks to Teddy Riley’s production and this track even had the influence of a young Pharrell Williams, who along with Chad Hugo had been taken under Teddy’s wing. Accompanied by a video set on the beach with an array of shapely woman, the track would go on to help the group secure platinum status for the album Hard or Smooth. Oh for the days of New Jack Swing to return...

After the success of last years event, the Brighton Hip-Hop festival returns for summer 2005 bigger and better. With block parties, workshops and film screenings, culminating with an all day festival by the beach, there is plenty going on during July on the South Coast to fill your Hip-Hop needs.

Things kick-off with the CD and festival launch party this Saturday and a B-Boy battle jam on Sunday, with events continuing right through July. The Hip-Hop film festival will allow people a chance to see classics like Wild Style, Style Wars and Scratch to the more recent Freestyle: Art of Rhyme and South Coast – a film all about the Brighton scene.

For budding MC’s, DJ’s and producers there are workshops being run by the Youth Music Group and on Saturday 23rd July you can sample some of that Brooklyn flavour by popping down to the Block Party at Tarner Basketball Court.

To promote the event a mix CD compiled by Clever Looking featuring local acts will be given away free with the July issue of Touch magazine and at the events over the course of the month.

Some of the acts performing on the festival day (31st July) include Salvo, Foulmouth, Mole & Iris, Southern Suspects, Skillmega and many more. In total there will be 13 live acts on display. For the full line up check www.brightonhiphopfestival.org and www.brightonhiphop.com

A day by the beach and Hip-Hop, what more could you ask for!