Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

No doubt this album being released on April 20th this year, it will do so with no big fanfare and probably fall below the radar. Shame that. I can understand though, there won't be songs about lollipops or some new dance craze, the content will no doubt be deeper than a child's paddling pool, plus proceeds of the album will go towards building schools in the Congo...I can see how this may put off the modern hip hop fan.

Anyway, with my usual cynicisms over, I am looking forward to this project and will definitely check it out when it's released. So far a few tracks have been released and here's one of my favourites that i've got on constant repeat right about now.

Nas & Damian Marley - As We Enter

MusicDNA - The Future of Music?

It has been revealed this week that the creators of the MP3 have made a new music file format. They have called this new format "MusicDNA". These files will work like MP3s but allow extra content such as videos, artwork, lyrics and blog posts to be included in the file. This content is continually updated keeping the file up to date.

Am I excited about this? In a word....no.

This is hardly an great evolution of what we currently have. When you download new music from iTunes you can get a digital booklet with it, do you really want anything else? I can imagine checking blogs or reviews etc before purchasing the music but after?

Over the past 20 odd years there have been big leaps in the way we play our music. In my mind the main reason for moving forward should always be because either the quality is greatly improved or because the new media makes is more easily portable. Being more easily portable isn't really an issue nowadays with the ability to carry 100s of thousands of MP3s on a single device.

The jump from vinyl to cassette was massive and the walkman was king. Moving on to CD the jump in quality was huge. Even minidisc had it's day due to it's size.

Whether MusicDNA becomes the next BluRay or Betamax remains to be seen. To me though it's like needlessly putting things together that exist on their own well enough in the first place. This is not an evolution.

Adidas ZX800 Black & White

I've been liking quite a few of the colourways in the Adidas ZX range and they've done nicely with their latest black and white editions of the ZX800.

Admittedly not many trainers that aren't made by Nike generally touch my feet but at times you can't beat Adidas originals for giving you that something different.

The subtle chequerboard pattern is a neat addition. Still lovin my black and white Adidas Forum Mids at the moment but might just have to add these to the collection too.

Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge, Rihanna - Stranded

Here's a performance of the Haiti aid track "Stranded". Got to say it's pretty impressive considering how quickly it's been knocked together. Shame they couldn't keep Rihanna away from proceedings but it's all for a good cause

Go purchase the song on iTunes. All proceeds go to help Haiti via Partners In Health.

A New Basketball League...For Whites

I saw this story over on TheRapUp....Apparently those nasty blacks are ruining the good old game of basketball, so one "canny" boxing promoter in Augusta USA has come up with an ingenious alternative to the NBA. Imagine a league where the players just play the "good, old" type of bball, where the players are all "wholesome" characters. Well you could be part of this, oh, well as long as both of your parents are caucasian!



I guess it could work, I mean just looking through some comments on related YouTube videos there are a few valid points made, there would be no guns in dressing room lockers, no nappy headed hoes at games (hold tight Don Imus), instead of dunk competitions they could have lay up contests!

Well let's hear from the man himself...big shout to Donald Trump's barber who has done a sterling job on this dudes syrup too.



So there you go...would this ever be a popular idea? What would be the equivalent if we switched it around? A blacks only swimming club? hmm...what happened to Eric the Eel?!

Ludacris new video "How Low"

Can't stop playing this new booty bounce tune from his new album called Battle of the Sexes....Ludacris always seems to bring out these kinda tracks that make you wanna smack the DJ for not playing it.

Video is jokes, it's got a dancing Ludacris busting some moves and of course some fine ladies dropping it low...check it out

Ludacris New Mixtape

As Ludacris prepares for his new album titled "Battle of the Sexes", he's keeping busy promoting his new drink called Conjure, with a free mixtape. Oh yes, I love the freeness like I love my food!

Hit the link for the download...
http://usershare.net/rxfsrnd91nd1

Enjoy folks....

Kida - The Endemic Mixtape

You're probably thinking who the hell is Kida, trust me the boy can hold his own and he is working with some of the best around such as Busta Rhymes, Little Brother, DJ Khalil, Kurupt and Marsha Ambrosius to name a few.

Production is tight and with beats from The Real Focus (okay so you may not know of focus but his been under the watchful eye of Dr Dre for some time and his beats are knocking). Let me know what you think people (I like to let people know about decent music) , click the link below to download...

http://kida.bandcamp.com/

Here's the tracklist...

1. The Endemic (Intro) (Produced by WyldFyer)
2. The Change Up (Produced by Seige)
3. Ain’t Nothin feat. TheRealFocus… (Produced by TheRealFocus…)
4. I’m Clean feat. TheRealFocus… (Produced by TheRealFocus…)
5. Fight This Feeling (Produced by 9th Wonder)
6. Street Music (Produced by DJ Khalil)
7. The Wrong Rapper (Produced by !llmind)
8. I’m Good (Produced by Mell & D)
9. Inglewood’s Finest (Produced by Seige)
10. I Put In Work feat. TheRealFocus… (Produced by TheRealFocus…)
11. Not Real Music SKIT
12. Wanna Be’s Feat. Kobe (Produced by DJ Khalil)
13. Platinum Status feat DJ Rhettmatic (Produced by TheRealFocus…
14. I Appreciate U (Produced by TheRealFocus…)
15. Oh Baby! (Produced by TheRealFocus…)
16. Sho’ Shot feat. TheRealFocus… (Produced by Mell & D)
17. HOLLA! feat. Nell (Produced by D.J Seige)
18. WordPlay (Produced by TheRealFocus…)
19. Yes Indeed (Produced by Jake One)
20. Eulogy (Produced by DJ Khalil)
21. HOLLA! REMIX feat. Busta Rhymes, Little Brother, Kurupt, Crooked I, Talib Kweli, Jay Rock, Willie B (Produced by Seige)
22. Homage To Dr.Dre Feat. Crooked I, Jay Rock, Marsha Ambrosius (Produced by TheRealFocus…) ******BONUS TRACK******

Ms. Cherri V (one to look out for)

UK has a new princess by the name of Cherri V, she has an awesome blend of rock/pop/RnB and is a talented singer and songwriter.

Cherri was singing by the age of 5 in her church and her famous aunty Mica Paris (come on if you don't know UK music with Mica Paris and the likes of Omar stop reading lol) gave her a cameo in her video 'My One Temptation'. She went to Brit school and in her teens she was wowing live audiences as she toured with Mercury Prize winner, Ms Dynamite (where's she at?!).

She started out in a group called Trinity Stone in 2005, when their contract ended in 2007 Cherri went Solo and signed to the independent label 6060 Music, being given free rein to write, and sing her own music.

Cherri V is no doubt one to watch with her debut album, 'Fast Cars, Silk Sheets and Favourite Guys', set for release later in 2010. Cheeri descirbes her forthcoming album in her own words as an album which "... unites a mixture of RnB,Rock and Pop melodies with a provoking piece of Cherri on top!".

I've been lucky enough to see her perform last year at Miss Flavour 2009 event and she for was the highlight performance (ask Mrz 2Drinkz) we were vibing to her songs and her energy on stage is great....


Look out world for Cherri V setting a trend...

Teddy P....

A sad note to start the year on with the passing of Soul singing legend Teddy Pendergrass, He died @ hospital in Philadelphia following "a difficult recovery" from colon cancer surgery.



Rest In Peace Teddy P.....

The A-Team (trailer)

I believe my prayers have been answered people, I'm liking the trailer....do I have to say much beside I pity the fool lol...This film has been in production for some time and its due for release in June (oh yes), I can't wait...oh and yes that is possible for a tank to do that (I did it last night lol!) watch the trailer and you will know what i'm talking about....

Jay-Z - On to the Next One

Jay-Z is opening up the new year with another video from his album. Doesn't he stop?! The track is produced by Mr Swizz Beatz (I wonder if I will hear this in a club).

Is it just me, or does this track get a little bit irritating? Oh well on to the next one.

Aye Aye Caption - January

It's a new year and here's a new feature we are going to be running each month. Aye Aye Caption is basically a caption competition. It's very simple, take a look at the picture below, think of your wittiest caption and let us know.

You can leave your caption as a comment on this post, write it on the wall of our Facebook page, or email it to us at farringdons@whassup.co.uk.

We will post up the best ones at the end of the month!

The Queen Greets Lady Gaga at the Royal Variety Show....

Dru Hill - Love MD ... Hate It or Rate It

Before I start I should reveal my biases...i'm a big fan of 90's RnB and Hip Hop, particularly the likes of Wu Tang, Jodeci, Dru Hill etc. So with that being said my opinion may be slightly weighted.

So, I thought with Sisqo currently being in the Big Brother house it would be a relevant time to air this. Dru Hill have slated a March 23rd release for their 4th album imaginatively/stupidly (delete as appropriate) titled Indrupendence Day.

The first release from their first album for 8 years is Love MD (listen below). I've got to say...I like it. The first thing I noticed was Sisqo seems to have lost his voice somewhat, from seeing him on BB though perhaps this is due to smoking and the like, tut tut. With that being said though he can still hold his own. This song is a bit of a throwback and maybe an indicator that there is still hope in a dying genre that lacks variety at the forefront.

Being critical i'd say after the 2nd verse the track loses it's way a little and could possibly have done with a 3rd verse but as far as comeback singles go I was expecting the worst and was nicely surprised. I rate it...do you agree or do you hate it?

Gucci Mane - Lyrical Genius

Ok so i sparked up a bit of a conversation earlier on Facebook stating that "Gucci Mane is so wack it's ridiculous...and if u r a fan of his, so are you and should probably go read some books". Maybe that sounds harsh, on reflection though, i stand by every word!

This type of "artist" is exactly what is wrong with today's music and a sad reflection of the people who actually buy it. Now some of you may not have heard of him before, you are not missing out...but check the video underneath for a great example.

I don't believe in criticising without reason so stating the obvious it is, but this guy clearly has no talent. His videos would help by having subtitles, i've heard some lazy flows (see mase, loon etc) but his takes the mick. Let's just imagine now you listen closely enough to hear what he's saying. You might hear a lyrical gem like...

"Baby we okay-ay, where you want to go today? No, she not a prostitute but if she was i'd have to pay"

Add to this the fact he says his name "Gucci" so often, that's one word at least you can pick out in his songs.

I really feel that artists like Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj OJ da Juiceman etc are a cancer in hiphop and part of the reason why A) it is dying and B) it is ridiculed by people who don't know the genre too well. Also this is exactly why some young dumb people believe a viable way to make a living is to get a criminal record and start rapping...i mean damn he makes it look easy!

To try and balance out the equation I guess you could say he should get respect for earning money despite having no obvious talent....umm yea well Gucci Katie Price and the rest of that club get no respect here.

Here is one of Gucci Mane's latest masterpieces for you to enjoy

KFC Uproar

The Australia advert for KFC stating the only way to shut us up is a bucket of chicken....ummmm maybe we are taking this to serious but there is a fine line between just having fun and sterotypes.

The ad shows a lone white Australian man surrounded by a raucous crowd of black West Indies supporters at a cricket match. He asks “Need a tip when you’re stuck in an awkward situation?” and proceeds to share a bucket of fried chicken with the crowd.

Australian Web site news.com.au reported that KFC called the ad a “light-hearted” reference to cricket and said that any intent of racism was “misinterpreted by a segment of people in the U.S.

Question is do you find this offensive or just a bit of fun?

I know for a fact if some comedian done this I may of been busting my gut...