Raggamuffin Update - No Pacific Herbs!

This years Raggamuffin is looking musicially poor & I'm not really looking forward to much of the music, just the Atmosphere. Another announcement is that "PACIFIC HERBS" (few Herb members & House of Shem backing band) isn't performing anymore! WTF! Rats buzz hard! Was looking forward to some Dragons & Demons, Homegrown & Jahs Son, but now that just leaves Sweet n Irie, Sola Rosa/Iva Lamkum & Katchafire from the NZ.

I honestly think that they should've put in more NZ bands.  They would've been more rasta related & musically better than Sean Kingston & Shaggy by far! House of Shem, 1814, 3HD cause no matter how much times they play, it gets the crowd moving hard & playing all NZ bands at the start is another let down; they're good enough to perform later in the day.  They put bands in the bill out of their prime too; House of Shem played the 1st Raggamuffin as and upcoming band? They should've played this year & same goes for 3HD. My bad for bitching, it's just what I think & there's not much reason to fight for front row. Though I could be wrong.

But aside from that, the vibe will be there no doubt & it'll be a day for getting high and seeing beautiful woman. Even though the music is not so appealing & lives up to the "Raggamuffin" title, it'll be solid.

LINE UP

Lauryn Hill with Sly & Robbie

Wyclef Jean

Steel Pulse

 Julian Marley

 Shaggy

 Sean Kingston

 Katchafire

 Sola Rosa with Iva Lamkum

 Sweet & Irie

THE LOCALS: Glen Jackson - Tutunoa

I just thought I'd put up a post for some Homegrown Niuean music!  This Niuean dude Glen Jackson has put out a couple of albums (that you will find in Island music stores lol) and I gotta give props to him (& all other pacific people doing tracks in respective languages) for doing work in our Island languages! It's straight solid! It doesn't get the commercial recognition it should have but all the realists know that it's solid you guys/girls are putting it down, respect!

Even though a lot of it I can't listen to hardout (it's just not the feel etc that I'm used to) but there are many solid tracks out there that sound mean.  So here's a track from Glen Jackson in Niuean which I think is cool (Sorry, don't know what it means but I know the words!). So biggest ups & respect to those making those tracks so I can learn at least a bit of Island language!

Glen Jackson - Tutunoa

Maisey Rika & Tama Waipara Acoustic Tour!

Two of many strong Maori voices are teaming up to lay down Acoustic concerts around the North Island labelled the "Tahi Tour".

I don't know much about Tama's sound, (sorry bro. I'll buy a few tracks off amplifier payday) but with influences like George Benson & Nina Simone (& being Maori) he'll be a good musician. As for Maisey, she's got the sweet soul angel kinda voice. It's strong but in a beautiful sweet way (not that thick power like islanders n black americans) how see sings her notes is so controlled you just stop and stare at this little lady with a solid voice. A lot of her stuff is down tempo/acoustic but her execution is solid and is worth the listen!

Cop her debut album "Tohu" and Tama's "Sir Plus & The Requirments" and catch them live in concert with a full live band (in respective venues) and laying down some special colab work they've done just for the tour!

Check Maiseys Work Here

Check Tamas Sound Here

Fri 5 February

Ruby Lounge, Wellington

Fri 12 February

The Liberty Centre, Whakatane

Sat 13 February

The Belgian Bar, Rotorua

Sun 14 February

Yot Club, Raglan

Thurs 18 February

Nero Cafe, Kaitaia

Fri 19 February

Salut Bar & Brasserie, Whangarei

Sat 20 February

The Classic, Auckland

Thurs 25 February

Sunset Point Bar, Mahia

Fri 26 February

Soho Bar, Gisborne

Tickets for all shows on sale now from http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/

Tickets for Raglan also available from Gag Surf Shop

Check Them Homefront Blogs Homies!

Just in case you didn't know, NZ has got some solid blogs for a read, downloads & to keep in the loop! Ayebro keeps it on lock & up-to-date with fresh NZ Hip Hop, The Hip Drop keeps em coming with those underground rare joints, MTC Blog & Dawnraid Blog keep you in the loop with what's up & going down at their label, PNC, David Dallas & other artists let you know what they're up to & drop comps & other good shit. For me, I'm just anything NZ music!and like to write for you to read.

So make sure you check on the local blogs on the regular (we post as much as we can!) for all things good & solid in NZ music!

You end up finding mean stuff like this

Hip Drop on Holiday beatmince.

                                               

Weekend Gigs - Check The KORU LICKS!

Wassup y'all, I just realised that it's a waste of time me putting up gigs lol but i'll chuck up some ones I think are solid and got somethin to say about. Here's the solid gig guide:

Mukuna Gig Guide

But I think this weekend, your best bet is to start the year off at Rakinos! They got Manual Bundy & Skeme up there tonight, T Rice & Public Benemy tomorrow!

GIG PICK OF THE WEEKEND: KORU LICKS! These cats are young, fresh & freestyle musicians and when the jam they just take the groove wherever feels solid. They gotta solid range of musicians too, so you're in for a show, it's unpredictable! Normal 4 piece with Mikey on the mic tip, Truent on the 1s & 2s & Miso-shiru on MPC. So after you've spent up  all your rent money on some chick that didn't end up givin it up lol head to Raks & chill to some solid music! Check their sound below:

The Licks - Freestyle Jams

Instrumental Lyricists - FREE NZ Instrumental Compilation!

Well, here it is people, the 3rd NZ compilation I promised (my bad for the wait, I was eating oysters & kina!) But I saved the best for last I think. I was selecting songs & was trying to get a good flow, but then I said jack that cause what I was hearing was just a shit load of good instrumentals so I just put em on! This compilation shows everybody wassup with the arrangements, effects, skill, feel & vibe that NZ musicians got when there isn't vocals; we can rip it up either way! (Excuse the Shapshifter track which has a lil vocal, it's just a mean track!)

When you jam these tracks loud, you can feel the heart through the speakers & it just puts you on a good buzz & proud of the NZ music (me anyway) Like Skoolyard by Kora; It's dark I know, but the musicianship is crazy. Insane build up! Then we got the summer vibes of Recloose & Julien Dyne hittin them samplers & spacey synths, Sons Of Zion coming with a young but mature track, Shapeshifter puttin heart n soul through the drum n bass & local beatmakers Haz & Truent droppin solid beats that probably only took them 5mins to make!

There's way more I wanted to put on these compilations but if you want em' drop some coin at Real Groovy, Conch & Amplifier in exchange for gold! Don't buy that feed at BK and get you some solid bargains! Support our music rather than our rugby team! But I felt good puttin down these compilations cause I wanted to let the world know wassup in the land of the long white...CLOUD 9!

Hope you liked the compilations & the blog.

KEEP IT LOCKED ON THE HOMEFRONT!

and keep the vibe live homies!

Instrumental Lyricists - A NZ Instrumental Compilation

Tracklisting

1. Recloose – Mana’s Bounce

2. Julien Dyne – Rice & Beans

3. Christoph El’ Truento - Love Jones

4. Haz Beats - Rainbow Hush

5. Electric Wire Hustle – Thank You Steve

6. Sons Of Zion - Genesis

7. Julien Dyne – Fallin Down (Instrumental)

8. Recloose – Theme From Belle Et Fou (Danny Krivit)

9. Isaac Aesili – Jgroove Instrolude

10. Nathan Haines – Talkin’ Around

11. Del Rey System – Indigo Sunset

12. Salmonella Dub – Wytaliba

13. DLT – Toast That Joint

14. Shapeshifter – Dynaflex

15. The Black Seeds – Senegal Champions Of Africa

16. Cornerstone Roots – Down To Earth

17. Shapeshifter – One (Live)

18. Kora - Skoolyard

SHAPESHIFTER Announce Auckland Show!

And I thought I wasn't going to see them this summer! lol Then BOOM! Playing at The Powerstation is Feb! These guys are next to Kora on my list of live bands. They got drum & bass on lock and being born a live band, their intensity is crazy and then you've got the soulful vocals of P Diggs running through the tracks that take it even higher! My favourite tracks are Bring Change & One (Live) but there's a lot of solid material they got. You gotta cop the live album though!

Them playing in Auckland won't be the same as down at the Coroglen or other outta town places but still, they're playing a show after 3 years! Tickets go on sale Monday, so get yours and shift into Shape homies! Time to get Live!

Shapeshifter: Live @ The Powerstation

Friday, February 12, 2010

Ticket Cost: $ 45

Meth Or Dilated Tonight! - Take Your Pick!

Couldn't find Meth's gig poster but yeah, two international hip hop acts gettin love tonight! I'm not going any, cause I've only got monopoly cash at the moment, but If I had the choice, it'll probably be Dilated Peoples because of the venue (Powerstation is the shit) and their supporting acts, though if Meth had been at Zen with Home Brew as backup, I would've went there. Even though Meth is going to be closer & more "intimate" if you call it that, I still think the venue let it down & it's the most expensive gig to happen at 4:20! Everyone knows that $20bux is the high price for that spot.

Meth is a bit old now, but should still put on a "how high" type of gig as he's a bit of a comedian too but people who don't know much about his music might waste some space for those who wanna get live in the small place! But he's from the Wu, nuff said.  Dilated Peoples got a venue to rip up & the space to breathe and do so and if the realist fans are amongst the crowd, the show will be off the hook no doubt.

For those who can't afford shit lol Go to the Dilated Peoples Afterparty @ Zen, 10bux at the door, with Penfold & Substance spinnin wax!

Either way, it's a good night for Hip Hoppers! Get live homies & rip shit!

THE LOCALS: Nikki Montana - The Epiphany

As promised from Nikki & as seen on Youtube, Facebook & Ayebro, it's here, The Epiphany. There was an album art in the download but I just think she's pretty solid (yeah, good looking, fine or whatever you wanna call it) so I put this one up.

First thing I thought was, what's up with a solid looking girl spittin gangsta rap? Then I realised, it's music anything can happen on the mic. I like this debut drop from her. She's got her style on lock & keeps it solid throughout & doesn't jump all over the place n shit. With her low assertive tone, but main reason is because I like her dark feel, down wit that!

Call it what you want but with what she's got to say here I don't think she gives a fuck haha So download this piece & get on some homegrown femcee hip hop!

Nikki Montana - The Epiphany

Tracklisting

1. You Can Find Me

2. Let It Run

3. Hate On Me

4. Get It In Your Brain

5. Slips Away

6. Never Straight

7. Ice Grill

Hip Hop Holiday - FREE NZ Hip Hop Compilation!

Sorry about the recycled pic, I'm just in a hurry to get it up & there was no pic on google of nz'ers gettin horsed at the beach! Again, to any artists on this compilation who want me to take it off, let me know; it's all for my love of NZ music & wanting anyone to be able to have a taste!

This compilation is really a playlist on my iPod but I think it's solid for the summer whether you're chillin, crusin' to the beach, horsing it at Albert Park or just down to hear some solid NZ Hip Hop.  I set the brew tracks on each end because they're still 2 of my favourite hip hop tracks & just chucked a range of feel good tracks from the crates in between. 

You may agree or not, but i'll back up every track i've put on. I'ma big fan of the brew; think the best live hip hop act out at the moment, puttin some hood into Ponsonby & supportin int. acts, PNC flowin solid wit Zhane & MC Arme comin fresh with the reggae hip hop style. I could go on but i'll leave it there.  Have a few brews & you'll feel the flow of NZ Hip Hop & see yourself playing back the tracks!

Hip Hop Holiday - A NZ Hip Hop Compilation

Tracklisting

Home Brew - Monday

Dawnraid Entertainment - It's Alright

David Dallas - Ever Ever

Del Rey System - NZ To The BK

Oui Groove - Gettin' Down To Business

Spycc & Steez - More & More Ft D'Kno

Young Sid - Shine On You

3 The Hard Way - Hip Hop Holiday

Usual Suspects - Crazy

Home Brew - High Times

Smash Proof - I Ain't No Gangsta

Solephonic - Higher (OTA Remix)

Zhane - Request Line Ft PNC

MC Arme - Don't Pass Me By

Haz & Rescue - Turn It Up

Home Brew - Friday

I forgot to put these two classic hip hop tracks in, so i'll give them as bonus tracks below:

Che Fu - Machine Talk

Che Fu - Without A Doubt