NYC's finest future-rap collective, Anti-Pop Consortium, are back in the UK this weekend to play the excellent Koko. The good folk at Soundcrash are putting on the show, with support coming in the shape of The Herbaliser.
The show is on Saturday 24th July, 9.00pm until 3.00am, and the venue is located at 1a Camden High Street.
After the success of Roots Manuva's 'Go Bananas!' night at The Book Club, the legendary UK bass-head is taking it to the next level with 'Dub College' at The Queen of Hoxton. Launching on July 23rd, this exploration of what Mr Manuva describes as "bass culture" will kick off with a meeting of artists from his longtime home, Big Dada, and his own label/gang, Banana Klan. Less a clash than a meeting of minds, the night will feature Big Dada artists old and new alongside the cream of the Banana Klan.
Mixing it up over two floors will be Jammer, celebrating the release of his debut album, 'Jahmanji', the Illersapiens bringing their completely live take on the UK hip hop blueprint; Scots beat-blaster Offshore will be hammering out the Cale-Funk and Ahmos dropping sharp lyrics in a classic North West London flow; DELS will be showcasing some of the Joe Hot Chip-produced electronic hip hop which has already seen him described as a Roots Manuva for a new generation and Oliver Night, a sometime member of Roots' band, the Banana Skinz, will be focussing on his dubstep-influenced floorfillers. Meanwhile Ricky Ranking will be bringing the beauty and the pain in the South London soundsystem way he has made his own and Big Dada will round out their bill with their longest serving and newest MCs, Birmingham's legendary Juice Aleem and Liverpool's Bang On. Throw the BK DJs into the mix, add the presence of our genial host, Rooty-Toot Manuva, and you have an evening of the very finest entertainment.
Book early, come in, expect bottom-end business.
Jammer & Toddla T 'Back to the 90s' Live
Thursday 08 Jul
Jammer and T Willy take it way back at The Observer HQ
DELS 'Shapeshift' Video
Wednesday 07 Jul
Welcome please, to the world of Kieren Dickens aka DELS. The young MC has been creating a buzz ever since John Peel heard him as a teenager and put him on the radio. Now he’s ready to re-write the rules of rap in the UK in a way that hasn’t happened for years.
'Shapeshift' is a perfect place to start. The beat is courtesy of long-time collaborator Joe Goddard, better known for his work as part of Hot Chip. Goddard hooks up some ultra-squelchy, off-kilter electronic madness (as well as dropping in to deliver a poker-faced middle 8). Over it, DELS does what he does best, in this case taking us back to a childhood in which his biggest dream was to be able to turn into something else. It’s a proper recollection of childhood, its fears as well as its fun, not one of those fake lists of vintage products like Raleigh Grifters. DELS slams it out in a clear voice which shows the influence of Grime, while the cleverness of his punch lines and metaphors show he ain’t kowtowing to any of the many cliches of the form.
