Gil Scott-Heron "R.I.P. Master"

Via: Trev 4!

One of the most important progenitors of rap music, Gil Scott-Heron's aggressive, no-nonsense street poetry inspired a legion of intelligent rappers while his engaging songwriting skills placed him square in the R&B charts later in his career, backed by increasingly contemporary production courtesy of Malcolm Cecil and Nile Rodgers (of Chic). Born in Chicago but transplanted to Tennessee for his early years, Scott-Heron spent most of his high-school years in the Bronx, where he learned firsthand many of the experiences which later made up his songwriting material. He had begun writing before reaching his teenage years, however, and completed his first volume of poetry at the age of 13. Though he attended college in Pennsylvania, he dropped out after one year to concentrate on his writing career and earned plaudits for his novel, The Vulture. Encouraged at the end of the '60s to begin recording by legendary jazz producer Bob Thiele — who had worked with every major jazz great, from Louis Armstrong to John Coltrane — Scott-Heron released his 1970 debut, Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, inspired by a volume of poetry of the same name. With Thiele's Flying Dutchman Records until the mid-'70s, he signed to Arista soon after and found success on the R&B charts. Though his jazz-based work of the early '70s was tempered by a slicker disco-inspired production, Scott-Heron's message was as clear as ever on the Top 30 single "Johannesburg" and the number 15 hit "Angel Dust." Silent for almost a decade, after the release of his 1984 single "Re-Ron," the proto-rapper returned to recording in the mid-'90s with a message for the gangsta rappers who had come in his wake; Scott-Heron's 1994 album Spirits began with "Message to the Messengers," pointed squarely at the rappers whose influence — positive or negative — meant much to the children of the 1990s.



In a touching bit of irony which he himself was quick to joke about, Gil Scott-Heron was born on April Fool's Day 1949 in Chicago, the son of a Jamaican professional soccer player (who spent time playing for Glasgow Celtic) and a college-graduate mother who worked as a librarian. His parents divorced early in his life, and Scott-Heron was sent to live with his grandmother in Lincoln, TN. Learning musical and literary instruction from her, Scott-Heron also learned about prejudice firsthand, as he was one of three children picked to integrate an elementary school in nearby Jackson. The abuse proved to much to bear, however, and the eighth-grader was sent to New York to live with his mother, first in the Bronx and later in the Hispanic neighborhood of Chelsea.



Though Scott-Heron's experiences in Tennessee must have been difficult, they proved to be the seed of his writing career, as his first volume of poetry was written around that time. His education in the New York City school system also proved beneficial, introducing the youth to the work of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes as well as LeRoi Jones. After publishing a novel called The Vulture in 1968, Scott-Heron applied to Pennsylvania's Lincoln University. Though he spent less than one year there, it was enough time to meet Brian Jackson, a similarly minded musician who would later become a crucial collaborator and integral part of Scott-Heron's band. Given a bit of exposure — mostly in magazines like Essence, which called The Vulture "a strong start for a writer with important things to say" — Scott-Heron met up with Bob Thiele and was encouraged to begin a music career, reading selections from his book of poetry Small Talk at 125th & Lennox while Thiele recorded a collective of jazz and funk musicians, including bassist Ron Carter, drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Hubert Laws on flute and alto saxophone, and percussionists Eddie Knowles and Charlie Saunders; Scott-Heron also recruited Jackson to play on the record as pianist. Most important on the album was "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," an aggressive polemic against the major media and white America's ignorance of increasingly deteriorating conditions in the inner cities. Scott-Heron's second LP, 1971's Pieces of a Man, expanded his range, featuring songs such as the title track and "Lady Day and John Coltrane" which offered a more straight-ahead approach to song structure (if not content).



The following year's Free Will was his last for Flying Dutchman, however; after a dispute with the label, Scott-Heron recorded Winter in America for Strata East, then moved to Arista Records in 1975. As the first artist signed to Clive Davis' new label, much was riding on Scott-Heron to deliver first-rate material with a chance at the charts. Thanks to Arista's more focused push on the charts, Scott-Heron's "Johannesburg" reached number 29 on the R&B charts in 1975. Important to Scott-Heron's success on his first two albums for Arista (First Minute of a New Day and From South Africa to South Carolina) was the influence of keyboardist and collaborator Brian Jackson, co-billed on both LPs and the de facto leader of Scott-Heron's Midnight Band.



Jackson left by 1978, though, leaving the musical direction of Scott-Heron's career in the capable hands of producer Malcolm Cecil, a veteran producer who had midwifed the funkier direction of the Isley Brothers and Stevie Wonder earlier in the decade. The first single recorded with Cecil, "The Bottle," became Scott-Heron's biggest hit yet, peaking at number 15 on the R&B charts, though he still made no waves on pop charts. Producer Nile Rodgers of Chic also helped on production during the 1980s, when Scott-Heron's political attack grew even more fervent with a new target, President Ronald Reagan. (Several singles, including the R&B hits "B Movie" and "Re-Ron," were specifically directed at the President's conservative policies.) By 1985, however, Scott-Heron was dropped by Arista, just after the release of The Best of Gil Scott-Heron. Though he continued to tour around the world, Scott-Heron chose to discontinue recording. He did return, however, in 1993 with a contract for TVT Records and the album Spirits.



"Godfather of Rap" Gil Scott-Heron, who in 1970 mixed poetry and music for his militant song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," died Friday May 27th, 2011 in the afternoon in a New York hospital. Gil Scott-Heron was known to be HIV positive and had struggled with drug addiction throughout a large part of his life.

Rest In Peace MASTER

Oyoshe Bring Da Noise 2

The new album from Oyoshe the young Napolitan Beatmaker and Mc featuring Vast Aire, Access Immortal, Chief Kamachi, Blaq Poet, Verbal Kent, BlockMcCloud, C-Rayz, Craig G.
Listen Up!!!!

Buy on: ITUNES

When did you start and why?

I started making music in 2001 just for fun with a simple playstation app...I recorded my rap on mixtapes that I still own somewhere !I used to get my hands on black market cds, like Eminem and The Wu Tang.I also listened and burned every single show of "Radio Rin" mostly because they played Rap, that's where I learned about kool g, Naughty By Nature, Kurtis Blow and many more old school Mcs.

Who are the beatmaker who inspires you?


The beatmaker who inspires me the most is dj Premier, I own an MPC with hissignature on it and every day, when I turn it on I got that name in front of me, How can't I be inspired?
Marco Polo's "Authority Porth" influenced me a lot, I also likekev brown's basslines, and worship Pete Rock's sound.I’ve got a lot of admiration for Damu because he's giving a second life to "The golden age", but I also grew up with "Fantastic damage" and all of "Def Jux" (as you may have notice most of the album tracks have names taken from the old Def Jux) In other words, it goes from the classic to the more experimental,and most of all, I dig everything which is pure hip hop music.

What do you think of the Italian scene in general?


I really respect the Italian scene, and especially the old school, even if it now seems that everything is centered around it and that it doesn’t leave much room for anything else. The important events are build around big names (which is obviously a guarantee) but I keep repeating that one should dig deeper to find the best shit around!

What does it mean to be born in Naples?


I think that Naples breathes Hip Hop in many different ways, and i’m not only talking about the 4 disciplines.I see Hip Hop where there is truth and spontaneity, and Naples is full of it, from the men selling fruits right from the street, to the Spanish neighborhood, where the boys living there may have very little to do with hip hop.Regarding the 4 disciplines, what it needs is more union. More breakers that listen what mc's are saying, more mcs willing to learn about breakdance or just show up more often to the contests ...We are a rap reality whose trying to emigrate while keeping a strong connection to our roots, because what matters is the TRUTH and OUR truth is that we come from Naples, we feel the need to emerge and represent our town... we love to represent Naples.

Can you tell us how this heavy collaborations with USA started ?


It started when some famous Mcs listened to my beats on Myspace ( The best page to do that at the time ) I couldn’t afford an expensive studio or collaborate with artists that would ask for too much money. Our project has always been crystal clear and the more it goes on, the more there were people interested and curious about our work. It essential to always be aware of where you want to go even when you don’t have the best cards in hand.

First official debut video of the neapolitan beatmaker Oyoshe feat Blaq Poet with the song ''Deal With It'' From the Album ''Bring Da Noise 2'' out for Soulspazm (u.s.a)Subway and B.M. Records (eu).





Mad Props to Lady Yaya for the translation!!!

DJ Wich & Nironic - Be Brief feat. C Monts

This song makes me feel good, respect to these three guys who never stop doing good shit.
Mad props to DJ Wich, Nironic and C Monts.
Check this out!




http://www.facebook.com/djwich
http://www.facebook.com/djwich.goldentouch
http://www.facebook.com/nironicworld
http://www.twitter.com/djwich
http://www.twitter.com/nironic
http://www.twitter.com/cmonts

Machine Beats and Beatnotik Bring the Noise!!!

Check it!!!

Machine Beats Promo from Machine Beats on Vimeo.

Thanks to David Montes Aldea for make this video!

MACHINE BEATS @ The Bus (Razzmatazz)

Are you ready?!

MACHINE BEATS vuelve con más fuerza, más frescos y en un formato más grande que nunca! Esta tercera edición la haremos en la sala Rex Room de Razzmatazz, uno de los clubs más reconocidos de Barcelona. Estad preparados para una noche muy, muy épica cargada de bajos contundentes a ritmo de DUBSTEP, UK GRIME y GARAGE.

MACHINE BEATS is back stronger than ever! Our third night will be held for the first time in the Rex Room of one of the most notorious clubs in Barcelona, Razzmatazz. Get ready for something very, very epic filled with heavy bass, from DUBSTEP to GRIME through GARAGE.
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FREE GUEST LIST TILL 01:30 > NAME ON THE WALL (+1 max.)
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Para ir calentando la noche / Warm up by:

00:00 - KLS BEATS

01:00 - TROPICAL TERROR

MACHINE BEATS KREW:

02:00 - FELIX M. DOWELL

03:00 - BRU MARTI

04:00 - MR MARVIN MATIAN

After 01:30 > 10€ + drink

Savage Ballet UK

Pic @Yaya

Dexter St, jock is British born Barbadian art brut MC he’s also one half of London’s afro-centric hip hop duo Savage Ballet. Years before sharing stages with Jeru Da Damaja, Ghost face, Boots (the Coup) and John Robinson the young man took an interest in hip-hop at an early age. He was particularly inspired by MC’s Posdnuos of De La Soul, Chi Ali and early nineties group Rumpletilskinz .By his mid to late teens
he hooked up with local rap group Dirty Spades, who’s members included a pre Kiss FM Shortee Blitz, The group was short lived.

It was around this time just after the split he went on a solo mission to get his act together. He took to tagging, drawing in his sketch pad, visiting the various museums and galleries around the city. Gradually this lead to him drifting back into writing lyrics. About a year later he linked up with MC Versetyle through mutual friends. The two eventually pooled their resources and under the name Blakteria released the all styles no substance EP in spring of 2003.

After the groups dissolution Dexter went on to work with London hip hop main stays AM, Lewis Parker and Unsung Heroes. He would later go on to form the group Rogues Gallery with close friend Kobi playing at local hip-hop nights such as
Blacktronica and Kung fu. Shortly there after in 2008, he met a Jamaican born and raised producer/dub poet Eriq Sterling and went on to found Savage Ballet; the rest is history. From here on out they have one mission, and that is to transform every room they enter into a musical instrument…

Enjoy the New Album "Suspend Your DisBelief SNIPPETS" from Savage Ballet and the Promo Trailer:



Suspend Your DisBelief SNIPPETS by La Ballet Sauvage

DAVID VANGEL – BREADTH CONTROL ALBUM OUT SOON

BREADTH CONTROL ALBUM OUT SOON

I was amazed by the quality of his music and i loved it! Stay Tuned!!
Today, we would like to announce the upcoming debut album by David Vangel (formerly just Vangel) on Equinox Records called “Breadth Control”. The album is a really beautiful collection of 13 tracks and will be available in Vinyl, CD, & Digital formats on May 20th.

Breadth Control is a mind altering affair loaded with emotive melodies, explosive dynamics, and savage gauntlets of fierce drum programming. Raising the bar, the 13-track collection is a fusion of sampling and live instrumentation, including elements of hiphop, jazz, indie rock, electronic, gentle psychedelia, and even world music. The journey of “Breadth Control” is intense; moving listeners with orchestral string arrangements and an overall cinematic quality that creates abstract visions ranging from optimism to melancholy.

On a thematic level, “Breadth Control” is an exploration of the scope of human thinking while it is engaged in sound and music. A musical experience that is the intermingling of genres, the debut LP is the future of electronic music from the brain of one of Canada’s most prominent sound pioneers.

The album artwork, created by The Raincoatman, follows a simple and elegant black & white theme with extensive design.
Special design features include: white vinyl and a printed inlay for the LP release, and a custom digipak sleeve for the CD release.

At the end of the month, look out for the Video produced by Canadian production company: Pistoltrixx, for the first Single off the album.

Last but not least, we are happy to announce that there will be a pre-order deal for the album in cooperation with hhv.de that will include a free T-Shirt!



Preview Tracklisting and more info about the release will be posted here:
www.e-q-x.net

Also more info about David Vangel right here:
www.e-q-x.net
www.vangelmusic.com