In the run up to the winter season, there can sometimes be a lack of news in the music scene – with musicians choosing to keep a low profile and we rarely hear much new music. But it seems like in 2015, with so much news that has already passed, that artists want to make sure they make a statement before the end of play [which is only 4 weeks away!] This week sees news stories which effect the world of music and film so chill with us as we bring you the best of last weeks music news.
Urban music dominates BBC’s Sound of 2016 list
There comes a point around November/December each year as platforms and channels scramble to compile lists of artists that they think will dominate the airwaves and charts over the next 12 months. This week saw BBC announce their final list of nominees forSound of 2016 and urban music featured highly on the agenda with nominations for South London’s J Hus, MOBO 2015 winnersSection Boyz, up and coming rapper Loyle Carner and breakthrough group WSTRN. It is a great look for the urban music scene with the list for 2015 only including two urban music spots [Novelist and Stormzy]. Being nominated in itself is a great achievement and will give them additional and well deserved exposure.
R.S returns with Episode 2 of his #HoodDocumentary
Urban comedy has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past year with acts like Mandem on the Wall, A Squeezy, J Weezyand Kurupt FM all having success, both online and on TV. Seeming coming from nowhere, R.S aka Roll Safe has blown up, showcasing his #HoodDocumentary last month and killing his Fire in the Booth with Charlie Sloth. His underrated brand of comedy has been taking over, with Episode 2 dropping last week and accumulating 70,000 views in under 48 hours! The episode itself is full of quotables [“All I see is bootcuts“] and has cameos from the likes of Doc Brown, Klayze Flaymz and Vujanic. It will be great to see where this goes next and we’re sure we can see some music cameos soon.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ss5dVrYfl0U
Chip returns with ‘Believe and Achieve Episode 2
After what seems like a long summer with Chip and Bugzy Malone sending a number of diss tracks back and forth, we all awaited to hear what new music the pair would drop. While Bugzy dropped a new track ‘Bronson‘ earlier in the week, Chip released the latest installment of his Believe and Achieve project, Episode 2. Premiered exclusively by The FADER, the CD features the likes of Wiley &Frisco [‘My Bruddaz‘], Maverick Sabre [‘Weigh Up X Positive‘] and Eric Bellinger [‘Connected‘] and is a great standalone project. As the release coincided with his 25th birthday, he also decided to drop the whole project on YouTube for free, as a gift to his fans. When asked about the project, the North London MC said; “The mission statement is pretty self-explanatory, just gotta believe and achieve. Keep going, even when the odds are against you”.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=m-4qnl38K1E%3Flist%3DPLsvTAyhLLd-aAB6nOT4RY7BAd8Hrl8Ov8
https://youtube.com/watch?v=m-4qnl38K1E%3Flist%3DPLsvTAyhLLd-aAB6nOT4RY7BAd8Hrl8Ov8
Novelist teams up with Chase & Status for the final installment in London Bars
Over the past month, production duo Chase & Status have been dropping track after track as part of their London Bars series, enlisting the help of Frisco [‘Funny‘], Giggs [‘More Ratatatin‘] and Bonkaz [‘Wha Gwan?‘]. For the final installment in the series, 18 year old Novelist steps up to the plate for ‘Bigger Man Sound’. The video, that was shared by i-D magazine, picks up where Vol.III left off and sees Novelist dropping some of his deepest bars yet over a thumping instrumental provided by C&S. The whole project has been largely successful with over 1 million views accumulatively, spread across platforms like GRM Daily, SB.TV and Noisey. The project served as a taster for Chase and Status‘ upcoming album, which is sure to be packed full of hits.
Giggs and SN1 drop the long awaited SN1 folder
After teasing us for a couple of weeks, Giggs and his SN1 crew have finally let loose the The SN1 Folder. a collaborative project between the South London crew. The mixtape features new audio from the likes of the Hollow Man, as well as Joe Grind, Kyze,Gunna Dee, Tiny Boost and Boom Blast. The Peckham crew not only bless us with original new recordings, but also take on some of the hottest beats from the US currently, adding verses to Drake and Future’s ‘Jumpman‘ and A$AP Rocky’s ‘Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye II‘. After what has been a great year for Giggs, it is great to hear him alongside the likes of Joe Grind and Kyze again and almost has a nostalgic feel, as well as showing us how much more they have to deliver.
Stormzy set to feature in upcoming Brotherhood film
After setting a U.K. chart record and getting his own show on Apple‘s Beats 1 Radio this year, Stormzy recently started work on his first movie role. According to Screendaily, the MC will play a character named Yardz in Noel Clarke‘s Brotherhood, due out next year. The film is the third in a trilogy that started with Kidulthood [2006] and Adulthood [2008]. The previous films launched Clarke’s career as a screenwriter and actor and brought grime to the big screen through soundtracks that included Wiley, Dizzee Rascal andLethal Bizzle. Stormzy tweeted the news alongside a video and a tweet reading; “Gassed to reveal I’ll be making my acting debut in 2016“. Clarke returns in the director’s chair for Brotherhood, which is set to premiere in 2016.
Lady Lykez, Eyez, J Spades and more feature on the 2016 FITB Cypher
After the recent success of the very first Fire In The Booth Cypher last year which featured the likes of Ghetts and P Money and was a key part of the the surge of Stormzy’s recent success, Charlie Sloth is back with yet another Fire in the Booth cypher. This year, it included President T, Safone, Hitman, Bonkaz, Eyez, Lunar C, Lady Lykez, Cadet, Lady Leshurr and J Spades. The video experience is heightened with the use of modern 360 camera technology, meaning if you’re watching on a mobile device, you can turn the device and move around the room [needs to be done to be understood]. The 2015 line up is certainly impressive and not only celebrates legends in the game but brings through some young talent who are due to blow in 2016. Who was the best, hit us up in the comments and let us know…
Words: Nathan Tuft – @Natz_AO
