Da Ill Out Hip Hop & Funk Session is launching this Sunday at the Adam & Eve pub on Bradford Street in Digbeth, Birmingham kicking off at 8.30pm till late.

This night is headed up by Jahmai ‘Jam Fu’ Jones from Smash Bro’z representing the new generation of DJs and dancers coming through this fair city. Breaker – slash – DJs always make a good combination, think; DJ Timber, Dek 1 and Ill Boogs from Breakin’ Bread. Dancers have the true authority of what makes up the ingredients of a good dance floor so this night is well worth a look and a listen and it is FREE! For more information peep here.

Every Sunday starting on the 27th June.

FREE ENTRY

DJ’s on the night:

Sister 45 (Mama Feel Good)
Rumblefish
Jam Fu
Jordan
James

Spread the word YO!

The legendary hip hop MC, Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) died last month aged 43, following a battle with cancer. His work with Gangstarr, Jazzmatazz and later as a solo artist was revered around the world by fans and musicians from all backgrounds.

Here in Birmingham, Hip Hop collective Heducation are proactively pulling together a tribute to Guru with all proceeds going to cancer charities; Cancer Reseach UK, Macmillian, Myeloma UK, African Caribbean Leukemia Trust (ACLT) and Teenage Cancer Trust. I will be playing some records along with the extended family of Guru fans.

Friday 28th May at The Hare and Hounds all the info is here.

Here is a ‘sample’ of what is in store with a clip of Caesar Frazier…

Lead by award winning saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch and featuring a stellar rostra, The Flyover Show returns to Birmingham with dynamic and challenging performances on the 29th May. Now in its third year the unconventional inner city festival transforms the grey space beneath the Hockley Flyover into an oasis of cultural expression, celebrating generations of black British music and art. For the first time this show explores the specific theme of black female identity.

Not long now until this year’s Flyover Show, well worth a look if you are in Birmingham. Especially like this year’s theme! For more info check here. For the revolution see the video below…

To Have & To Hold – Taster Tape from Jony Lyle on Vimeo.

The web is going buck wylde for Erykah Badu‘s recently leaked track “Jump Up in the Air Stay There”, featuring Lil Wayne and Bilal. The Independent online says this…

The song is a web-only bonus to the singer’s boldly titled new album, ‘New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh’. If Badu can afford to throw out a song as strong as this as a mere bonus, the signs are good for the rest of the record. The singer has also made a video for the song which is playing at erykahbadu.com. It’s one to mess with your head. Billed as “a story by Erykah Badu”, it begins with archive footage – including snippets of Hitler, Jackie O, a giraffe, Bill O’Reilly and Barack Obama – followed by hand puppets. It then takes a turn for the psychedelic as the screen goes purple and a kaleidoscope emerges, using images of Badu’s head and hands pulsing in and out of each other. Shortly thereafter, four Lil Wayne heads appear in another kaleidoscope. It’s all quite dizzying, but a fine complement to a wonderfully strange song.

Check it here.

Marlena Shaw started performing at the age of 10 but was discovered by Chess Records in 1966. She released her first two albums on their subsidiary Cadet Records. She moved to Blue Note Records in 1972, and was that label’s first female artist. She also recorded one of the Disco Era’s biggest hits – a remake of “Touch Me in the Morning” on Columbia Records. Marlena Shaw’s version of “California Soul” is arguably the best version of the record which was written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson and made famous as the soundtrack to the advert for processed reconstituted, reshaped chicken served in a bucket.

Other  artists who have versions of “California Soul” are The Messengers, Marvin and Tammi, Brenda the Tabulations, The Gimmicks, Gerald Wilson, Fifth Dimension, Nick Ashford and The Undisputed Truth to name but a few.

Friday 19^th March

Leftfoot Presents

Marlena Shaw (Live)

DJ’s Sister 45 & Griffy

Hare & Hounds, 106 High St, Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7JZ

Another legendary artist stops off at the Hare & Hounds for an unforgettable evening of real soul, funk & jazz music.  Marlena Shaw has recorded music for labels like Blue Note, Cadet, Verve, Columbia & Concord Jazz.   With classic tracks such as “California Soul” & “Woman Of The Ghetto” being sampled by DJ Shadow, St Germain and Gang Starr, her influence on modern music is undeniable. DJ support comes from two of Birmingham’s most soulful ladies; Sister 45 & Griffy.

NB: Due to the small capacity of the room, there will be two shows (details below).

Please be aware which show you are buying tickets for (early bird tickets only available for Show 1) Both shows will have the same playlist and length.

Show 1: Doors open @ 8pm (Live show starts @ 8.30pm)

Show 2: Doors open @ 10.30pm (Live show starts @ 11pm)

£15 Advance / M.O.T.D

(Very limited £12 early bird tickets available for Show 1)

Advance tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk /

0844 870 0000

Info: 0121 444 2081 / info@hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

He began DJing at the age of 12, spinning at local parties around Harlem. By 1995, Roc Raida represented the United States at the DMC World DJ Championships and won! He was the first DJ from New York City to hold this title and was automatically inducted into the DMC/Technics DJ Hall of Fame. Throughout his life, he lived his passion – being a professional Hip Hop DJ. He was blessed to have touring the world as his day job. Williams was honored to have worked with recording artists including Showbiz & AG, Lord Finesse, Kool G Rap and most recently, he toured exclusively with Busta Rhymes.

Although his family called him “Ant” (short for Anthony), he became known worldwide as legendary DJ Roc Raida. In 1999, Grand Master status was bestowed upon him by a group of pioneering Hip Hop DJs, during a conference at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum.

Before he passed, he asked his 10 yr. old daughter, Nyra, who was the most interested, of his children, in DJing to take over for him as a DJ. She agreed!

With a very aggressive swagger on the turntables, those who knew Roc Raida were floored by his humbleness. His wife, Tyeasha reports, “His notoriety amazed him every day!” He never took that for granted. Williams was also known to be very quiet, private and easy going. His self-control was commendable unless he was pushed to his limit and then he would roar. In fact, Lord Finesse called his friend “the quiet lion” for this very reason. Those closest to him have the pleasure of remembering him also as a hilarious comedian, loving to joke and laugh.

Roc Raida through battles, performances, videos, dvds and even a Pepsi commercial, influenced thousands of DJs, both to party rock as well as to battle and he took several aspiring DJs under his wing to mentor personally. As a member of legendary turntablist crews, The X-Men and The X-ecutioners, he along with his brothers-in-vinyl took the world by storm, innovating, influencing and inspiring at every turn. In 2006, to progress and contribute to the Hip Hop DJ battle scene, he founded Roc Raida’s Gong DJ Battle, a national DJ battle that occurs annually, combining head to head turntablist dexterity with comedy and drama.

Not only was he a World Champion DJ, he was a dedicated father and husband.