Smurfs Village

As and original member of Daily Meds, Reverse Polarities, Big Village Records and Sketch the Rhyme P. Smurf is a prominent face in the Sydney Hip Hop scene both at the forefront and behind the scene. Smurf Village is P. Smurf's debut solo release and its available now for free download here. P. Smurf's persona is one that allows him to swing between comedy, satire and political themes from song to song and still maintain interest form the listener. Being such a prominent face in the Sydney Hip Hop scene P. Smurf know everyone and anyone who has anything to do with the scene, from the kid down the front who's at every get each week to the kings of the culture. So it is no surprise that Smurf's Village features a long line of emcees and producers including, P. Major, Roleo, Dj Morgs, Down Under Beats, Native Wit, Herb, Dj Bomb, Mikoen, Mute, True Vibenation, Hyjak and Nehi. Make sure you go and cop this killer release form P. Smurf NOW and hit him up on his Facebook and let him know what you think!

Beauty In The Bricks

It is no question that when it comes to Australian Hip Hop that Spit Syndicate are among the elite. With there banging beats produced by Joyride and fellow One Day crew member Adit and killer rhymes, not to mention the amazing hooks sung by Joyride it is no wonder that when they dropped Beauty in the Bricks a few weeks ago that it rocketed up the iTunes charts. Check out their new film clip, for their first single, Beauty In The Bricks of their upcoming album. Make sure you head down and check the boys out live when they hit your town. Head to www.spitsyndicate.com for tickets and further details, while your there make sure you grab a free copy of their latest mix tape Best Intentions part 1. 

"We are first and foremost lyricists - That said, we don't take ourselves too seriously, i guess. But we take song writing and hip hop very seriously" Nick Lupi

Thurs 25 October - Transit Bar, Canberra, ACT
Fri 26 October - Rhino Room, Adelaide, SA
Sat 27 October - Laundry Bar, Melbourne, VIC
Fri 2 November - Ya-Ya's, Perth, WA
Sat 3 November - Mojo's, Fremantle, WA
Fri 9 November - Great Northern, Byron Bay, NSW
Sat 10 November - Sprung Festival, Brisbane, QLD
Fri 16 November - Annandale Hotel, Sydney, NSW

Rattling the Keys!

After completing one of their biggest national tours to date the Hoods have done it agin with their latest single from Drinking from The Sun, Rattling the Keys to The Kingdom. For the release of the single the hoods took the film clip to a new level like they have done with all other film clips off the album, calling in a favour from the biggest names in the scene to join them in the clip. It not only unified artist from across the scene but it gave the hoods the chance to give exposure to artists who they thought deserved more exposure. 

Along with the film clip come two auctions in support of Canteen in honour of Hunter, SBX. Head over to www.rattlingthekeys.com/ and check out the 5x15m banner up for auction and a one off signed and framed artist pollards from the making of the clip.

The 18+ stop tour saw the Hoods preform in every corner of the country, from the big cities to small towns, chances are you would have been able to catch them somewhere close to you. With the words sold out constantly being posted on Facebook and various blogs across the web is simply testament to just how hard the trio and their team have worked over the past 10 years. 

Sydney's Horrorshow and Victoria's Brigg's came along for the ride to support the hoods on each leg of the tour. Horrorshow showed great promise for their new album with amazing support form the crowd. We made it down to the Sydney gig and managed to catch up with Solo and Adit after the show and they had this to say, "Might just be my favourite set we've ever played, Sydney was off the hook." Brigg's did what he did best and had the crowd bumping to his tunes from the beginning of the set to the end. I remember talking to a mate the day after and they said " What more could you ask for from a support act Briggs was awesome! "

Hilltop brought nothing less than their A game to the stage, with a performance that will defiantly be remembered in years to come. With the introduction of pyrotechnics into their live show and featuring, One Above on the keys and Plutonic Lab on the Drums for the entire set along with Debri on the decks defiantly took their live show to the next level and it was evident that the Hoods were rattling their keys in Sydney! 

Well as if releasing their biggest album to date, touring Canada and Australia with various festival spots along the way wasn't enough the hoods are set to headline the biggest Australian Hip Hop festival to date, Sprung Hip Hop. 

Big Things Tonight

In celebration of the release of 'Big Things Volume Two' the entire label roster is jumping on a bus and touring the country!

Starting in Sydney tonight the show will feature a joint set from Ellesquire and Tuka, Daily Meds, True Vibenation, Loose Change, Reverse Polarities, as well as special guests sets from speed drawing/freestyle rap gameshow 'Sketch The Rhyme'.

Come and get down with the traveling party that is the 'Big Things Tour' when it hits your city.

Sept 14th @ OAF - Sydney

http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=58795

Sept 22nd @ Northcote Social - Melbourne

http://northcotesocialclub.com/

Ticket enquiries ph: 1300 724 867 or via Corner Box Office (57 Swan St, Richmond)

Sept 28th @ Connistan Lane - Brisbane

http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=58830&ref=moshtix&skin

Oct 5th @ The Cambridge - Newcastle

http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=58709&ref=moshtix&skin

Also available from the venueu & 1300 GETTIX

Oct 6th @ Gearins - Blue Mountains

http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=58972&ref=moshtix&skin

Oct 12th @ Hussle Hussle, Mojos - Fremantle ** (Ellesquire + Tuka only)

Tickets available on the door

Oct 13th @ Shape - Perth ** (Ellesquire + Tuka only)

http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=59432&ref=moshtix&skin 

Said and Done

If you've been to a local hip hop gig in Sydney lately you would have more than likely come across one of the biggest up coming acts out of the Inner West, Jackie Onassis. Anyone who has seen this duo play live would agree that their beats, lyrics, stage presence and overall performance is amazing and one deserving of a packed out venue filled with fans bouncing along to their tunes. And in due time this will be the case. Today they released their first single, Said and Done from their debut album, January due out early 2013 which promises to join the ranks of other classic Inner West debuts, including The Grey Space and Towards The Light.  But for now check out their first single Said and Done.

A pre-order NOT to be missed!!

Urthboy's new album Smokey's Haunt is set to be his biggest release to date if the first two singles are anything to go by. Make sure that you cop your pre order direct through ElefantTracks.com and receive exclusive bonus' (See below for further details) Make sure to get in quick as the album is only a few short weeks away before dropping.

All pre-orders receive custom-made Urthboy Moleskine Notebook (90x140mm) while stocks last, Signed Poster and Bonus Album Song 'Orphan Rocker'.

Smokey's Haunt Pack ($20):  Signed CD + Moleskine + Signed Poster + Album song

Womens Smokey's Haunt Tee Bundle ($45): Signed CD + T-shirt (Womens) + Moleskine +  Signed Poster + Album song

Mens Smokey's Haunt Tee Bundle ($45): Signed CD + T-shirt (Mens) + Moleskine + Signed Poster + Album song

Smokey's Collection ($50): All Four Urthboy CDs (Signed) + Moleskine + Signed Poster + Album song

Pre-order Bring It Back Through Sol Clap

Did you catch Illy on his Bring it Back tour, if you did then you will know just how big this next album is going to be! With features from some of the biggest names in the scene and some of the country's best upcoming emcee's including the likes of Grey Ghost, Mantra, Pez, Thundamentals, Elemont and more bring it back is set to be some of Illy's greatest work to date.

Make sure you support the artist and local record stores when buying the album and what better way to do it then to pre order through Australia's number one independent online record store, Sol Clap Records.

Skryptcha Dance

“Jonathan is a regular guy, with a regular job. He doesn’t stand for much, doesn’t stand up for himself, and lets others walk all over him. One thing that makes him forget all that is 60’s-70’s funk. It's his escape. One day when everything seems to go wrong for him (losing his job, public humiliation etc.) something changes... He unknowingly taps into his favourite funk artist (Hilton Denis) and starts busting moves on anyone who gets in his way. Hilton is everything that Jonathan is not. He is funky, strong, savvy and he can dance. He acts on all the things that Jonathan can't. It soon dawns on Jonathan what has happened, he realises that Hilton has taught him how to dance and stand up to the people bringing him down."  -Skryptcha

Urthboy, Naive Bravado Tour

Urthboy has just hit the road on his Naive Bravado tour kicking off in Katoomba and Melbourne this weekend, and is heading to a town near you soon! (see tour dates above). After dropping his latest single off his upcoming album, Smokey's Haunt last week accompanied by his first single Naive Bravado both this album and tour are set to be one of Urthboys greatest works and achievements to date. I for one can not wait to unleash the sounds or Smokey's Haunt upon my ears. 

Naive Bravado sees Urthboy exhibiting his sharp flows, songwriting talents and nothing short of a catchy hook. With Daniel Merriweather stepping up to take the hook simply takes the track above and beyond. The concept of Naive Bravado looks at the how the idea that "its not false courage if it leads you out of the mess". The track is defiantly a source of inspiration to many. "Naive Bravado is like a lamb with a lion's heart". His lyrics are accompanied by a phat base line, various horns, monstrous drums produced by none other than Count Bounce and Hermitude. Check out the sensational film clip below.

The second single off the album, Knee Length Socks is an ode to being out of place and harmless underaged fun. It looks back on Urthboy's youth and many of his musical influences. Agin this track exhibits Urthboy's story telling and song writing abilities to the fullest. Previously Hermitude and Count Bounce had been exclusive producers of all of Urthboy's material however Smokey's Haunt is the first album where they have co-produced the entire album. 

Skryptcha Album Launch Supported by Crochet Crooks, Jackie Onassis and True Vibenation

Sydney make sure you head down to Skryptcha's album launch tomorrow night at the Standard. Going to be a big night with amazing support acts, including Crochet Crooks who if you remember we interview a few months ago check it out below.

Your first EP, All Roads dropped not too long ago now. How has the response from the public and industry been?

S: Really good man, we road tested it with our friends and fam before we released it and got a really good response which made us a lot more confident in it. Since it’s dropped we’ve moved a few hundred hard copies and managed to get ourselves some love on Triple J courtesy of Hau (Hip Hop Show), and on FBi. So overall, real stoked. 

All Roads isn’t one particular style of music, there’s Boom Bap, a bit of Dubstep and even an Acoustic track. What is your process of choosing beats, and who produces your 

music?

J: We listen to whatever we’re given and we try and write to most of it. If we can build the track up nicely and it fits the vibe of what we we’re trying to write about, it makes the cut.

On the EP we had a few different producers, Daniel Neurath (SS, Horrorshow), Jacob Giles and the Jackie Onassis boys. For our upcoming mixtape and album, a lot of the production workload will be handled by the new addition to the crew, Jmaculate. He’s a real boss with a beat.

The track Cold Streets reflects on the city of Sydney. “See I’m walking city streets but I’m sick of the concrete, from Sydney’s inner city all the way to long beach” How has coming from the Inner West Suburbs of Sydney inspired your music?

J: Man, all of Sydney is a beautiful place, but there’s just something special about the I-Dub. It’s birthed a heap of talented artists and seems to have and endless supply of stories. So I guess growing up here has inspired it a lot. The inner west has something in the water.

What and or who is your greatest inspiration for your music and what was the concept behind the ep?

J: I’d have to say our friends, fam, and experiences. The feeling you get from telling a story. It’s amazing. Concept? I guess the concept was, “there is no concept”. We wanted to tell what we’d been through and seen, good-bad, beautiful-ugly. Just showcase a whole range of things.

How did the two of you, Jax and Sayso first meet and form a bond which has led to this point in your life?

J: We grew up in the same friendship circles, so we always knew of each other, I dunno. We lived close and went to the same gigs so eventually we started kicking it and writing the EP. It kinda just happened...

S: Have you ever heard of a Chinese finger trap? We got caught in one one time. Down there. Haven’t managed to break free yet ay..

Growing up in the Inner West of Sydney what sort of music did you listen to? Was there much hip hop around and did that have much of an impact on who you are today?

S: Man, growing up I was that kid bumping hip hop from home to school, all day during class and then back at home til early in the morning...and I never heard the end of it, everyone gave me shit about it...fast forward ten years and everyone’s a rap kid; it’s practically my DNA. 

What do you wish to achieve through your music? and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

S: Getting laid mostly...nahh...but yeah. Haha man I want to make something that reflects me and what I’m about and gives me the opportunity to do what I love doing most, which is hip hop. And we wanna have some fun, meet some cool people along the way.

J: As above, in 5 years. It’s 10:30 on a Saturday night right now though,...so hopefully something more exciting than sitting at a computer. 

The name Crochet Crooks, what does it mean and where did it come from?

S: Man we kicked it with a few different names for a while, and then one day we were just knitting some sweaters with gran and it kind of clicked. I like the way it sounds, and let’s face it; it gets people talking, hard to forget.

If someone was to listen to your music for the first time which track would you recommend to them? And do either of you have a personal favourite? 

J: It depends what background they come from, we feel like we have a bit to offer everyone in that regard. All sorts of different people could feel our shit. From the stay at home mum (Anywhere but Here), to hard matey down the road (Cold Streets) and the heartbroken girl or guy (All Roads). I like Cold Streets for my favourite. 

S: Cold Streets.

I hear that there is a new video clip about to drop? Can you tell us about it?

S: Of all the tracks we thought we’d make a clip for, Cold Streets was the least likely in my mind. Then Hau played it on JJJ, we got some mad love from heads on it, and seeing as it’s our favourite track off the EP, we thought why the fuck not. It’s all filmed through Sydney and the IW, but you’ll have to watch it to see more. 

What’s next for the Crooks?

J: Well we’re both heading to the Americas. Without each other though. Need a little break. We’ve compiled a few beats from some dope producers so we’ll be writing to them on our travels as well as writing this mixtape.

S: Both of us have got our hunger on, we’re real fired up and we wanna step to the next level. AIN’T NO SUCH THINGS AS CROCHET CROOKS!

 Latest tracks by CrochetCrooks