FOREIGN LEGION - Night Moves LP update + free EP download + Prozack Turner video interview

Sicker than Caligula mixed with Dirk Diggler...the inimitable Prozack Turner

FOREIGN LEGION - Night Moves LP update + free Secret Knock EPdownload + Prozack Turner interview
According to the latest on FL's label Hungerstrike Records website, the band's new album Night Moves has been delayed again and is now slated for an early 2009 release - probably February. But don't let that hold you back from scoring a bit of recent action from Prozack Turner and Marc Stretch of EP The Secret Knock. Don't forget to leave a review y'all - it'd be rude not to!

Download FOREIGN LEGION - The Secret Knock EP

LINKS
Foreign Legion - Myspace
Prozack Turner - Myspace
Marc Stretch - Myspace
Hungerstrike Records

JAKE ONE - New album WHITE VAN MUSIC released 27 October 2008 + Tracklist

'White Van Music'? - stay off the roads and lock up your daughters...

JAKE ONE Press release - White Van Music - New album released 27 October 2008 + tracklist

DJ/Producer Jake One releases his new LP White Van Music on 27 October 2008 via Rhymesayers Entertainment. The album will feature MF DOOM, M.O.P., SLUG (from ATMOSPHERE), BUSTA RHYMES and more.

In these days of disposable music and ringtone rap very few producers are able to build a sound. Seattle producer Jake One is one of those exceptions. With an impressive and diverse discography that includes artists from 50 Cent to De La Soul, Jake has managed to bring his sound all the way from the underground to Billboards top 10. Combining the ethics of his early influences DJ Premier, Dr. Dre and DJ Quik with a touch of today, Jake has been able to bridge the gap between the past and the present.

While Jake is widely known for being a mainstay on G Unit affiliated projects, he got his start working with local talent in Seattle for the Conception Records label in the late 90's. From then he started to make his way on to the national scene with extensive work with the Gift of Gab and a unlikely rapper, wrestler Jon Cena producing Cena's ring anthem "The Time Is Now" among others. Jake's first taste of the big time was a spot on G Unit's triple platinum album "Beg For Mercy". Appearances on albums by Young Buck, 50 Cent, Lil Scrappy, E-40, De La Soul and Freeway followed firmly establishing Jake's place in the hierarchy of top producers in hip hop.

Seattle super producer and self proclaimed “perfect beat writer” Jake One steps from behind the boards to present his own debut full-length album, White Van Music. Polishing his production chops over the last decade, Jake One has crafted the musical soundscapes for everyone from De La Soul (“Rock Co.Kane Flow” feat. MF DOOM) to 50 Cent (“All Of Me” feat. Mary J. Blige). With an impressive and diverse discography Jake One has managed to bring his sound from the underground to the Billboard Top 10 charts.

Featuring an engaging cast of emerging underground artists as well as some of Hip Hop’s most respected mainstream acts, Jake One’s White Van Music will blur the so called lines between underground and mainstream Hip Hop...just as his stellar production career has.

WHITE VAN MUSIC Tracklist
01. I’m Coming feat. Black Milk & Nottz
02. Gangsta Boy feat. M.O.P.
03. The Truth feat. Freeway & Brother Ali
04. Turn It Down Interlude
05. God Like feat. D. Black
06. Bless The Child feat. Little Brother
07. Oh Really feat. Posdnuos & Slug
08. Hi Interlude
09. Trap Door feat. MF DOOM
10. Dead Wrong feat. Young Buck
11. Kissin’ The Curb feat. Bishop Lamont & Busta Rhymes
12. How We Ride feat. Freeway
13. White Van feat. Alchemist, Evidence & Prodigy
14. Big Homie Style feat. J. Pinder, GMK & Spaceman
15. Scared feat. Blueprint
16. Great Sound Interlude
17. Get ‘Er Done feat. MF DOOM
18. Feeling My Shit feat. Casual
19. Soil Raps feat. Keak Da Sneak
20. Glow feat. eLZhi & Royce Da 5’9”
21. R.I.P. Interlude
22. Home feat. Vitamin D, C Note, Maine & Ish

LINKS
Jake One - Myspace
Rhymesayers Entertainments
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MONKEYBOXING.COM (coming soon)

FREESTYLE PROFESSORS - Luv U Video - 2008

FREESTYLE PROFESSORS - Luv U Video - 2008

Freestyle Professors done cooked up some more Bronx heat! Luv U will feature on the duo's forthcoming 18 track LP Gryme Tyme due for release in early 2009 featuring production by Show, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Buckwild, Minnesota, Branesparker, and 12FingerDan. Heads up!
LINKS
Freestyle Professors - Myspace
freestyleprofessors.com
MONKEYBOXING.COM (coming soon)

BABY CHARLES – Hard Man To Please/ Jackson Fingers – 2008 – Single review

BABY CHARLES – Hard Man To Please/ Jackson Fingers – 2008 – Single review
RATING: 3.5/5
Baby Charles drop tunes like they used to play when James Brown was king, back in the day. But then...so do lots of bands in 2008 – so if you play soul and funk you need to step it up (as Alice Russell once sang) right? On this, the A side’s percussion and wah-wah lick manages to sound suspiciously similar to Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings How Do I Let A Good Man Down? while ‘B’ side Jackson Fingers has something of a funked up version of the Peter Gunn theme about it. Still if that’s the bad news it ain’t all that bad. Solid but not at the top of the staircase yet.
Out now on Record Kicks.
LINKS
Listen to Baby Charles – Hard Man To Please/ Jackson Fingers
Baby Charles - Myspace
Record Kicks - Myspace
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MONKEYBOXING.COM (coming soon)

THE KNUX - Remind Me In 3 Days - LP sampler audio

THE KNUX - Remind Me In 3 Days - LP sampler audio
Call it 'hipster rap', call it boom bap, call it what you will - The Knux are releasing their Remind Me in 3 Days LP on October 14th.


Don't call it 'hipster rap'.
LINKS:
The Knux - Myspace

NEWS: UGLY DUCKLING announce new LP Audacity

Read UGLY DUCKLING - AUDACITY review @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

NEWS: UGLY DUCKLING announce new LP Audacity
Ugly Duckl​ing have announced that they are shortly to relea​se their​ new album​ ​Audacity.​ This latest LP has been two years in the making and the band said yesterday in a myspace bulletin that they would soon be adding new album tracks to their myspace site's music player and that the Won't Let It Die video is imminent. They referred to themselves in the same bulletin as the "white​st/​nerdi​est/" and most ​old school​ group​ since​ the Nativ​e Tongu​es era, humbly omitting to acknowledge their general dope-ness. Last time the Monkey spoke to DJ Einstein on the Bang For The Buck tour he mumbled something about, "We might do another one" when asked about future album plans. Fans will be relieved that there is no longer any question about this. Audacity will be Ugly Duckling's third fourth full length studio LP - unless you count their debut EP - which you might well - seeing as it had 8 tracks on it. Keep checking back with the monkeyboxing for more!

P.S. Don't forget to check out Dizzy's side project Blown Celeb.
LINKS:
Ugly Duckling - Myspace
Blown Celeb - Myspace
Kamikazi Airlines - Myspace
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THE COOL KIDS - Delivery Man video - free downloads - Delivery Man / Pennies and more...

Delivery Man video innit?

THE COOL KIDS - Delivery Man video - free downloads - Delivery Man / Pennies/ Stove Top/ Gold Chain/ If It Rocks Let It Knock/ Nigga Please/ Colors (Que Billah feat. The Cool Kids
What's up? New Cool Kids shit, that's what. You got alleged Bake Sale outtakes and a possible promo leak from When Fish Ride Bicycles. Follow these links you rhyme hounds...
Download The Cool Kids - Delivery Man
Download The Cool Kids - Pennies
Download The Cool Kids - Stove Top Oven
Download The Cool Kids - Gold Chain
Download The Cool Kids - If It Rocks Let It Knock
Download The Cool Kids - Nigga Please
Download The Cool Kids - Schoolin
Download The Cool Kids - Unos
Download The Cool Kids - Dreamin
Download The Cool Kids - Wasting Time
Download The Cool Kids - Fresher Than You
Download Que Billah (feat. The Cool Kids) - Colors
LINKS:
The Cool Kids - Myspace
Que Billah - Myspace

PRESS RELEASE - AYATOLLAH - Drum Machine LP released 30 September 2008/ Free 'Brolic' track download

PRESS RELEASE - AYATOLLAH - Drum Machine LP released 30 September 2008/ Free Brolic download
Legendary New York Producer, Ayatollah, preps his digital-only instrumental album, DRUM MACHINE on Nature Sounds.

DOWNLOAD BROLIC by AYATOLLAH

Producing incredible beats is nothing new to hip-hop veteran Ayatollah. Although probably most known for his contribution to Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty", 'Tollah has crafted classics for some of the best MCs to ever touch the microphone like Rakim, The Wu-Tang Clan, Talib Kweli, D-Block, Pharoahe Monch, and many more. Ayatollah has even been compared to (and probably has influenced) such heavyweight producers such as RZA, Just Blaze and Kanye West to name a few.

This fall, Ayatollah is set to drop yet another installment of 22 never before heard tracks laced by the legendary beat smith himself. While his vintage soulful sound is synonymous with classic golden era hip-hop, the music’s timeless quality stands strong against any of today's biggest hits. Drum Machine, a musical ode to the tool of his trade, is a must for any producer, DJ, MC or hip-hop enthusiast. Ayatollah's Drum Machine will be available for digital download on 9.30.08 at all fine online retailers.
LINKS:
Ayatollah - Myspace

PRESS RELEASE - KIDZ IN THE HALL feat. ESTELLE - Love Hangover video premiere

PRESS RELEASE - KIDZ IN THE HALL feat. ESTELLE - Love Hangover video premiere
New York, NY - This Wednesday, September 10th, Kidz In The Hall’s second video off their critically acclaimed album, The In Crowd, will world premier on the biggest video network in the world. MTV’s popular countdown show, TRL, will give a “first look” to “Love Hangover,” the second single off Kidz In The Hall’s sophomore album, released on Major League/Duck Down Records. The song and video features rising superstar and UK songstress Estelle, who linked up with Naledge and Double 0 last year while recording the group’s album. Earlier this year, Kidz In The Hall released their first single and video, “Drivin’ Down the Block,” which crept all the way up to #6 on TRL’s countown, breaking ground and leading the way for a generation of new, young, independent hip hop artists. The video was also in heavy rotation on MTV Jams and MTV2 and the group was part of MTV’s exclusive “Discover & Download” program. Both “Drivin Down The Block” and “Love Hangover” were directed by Ethan Lader.
Currently the group is preparing for a Fall US tour after just completing Hip Hop’s biggest summer festival tour, Rock The Bells.
And here's the vid...

LINKS:
Kidz In The Hall - Myspace

PRESS RELEASE: MASTER SHORTIE - 'Dead End' single - released 27 Oct.

PRESS RELEASE: MASTER SHORTIE - Dead End single - released 27 October

“Master Shortie’s genius is that he’s taken a completely different route. It’s London, it’s chirpy, cheeky and totally likeable” – Music Week

Master Shortie is fast becoming THE One To Watch for 2009. Fresh off tour with Hadouken! and currently special guest to The Filthy Dukes, Master Shortie has announced a live date at London’s 12 Bar on Monday 15th September before taking part in MTV’s Spanking New Sessions on Wednesday 17th September alongside The Saturdays and White Lies.

Master Shortie is a self-made 19-year-old artist who simply doesn’t play by anyone’s rules but his own. A man who is totally in charge of all of his own promotion, record releases, styling and marketing - he’s fast becoming the poster boy of a DIY underground scene that represents everything that’s exciting and unique about UK music today!

Influences from the neo-soul underground New York Backpack rappers, Mos Def, Andre 3000, Prince, Paul Simon, Terence Trent Darby and Tracy Chapman, Master Shortie makes the kind of vibrant, nail-you-to-the-groove 80s tinged electro-hop that puts him alongside Black Kids, Cool Kids and any other kind of kids that are redefining what 21st Century, post-industry music can be. It’s Master Shortie’s charm, energy and individual style – the iris-scorching baseball caps, cuddly crunk accoutrements and the jeans of a Kings Of Leon – that set him apart from the crowd as a truly unique artist.

Monday 27th October sees the release of the single ‘”Dead End” from Master Shortie on Odd One Out (O1O). The indie-rap thumper is a massive live favourite and is taken from his debut album ‘ADHD’ due out early next year.

Live dates are as follows –

Monday 15th September – 12 Bar, London – on stage 7.00pm

Wednesday 17th September – Studio A, MTV UK – doors open 6.30pm

LINKS:
Master Shortie - Myspace

THE BAMBOOS – King of the Rodeo (feat. Megan Washington)/ I Can’t Help Myself (feat. Ty) – 2008 – Single review

THE BAMBOOS – King of the Rodeo (feat. Megan Washington)/ I Can’t Help Myself (feat. Ty) – 2008 – Single review
RATING: 5/5
Since the Kings of Leon are now shit perhaps the best thing to do with them is cover one of their songs and transform it from a tuneless guitar dirge into a sprightly funk track. As luck would have it, this is precisely what The Bamboos have done on the A-side with the aid of the angel-voiced Megan Washington. Then, seeing as they’re on a roll, they invite London rapper Ty to leap aboard and lay waste to what’s left of the dancefloor with I Can’t Help Myself - the sort of track that people dance to in the street if you drive past and you’re just playing it in your car. And I know because that happened yesterday when I was driving. So there.
Out now on Tru Thoughts.
LINKS
Listen to The Bamboos King Of The Rodeo/ I Can't Help Myself
The Bamboos - Myspace
Ty - Myspace
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MONKEYBOXING.COM

ANDY SMITH - DIGGIN IN THE BGP VAULTS – 2008 – Album review

ANDY SMITH - DIGGIN IN THE BGP VAULTS – 2008 – Album review
HIGHLIGHTS: It’s all good!
SOUNDBITE: "It's my thing, tell you what I'm gonna do/ I'm gonna sock it, right straight to you"
RATING: 5/5
Like a former Soviet Republic, Diggin… has got more bombs than it knows what to do with - demonstrating in the process that Andy Smith’s groove selection mojo has returned with a mighty vengeance. Having said that - if you're a vinyl junkie you'll know that at least three of these bombs have actually already been major funk-reissue singles in the last twelve months – Dyke & The Blazers’ vintage funk Let A Woman Be A Woman – Let A Man Be A Man was put out as a 7” by BGP itself and both Ann Alford’s wah-wah strut Got To Get Me A Job and Spanky Wilson’s Sunshine Of Your Love appeared on Funky 45s 10” re-releases. In fact, funk nerds will know that the Ann Alford track actually appeared on the CD version of Let’s Boogaloo 4 (compiled by – er – Andy Smith) though inexplicably not on the vinyl. Still, the name of the game is ‘What does BGP have in its vaults?’ and if the answer includes (unsurprisingly) ‘some well-known classics’, it also includes ‘some dope obscurities’ too. Betty Moorer’s soul sister cut It’s My Thing brings the funky slink while Ripple’s breaks-beast I Don’t Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky (and they ain’t lying) features an ’Oh la, oh la, yeahhh that may be familiar to long-time fans of G Love & Special Sauce. Booker T & The MGs cover of Sly Stone’s Sing A Simple Song proves once again that this song is impossible to fuck up - not that you’d expect Booker T to put a foot wrong anyway, then there's gravel-voiced funk-soul brother Billy Garner who features twice on this collection. And though he is again an artist Smith picked for Let’s Boogaloo 4, neither of the songs selected here appeared on that compilation – although both I Got Some Pt 1 and Brand New Girl are quality cuts of raw funk. As a compilation this’ll definitely rival New Orleans Funk 2 for funk compilation of the year (you mark my words!) and in common with that record it covers a range of sub-genres that runs from that rude early shit to more polished seventies grooves. I would go on but I think you should probably just buy this treat for both DJs and casual listeners alike right now.
Out now on BGP.
LINKS
Listen to Andy Smith – Diggin In The BGP Vaults
DJ Andy Smith - Myspace
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MONKEYBOXING.COM

MONKEYBOXING BUZZ CHART - SEPT. 08

Sounds you hear that linger in your ear...


1. (NEW) The New Mastersounds – All We Can Do - Plug & Play LP (One Note)
Ultra itchy break, squelchy wah-wah and bass like an eel hitting the side of a dustbin.
Listen - Read review


2. (NEW) The Mighty Underdogs – Anthem (Unreleased)
Lateef and Gift of Gab back on form in this soul sampling banger.
Listen/ Download - Read feature
3. (NEW) Betty Moorer – It’s My Thing - Diggin’ In The BGP Vaults LP (BGP)
Funky soul is the sexiest music ever. Betty Moorer tells it like it is.
Listen - Read feature
4. (NEW) Tame Impala – Desire Be, Desire Go (Unreleased)
Western Oz’s finest drop a filthy great psychedelic fuzz-rock monster.
Listen
5. (1) Cool Kids – Full & Paid – That’s Stupid Mixtape EP (Chocolate Industries)
Chuck n Mikey give a nod to legends Eric B and Rakim in this fat roller.
Listen/ free download
6. (NEW) The Bamboos – King of Rodeo/ Can’t Help Myself ()
The Bamboos borrow Megan Washington and Ty for two more funky dancefloor slayers.
Listen - Read feature
7. (NEW) Parker feat. Sarah Scott – Sugar Coated – To Eternity LP()
Large breaks, horns and soaring vocals – more ‘western soul’ from rising Bristol star.
Listen - Read review
8. (4) G Love & Special Sauce – Soft and Sweet – Superhero Brother LP (Universal Republic)
Bummed out by shit? Check this funky feel-good blues groove?
Listen - Read review
9. (NEW) Fakts One feat. Perceptionists – The Showstarter – Long Range LP (Green Streets US)
Banger off slept on LP from one of the best underground hip-hop producers.
Listen
10. (NEW) Million Dan - Dogz and Sledgez – Spektrum LP (Spectrum)
‘Old Growly’ drops a surefire crossover bomb. Run ting!
Listen
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SADAT X – The Okie Doke/ Theatrics – 2008 – 7” review

SADAT X – The Okie Doke/ Theatrics – 2008 – 7” review
RATING: 5/5
It’s difficult to imagine what use an old school Harlem MC could have for a crackly, mournful cowboy lament and low-key drum and bass break and even harder to imagine it sounding good. Stetsons off to former Brand Nubian rapper Sadat X then for floating in effortlessly from the way off in the outer reaches of the leftfield with a rhyme about the hard life of the ordinary folks on blissed-out gem of a B-side Theatrics. Piano-tinkling A side The Okie Doke’s dope too. Utter genius.
Out now on Cult 45.
LINKS
Listen to Sadat X – The Okie Doke/ Theatrics
Sadat X - Myspace
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MONKEYBOXING.COM (coming soon)