WARREN G: New album ‘The G Files’

WARREN G: New album ‘The G Files’ + Regulate (live) video
Could this explain J Star’s recent, inspired and far-superior-to-the-original Warren G-featuring reggae mash-up Regulate Rock? Either that man’s finger is firmly on the hip-hop pulse or he is luckier than Lady Luck’s lucky rabbit’s foot. I, on the other hand, feel like a rabbit short one foot after watching old Warren perform his biggest hit live this summer. A G-Funk revival then –…WATCH VID/ READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN & TAME ONE: ‘Flashback’ video + ‘Parallel Uni-Verses’ LP details + tracklist + 'Special' free download

DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN & TAME ONE: ‘Flashback’ video + ‘Parallel Uni-Verses’ LP details + tracklist + 'Special' free download
Del returns to form in straight-up banger shocker. You’ll have to excuse the monkey’s lateness in picking up on the Flashback single but I’d virtually given up on Mr Jones because his solo projects haven’t exactly been setting my world on fire in the last half decade and more with those tinny arcade game samples and increasingly esoteric lyrics. But then again he’s not solo here is he? This time it’s former Artifacts rapper Tame One’s turn to reign in the whimsical excesses that Del’s mind haemorrhages when left to its own devices. Flashback recalls nothing so much as the sophisticated bottom-heavy funk-vibe of on-form Hiero while
…SEE VID/ DOWNLOAD “SPECIAL”/ READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

ADIDAS Skateboarding: Autumn 2009 shoes

ADIDAS Skateboarding: Autumn 2009 shoes
It’s autumn – here’s four reasons not to kick up leaves with what you’ve been wearing on your feet all summer. The Superstar is the new Gonz and there’s another two Campus styles over on the Adidas skate page. Just one question. Why won’t they do a cup sole Campus in the black and white?
…SEE PICS AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

APATHY: New LP - Wanna Snuggle – Released 6 October

APATHY: New LP - Wanna Snuggle – Released 6 October

Heads up! Demigodz founder member Apathy’s back with solo LP number two and it sounds pretty damn good…

(PRESS RELEASE) Wanna Snuggle (released 6 October 2009 on Demigodz Records) features appearance from B Real, Phonte, Celph Titled, Holly Brook (Fort Minor), J-Live, Chip-Fu, Ryu, Blue Raspberry (Wu-Tang), and production from Mike Shinoda.

Even after signing a major label deal with Atlantic Records, to being named one of Urb Magazine’s “Hot 100” artists, being featured in XXL, Vibe, XLR8R, Remix, CMJ, Pound and numerous other publications and joining frequent partner in rhyme (Celph Titled) in…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

DEEP STREET SOUL: Kick Out The Jams (feat. Tia Hunter) b/w Greenbacks (feat. Shirley Davis) – 2009 – 7” review

DEEP STREET SOUL: Kick Out The Jams (feat. Tia Hunter) b/w Greenbacks (feat. Shirley Davis) – 2009 – 7” review
RATING: 5/5
Dirtier and grittier than sex in a gravel pit, this inspired cover of The MC5’s seminal garage rock anthem has to be contender for best new soul/funk 45 of the year. The lead single from Melbourne funk band Deep Street Soul’s self-titled LP due later this year (yes, another world class funk band from the city that’s already given us The Bamboos and Cookin On Three Burners), it comes with sassy sister-funk vocals from …READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

FOREIGN BEGGARS & NOISIA – 2009 – Single review

FOREIGN BEGGARS & NOISIA – 2009 – Single review
RATING: 3.5/5
FOREIGN BEGGARS: (On the phone to Dutch DnB boys Noisia) Got that beat for us yet?
NOISIA: (Excitedly) Sure. We have crazy beats for you right now! You know when you change your printer’s ink cartridge and you lift up the lid and it grinds out for you to catch it before it disappears again?
FB’s: (Warily) Ye-eahh?
NOISIA: (Ridiculously pleased with themselves) We sampled that sound but make it a million times heavier!
Ok, maybe it didn’t happen quite like that but on hearing this I do wonder where else Noisia could have lifted inspiration for beats – the office photocopier doing a big double-sided run with staples perhaps or the sound of your laptop burning a cd. And yet the ‘Beggars bigging themselves up over this grime-y industrial strength rhythm keeps growing on me. At first…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

FOREIGN BEGGARS: UK tour announced

FOREIGN BEGGARS: UK tour announced
Foreign Beggars – they’re everywhere aren’t they?
(PRESS RELEASE) Foreign Beggars have announced a UK tour to showcase the ridiculously big tracks from their upcoming album “United Colours Of Beggattron”, which is released on October 19th through Dented Records/Essential Music.

The tour will kick off in Plymouth before…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

NICK PRIDE & THE PIMPTONES/ THE BREAKBEAT JUNKIE: Deeper Pimp (Smoove re-touch)/ Turn It Up 7” – Wack Records W07

NICK PRIDE & THE PIMPTONES/ THE BREAKBEAT JUNKIE: Deeper Pimp (Smoove re-touch)/ Turn It Up 7” – Wack Records W07
Oh shit! Double funky trouble from Smoove’s Wack Records with more than a dash of the mambo in the second track…
(PRESS RELEASE)
Nick Pride & The Pimptones- Deeper Pimp (Smoove Re-touch)
A long time ago in a far away galaxy, a Band of musicians got together with the queen of soul music to lay down some of the heaviest…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

SWOLLEN MEMBERS: New release - Armed To The Teeth LP

SWOLLEN MEMBERS: New release - Armed To The Teeth LP
It would appear that times have been hard for Swollen Members recently. Never mind because they return with a full-length at the end of next month. And from the bits of it they’ve exposed on their myspace it sounds like it’s going to be banging…
(PRESS RELEASE)
After Enduring Drug Addiction, The Collapse Of Their Former Record Label And Legal Issues, Swollen Members Return Triumphantly With New LP, Armed To The Teeth, Which Will Be Released On 10-27-09 And It Includes Guest Appearances From Talib Kweli, Everlast, Glasses Malone and Slaine

Vancouver based Swollen Members and Battle Axe Records have formed a partnership with California based Suburban Noize Records for the release of …FREE TRACK DOWLOAD/ WATCH VIDEO AND READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

LOWKEY & IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE: Voices of The Voiceless

LOWKEY & IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE: Voices Of The Voiceless
(PRESS RELEASE) Voices of the Voiceless is the long awaited first collaboration between two of the world's most conscious recording artists, Lowkey and Immortal Technique.

Lowkey who hails from London is the fastest rising star in British urban music having racked up over 100 shows in 2009 so far as well as giving talks and lectures at political events around the world. The rapper/poet of mixed Arab and British descent has been dubbed as "one of the best lyricists in the Western Hemisphere" by Benjamin Zephaniah and has been wowing audiences as a solo artist as well as in the Indie/Hip Hop superband Mongrel (made up of members of the Arctic Monkeys, Babyshambles and Reverend and the Makers) for which Lowkey is a lead vocalist.

Immortal Technique has been dominating in the independent music arena for the last 5 years with his last two albums (Revolutionary Volume 2 and Third World) selling in their 10,000s on his independent label Viper Records as well as him touring the world drawing huge crowds in all continents.

Both artists are known for their …WATCH VIDEO/ READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

ALDO VANUCCI: BSTRD Boots 9

ALDO VANUCCI: BSTRD Boots 9
More mash-up mayhem from the master of mixer. I know he made them on his laptop but that would have spoilt my run of ‘m’s wouldn’t it? Plus I’ve no doubt that Plymouth’s 14th best DJ could recreate these as blends on the wheels of steel one-handed whilst doing the Times crossword with the other and tossing pancakes with his feet. Tonight’s the one - chilled mid-tempo soulful breaks and (I never thought I’d say ever say this), a nice bit of Randy Crawford.
(PRESS RELEASE) The new installment of the Bastard Jazz off-the-record 12" series, BSTRD Boots, is…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

EYEDEA & ABILITIES: By The Throat – 2009 – Album review

EYEDEA & ABILITIES: By The Throat – 2009 – Album review
HIGHLIGHTS: Spin Cycle
SOUNDBITE: “I can only build if I tear walls down. Even if it breaks me, I won’t let it make me frown”
RATING: 1/ 5
It says here that these two are, ‘a duo thoroughly steeped in hip-hop accolades’ – which is ironic really because they sound like a duo thoroughly steeped in shit American rock. It turns out it’s been five years since Eyedea & Abilities last troubled people’s ears - personally, I could have handled a full decade. Ironically (again) a full ten years would almost bring us to the inevitable nu-metal revival which should be due somewhere around 2017. Not that that would have made any difference. I’d still have given this both barrels. Don’t get me wrong –
…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

J-STAR: Regulate Rock/ S.O.L.D.I.E.R. – 2009 – 7” review

J-STAR: Regulate Rock/ S.O.L.D.I.E.R. – 2009 – 7” review
RATING: 5/5
Has everyone who’s made anything good this year just saved it up to be released in September? I know the summer’s festival season isn’t the best time to put out your wares and in any case – anyone who might be releasing something is usually off their tits in a field somewhere, but this September has been mental.
…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

WICKED DEVIL/ SANDY BALLS: Boom!/ Superman – 2009 – 7” review

WICKED DEVIL/ SANDY BALLS: Boom!/ Superman – 2009 – 7” review
RATING: 5/5
Here’s a cheeky pair of reggae-inflected remix/ mash-up thingies by Wicked Devil and Sandy Balls (insert gag here) that come highly recommended by reggae mash-up king J-Star and remixer The Magic Fly. Interestingly, The Magic Fly and Wicked Devil are one and the same so he’s basically endorsing himself. Now that is cheeky. And
Out 17 September on WD40 Records.…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

SMOOVE & TURRELL: Beggarman – 2009 – Single review

SMOOVE & TURRELL: Beggarman – 2009 – Single review
RATING: 5/5
One of the stand-outs from the Antique Soul LP, this soaring, yet somewhat melancholy, nu-soul anthem finds Turrell pondering the current economic recession through the medium of his warmly rasping soul vocal. In this he is
…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

BROTHER ALI: Us – 2009 – Album review

BROTHER ALI: Us – 2009 – Album review
HIGHLIGHTS: The Preacher – Fresh Air – Breakin Dawn – ‘Round Here – Bad MuFucker Pt II – You Say (Puppy Love)
SOUNDBITE: “At-risk youth from a single-parent family/ Nuts got hairy and my voice got raspy”
RATING: 5/5
With the follow up to 2007’s Undisputed Truth, Ali is back delivering Rhymesayers’ most convincing drop in ages and, it has to be said, one of hip-hop’s. Jay Z recently pointed out that hip-hop is going through a period like rock went through in the mid-eighties when the hair ‘metal’ bands ran wild and real rock was flatlining, the implication being that a breath of fresh air is due. Then there’s Ali himself who, a while back, pointed out that there’s currently little originality in music and everyone is desperate for something different and good. Similar arguments then, a key difference being that Jay Z’s just released the hip-hop equivalent of a Whitesnake album while in the same analogy Ali might be seen as having more of a Pixies type role.

Featuring slightly fewer guest appearances than Jay-Z’s saggy offering, this LP nevertheless opens with one…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

THE KELLY BROTHERS: That's How I Know My Baby Loves Me (b/w Not Enough Action) – 2009 – 7” review

THE KELLY BROTHERS: That's How I Know My Baby Loves Me (b/w Not Enough Action) – 2009 – 7” review
RATING: 5/5
The second classic 7” release of the week – (the first being a Jewel Bass repress) is this 1970 single from The Kelly Brothers. A side That’s How I Know My Baby Loves Me is classic Northern Soul fare while the superior uptempo funky-soul bomb Not Enough Action steams in at…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

JEWEL BASS/ RICHARD STOUTE: I Tried It & I Liked It/ What Bag I’m In – 2009 – 7” review

JEWEL BASS/ RICHARD STOUTE: I Tried It & I Liked It/ What Bag I’m In – 2009 – 7” review
RATING: 5/5
The Sticky label do it again with a double slice of re-release action but (and no disrespect to ‘Caribbean Soul King’ Richard Stoute’s classic northern soul gem) it’s all about the repress of the ultra-rare Jewel Bass track. Yet another long-lost Mississippi soul sister cut, this works along the same lines…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

DJ GOODKA & DJ MOAR: ‘Groovology’ LP update, tracklist + Funky Child Mix download

DJ GOODKA & DJ MOAR: ‘Groovology’ LP update, tracklist + Funky Child Mix download
Anyone who caught Moar’s Tribute To B-Boys in the summer will know it contains tracks that could have your grandma doing a windmill, so checking this out ought to be a no-brainer. In the meantime check out
…DOWNLOAD MIX/ READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

FOREIGN BEGGARS: New single 'Contact' + Studio video blog

FOREIGN BEGGARS: New single + Studio video blog
The band with the best Daily Mail-reader-baiting name ever are back with new single Contact (b/w Shake It in October and they’ve released a video blog to show y’all how it’s done with regard to laying down a track – see below links...…SEE VID/ READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

STUSSY: Autumn 2009 drop

STUSSY: Autumn 2009 drop
New t-shirts from Stussy – yay...sorry – what? £34.50 a shout? I wanted a t-shirt not a second mortgage? Are they stitched with spun gold thread? Diamante logos with real diamonds? Next thing you know it’ll be £90 for a plaid shirt
…SEE PICS/ READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

BREAKESTRA: Joyful Noise – 2009 – 12" review

BREAKESTRA: Joyful Noise – 2009 – Single review
RATING: 5/5
There might be a global shortage of cash money right now but we live in a world awash in retro deep funk. Presumably not content to let the influx of Australian and European offerings from said genre flood their market, LA’s very own funk ‘orchestra’ take it to the bridge with a quality 12” package (off forthcoming LPDusk Til Dawn) that thankfully
Out now on Strut.…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

LAURA VANE & THE VIPERTONES: Roof Off - 2009 - Single review

LAURA VANE & THE VIPERTONES: Tear The Roof Off – 2009 – Single review
RATING: 5/5
The third in a solid run of singles off the self-titled LP. “I see you shaking/ And I want to see you lose it,” belts out Laura at the start of a song that lyrically pretends to be about the dancefloor but that even the most literal-minded autist could see is about sex.
Out now on Unique.…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

DEEP STREET SOUL: ‘Deep Street Soul’ Album Update

DEEP STREET SOUL: ‘Deep Street Soul’ Album Update
I’ve just been sent previews of some of the tracks off this LP and they’re dirtier than a night with your favourite porn star. This is one you won’t wanna miss…

(PRESS RELEASE) Releasing their debut self-titled album on Freestyle Records (UK) this November, Deep Street Soul is fast becoming Australia’s premier deep funk quartet. With two sold out 7inch releases (Jaycees), a digital EP (Straightup Recordings) and worldwide airplay by the heavyweights of the international funk/soul scene (including Craig Charles, Pete Isaac, Michael Ruetten and Dom Servini), Deep Street Soul are delivering full length, deep and dirty funk.

“…Feelin' the deep street soul stuff – sick funk tracks!” (Giant Steps NYC)

“Deep Street Soul rock it, live and on this album. They are raw, real and street..” (Russ Dewbury, Jazz Rooms UK & AU)

‘I’ve just heard the preview of this album & it’s all killer and will, in my opinion, be one of the funk releases of the year’ (Pete Issac – JellyJazz UK)

Deep Street Soul are funk DJ & drummer Agostino ‘Sol Loco’ Soldati, bass player & soul aficionado Papa ‘J’ Hunter, Cropper lovin’ Matt ‘MG’ Green and Queen of the Hammond Monique ‘Mon Cherie’ Boggia. Getting together in early ‘06 they formed with the simple aim of recapturing some old skool southern flavors they’d DJ'd over the previous decade. Inspired by the breakout of nu-funk throughout Europe & the States (not forgetting Osaka Monaurail and Australia’s own - The Bamboos) they hit the clubs. Starting with an initial batch of Booker T & Meters covers, these quickly morphed into their own set of raw break-filled funk & soul.

Teaming with local Melbourne funk legend DJ John Idem in early ‘07, they released their first 45’ getdownHQ/ deepstreet strut on his Jaycee’s label. The 45’ quickly sold out and saw rotation on stations & mixes worldwide. As a result, a new 45’ loose caboose/nasty was recorded for Jaycee’s early 08’ (which also sold out) and a special 3 track digital release was cut for Blair Stafford's Straightup Recordings label.

After hearing these tracks, Freestyle Records (UK) boss Adrian Gibson signed the band to his label. The vinyl re-release of Chilli Fried will occur 5th Oct 09, and then the 1st single Kick out the Jams on 12th Oct 09. The first LP is due for release on 16th Nov 09 - Recorded in late 2008 this album is funk of the down’n’dirty variety.
…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

BROTHER ALI: 'Us' LP update + Tracklist

BROTHER ALI: 'Us' LP update + Tracklist
(PRESS RELEASE) Brother Ali returns with the follow up to his criticaly acclaimed 2007 album The Undisputed Truth. Us is an album about the people closest to Ali...those that have shaped him as a person. Many of the stories are ones we know exist but might not have a personal understanding of. American slavery from the perspective of the enslaved as well as those that carry the burden and bloodline of the slave master, rape and the struggle to regain control after experiencing it, drug abuse, depression, homophobia, divorce and more. All heavy topics that very few can approach with
…READ THE REST AT MONKEYBOXING.COM

FOREIGN BEGGARS/ SCRATCH PERVERTS: Neurosonics Audiomedical Video

FOREIGN BEGGARS/ SCRATCH PERVERTS: Neurosonics Audiomedical Video
Crazy bastards. Chek:
…SEE VID/ READ MORE AT MONKEYBOXING.COM