CODE EMPHASIS

The Roots - 'Undun' Review and Brand New Video

2011-12-16T15:32:00.000Z

"Growing up with 80s/90s cartoons with narratives that weren't patronising, a fair amount of books (particularly novels) and later being an avid listener of Radio Plays, I've become a lover of stories and storytelling. So when I heard Hip-hop band 'The Roots' were making an album called 'Undun' (at first I thought it was a reference to unfinished business; it came out so quick after 'How I Got Over'), I was rather excited at the prospect of this record being a concept album telling the tale of fictional character Redford Stevens; A young man whose life is tragically cut short after falling into the wrong crowd...

...On first listen, I had quite a hard time catching the narrative of the record. Although I easily picked up some record favourites and the music is played fantastically well, 'Undun' generally has the same slow-paced gloomy element throughout. On the one hand, this makes the concept of 'Undun' a success. On the other hand, it can prove for quite a difficult listen unless in the right mood. After a few listens, I was able to enjoy the slow, sloppy crack of the snares, the dull thuds of piano chords, and the eerie echoes of moogs and guitars. I was also able to grasp an interpretation of the narrative; to me 'Undun' tells Redford's story in reverse:

Imagine the 'Redford Suite' is an overture, a short peering into the life of Redford Stevens. The peaceful and reflective Piano playing on Sufjan Stevens' 'Redford (For Yia-Yia and Pappou)' could reflect the peaceful element of Redford's life. 'Possibility' can be just that, the rise in Piano keys and the Viola being Redford saying "What if there's more?". 'Will to Power' conveys the choice that Redford has made, the keys going from peaceful to rocky and unpredictable, a flurry of kicks and snares rolling into the mix, just as unpredictable, making the listen unpleasant but justified. The strings and keys of 'Possibility' return in 'Finality' as a realisation; answers to lifes' questions as clear as day...only for Redford's life to be snatched away, a slam of piano keys signifying an abrupt end...

...'Tip the Scale' sets the scene of harsh life on the city streets for a poor black person through the slow pace of the drums and the gloomy chord progression although Dice Raw's vocals speak on striving to do something different, despite the results of others who've tried. 'I Remember' would be the home scene of this tale, a moment to get to know Redford's character as he recalls a simpler time. The keys have a sombre mood as Thought's gritty voice speaks on hopes lost to an uncaring system. 'Lighthouse' has a quirky bass riff to go with slightly faster drums and and keys in a higher pitch. The lyrics however reveal that the hopeful melody is actually a realisation that nobody's there to help you...

...'Stomp' starts of with lone electric guitar chords before breaking out into a steady march of drum kicks, percussion, guitar chords and a repetitive bounce of piano keys. This could signify the moment where Redford thinks the life of crime could be a way to go. ?uestlove's insanely precise drum timing is showcased at the start of 'The OtherSide' before the piano breaks in and Thought speaks on making a dent in life AND death despite the path Redford has chosen. Bilal's vocals are simple yet really well delivered and reminds me of something we may have heard in the 60s or 70s; this helps to set the scene of crossing over to the wrong crowd. A repeated music sample of a funky guitar riff, mixed with drums and bass brings in the high-lived 'Kool On', a posse cut oozing attitude and conveying that this path may have been a good choice despite the risks. The constant appearance of Greg Porn on the past three songs leads me to think that his character was the one that put Redford on the path of crime...

...It's the beginning of the end for Redford on the solemn yet hopeful 'One Time'. Phonte's verse seems to tell the story of driving up on someone who's stepped on one toe too many; possibly Redford's character as Thought and Dice Raw's vocals are quite fretful. Dice Raw's questons of what happens when you die makes me wonder if his character is Redfords' conscience. A wane of keys brings in 'Make My', a slow number in which a reflection of all that has happened is apparent in the melody. A beautiful musical movement is presented in the second half of this piece, possibly signifying Redford's "Departure from the world". 'Sleep' contains a metronome type ticking in the gloomy, down to earth melody. The lyrics speak on not being able to sleep, could this be an omen?...The album opens with 'Dun', an eerie track with very little music but for subdued keys and a flatline. Listening to this piece in reverse will literally create 'Undun', starting with a gunshot, hearing the last shards of life leave Redford's body, then the flatline is all...

...Musically, 'Undun' is a fantastic project that can be perceived in quite a few different ways. Due to the consistent downer of the mood I found this record takes a few listens to be truly appreciated. As usual for The Roots it's fantastic to know that with a constant high quality output of music comes progression and new avenues to explore."

-Alex King

The History Of Sega Dreamcast Documentary Pt 1& 2

2011-12-08T21:50:00.000Z

With gaming technology and consoles reaching new highs and creating games that look equally as good as their intro's and games that now seaming to last years instead of months Code Emphasis look back to the past at maybe one of the most under rated gaming consoles of its generation The Sega Dreamcast in all its 128-bit glory."But would it be good enough to hold back the Playstation 2 ? "

The Dreamcast (ドリームキャスト Dorīmukyasuto^?) is a 128-bit video game consolewhich was released by Sega in late 1998 in Japan and from September 1999 in other territories. It was the first entry in the sixth generation of video game consoles, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube.

'CLASSIC' The Album by M.E.D. -Reviewed by The Eminence Grise ( Out 1 Nov 2011 )

2011-10-25T10:02:00.000+01:00

Stones Throw emcee Medaphoar, a.k.a. M.E.D., has finished his second official solo album, following 2005's "Push Come to Shove". The first Album spawned one of my favourite tunes of the last decade (Can’t hold On) so I was excited to hear what he had been working on for so long. The somewhat bold title, whether or not you think this joint lives up it is a pretty good album.

This new project clocks in at 41:47 total running time - not overly long, I mean it’s barely one side of a D-90. That time is spread out over 14 tracks, 10 of which are produced by his Stones Throw co-hort, Madlib who possibly understands M.E.D the best when it comes to beats.

Alchemist, Oh No, Kareem Riggins and Georgia-Anne Muldrow make up the other producers on this album whilst the guest features come from Label Mate Planet Asia, Kurupt and Talib Kweli.

There's plenty to appreciate about Classic, given that M.E.D. is far from a whack MC. I’ve often thought that he should have garnered more shine by now but listening to this project, he seems somewhat uninventive in terms of his lyricism, whether this is a result of the time frame involved in getting to this sophomore project I’m not sure.

Much like his first album, It’s the quality of production that really helps him out, especially given Madlib is the only man on the boards from track 6 until the finale. "Get that" has a pleasant Middle Eastern influence; "Blaxican" is something of filler as far as I’m concerned and has no real place on this album. "Outta Control" bangs on intentionally overproduced drums for a modern day boom bap sound, and "Flying High" lives up to its name by being a light and breezy affair.

You can't go wrong with most of these tracks, from the chunky West coast funk of "Where I'm from" featuring rapperturntsinga (damn you T-pain) Aloe Blacc. The silky smooth vibe of "1 Life 2 Live" is also one of my favourites.

Energy and good vibes are abound on this project and M.E.D. certainly has them on production – this helps elevate him and this album as a whole. The title track is actually worthy of its moniker with veteran MC Talib Kweli on the assist they do a little reminiscing about the music we all know and love. Karriem Riggins keeps things relatively subdued on the production tip and this tune will stand the test of time and become worthy of it’s title one day.

It’s hard to tell, after just a couple listens, whether this good record is dope and has truly timeless appeal, but this I know for certain: this joint is worthy of your cash.

M.E.D- Classic is available on 1st November on Stones Throw at all good Audio retailers.

The Eminence Grise

THIS IS BLACK HISTORY (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

2011-10-08T16:20:00.000+01:00

http://thisisblackhistory.bandcamp.com/track/this-is-black-history

Produced by Last Resort Ft. Jody McIntyre, Logic, Big Ben, Jaja Soze, bigCAKES, Genesis Elijah, MC D, Cerose, Big Frizzle, Wordplay, Haze, USG, Rodney P, Akala.
Wall Art: Steaz an Coza

Big up Azita!
Overstand Music & Culture
Riddim Killa
Illastate Records
P.D.C.
U.S.G.
CodeRed
London Ent.

MEETING OF STYLES 2011 - Live Graffiti Event - London 8th October 2011 ( Highbury Studios,Hornsey St, Islington N7 )

2011-10-06T14:48:00.000+01:00

Their are a few things in life I look forward to when it comes to annal events, Christmas (hang with the family and eat like Homer Simpson), Champions League Final, that event when women ride around on bicycles naked and Meeting Of Styles.

Meeting Of Styles is an annal event that takes place at the Highbury Studios, Hornsey St, Islington N7 where graffiti writers from around the world gather in one place and paint the living crap out of Highbury Studios. Its FREEE. plus there's drink, food, style, music, paint fumes and fun. So bring your camera and get flashing. Trust me brothers and sisters the standards will be high.

http://meetingofstyles.co.uk/category/blog/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/meetingofstyleslondon2011

Bunny Bread -The Artistic Assassinator.

"Once Upon a Time in New York (The Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk)

2011-09-25T14:11:00.000+01:00

"The Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk" - How the squalid streets of '70s New York gave birth to music that would go on to conquer the world - punk, disco and hip hop.
In the 1970s the Big Apple was rotten to the core, yet out of the grime, grit and low rent space emerged new music unlike anything that had gone before.

Inspired by the Velvet Underground, a new wave of 'punk' rock emerged in lower Manhattan including The New York Dolls, The Ramones and the Patti Smith Group. Meanwhile, downtown loft parties held by gay New Yorkers heralded the birth of disco, which would eventually spawn the ultimate club for the privileged few: Studio 54. The swanky mid-town discos were out of bounds to black New York so in the Bronx DJs such as Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa created their own parties, heralding the birth of hip hop.

With David Johansen, Patti Smith, John Cale, Richard Hell, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, Tommy Ramone, Chris Stein, Fab 5. Freddy, Lenny Kaye, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Syl Sylvain, Nicky Siano, David Mancuso, DJ AJ, David Depino, Jayne County, Leee Childers, Nelson George, Victor Bokris and Vince Aletti.

"Once Upon a Time in New York: The Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk" -BBC 2004

Planet Rock The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation part 1 & 2

2011-09-23T22:55:00.000+01:00

Twenty-five years after crack cocaine ravaged American cities,this documentary explores how the drug also transformed popular culture, especially hip-hop. Narrated and executive produced by Ice-T, "Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation" is the first documentary to focus specifically on the connections between crack and hip-hop. Based primarily on the first-person accounts of four famous dealers-turned-rappers, the film also widens its lens at points to show how crack changed America culturally, socially and politically. Using rare footage, photos, and animation, all set to the beats and rhymes of the iconic hip hop tracks of the day, the documentary explores how media hysteria, racism and political reaction produced policies and laws that have left us with the largest -- and most disproportionately African-American -- prison population in the world. Crack first appeared in the early 1980s, but by 1986, it was raging through the inner cities of America like wildfire, leaving pain, grief, and death in its wake. With candid, never-before-seen interviews from survivors, including Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill's B-Real, and the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and Raekwon, "Planet Rock" examines the hardships young men encountered growing up in impoverished neighborhoods, which led many to deal crack cocaine as their only way out. This destructive drug not only provided an escape, but also paved the way for an entrance into hip-hop.

More than any other art form, hip-hop reflected and documented the crack epidemic. The chaos and madness of the crack phenomenon was fused with the sound and style of hip-hop during its formative years. From the gold dookie chain to Gucci, many hip-hop artists were influenced by the look and fashion of infamous dealers like Azie Faison in Harlem, who is prominently featured in the documentary, along with Freeway Ricky Ross, the Godfather of Crack in LA. As hip-hop became increasingly popular, the fascination with crime and gangster culture, specifically the violence inherent in crack culture, became ingrained in the music. And soon the very kids dealing crack were turning their street tales into hit records. After serving hard time in jail, Snoop Dogg became the biggest rapper of his day; after a bullet in the back nearly killed him, B Real went legit with Cypress Hill; and after crafting their business model on the crack hustle, RZA and Raekwon turned the Wu Tang Clan into a hip hop empire. As journalist Cheo Choker reflects, "it's fascinating to think that Jay Z, a global icon who had better seats at President Obama's inauguration than Jesse Jackson, was once a New York City crack dealer."

Shout Out to Eddie Murphy for this one.

A review of 'Kaidi's 5ive' by Kaidi Tatham / Jazz refreshed

2011-09-01T01:55:00.000+01:00

"Lately and with great relief, I've been able to counter the onslaught of "Music's in bad shape" arguments because it seems that genuine independent artists have been forced to up their game with the quality in their music. Not to lie, some of it wasn't as mind blowing as first hoped, but on the whole the quality has been excellent. During the wave of 2000Black projects, J*Davey EP's, Sa-Ra one-offs and +FE treats (to name only a few) I couldn't help but wonder: "When is Kaidi Tatham gonna drop another solo project?!!!" ...

...The answer came with the Jazz Re:Freshed 5ive series; a series of short albums/extended plays from artists we should hear more of. 'Kaidi's 5ive' was anticipated as the first only to be eclipsed by the awesome 'Spaven's 5ive' album. Well...better late than never. The second chapter in the 5ive series give us a short voyage through Broken Beat/80's vibes to Nu Jazz experimentation. We start of with a blast of synth bass that is joined shortly by a layer of snares and another of melodic keys introducing 'Don't Hide Your Love'. From the hyped up dance vibe and slightly unpredictable loops that start us off, I wonder if the "Love" is for another person, or for music. Following quite a pop structure for this piece, the real joy is the time change around 3 and a half minutes in, looping a joyful blast of keys, drums, bass and flute that makes you just want to vibe out, all to Kaidi's vamp of "Good things/Will come to you". 'To my Surprise' remains in the same dance vibe with a strong 80s feel, adding more synths and vocals not heard so clearly since 'If you got 3 wishes'. A fairly nice piece but a bit minimal in my opinion...

...The influence changes from Broken/80s to Hip-hop/Jazz with the short but powerful 'Dyno'. This piece has a more fixed time structure while still striking emotions within the listener. The short time changes almost serves as a short example yet again, of how seamlessly Jazz and Hip-hop intertwine. 'For All Love in Time' bridges the gap between Jazz and Broken Beat by beginning with an articulate playing of keys and bass over strings, sampling a piece of George Duke's 'Feel' (or maybe 'Statement') and later adding those swift kicks and early snares. About 2 minutes in the piece changes from a spacious landscape passing by to a pleasant wave of synths as if to say "Okay, you get the point". We end the EP with 'Organic Juggernaut', a piece that begins with a grand piano (not unlike 'He Laughs, She Cries') playing over a building Latin groove and flute solo which breaks out into a broken affair followed by an emotional blast of keys, strings, and vocals, fading out as if to say "This is a taster of things to come."...

...'Kaidi's 5ive' is an awesome record for music lovers to play over and over if only to pick up the layers upon layers of different sounds going on in each piece. As usual I was itching for a bonus track, but from the sounds of this project and word of others in the pipeline, we can only keep our ears open..."

-Alex King

KAIDI 5IVES AVAILABLE AT

http://jazzrefreshed.bandcamp.com/album/kaidis-5ive

jazzrefreshed.com

The Weird World of Blowfly (Documentary)

2011-08-28T01:23:00.000+01:00

The Weird World of Blowfly tells the story of Miami musician Clarence Reid and his alter ego Blowfly, the original dirty rapper. At 69 years-old, with a gold-spangled superhero costume and a catalog of the world's raunchiest tunes, Blowfly continues to record new material and tour the world, struggling for success and recognition.

Before his X-rated career began, Clarence was instrumental in the Florida soul scene of the 1960s and 70s; he wrote Top-10 songs for Miamiís greatest R&B acts, including Betty Wright, Gwen McCrae and KC and the Sunshine Band, and recorded what might be the worldís first rap song in 1965. But for over 40 years Clarence has shocked and grooved audiences with Blowflyís hilarious and provocative hard-core songs.

Shot over the course of two years, the film follows Clarence today and we see his life, career and philosophy unfold. A revealing portrait of an unheralded man, The Weird World of Blowfly examines Clarence's personal and professional contradictions, explores his legacy and celebrates his musical and cultural significance as a rapper and soul music legend.

"The Weird World of Blowfly" - Official Trailer (Uncensored) from
specialtheoryfilms on Vimeo.

THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975 Opens In Late September

2011-08-19T19:00:00.000+01:00

The Black Power Mixtape is an award winning compilation feature documentary that displays the story of the African-American community 1967-1975, the people, the society and the style that fueled a change. Told with sparkling, beautiful and deep footage, lost in the archives in Sweden for 30 years.

At the end of the 1960s, numerous Swedish journalists came to the US, drawn by stories of urban unrest and revolution. Filming for close to a decade, they gained the trust of many of the leaders of the black power movement Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis and Eldridge Cleaver among them capturing them in intimate moments and remarkably unguarded interviews. Thirty years later, this lush collection of 16mm film, peppered with footage of Black Panther activities and B-roll images of black America, was found languishing in the basement of Swedish Television. Director Olsson brings this mesmerizing footage to light and, integrating audio interviews with prominent African-American artists and activists who were influenced by the struggle from Erykah Badu to Harry Belafonte crafts a dynamic chronicle of the birth and life of a movement.

Written and Directed by: Göran Hugo Olsson
Produced by: Annika Rogell, Story AB
Co-Produced by: Joslyn Barnes & Danny Glover, Louverture Films
Art Director: Stefania Malmsten
Edited by: Göran Hugo Olsson & Hanna Lejonqvist
Including appearances by:
Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichae, Dr. Martin Luther King

Colonel Red 'Keep Walkin' Album Promo ( Sept 2011 )

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000+01:00

Colonel Red's new album 'Keep Walkin' resonates with the rich influences and experiences of his heritage, yet still speaks with honest humility of familiar themes of faith, hope and love, that captures the essence of the contradictions and challenges that come our way, making the most of our lives, living our dreams and finding love in a society under pressure.

After numerous coops with funk and soul legends such as Earth Wind & Fire, Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker, Lenny White, Tony Allen and The Last Poets, Colonel Red decided to make a departure from the electronic studio sounds of his earlier productions and turn back to his musical roots. The deeply rhythmical hooks of 'Keep Walkin' take you on a soulsongal adventure through jazz, soul, funk and fusion.

The rich tapestry of themes embrace self empowerment in the voodoesque soul of 'Rain of Fall' with its ghostly piano. Other tracks like 'I Will Be There' take a sweet mournful road through the land of relationships. The backing music is organic with horn lines working subtle trade offs against guitar and keyboard melodies that provide an intimate atmosphere for the whole album. Colonel Red's voice carries the songs the way an eagle twists in the sky, at times whispering, floating and at other moments soaring high viewing the landscape below. Spoken word artist Ursula Rucker is the special guest on this album, shooting straight from the heart as familiar to listeners of The Roots and 4Hero. Altogether the compositional vision, sound and science of 'Keep Walkin' defines the past, present, and future of Colonel Red. A strong album that cannot be missing in any decent soul collection!

REVIEWS

An album that truly fits in a long tradition of soul albums from Marvin to D'Angelo that tells it like it is. Warrior music for the mind, body and soul for the trials and tribulations of these modern times.

Paul Martin (Music Consultant)

Wicked!
Gilles Peterson (BBC)

Seriously Good Vibes. With all the crap that's out there, and the destruction thats taking place this album is so needed.

One of the best soul albums of 2011 !

Bunny Bread (Code Emphasis / Jazz re:freshed )

Robots of Brixton (Animation)

2011-06-29T10:36:00.000+01:00

Brixton has degenerated into a disregarded area inhabited by London's new robot workforce - robots built and designed to carry out all of the tasks which humans are no longer inclined to do. The mechanical population of Brixton has rocketed, resulting in unplanned, cheap and quick additions to the skyline.

The film follows the trials and tribulations of young robots surviving at the sharp end of inner city life, living the predictable existence of a populous hemmed in by poverty, disillusionment and mass unemployment. When the Police invade the one space which the robots can call their own, the fierce and strained relationship between the two sides explodes into an outbreak of violence echoing that of 1981.

Kibwe Tavares - Direction, animation, modeling, lighting, texturingetc...
David Hoffman - Photographer Brixton riots archive.hoffmanphotos.com/
Mourad Bennacer - Sound Designer designsonore.tumblr.com/
DJ Hiatus "The Great Insurrection" hiatusmusic.net

MisterE's of The Mind...: Memories Don't Leave Like People Do...

2011-06-17T14:26:00.000+01:00

MisterE's of The Mind...: Memories Don't Leave Like People Do...: "Click for accompanying music for this blog. So this was not meant to be my next blog post, but this is as good an avenue as any to share so..."

This was such a beautiful blog... I had to share it!!!

xxxx

I didn't drop this bomb...but I still be dropping them!!

Ama - Your very own etc. etc.

OUTSIDE IN – The History of Art In The Streets (Movie Trailer)

2011-06-13T18:41:00.000+01:00

OUTSIDE IN is a celebratory and historical look at street art through the lens of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s groundbreaking exhibition Art in the Streets. The film features renowned artists Shepard Fairey, Lee Quiñones, Swoon, Futura, Mister Cartoon, Revok, Martha Cooper, Invader to name a few. Director Alex Stapleton (Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel) documents the artist’s creative process, their pitfalls with the law, the poetic impermanence of their craft and the artists’ evolution from the back seat of a cop car to the walls of a well-respected institution.

LEVI’S® PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH DOOMSDAY ENTERTAINMENT
OUTSIDE IN: The Story of Art in the Streets
A Film by Alex Stapleton - Trailer by Trailer Park

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - 50 years (Animation)

2011-06-13T00:33:00.002+01:00

This powerful piece was created for the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International a international coalition of freedom fighters who demand justice to those who’s human rights have been violated. Directed by Carlos Lascano. Music by Academy Award Winner Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe.

Spot for the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International, produced by Eallin Motion Art and Dreamlife Studio, with Music by Academy Award Winner Hans Zimmer and Nominee Lorne Balfe.

---------

Director: Carlos Lascano

Music: Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe

Producers: Lukáš Skalník, Martin Hovorka, Paula Lema, Carlos Lascano

Production Managers: Ivanna Kozak, Pavla Martinovská, Martin Štefan / Script: Carlos Lascano, Paula Lema

------

2D, 3D Team: Jiří Forejt, Martin Hanschild, Josef Kasal, Pavel Kout, Martin Ličko, Dmitry Medinsky, Ondřej Přidal, Renata Stránská / Matte Painter: Leo Verrier / Puppet Animation: David Sukup / Scale models: Pavel Kout, Jiří Mlčák, Marek Skalník / Cast: Monika Řezníčková / Technical support: Jan Řada, Jakub Gobel / Sound Postproduction: Basefloor – Michal Dvořák / Sound Designer: Michal Dvořák / Final Color Grading: Jan Černý

'Iz The Wiz' Tribute Weekend - 17th June 2011

2011-06-08T13:31:00.001+01:00

The 1st Annual

Iz The Wiz Tribute Weekend.
(In remembrance of a graffiti legend)

The weekend of the 17th June every year.

The Iz The Wiz tribute weekend is our time each year to come together as one global community to express ourselves within the art of writing... This is a worldwide event where writers and artists can come together at their local "Hall of Fame" or spot to enjoy the love of graffiti writing and creating art with their name. Either a "Single hit/Tag" on the street, to "Wholecars" and wall productions. Each individual has their own unique way of expressing themselves. "Watch the closing doors". A train leaving for Far Rockaway...

Iz The Wiz was probably the most prolific graffiti/writer the New York City graffiti scene has seen to date.

He was "All City" king for a 10 year period. To Iz this was 1 "Piece/Throwup" on ever train car, both sides... Insides and out.This amount of painting had one objective in mind, not just to become king of the line, but to become king of the city. If you looked in the dictionary under "Graffiti Bomber/Writer" there would be a photo of Iz The Wiz setting a example to us all of how getting up with your name should be done.

To quote another prolific "Writer/Bomber" who knew how to get up. "The element is more"... Something Iz lived his life by. Iz's love for writing his name made him a major influence worldwide to millions of writers, artists and like minded individuals. For this reason we celebrate the art of writing with the "Iz The Wiz

Tribute Weekend"

Michael "Iz The Wiz" Martin

The Master of Reality.

1958 – 2009

Contact: tmblasters@gmail.com

BlackStar, De La Soul and Rakim at HMV Hammersmith May/10/2011 - THE REVIEW

2011-05-19T14:17:00.001+01:00

Black Star Review:

Well, I don’t know if you can call this a review. I guess it’s my overview and general ramblings of what I can remember about this “momentus” occasion. Here goes…

This was one of the most anticipated Hip Hop concerts that I can remember in very a long time. It was one of those occasions in which you’d want to say, “I was there”…before the event transpired that is. Actually, that is a little unfair to be honest, this was for me, a great Hip Hop occasion, if not a night without major flaws.

Act I:

Rakim kicked off proceedings to an increasingly full HMV Apollo. His laid back style gathered momentum throughout his relatively short set, with his more than able DJ acting as hype man. It was enough to satisfy his fans (myself included), although it did feel more like an advert or taster for his upcoming solo London show.

Act II:

After a short transition in which DJ’s Pogo and Business entertained the now totally full Apollo (with solid Hip Hop of an appropriate quality I hasten to add), De La Soul took to the stage. I won’t dwell on the details of this performance as it can be described in very few words… THEY ABSOLUTELY TORE THE ROOF OFF!!! Their charisma, skill, experience and general freshness were all fully on show. Enough said.

Act III:

The main event was now upon us and Black Star’s Mos Def & Talib Kweli, had a real task on their hands to satisfy a crowd that was bursting with anticipation after being cranked up to full by the superlative De La Soul.. What was to follow was a disjointed and severely misjudged performance from the Black Star maestros. The decreasing energy level of the audience was palpable, as was the lack of on stage chemistry between Mos and Talib, although the major misjudgement appeared to be in their selection of songs to perform – let’s be honest, the crowd were there primarily to hear the Black Star Album performed live, not a selection of their individual tracks and three, yes only three tracks from the seminal LP. Again I am not going to go into great detail about the performance (I’ll be here all day), however I must mention my bafflement at the need for and subsequent non-use of two DJ’s on the stage. I can only guess that there were some technical difficulties with the decks (I hope).

Conclusion:

First off, I want to say that I really enjoyed this occasion. It was great to be around a positive Hip Hop event with such energy, support and anticipation, even if expectations were not quite met. The problem, as I see it, is that Black Star were never going to outperform the twenty two year seasoned veterans De La Soul and as headliners they needed to hit the ground running and set themselves apart. I really believe that Black Star should have performed with a live band, for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Black Star Album is perfectly suited and tailor made for a live set up, that’s reason enough. In addition, a live set up would have set them apart from the other performers and would have taken some of the performance pressure off Mos Def and Talib Kweli, with the band sharing visual and sonic responsibility. Anyhow, I could go on, but I won’t, suffice to say there were many disappointed and dissenting voices being raised on the steps outside the venue. The hope is that some of those strong opinions filter back to the artists and this can only make for better future performances... surely?

Reviewed by Mr Two Fingers.

'Flip The Script' by Kingsley Davis, Book Launch & Exhibition - May 18th 2011

2011-05-16T09:26:00.000+01:00

The Book Launch & Exhibition : Flip the Script A Photographers Music Diary, by Kingsley Davis & preface by Norman Jay MBE

With a Special performance by Jonzi D - Choreographer, MC, Poet & Curator of Breakin Convention + Flip the Script video premiere..

Wednesday May 18 2011 7-9pm

Exhibition open from May 9 - May 28 2011

Address:

Westminster Reference Library, 1st Floor, 35 St Martins Street, London WC2H 7HP

http://www.flipthescriptbook.com

info@flipthescriptbook.com

Bunny Bread - Creative Assassin

See AMP FIDDLER Live @ Jazz cafe - 27TH APRIL 2011 ( ITS COMPETITION TIME AGAIN )

2011-04-25T01:11:00.001+01:00

Amp Fiddler is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan, U.S. His musical styles include funk, soul, dance and electronica music. He is probably best known for his contributions to the band Enchantment, and as part of George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic groups from 1985 until 1996. His first solo album Waltz of a Ghetto Fly was released in March 2004. His most recent album, Afro Strut, was released in 2006.

Fiddler has worked with George Clinton, Moodymann, Stephanie McKay, Jamiroquai, Prince, Was (Not Was), The Brand New Heavies, Fishbone, Corinne Bailey Rae and Maxwell. Working with his brother, Bubz (bass guitarist, producer and songwriter), he released the album Mr Fiddler in 1990 on Elektra. Amp Fiddler is credited with introducing hip-hop producer J Dilla to the Akai MPC sampling drum machine and also to A Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip, who introduced the young Dilla into the music industry world.

Code emphasis has had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Fiddler and we have to confess his is one of the most down to earth and coolest dude we have ever met.

Now here's your chance and a friend to go see Amp Fiddler live at the Jazz Cafe, London 27th April 2011 with supporting act provided by Randolph Matthews, just simply answer this question for your chance to see them live.

WHAT U.S CITY IS AMP FIDDLER FROM ?

Answers to editor@codeemphasis.com / subject - amp fiddler comp

Closing time 12 midday, 27th April 2011

Code Emphasis

Who Killed Smiley Culture? March for Justice! (Video Documentation)

2011-04-24T14:17:00.000+01:00

'The 48-year-old asked police if he could make a cup of tea before being taken into custody. Detectives allowed Smiley - real name David Emmanuel - to go and put the kettle on in his kitchen.

But the star - who had a 1984 hit with a song called Police Officer - grabbed a carving knife and stabbed himself in the heart.' -The Sun

'The 48-year-old former singer is believed to have asked if he could go and make a cup of tea before being taken to a police station for questioning. While he was gone, he took a knife and plunged it into his own chest.

'Smiley must have thought he was going away for a long time and decided he could not handle it,' a source told The Sun newspaper.' - The Daily Mail

'The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said it will investigate the death of the musician, whose real name is David Emmanuel.

The IPCC said he died of a suspected stab wound when Met Police officers carried out an arrest warrant at a house in Warlingham at 0700 GMT.' - BBC News

This is the nation's press, this is the story the Police are giving us and this is the story we're meant to accept? When are they going to call out the big fat elephant in the room? I guess that bit is left for the Independent Police Complaints Commission to do right? Hmmm..

The Police track record of deaths in custody and the correlation it has with race didn't even come into question when we read the news about Smiley. It was only when his family started the campaign 'Justice for Smiley' and the community went out and marched the streets of london that that the press decided to give it a mention.

On 16th April 2011 Code Emphasis joined the family, friends and fans of Smiley Culture and all the other families that are the victims of their loved ones being killed whilst in police custody and marched for justice. We saw the news coverage of the event from the likes Ch4 and the BBC but they failed to capture the emotion and seriousness of what community were trying to do on that day. Hopefully, if you were unable to be there, our documentation of the event will resonate with you on a level so that you can also join the campaign for justice, not just for Smiley Culture but for all the other victims that died, were killed or suffered whilst in police custody.

Code Emphasis

Cece - Boss Lady

STONES THROW RECORDS VIDEO CONTEST!!!

2011-04-20T20:53:00.000+01:00

This year is our 15 year anniversary and I wanted to do something special, something that involves the fans directly. Sitting in my hotel room in Sydney the day after a great show in terms of turnout and audience participation, I was reminded that we have the best, most loyal fans in the world.

Looking back on the 15 years of the label, a lot of my favourite songs don’t have a video. We generally only do one video per artist album and in some cases, we didn’t do any (Donuts). There’s been a lot of fan videos done for Stones Throw artists for a while now and although there’s been a few duds, there’s been jems too. The Quasimoto ”Shadows of Tomorrow” video was so good, we put it on our DVD. Using all found-footage, it was more interesting than most videos on that DVD that featured the artist. Thankfully the director/editor of that one reached out and identified himself as Duey FM and he’s been making videos for Mad Decent and others ever since. Got me to thinking ...

CONTEST: MAKE YOUR OWN VIDEO FOR STONES THROW. The rules are simple. Pick any song from Stones Throw’s catalog. Edit your own video using any footage you want, upload it to Vimeo.com, and add it to our Vimeo grouphttp://vimeo.com/groups/stonesthrow15

You can do anything you like as long as it's CREATIVE - shoot new footage, animation, found footage, or combination. Our deadline is July 1, 2011.

30 after that, I’ll announce the winner, taking into consideration view count, comments, and most importantly which video I like best. Semi-finalists will get a $200 credit to be used on stonesthrow.com and the winner will get a $1000 check and a chance to direct an upcoming video for the label.

Colonel Red's New Album 'Keep Walkin' Promo Vid

2011-04-18T08:46:00.000+01:00

Colonel Red, Singer, producer, songwriter and instrumentalist (Ruff Language) has been working hard in the studio for a little while now on his new album 'Keep Walkin' and guess what? It's finished...Wooohoooo! Fortunately Code Emphasis has had the pleasure of being involved in the art, media and promotional campaign and we have loads of little goodies for you but for now here's a lil teaser of what's to come from the Colonel.

Don't say we didn't give you the heads up on the goodness...Stay tuned for 'Keep Walkin'!

Cece (Boss Lady) - Code Emphasis

EPMD Speaks the truth - Code Emphasis Exclusive Video Interview

2011-04-15T19:56:00.000+01:00

Erick and Parrish Makin Dollars. Need I say more? Those of you that were at the HMV Forum to see the Hip Hop Veterans at work, know that they deserve every last dollar they make. The show was dope and like always, the London crowd gave them the most love.

It's not everyday you get to meet some of your Hip Hop heroes and Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith did not disappoint. Before the show me and my side kick Bunny Bread were back stage with the guys and it was one of those surreal moments where we walked in on the middle of a crazy conversation about Egypt and the pyramids... Erick, Parrish and the legendary DJ Scratch were goin in hard with some deep, astrological theories, whilst others in the room contributed with some Biblical and mythical explanations of how the pyramids were built... All this whilst EPMD finished off Nandos chicken and the others dipped occasionally into a pack of Haribo. It was weird, it felt like yesterday I watched Erick Sermon cipher on Yo MTV Raps and now I'm in a convo with them about giants building the pyramids. if only the camera was rolling.

Getting to the point...eventually Erick and Parrish blessed us with some truth words about the industry and honoured the time allocated to us even though the highly charged convo before hand took them a good 30 mins behind time.

Here's what the guys had to say about themselves in the 90s, making dollars, independent labels and Kanye West.

A truly blessed experience.

Cece (Boss Lady) - codeemphasis.com

Live London performance

PeteStrumentals - 10th Anniversary Expanded & Limited Edition by Pete Rock

2011-04-11T15:46:00.000+01:00

Best known for his work with CL Smooth, and his remixes for Public Enemy, House of Pain, Mary J Blige and Mick Jagger to mention a few. Hailing from the little town of Mt. Vernon, NY, right next to the Bronx, Pete Rock & CL Smooth pretty much got together in their local high school when Pete noticed CLs dope and unique voice.

After high school, Pete hooked up a weekend hip-hop show on WBLS-FM and was considered one of NYs premier DJs during his four year stint on the show. All Souled Out was Pete & CLs debut EP, it was the phenomenal production by Pete Rock which really drew people to this EP. If the legendary DJ Mark The 45 King was the first producer to incorporate horns, Pete Rock was the first to really perfect this new style of production with his trademark echoing horns laced throughout his music.

This was done very nicely on two of the cuts off the EP, Creator and Mecca & The Sou! l Brother, and people were taking notice in a big way. After the solid Mecca/Creator 12 inch, the duo unleashed one of those all-time classic LPs every MC dreams of having, Mecca & The Soul Brother featuring the monumental: They Reminisce Over You, Straighten It Out, Ghettos Of The Mind, and Lots Of Lovin. Songs to make you cry - damn, they were playing TROY at funerals everywhere. One of the greatest hip hop records ever made …it never leads my box man…- (Tim Westwood)

Pete Rock on hip hop: Hip hop to me today is still important but we are going through a phase right now. Hip Hop as been injected by a virus, and right now weve got to find a cure to this. Which brings along myself. (Frank 151)

The Press ...from downtempo, funkdified sounds to hypnotic hip–hop beats,

this is a wonderfully crafted album - (BPM July 2001)

This hypnotic … album represents hip hops incredible ability to morph and manipulate a hodgepodge of sounds to create something unique…although the sound is now industrial, electronic and everything but natural Pete’s version of hip hop will remain a classy affair that merges the elements of an orchestra, the roots of black music and the cacophony of the streets. -

(Mass Appeal July 2001)

www.bbemusic.com

SONY NEX FS 100 Exclusive Video review. Could this be the next big camera on the block ???

2011-03-25T01:17:00.000Z

This is a Worldwide Exclusive. From F Stop Academy
Not only did I contribute to the design of this camera but we managed to get a prototype and shoot a music video a few weeks ago. I believe we are the first independent team to shoot anything with the NEX FS100.
When I got the call we were told we could have the camera for a little over 24hrs.

We wanted to do more than just simply test it. But also we wanted to see what we could get out of the camera with stock lenses and recording internally.So James from hangmanstudios.com teamed up with Den from fstopacademy.com and we pulled off this amazing shoot in 48hrs. Needless to say we didn't get much sleep but we valued the opportunity and wanted to shoot as much as we could in as many environments as we could.

We especially wanted to push the low light capability and use the in camera media. It shoots to SD cards, Sony Memory sticks and also has a 128GB FMU which is a solid state pack that integrates with the camera and will give up to 10 hrs record time at 24mb/s AVC HD.

We shot everything at 24mb/s AVC HD and ingested into FCP and transcoded to ProRes 422 using Log and transfer.

Shot over a 36 hr period in one weekend on one of only 2 prototype NEX FS 100 Cameras in the world.

We used 3 lenses:
A Sony Alpha 50mm f1.4 with alpha to emount adaptor
A E mount 16mm f2.8
The Stock lens 18-200 f3.5-5.6

For more information on the camera you can go here sony.co.uk/biz/content/id/1237480587665?en_GB=

UNITE FOR JAPAN - 27th March with IG Culture, Dego, Seji, Marc Mac, Phil Asher @ Plastic People, London

2011-03-22T20:45:00.002Z

Following the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami which devastated part of the north-east of Japan which left many dead and hundreds of thousands homeless, several key players from west London’s pivotal broken beat scene will unite for the first time since the legendary Co-op parties of the late 90s and well into the 2000s for a special one-off benefit event.

DJing together this Sunday 27th March at London’s Plastic People are IG Culture (Holyrollerproductions.com); Dego (4hero/2000Black); Seiji; Marc Mac (4hero/Rienforced) and Phil Asher (Restless Soul). Inspired to play their part in helping not least by Japan’s genuine and wholehearted passion for music, each DJ has a strong connection to the country through touring, family and friends.

All proceeds from the event will go via the British Red Cross’s Japan Tsunami Appeal to the Japanese Red Cross Society, who determine where the contribution is best utilised. Suggested donation is £10; all DJs have generously donated their time for free and Plastic People have supplied their iconic club for no charge, so every penny raised will go to aid the huge relief efforts needed in Japan. The event runs from 7pm until 11pm, and early attendance is strongly advised to guarantee entry. Please join us on Sunday for this unique fundraiser, a rare meeting of some of London’s most influential and revered producers and DJs united for an extraordinary cause.

Pharoahe Monch "Clap (one day)" Extended 10 min Music Video

2011-03-09T23:16:00.011Z

Code Emphasis has had the please of meeting and interviewing Pharoahe Monch

on a numerous occasions. This is one MC that's truly committed to the righteousness of HipHop and by the sounds of thing he has no intentions of letting us down.

He spoke to us awhile ago about the making of his new album W.A.R

(We Are Renegades) and it looks its taking shape nicely, sound and visual.

Check his new full 1o min video "CLAP".

Pharoahe Monch W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) album officially out March 22nd.
You Have Been Warned !!!!!
"The Warning," directed by Todd Angkasuwan, also contains a portion of Pharoahe Monch's title track, W.A.R. featuring Immortal Technique.

Pharoahe Monch W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) is a 13-track album with an eclectic mix of feature artists such as Jill Scott, Styles P, Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid, Citizen Cope, Phonte, Jean Grae, Mr. Porter, Idris Elba, Royce Da 5'9" & more. The album has production from Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Diamond D, Exile, Pharoahe Monch himself & more.....

Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin

The CANON 600D is it worth it and whats the point ?????

2011-03-09T16:41:00.000Z

Has Canon got a writers block or should I say camera block and are they just putting out the 60D camera for the sake of it by just sightly rehashing the 50D. Come on Canon you can do better than that!!!! Is this just a mish mash of the 50D & 60D.

WIN TICKETS TO SEE Kid Koala / DJ Vadim & Electric / Polar Bear - Live at KOKO, 12th March 2011

2011-03-04T15:29:00.000Z

KID KOALA Canadian Turntablist (Live AV set) DJ VADIM live album launch with THE ELECTRIC

POLAR BEAR live jazz / hip hop show with mc The Impellers (live) Mr Thing

plus NICE UP! Records hosting room 2.

For a chance to win two tickets to this event simply answer this question

WHAT COUNTRY DOES KID KOALA COME FROM?

Send your answer to editor@codeemphasis.com / Subject: Soundcrash

Closing date is the Friday 11th March midday (GMT) and the lucky winner will win two tickets for themselves and a friend. The winner will be notified via email at 1pm (GMT) Feb 11th March 2011
Good Luck Party People & Music Lovers.

This March Soundcrash has gone and bloody done it again; a MONSTER collection of international musical innovative masters come together under the hallowed giant mirror-ball of Mornington Crescent, with a welcome to some Jazz masters, a launch of one of our favourites new projects and the return of some old friends, including a very rare appearance from our favourite Marsupial...

Kid Koala makes a very rare UK appearance to blow some more minds with his turntable mastery; DJ Vadim introduces his brand new live project The Electric; jazz adventurers Polar Bear make their Soundcrash debut and we welcome back old favourites Mr Thing and The Impellers for some traditional, filthy-funk excellence. All that and Nice Up! are hosting room two! Marvellous.

http://www.soundcrashmusic.com/

http://www.electricsoundcompany.com/about

http://www.polarbearmusic.com/wordpress/

http://www.myspace.com/mrthing

http://www.theimpellers.com/deep-funk-from-the-uk

http://www.myspace.com/niceup

Music Style: Hip-hop/Jazz/Funk/Breaks

Date: Saturday 12th March 2010

Times: 9 - 3am - Venue: KOKO

Venue address: 1A Camden High Street, NW1 7JE

Ticket price: £15 adv, £20 otd

Available from: www.ticketweb.co.uk

DJ Vadim & Pugs Atomz. The Electric Video Interview.

2011-02-26T02:21:00.006Z

Code Emphasis caught up with Dj Vadim and Pugs Atomz (who was in jet lag mode. lol) as they talk about getting involved in the HipHop culture and the journey and making of the new album 'Life is Moving' Enjoy.

If you haven’t heard already the constant whispers around town, The Electric are a fresh new group spearheaded by renowned beat taster DJ Vadim. Known for traveling the globe in search of the best musical influences, Daddy Vad has united superb artists, UK soulstress Sabira Jade and lyrical marvel MC Pugs Atomz, to make a truly international collective rich in harmony and flavour.

Checkout the album launch at KoKo, London 12th March 2011
For further information checkout
http://www.electricsoundcompany.com/

Bunny Bread CE Creative Assassin.

THE NEW YORK INVASION as seen by Code Emphasis.

2011-02-22T00:37:00.000Z

Over the last few months NYC has made a minor Invasion to the city that one artist said

"This was the place that embraced what I was doing while others didn't understand."

EPMD @ FORUM 2011 (Photography by Bunny Bread)

London, from the early days of HipHop had been deemed 'the place to be' or should I say the other place to be. London has fast become the city where veterans will come to sustain and resurrect the careers and where people come to start new one's.

HOMEBOY SANDMAN @ THE BOWERY 2011 (Photography by Bunny Bread)

One thing I do know about London is that it has a good memory and it'll remember the time you never showed up, the time it waited 3 hours before you came on stage,

the time you signed everyones album cover and the time you rocked the whole venue including the bar staff

ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMED @ PLAN B (Photography by Bunny Bread)

and collectively we created a football chant with your name in it. But don't take London for granted as we will let you know if one is displeased.

GRANDMASTER FLASH @ SCALA 2011 (Photography by Bunny Bread)

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL PICTURES.

Bunny Bread C E The Creative Assassin.

The Legendary: A Film About THE ROOTS

2011-02-21T10:48:00.000Z

I'm gonna keep this simple and you can quote me on this

"If their is one HipHop group who still has its fist in the air then I think its gonna have to be The ROOTS" Here a beautiful documentary about The Roots, filmed all in Black and White and you know I love B & W imagery. Its shot to a backdrop of The Roots in concert with sprinkling of some of music's finest.... So press that play button and ENJOY.

Produced By: Jeff Baraka / Directed By:Cam BeIn Association with: Okayplayer TV / Go Where Hip-Hop

Bunny Bread, C.E Creative Assassin and Cece, C.E Editor

WIN TICKETS TO SEE EPMD in LONDON 19th FEB 2011 !!!!!

2011-02-15T23:21:00.000Z

Code Emphasis are giving away two free tickets to see the legendary NYC Duo EPMD at the HMV FORUM ( Kentish Town, London ) February Saturday 19th 2011 -7.00pm - 11pm.

EPMD are one of the most successful MC Duo's with DJ Scratch at the helm and have blessed the Hip Hop Community with some phenomenal classics such as 'So What You Say'in', 'The Big Payback', 'You've Gots To Chill', 'Brothers From Brentwood', 'Crossover', 'The Joint'...... and here's your chance to see EPMD Live in the flesh as they haven't blessed the UK Shores in 10 years.

To enter simply email us with the correct answer.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF EPMD's FIRST ALBUM?

Send your answer to editor@codeemphasis.com . Subject: EPMD

Closing date is the Friday 18th Feb midday (GMT) and the lucky winner will win two tickets for themselves and a friend. The winner will be notified via email at 1pm (GMT) Feb 18th 2011 Good Luck Hip Hoppers.

So if your Hip Hop knowledge isn't up to speed or luck was not on your side this time you can purchase your Tickets at http://www.hmvtickets.co/events/1377

Space Invadas - Soul:Fi ( Interview and Album review )

2011-02-08T11:58:00.004Z

Space Invadas comprised of vocalist Steve Spacek and producer Katalyst

1 - Tell us a little bit about yourself for those who may not know who you are?

We are both producers and Steve is also a great vocalist. I handled most of the production on this album and Steve did most of the singing. I come from Sydney Australia and Steve originated from London but is now based in Sydney

2 - How did you both join forces and how did the project come about?

We joined forces on my last album, Whats Happening in 2008. I asked Steve to guest on a tune. people were really feeling the colab so we decided to keep working together and the result was our first Space Invadas album, Soul Fi. We just hooked up on the regular and got down to doing some music. It is a very chilled process making music together. Were looking forward to getting back to the studio later this year and start working on the next album.

3 - The album has a distinct 70's sound how did that come about and what was the influence behind the sound?

We referenced that classic soul sound of the 70's for this record. We are both fans of soul music and so much good soul came form this "classic" period. So we did look to that sound on this album for sure. There are other influences as well of course that all come into the mix.

4 - Musically, what do you hope for listeners to get from this album?

Enjoyment. Really at the end of the day its thats simple. I enjoy hearing new music and hope our music has the same effect for others. Its such a simple motivation really.

5 - What is the future for you as an individual and as a musical collective?

Big tings!! haha, I just want to keep creating because I love it. Without being able to create I dont know what I'd do with myself so we'll both just keep on with Space Invadas and our individual projects. Mine being Katalyst and a new projects about to drop called Quakers. And Steve with Steve Spacek and Africa Hi Tech, his new side project.

-Interview by Bunny Bread, Special thanks goes out to Steve Spacek, Katalyst and Tayo

Space Invadas - Soul:Fi ( The Album Review )

"Having absolutely loved the Jazzanova record 'Of All the Things', which dabbles in the sounds of Modern Soul, all signs point to me absolutely loving this movement. Somehow however, I've found this sound quite repetitive and tedious overall…

…Luckily, the sounds of 'Soul Fi' by the duo 'Space Invadas' (comprised of vocalist Steve Spacek and producer Katalyst), offers slightly more than the usual flurry of drums, wah wahs of the guitar and groove of the bass accompanied by the occasional organ and quiver of violins. Not to say that these sounds aren't present, for these sounds are quite frequent, but often intertwined with the blast of synthesisers as if scanning for the correct frequency of which to deliver this music.

The increasing lash of synths setting a mood for the groove of 'Rise' works as a great example, the steady lash of drums setting a pace for the menacing moots. The echoey blast of distorted keys working with the simple pace of three kicks followed by a harsh snare on 'Listen' also sets this standard. We also get some hip-hop popping up on this album, Buff1 and RuC.L flowing impressively over the head nodding pace of 'Original' and the partial cover of 'Ready or Not', Katalyst playing with the "Gonna fi-ind you!!" vocals from the original and adding a layer of drums for effect. However, I did find songs like 'Super Sweet', 'See em, hear em' and the 7 minute affair 'So Strong' quite tedious as all the musical elements were present from the start and so didn't really go anywhere…

…All in all 'Soul Fi' has quite a fair amount of experimentation but on first listen I feel that the duo don't go as far with it as it could in terms of movements and playing with the synthesisers. This being said I feel that this project is a potential grower…"

Review by Alex King.
For more info check www.bbemusic.com

Homeboy Sandman Live @ Fat Gold Chain, London 2011

2011-02-04T16:13:00.004Z

Code Emphasis caught up with NYC based MC Homeboy Sandman as he reeked havoc through out Europe, jumping on stages, microphones and radio shows. We met up with the Sandman at London based HipHop night 'Fat Gold Chain' on this first London Show.

Go Sandman Go Sandman, GO !!!!

Don't forget to check out his new album ' The Good Sun'

Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin

WIN TICKETS TO SEE GRAND MASTER FLASH in LONDON FEB 10th 2011 !!!!!

2011-02-02T11:03:00.001Z

Code Emphasis are giving away two free tickets to see the legendary GRAND MASTER FLASH at the SCALA ( Kings Cross, London ) with DJ 279 on February 10th 2011 -7.30pm - 11pm.

Grand Master Flash is one of the most important Dj's in the history of Djaying.

His innovation and development of the craft has changed the way we Dj to this very day.

To enter simply email us with the correct answer.

"What is the real name of Grand Master Flash " ?

Send your answer to info@codeemphasis.com . Subject: Grand Master Flash.

Closing date is the 12 pm (GMT) Feb 8th 2011 and the lucky winner will win two tickets for themselves and a friend. The winner will be notified via email at 12am (GMT) Feb 9th 2011 Good Luck Hip Hoppers.

Admission: £18.50 in advance. Age 18+ Time: 7:30pm until 11pm To Buy Tickets

Grand Master Flash breaks it down and explains the innovation behind cutting and scratching. If you don't know get to know !!!

Bunny Bread - C.E Creative Assassin.

Sundance: Why Phife Dawg Broke Down at the Premiere of A Tribe Called Quest’s New Doc

2011-01-27T17:15:00.000Z

Q-Tip has made it very clear that he and his fellow members of A Tribe Called Quest don’t support Michael Rapaport’s documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, which premiered at Sundance Saturday night. So it was a bit of a shock when during the post-screening Q&A, ATCQ member Phife Dawg stood up and approached the microphone.

Rapaport had had two and a half years of pretty great interview access and backstage concert footage, and much of Tribe’s catalogue is featured in the soundtrack. So it’s been a bit of a guessing game figuring out what caused Q-Tip to turn on the project. Our best guess is that there’s a pretty big gulf between agreeing to participate in a documentary about your legacy and watching raw, emotional footage of your group breaking up.

Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey - Game Changers - Behind The Scenes

2011-01-24T00:02:00.000Z

Aria Multimedia Entertainment and celebrated photographer Jonathan Mannion shot 10 of Hip-Hop's 'Game Changers' with the rare 20x24 Polaroid Camera for Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey - Hip-Hop Culture's first official luxury, large format book that will inspire, entertain and educate all generations of readers with its comprehensive exploration of the birth, evolution and global impact of Hip-Hop Culture over the past four decades.

The Return of Genesis Elijah. The South London MC gets ready for 2011

2011-01-20T08:50:00.000Z

Code Emphasis caught up with South London MC Genesis Elijah and got up close and personal. He talks to us about his early inspirations and starting out as an MC. Elijah tells us why he then left the HipHop game after the release of 'Deh Pon Road', the elements that caused his subsequent return with Krate Krusaders and the creation of his latest album 'Before I Was Famous'.

Photography by Bunny Bread
Bunny Bread - The Creative Assassin.

The Carpenter - Homeboy Sandman (Check his new video and he's coming to Europe)

2011-01-15T12:04:00.002Z

Incase you don't know but I'm sure you do this NYC very own Homeboy Sandman.

Every time I here this I wanna start b.boying. And the video is simple and super fresh.

NOW FOR THE PRESS RELEASE HYPE.....

Homeboy Sandman is New York City's premier talent based hip hop musician. Mainstream. Underground. Period. His latest release "The Good Sun," reached #1 on CMJ's national music chart, and appeared on countless 2010 year end lists, (including HipHopDX's Top 25, #2 on Real Late's Top 30 on Hot 97.1 FM, and #1 on Billy Jam's Top 50 on Amoeba.com) . He has a video ("The Carpenter") in rotation on MTV and has been prominently featured in internationally recognized hip hop publications such as XXL and The Source,as well by non genre-specific press outlets such as FADER and The LA Times.

SEE BELOW FOR TOUR DATES

Bunny Bread - The Creative Assassin.

Richard Spaven Live @Jazz re:freshed (Spaven's 5ives launch party)

2011-01-12T17:18:00.000Z

This will be the extremely highly rated, stupendous drummer Richard Spaven's first solo release.

Having drummed for the likes of Gang Starr's Guru, Jose James, Mark de Clive Lowe, Ty, Robert Mitchell, Kaidi Tatham, Flowriders, etc... Jazz refreshed is excited to release Spaven's debut project into the world.

Spaven's 5ive features a host of star musicians including, Jose James, Rob Mullarkey, Grant Windsor, Vincent Helbers, Neil Charles and more. (Press Release)

Code Emphasis where at the Launch Party and caught Mr Spaven and his talented merry men at Jazz refreshed.
Great show, Great Album.

The album Spaven's 5ive's is now available from www.jazzrefeshed.com.

Photography - Bunny Bread

Bunny Bread - The Creative Assassin

Dear Black Eyed Peas - 'I think that you done corrupt the whole hip-hop sound'

2011-01-05T13:32:00.000Z

Dear Black Eyed Peas,

‘...the way that you did it I think that you done corrupt the whole hip-hop sound so now we gotta follow up..’ (Fallin Up)

Those were your lyrics but I guess that’s a distant memory now. What happened to you guys? You’re not ‘Fallin up’ anymore you’ve just totally fallen off, volunteered yourselves to become slaves of the industry.

Unfortunately I doubt this will ever be on your radar or any other letter addressed to you in this vain but I feel so strongly about it that I don’t even care whether you read this or not but this needs to be said. There’s a part of me that thinks even if this letter reaches you, would it actually be YOU that is reading it? I don’t wanna get all David Icke on your ass but someone once said to me that it’s almost like the real BEP have been abducted by aliens and replaced with evil reptiles that get high on auto tune.

The reason for this letter is really just to express to you the disappointment some of your old fans feel about your current musical direction. You were once one of the freshest hip hop acts of the 90s, you stood for something, your lyrics were inspired and political…your non conformist attitude in your lyrics meant that you were easily a potential for a place in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame or at the very least you’d get an honourable mention.

Money on the street went entertainment
Nowadays brothers are getting paid doing nothing
Reciting the same line with the lame rhymes
frontin rappers actin like their pops' was Orville Redenbacher
They quick to go pop
But when it's time to fiend for the green they flop
We do it from the heart like blood
create rhymes that flood, and blow up like the Scud

(Head Bobs)

The irony of those lyrics now is overwhelming. Talk about a U turn! Even the name ‘Black Eyed Peas’ had some cultural significance, something we could relate to…What does it mean now? Nothing! Imagine if you had kept the name ‘Atban Klan’? There is no way you would be able to do that name justice with the music you make now. You were frauds from the get go it seems…It was like Hip Hop was just an experiment to you but it wasn’t paying you like you wanted it to so you dumbed yourselves down, threw out the black chick, replaced her with the blonde chick and chi-ching! There was no turning back.

We believed in your music back then but you clearly didn’t so you abandoned it and you abandoned us. The fan base you had when you were good are barely hanging on now but what do you care? You’re top of the pop game now, you don’t need us anymore.

‘Where is the Love’ raised eyebrows, but we rationalised it… there’s more than one way to skin a cat; sometimes you have to get inside the system in order to change things but how many wack albums you gonna make before you use the platform to highlight good music?

‘I sing the song from the soul
Let it rise from the tone
Let it rhythmically grow
Into it's own life
Let it become you
Then you become it
Once you become it everything will be infinite
Will be infinite, will be infinite, will be infinite...

(Positivity)

Remember that? 'Progressive' would’ve been the word for you back then but you can’t honestly believe in your heart that ‘Time of My life’ and that album ‘The Beginning’ is really your best work to date? C’mon, really? Is that what you want to be remembered for? Prancing up and down stage like a bunch of modern day minstrels to a sample from ‘Dirty Dancing’. Man have you guys gone so far backwards we need Doc Brown to bring you back to the future. I could even understand if you were genuine innovators and you changed the sound of pop music but you’re far from it… your idea of innovation is to bludgeon every song to death with auto-tune and to make it worse, you weren’t even the pioneers of that.

I read a news article in The Guardian a while back. The idea of not believing everything you read had never been so true when I read what was written. Some crazy person compared you, Will I Am to Sly Stone (Sly and the Family Stone), I almost choked on my beverage and you know why. Sly is an innovator, Will you are an imitator, Sly will leave a legacy of musical integrity but you Will, will only leave a legacy of the man that painted his face black for an award show and is responsible for some of the worst, most cringe worthy pop songs of this generation. What a waste! Do you think wearing a plastic wig on your head makes you and your music futuristic? Get real. You could’ve been something great Will, you were once a decent producer… You may not have been the richest or the most famous but if you just believed in yourself and fought the mind control you would’ve remained a credible artist.

I know what you’re thinking - just another blogger who is stuck in the past and wants all hip hop to sound like it did in the 80s and 90s and is ‘hatin’ because now BEP are popular it means they’ve sold out ,when really they’ve just evolved. If only that were true lol. Yes, I may be ‘just another blogger’ but I’m also the buying public and you’re trying to sell me recycled rubbish not evolution. All I want is value for money and artists that can sing live without that dreaded button that makes you sound like a robot, where’s the artistry in that?

Selling millions of records doesn’t make you great, it just means the industry has successfully controlled what the mainstream should look and sound like and has instructed all their puppets to re-brand and produce music that fits in with their agenda. How old are you guys now?? Mid to late 30s? You’re too old to be churning out this sort of immature gimmicky garbage. The face of pop is getting younger and younger, leave it to them...How long do you think you have left in the game before the mechanism spits you out and you disappear into the land of obscurity or worse, the land of cheesy pop? You may have a little money in your pockets at the end if you’re smart but what will your legacy be? ‘My Humps’? That will just be one of many of your songs that in 10 years time people will listen back to and say ‘what was I thinking?’ I’m sorry but it’s true. All those other sucker artists that asked you to infect them with that same formula you use to make money, I despair of them too because some of those artists were once credible too. (They know who they are)

There’s still time to redeem yourselves. Your roots were Hip Hop, it was your platform to the mainstream, it opened the door to people and places you would never have seen or been to if it hadn’t been for that culture. If you are in there (The Real BEP) show yourselves… give us something, just like them soul artists or MCs that would give us one faith song or prayer in an album just to say ‘even though I’m singing/rappin all this secular/infidelic music ‘I still believe and acknowledge you’. BEP do it for Hip Hop, tell us you still believe… Just one track. I know they’ve got you into believing that this dance/trance/techno music is the future but it’s not, it’s backward… Here’s my advice to you. Lets face it, there’s not much time for you realistically when you’re competing with 9yr olds for the stage, so let me address this to you Will.I.Am cuz it seems that you want to be the taste maker in the group.

Leave Cheryl Cole alone, she does you no justice, has no real talent and frankly she doesn’t really need you when she’s lickin Simon Cowell’s ass. Why don’t you introduce real talent to the world?… You have the platform to do it. If you want innovative sounds, seek out talented producers like Flying Lotus, The Are, 2000 Black, Mark De Clive Lowe and Hayzee. Share the mic with the future of MCs like Spec Boogie, Theory Hazit and Cy Young… Do it for the preservation of good music, take the power back and infiltrate the system with actual musicianship not button pushers.

No, you are not obliged or responsible for any other artist out there tryna make it but this is just a tiny example of the talent that is out there holding it down for real artistry, the people you once were. Yet you choose to associate yourself with mediocre talent that only gets airplay because they conform - (Cher Llyod - Really Will?) You don’t have to be that way because Hip Hop is not about selfishness, it’s about preservation and remembering where you came from. Afrika Bambaataa said it best, refer back to your roots. I don’t want you to be starving artists, by all means EAT, I don't begrudge you success but not at the expense of others. I have to knock your hustle because right now your music is just a big ‘FUCK YOU’ to Hip Hop. I’m not going to blame BEP for the demise of REAL Hip Hop in the mainstream because it’s not possible for you to do it single handily, your peers have a lot to answer for too but YOU especially annoy me because you were so vocally against everything that you’re doing right now.

I'll leave you with these last few words, I hope they appeal to you and your peers that are as gulity as you are. You have a debt to pay B.E.P...do the right thing or just retire and rid the world of your noise.

Regards,

An exhausted and disgruntled lover of Hip Hop,

Clarity Jane

P.S The first thing people do when they don’t like what they read is scrutinise spelling and grammar. I'm sure there's a lot to scrutinise...go ahead (Whilst you're missing the point).

Ama's Christmas Address 2010 VIDEO

2010-12-25T03:26:00.005Z

So, Its that time of year again. Yup, the time when all you 'SEASONAL DO-GOODERS' rear your SOMETIMEISH heads and lord your sanctimonious fart over everyone. Well, BAH HUMBUG to you! So because I am too cold and in a rush to be paying attention to the Romani Gypsy with her batty in the air, taking up most of the pavement with her cocked out 'crutches' talking about "preease daaaleeng maaanneey..." I am suddenly a bad person? GTHOHWTBCS!! Don’t judge me. I could be on my way home from the homeless shelter, a youth centre, a women's shelter, or local church after a long day of VOLUNTEERING, which (by the way) I do ALL YEAR ROUND!

In my book, Christmas is the worst time of year. It is the time of year when you see human nature at its worst. So now you are asking questions like "WHAT IS SHE SAYING?", "WHAT DOES SHE MEAN?!?!" and my personal favourite "A DOUBLE RAINBOW! WHAT DOES THIS MEEEEEEEEAN?!". Now I have dragged a laugh out of your Christmas snack gorged belly (depending on if you have actually seen the 'double rainbow YouTube clip - look it up), I will clarify my statement about 'the worst of humanity'...

Ok, so maybe the statement was a tid bit on the melodramatic side, but you know what, I stand by it. Maybe if we had more 'melodramatic scolding' from our fellow human beings, this world would be a 'better place' where daisies fall from the sky like rain and we frolic on perpetual beaches hand in hand, revelling at the sunset that is just 'too vivid to be real life', while lion cubs purr and play at our feet, as the doves tweet Michael Jackson's "Heal the World" in an old-school Disney-chorus fashion, as stars sprout from the earth and explode into glitter, releasing the sweet smell of innocence and 'true love' with a hint of lavender... Bah humbug!

Aside: I have been distracted by Michael Jackson clips. 1979 was a cool year...

I just wish people would have a 'charitable attitude' all year round. I don't like pretenders. You know who I mean: the people who 'catch a TEMPORARY clue'. I wouldn't mind so much if the same people who suddenly become friendly when a little bit of snow touches the ground, would continue to say 'hello' to me every other day during the year...ESPECIALLY when they live ON MY ROAD! I don't get it. I know I am of a darker hue, but are you really telling me that I am only visible when my silhouette is illuminated by snow...? 10+ years and you cant say 'hello' except on a Christmas when snow falls... that's like 4 greetings in 10 years... Lame. And I do mean 'Christmas' apparently only Christmas snow is white enough for me to be redeemed... (Yup, I went there Eks...)

You know who really makes me sick? Those who decide to give 'to the needy' at Christmas, but are happy that university fees are being hiked up (to widen the rich poor divide through overtly tactical, imperialistic, crapheadedness: knowledge of opportunity = opportunity to learn = pursuit of further learning = degree = exposure to information = broadened spectrum = perspective = altered/enhanced aspirations = awareness = job pursuit = broader job prospects = increased earning power = increased experiences = travel = what was once exclusive and exclusionary becomes standard = too many educated people reduces the lower level work force = etc blah blah blah waffle waffle waffle...) because as a result they don't have to have a tax increase that might eat into their precious fat-cat surplus... SCREW YOU and A BAH HUMBUG to YOU AND YOURS! Keep feeding the machine you slurry guts! (I don't know how much sense that made, but you get the sentiment... give me a break, I am trying to become mayor of London and with the students on my side...)

I really am not Scrooge... I PRE-DATE HIM! lol! Joking. Some people didn't even get this far through the random rant, so Kudos to you! You get a present... as in THE present, as in 'live life to the fullest because tomorrow isn't promised'... as in don't live in the past, live in the present. Yup... This blog is just the gift that keeps on giving! (No wonder they don't let me on here...)I actually have no real feeling towards Christmas other than the love of the way families pull together no matter what and the copious amounts of food and alcohol consumed during the holiday with understood regret attached to each morsel, each gulp, each mistletoe encounter... (Does anyone actually do the mistletoe thing? I have only seen it in movies and read about it in story books... Holla if you have... I would be interested to know if it was your crusty Aunt or Uncle and you had your first experience of 'Erm, I am not sure if I am too old for this to be comfortable...')

Aside: Time to end this methinks...

Christmas also marks the end of the year. And what a year it has been! I shall end here, so you can fill in the blanks yourself. I find the whole 'RECOUNTING THE YEAR'

thing tiresome and time-consuming if I am honest. So feel free to complete the following sentences...

• I really liked that YouTube video about ___________

• I remember when ______ , ______, _______ and I went______ and________

• It broke my heart when________________ on EastEnders.

• Thank god I don’t have to see _____________ she/he was a right _________ __________ __________ __________ ___________ -__________ mother______.

• I cant believe they increased the price of _________ from _______to ________

• That was the worst _______ of my life. Never again will I __________.

• The abortion clinic was full so I had to_______________.

• Well, she wont be trying that again. I left her a little present in her ___________.

• The ____________ that I got from ____________ was nothing a 2 week course of antibiotics wouldn't cure.

and last but not least

• Next year wont be like this year because ___________________________ and I am really looking forward to _____________________________________________________.

*surprised face*

Wow.

Well, what an exciting year you had!

On to the next Chum! I will leave you with my official Chrimbo Address...

This can be watched as the condensed (and tolerable) alternative to the Queens Address which you may or may not feel under duress to watch. I am not saying to boycott the BBC, but what I am saying is, there are OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE... Don't let tradition break your balls men. And ladies, don't let this FABLED sisterhood thing give you the delusion that you are in ANY form of 'sisterhood' with the Queen of England! I beg, come down from the crack high and smell the hardened pasty, browny, not-coffee...

As always, post, repost, reply, email, snail-mail, hate-mail....

Love love and more love to you and yours!

Dropping Bombs & Christmas Criticisms since the 80's,

Ama - Your very own A-List Celebrity

P.S. Practice loving the ones who love you back...

P.P.S. 'Crapheadedness' is a word. So there!

P.P.P.S. GO out and watch FOR COLOURED GIRLS.... Seriously.

Joyeux Noel!

Ama's Christmas Address from Kay Olive on Vimeo.

PETE ROCK & CL SMOOTH First Ever Reunion (Exclusive Video Interview )

2010-12-19T15:11:00.000Z

Code Emphasis is always coming with the goodness and this is a lil gem we had hidden away but we're feeling generous so we'll share it with you. Pete Rock and CL Smooth's first time reunion since 1995...we're talking about an exclusive video interview that only we were allowed to get at the end of their London show at The Garage in 2009. Here the pair Reminisce and share with us the future of their reunion.

Enjoy!

Bunny Bread - CE Art Assassin

NYCHOS TURNS EEEVIL - Nycho's come to London (Video Interview)

2010-12-14T20:42:00.000Z

Early this year Code Emphasis link up with Nychos, one of our favourite graffiti artists and illustrators at his London art exhibition held at the Pure Evil Gallery in Shoreditch. He talks to about his concepts, painting in Austria and in London and how the exhibition came about. Follow the white rabbit...and see how far the rabbit hole goes.

Interview by State Of Art
Photography by Bunny Bread
Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin

Review of Richard Spaven's 'Spaven's 5ive' (Jazz Re:freshed Release)

2010-11-22T22:43:00.001Z

Some seven and a half years ago, a group of DJs/Jazz lovers put together a live music event. Its' purpose: To redefine the way we perceive jazz music (I mean, what comes to mind when you hear Jazz?). This weekly live event became known as 'Jazz Re:Freshed' and is going strong as ever, bridging the gap between Jazz, Hip-hop, Soul, Latin and Broken Beat (to name a few) and bringing to the masses an array of fantastic, yet uncelebrated talent. I myself owe about a third of my record collection to the onslaught of amazing grooves played at this night. So I suppose the next logical move for the Jazz Re:Freshed residents would be to release some music under their own belt, hence further putting out unsung talent...

...So to introduce JRF's own '5' series, who better to start off with than drummer and frequent session player Richard Spaven. Already having played with massive names such as GangStarr, 4Hero, Robert Mitchell's Panacea and the Flowriders (again, to name a few), we finally get to hear an album from this musician; already well steeped in Jazz, Hip-hop and Broken Beat. Indeed, from the spacious blend of keys and the unpredictable flurry of kicks, snares and hi-hats on 'Rockers Round Window', we get not only a feel of Broken, but also the textures and movements appropriate for a Jazz record, the keys and bass weaving past each other delicately as Spaven delivers subtly ferocious drumming to the fray...

...Jazz is explored more blatantly on 'Maz', hi-hats becoming more present than kicks over an explorative flow of keys and smooth guitar playing, Jose James' vocals hammering in the point somewhat. From there, Spaven explores hip-hop through a steady drum pattern although the keys clearly resemble Jazz, again featuring DJ Doo Wop on the rap to make that point. A blend of Broken and Jazz takes the second half of this project, showcasing Spaven's talents as a writer. The flurry of keys on 'Ice is nice' gives the feel of a winter evening, even making me picture ice pulsating back and forth in a "Winter Wonderland" way. The distortion of synths that introduces us to 'Network' is reminiscent of the second half of 4Hero's 'We who are not as Others', although it comes across a lot more welcoming than the afforemented and breaks out into a more relaxing groove later on. To end the album we're given the fairly mechanical '1759', a minimal blast of keys and bass complimenting the machinery that is the synths and the drumming of course. This is the type of piece that could suggest that there's more to come, although instead of ending with the generic fade out, the keys have the last say...

...All in all, Spaven's 5 is a well rounded listen that exemplifies the blending of various types of music together in an approachable way. But this album is much more than a release for the artist; It also represents the progression and celebration of the Jazz Re:Freshed movement, with a number of references to live gigs at the Mau Mau venue itself and the music simply speaking the point of JRF in the first place..."

-Alex King

Jazz Re:freshed - 'Spaven's 5ive' Release date: 06/12/2010 (You know what you have to do)

Album launch: 09/12/2010 @ Jazz Re:freshed

For more info click here

Julie Dexter Performance Live @ Jazz Re:freshed

2010-11-15T14:47:00.001Z

It's been a while since we've seen Julie Dexter perform in the Uk with her now being a resident of Atlanta and dazzling audiences Stateside with her dulcet tones of Soulful Jazz. Well last Thursday Julie dazzled us at Jazz Re:freshed with an amazing performance with songs old and new. Shame on you if you missed it but if you did CE always takes pity on you and captures moments of magic for your benefit. Here is a teaser of what you missed and for those clever people that were there, here is a highlight of the show.

Cece - Editor-in-Chief
www.codeemphasis.com

Check out www.jazzrefreshed.com

Code Emphasis Camera Club

2010-11-11T23:31:00.000Z

I Just wanted to send a big shout out to all the wonderful people that braved the cold on Saturday to join us for the first ever CE Camera Club. It was a fab night and there was plenty of snappin going on. It was great even if you didn't come with your cam, it was just nice to meet cool people and get some inspiration. I must say, London can be a beautiful city at night and the Southbank is a great place to capture that.

The CE Camera Club Facebook group is live so all you budding or seasoned photographers and film makers, please feel free to join, upload your pics and lend us your hints and tips for taking great shots.

Here is a little snippet of the fun night down by the river. Take this as a personal invitation to join us next time.

Cece - Editor-in-Chief
www.codeeemphasis.com

GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME - Ernesto Simpson live @ Jazz re:freshed

2010-11-02T17:27:00.000Z

Once again Jazz re:freshed came up with the goods and Code Emphasis was there to bare witness. The band had guest Cuban drummer Ernesto Simpson who's drumming repertoire cross the musical boundaries of Latin, R'n'B, Jazz and variety of ethnic flavours.

Ernesto has played with or shared the stage with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Carmen McRae, Michael Brecker, George Benson, Salif Keita, Tito Puente,

Ray Barreto and Winton Marsalis just to name a few.

So ladies and gentlemen without further ado 'Give the Drummer Some' with Ernesto Simpson.

Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin

Code Emphasis Camera Club - 'The River at Night' SAT 6TH NOV 2010

2010-11-01T16:51:00.002Z

This is an event dedicated to those who enjoy taking photographs and shooting video. From the amateur to the seasoned professional and veteran, all are welcome.

Come and meet like minded people, share your hints and tips and join discussions on photography and filming on DSLR Camera's and Compact camera's. Most importantly TAKE PICTURES AND LETS HAVE FUN.

Each month we'll be in a new location and dealing with a different subject matter.

This Months Theme: THE THAMES AT NIGHT.

Well be photographing and filming by the River Thames and its surrounding environment at night. Their may also be some fireworks add to the scenery.

MEETING POINT : Under Waterloo Bridge, Southbank. Nearest station WaterlooLondon, United Kingdom

Pictures taken by Bunny Bread

Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin

COLE HARD TRUTH

2010-10-27T04:03:00.008+01:00

Out of all the Code Emphasis team, I am the last one you will ever find writing a blog... However, this HAD TO BE DONE! I have suffered throughout the current X-Factor season. I have suffered alot. Why you ask? Because it would seem that a lecturer of mine was right: The proletariat are inherently dense. Go figure.

In my attempt to make sense of this wacky, wonderful world and the dumb and dumber masses crowding Facebook with sonnets, banners and sex-art heralding the slap-in-the-face that is Cheryl Tweedy, I discovered fuel for the fire of disgust smouldering within the base of my core. Beyonce.

So, BEYONCE URINATES ALL OVER CHERYL-STINKING-COLE.

It is an insult to Beyonce for me to even mention them in the same PARAGRAPH. Vocals, Performance, Rhythm, 'Spontaneity'... Hands down, it's B all the way, no debates, no 'pause', no nothing. Conversation dun. And I am not even a Beyonce fan. But even in this 'acoustic' performance, she tears it up. I refuse to put an exclamation mark at the end of the statements concerning Beyonce, as I am merely stating fact. I am not enthused, nor am I trying to convince, therefore the use of an exclamation mark is unnecessary. The truth is the truth. Beyonce rocks, Cheryl sucks. None of the 'big production' or 'costume' and Beyonce still smacks it. This is true whether you are a fan or, like me, are not.

I am sick and tired of all the Cheryl bandwagonists. What annoys me the most is not that she is crap, is not that she (a 'non-singer' & 'non-performer') is judging others on these two factors, its not even that everybody forgot quick about her history. No, what annoys me the most is that YOU LOT won’t admit that you just like 'HER' (Cheryl-stinking-Tweedy-Cole) the TV persona. You like her and the ‘Princess of POP’ title she manages to have unjustly acquired (Thanks Simon.). You like her ‘non-London’ accent and her slightly exotic look. You like the character she plays on screen and want to believe she is like that in real life. You want to be her best friend because she is ‘so sweet’ and ‘is the nicest person’ you have NEVER met. You use the excuse that she is this 'brilliant artist' just so you don't feel guilty about buying into her celebrity status.

The fact is, you wouldn't buy a Cheryl Cole album for 20 pence if she wasn't in such prominence. In fact, if one of the X-Factor lot sounded like her, you would be the first to chat frath about "Have you seen that 'Cheryl' chick. She is a HOT MESS, look at the sloppy lip syncing, robotic performance, beneath mediocre pre-recorded vocals and abomination dance routine! She is assassinating the choreography! I'm gonna boycott X-Factor, they never let the REAL ARTISTS through...”

So to all Cheryl fans out there:

Go eat a giant slice of "B-DAY" cake, put your love for Cheryl "IN A BOX TO THE LEFT" and give the real all round skillful artists like Beyonce the "GREEN LIGHT". Dun.

COLD HARD EVIDENCE:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDyw4lCRGjg

Beatboxing Backwards since the 80’s,

Ama

P.S. Allow me man….it’s 4 something am…

A Review of 'Wake Up!' by The Roots and John Legend:

2010-10-24T21:59:00.000+01:00

"...I'm never sure what to make of cover albums. I usually greet them with a fair amount of pessimism and an "Oh, not the same song AGAIN!" attitude. I just find myself getting bored with them really quickly. But sometimes, I'll come across a selection of covers that'll blow me away (4Hero's 'Extentions' is the first example I can think of). But with The Roots' and John Legend's collaborative album 'Wake Up!' I find myself experiencing both pessimism and excitement. I mean, the music is played by musicians that I love and sung by a talented vocalist, but it's not their music...

...On listening, 'Wake Up!' is more than a collaborative project. The title is a message to all, particularly people of the Western world that although much has changed, a lot of the world's problems remain the same. The selection of songs says it all: We begin with a subtle procession of instruments weaving around each other and making themselves known, as well as Legend's vocals starting off calmly and becoming more passionate as the intro goes on, then suddenly breaking into a flurry of drums followed by familiar horns blasting in short bursts, beginning the Baby Huey and the Babysitters classic 'Hard Times'; a song speaking on personal difficulties and the surroundings. From here, 'Wake Up!' keeps mainly to these themes:

Activism: This is mainly covered during the first portion of the album, through songs like the lead single 'Wake Up Everybody'; a well delivered duet delivering messages of positive acts as human beings (as opposed to their job titles) over a simple two chord bass evoking reflection as light drumming and the strum of the guitar keeps the rhythm. 'Generation' follows this in a funkier key; organs blaring behind a grooving bass, harsh snares and the "Let's STRAIGHTEN IT OUT!!!" vocals, containing another message of activism, but this time urging us to take responsibility...

Awareness: Follows on activisms heels as if saying "Before you know where you're going, know where you are". 'Little Ghetto Boy' starts off with a poem about what a little ghetto boy is, bringing up the dangers of traps and potholes through material posessions. What follows is a dark rap delivered by Black Thought speaking of the traps that the ghetto contains, followed by Legend's subtly passionate vocals speaking on the power that this young person has. A personal favorite is the journey of a song 'I can't write left handed', starting with a prologue about the inspiration behind the song and then drifting along in a progressive gospel groove, guitar chords flittering in and out of consistent organs and breaking out into rock affairs as the piece progresses...

Perseverance: The less obvoiusly selected 'Hang on in there' starts off with a pleasant blend of strings and keys, breaking into a very down to earth groove conveying that feeling of life not going anywhere, but with a message to keep going as we've come so far...

Hope through Love: Hope is probably the strongest theme throughout this album, but the underlying answer to "How do we change" is given through love for our fellow man. This is conveyed through a surprising cover of Prince Lincoln Thompson and the Royal Rasses' anthemic 'Humanity (Love the way it should be)'; a reggae piece with a strong message of togetherness. This is a nice take on the song and showcases The Roots' ability to tap into any musical genre...

...All in all, Wake Up! has brilliantly played music and vocals, which at times plays with other genres. I did find however that there was an opportunity to interpret these classics in a more experimental manner. Although there was some flirting with reggae and rock, there are many other songs from other genres with political messages too. There's also a risk of this project coming off preachy. Of course, in saying that, is that not the purpose?..."

Alex King

http://www.codeemphasis.com/

Old School Hip Hop Legends release new tracks on ‘Street Sounds’!

2010-10-21T10:20:00.000+01:00

In the early eighties and the times of the dreaded Margaret Thatcher and the Coal Miners strikes, I remember probably one of the best HipHop/Electro compilation albums to ever hit the record shops. The one and only 'Street Sounds ELECTRO' by Streets Sound Records.

These compilations contained full length electro singles mixed by Herbie from the legendary Mastermind Roadshow. Street Sounds went on to release 22 albums from the Electro series with various other LP's including 'Crucial' and 'UK Electro' .

BRAND NEW TRACKS BY THE GREATEST ELECTRO/HIP HOP ARTISTS OF ALL TIME…CAPTAIN ROCK! KRS-ONE! JUST-ICE! NEWCLEUS! THE B-BOYS! AND THE EGYPTIAN LOVER! PLUS MANY MORE…!

All released on one brand new double album ‘NU ELECTRO VOL.3’ by STREET SOUNDS who have

re-launched with this successful ‘Nu Electro’ Series. Preview the incredible new tracks on the ‘Nu Electro Volume 3 Promo Video:

The vinyl stocks are now extremely limited and we expect to announce the vinyl as sold out shortly but there’s still a chance to get your Nu Electro vol.3 Limited Edition Vinyl via the Street Sounds Website:
Also visit the website for more Street Sounds news, including an upcoming STREET SOUNDS/UK FRESH REUNION! http://www.streetsoundsmusic.co.uk/

Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin.
http://www.codeemphasis.com/

Aloe Blacc and Code Emphasis talk Music and Politics (Video Interview)

2010-10-18T20:38:00.010+01:00

Code Emphasis caught up with Aloe Blacc on his quick visit to London. We spoke about his new album, and 'How to Make it in America'. He gave a special live performance of a track entitled 'Politician' taken from his latest album 'Good Things' from Stones Throw Records. Shout out to the guys at Phonica Records London.

'When you look at the meat an bones of it THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS BUILT ON A SLAVERY NIGHTMARE'
Aloe Blacc.

Bunny bread - The Creative Assassin
http://www.codeemphasis.com/

'The New Emancipation' by Soweto Kinch- Album Review by Alex King

2010-10-14T10:51:00.002+01:00

"...The 2006 album 'A Life in the day of B19: Tales of the Tower Block' left me with various questions: What was in the basement? Did Adrian finish renovating? Did Marcus straighten up and fly right? Did S get revenge on those emcees?...I guess for now we won't know as the Jazz/Hip-hop mix was unconventional for mainstream outlets, making it difficult to find this album and spawning the 'War in a rack' campaign. A campaign that later spawned a hip-hop EP of the same name, this time with Soweto selling it independently...

...Which brings us to the arrival of his latest helping 'The New Emancipation'. This title means a number of things: An emancipation from a music label, from musical restraint, but what the title really represents is an ideal: The ideal of truly being emancipated from slavery, from corporate greed and from our own limited ways of thinking. This ideal is conveyed through several themes throughout this album, and takes on a much darker form than previous helpings. We start off with 'An Ancient Worksong', the procession of horns, singular snare cracks and dull bass evoking images of people doing hours of physical labour, stopping every so often to wipe beads of sweat from their foreheads, an image that can be depicted throughout history. Using this piece particularly as a foundation, we visit several themes:

Fame and wealth: These themes are mainly conveyed through the hip-hop numbers 'Trying to be a Star'; dark storytelling of a number of people in their struggle to become rich and famous, experimental synths being spliced in with live drums at a slightly unpredictable pace, and 'Love of Money'; an incredibly dark song depicting envy, fury and desperation through the waning tenor saxophones behind an evil lash of keys and steady but harsh drums.

Exploitation: Is explored through probably the most comedic song on the album 'Paris Heights'; A really simple drum, bass and guitar loop complimenting the story of a new employee working for a debt collecting company. The other pieces that explores this theme musically is 'Trade'; a rather bluesy number, the dull bass and drums moving at a slow pace as the horns and guitar weave their way in and out. This piece suggests to me a tired repetition of world selling and trading methods.

The Human mind: Conveyed through the ferocious pace of 'A People with no Past', intricate solos given from both Kinch and Temowo as the movements loop, giving the idea that something's continuously trying to be recovered but lost at the last minute (ever had that before?). An element of humanity is also explored in 'Suspended Adolescence'; A slower number, quite mellow and conveying the idea that things are in a bit of a limbo, and through the sinister 'Axis of Evil'; the unseen notions we take on shown through a solemn bass clarinet, steady thumps of the drums and Kinch's harsh rhyming delivery. Another piece that explores the psyche is the 10 minute piece 'Never Ending'. The way Kinch's Sax almost pushes through the second movement of the music conveys a frustration; are we living to work or working to live?

Hope: This theme peaks its' head right towards the end of the album. 'Escape' is a beautiful piece, layered with keys, spacious synth strings, a tenor sax and Eska's lovely voice speaking on simply getting away. 'The New Emancipation' ends with the actual notion of us emancipating ourselves, freeing our minds by raising our spirits first of all through 'Raise your Spirit', that Sax flitting through organs, a rhythmic bass and a number of snares.

...'The New Emancipation' is a prominent wake up call that challenges us with regards to our surroundings. Apparently it's been two hundred years since slavery was abolished, apparently we have a no tolerance system to racism, we have a Black President in power...but does that mean anything?..."

-Alex King

Available to buy from:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Emancipation-Soweto-Kinch/dp/B0040MGV48

http://www.codeemphasis.com/

Hitler’s Forgotten Black Holocaust Victims

2010-10-09T17:37:00.001+01:00

Like many West European nations, Germany established colonies in Africa in the late 1800s in what later became Togo, Cameroon, Namibia, and Tanzania.

German genetic experiments began there, most notably involving prisoners taken from the 1904 Heroro Massacre that left 60,000 Africans dead, following a 4-year revolt against German colonisation. After the crushing defeat Germany received in World War I, it was stripped of its African colonies in 1918.

As a spoil of war, the French were allowed to occupy Germany in the Rhineland – a bitter fought piece of land that has gone back and forth between the two nations for centuries. The French willfully deployed their own colonised African soldiers as the occupying force.

Germans viewed this as the final insult of World War I, and, soon thereafter, 92% of them voted in the Nazi party.

Hundreds of the African Rhineland-based soldiers intermarried with German women and raised their children as Black Germans. In Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote about his plans for these “Rhineland Bastards”. When he came to power, one of his first directives was aimed at these mixed-race children.

Underscoring Hitler’s obsession with racial purity, by 1937, every identified mixed-race child in the Rhineland had been forcibly sterilized, in order to prevent further “race polluting”, as Hitler termed it.

Hans Hauck, a Black Holocaust survivor and a victim of Hitler’s mandatory sterilisation program, explained in the film “Hitler’s Forgotten Victims” that, when he was forced to undergo sterilisation as a teenager, he was given no anaesthetic.?Once he received his sterilisation certificate, he was “free to go”, so long as he agreed to have no sexual relations whatsoever with Germans.

Although most Black Germans attempted to escape their fatherland, heading for France where people like Josephine Baker were steadily aiding and supporting the French Underground, many still encountered problems elsewhere. Nations shut their doors to Germans, including the Black ones.

Some Black Germans were able to eke out a living during Hitler’s reign of terror by performing in Vaudeville shows, but many Blacks, steadfast in their belief that they were German first, Black second, opted to remain in Germany. Some fought with the Nazis (a few even became Lutwaffe pilots)!

Unfortunately, many Black Germans were arrested, charged with treason, and shipped in cattle cars to concentration camps. Often these trains were so packed with people and (equipped with no bathroom facilities or food), that, after the four-day journey, box car doors were opened to piles of the dead and dying.

Once inside the concentration camps, Blacks were given the worst jobs conceivable. Some Black American soldiers, who were captured and held as prisoners of war, recounted that, while they were being starved and forced into dangerous labour (violating the Geneva Convention), they were still better off than Black German concentration camp detainees, who were forced to do the unthinkable-man the crematoriums and work in labs where genetic experiments were being conducted.

As a final sacrifice, these Blacks were killed every three months so that they would never be able to reveal the inner workings of the “Final Solution”.

In every story of Black oppression, no matter how we were enslaved, shackled, or beaten, we always found a way to survive and to rescue others. As a case in point, consider Johnny Voste, a Belgian resistance fighter who was arrested in 1942 for alleged sabotage and then shipped to Dachau. One of his jobs was stacking vitamin crates. Risking his own life, he distributed hundreds of vitamins to camp detainees, which saved the lives of many who were starving, weak, and ill-conditions exacerbated by extreme vitamin deficiencies. His motto was “No, you can’t have my life; I will fight for it.”

According to Essex University’s Delroy Constantine-Simms, there were Black Germans who resisted Nazi Germany, such as Lari Gilges, who founded the Northwest Rann – an organisation of entertainers that fought the Nazis in his home town of Dusseldorf – and who was murdered by the SS in 1933, the year that Hitler came into power.

Little information remains about the numbers of Black Germans held in the camps or killed under the Nazi regime. Some victims of the Nazi sterilisation project and Black survivors of the Holocaust are still alive and telling their story in films such as “Black Survivors of the Nazi Holocaust”, but they must also speak out for justice, not just history.

Unlike Jews (in Israel and in Germany), Black Germans receive no war reparations because their German citizenship was revoked (even though they were German-born). The only pension they get is from those of us who are willing to tell the world their stories and continue their battle for recognition and compensation.

After the war, scores of Blacks who had somehow managed to survive the Nazi regime, were rounded up and tried as war criminals. Talk about the final insult! There are thousands of Black Holocaust stories, from the triangle trade, to slavery in America, to the gas ovens in Germany. We often shy away from hearing about our historical past because so much of it is painful; however, we are in this struggle together for rights, dignity, and, yes, reparations for wrongs done to us through the centuries. We need to always remember so that we can take steps to ensure that these atrocities never happen again.

www.blackpresence.co.uk

Other links of links of interest- http://duala.kazeo.com/Ecrivains-Batiledi/Theo-Wonja,a391146.html

Pharoahe Monch On Martin Luther King - Black History Month 2010

2010-10-06T16:16:00.000+01:00

Pharoahe Monch talks about the 'goose bumbs' he gets when he hears Martin Luther King's 'I have Dream' Speech. Part of Code Emphasis Black History Month Series.

Cece Carter - CE Editor. http://www.codeemphasis.com/

SPEC BOOGIE - INTROSPECTIVE (Album review) by Alex King

2010-10-05T19:02:00.000+01:00

"...Every so often we hear an emcee tear up a mic as a feature on a track, then we wait for their album. The are several examples of albums that people have been waiting on to introduce said emcee to the realm, some just as follow ups. Take 'Illmatic' by Nas, or 'Reasonable Doubt' by Jay-Z as examples, Biggie's 'Life After Death', Eminem's 'Relapse', Dr Dre's 'Detox' (chuckles). But throughout the underground (if you like) hip-hop community, an emcee by the name of Spec Boogie has had an anticipated album for a number of years...

...Well that album is finally here in the form of 'Introspective'...on first glance, a wave of disappointment hit me; only 11 tracks after all these years...But this collection of chosen songs shine true, bringing an exciting energy and honesty to hip-hop once again. We start off with the title track, the intertwining of horns and Spec's indecisiveness about what to rhyme bring images of sitting in the back room of a smoky bar, a glass of whisky in one hand and a set of cards in the other. From when the beat kicks in looping this familiar sample to when Spec has delivered his 32 bar verse, we immediately get an idea of what he's all about: Honesty, reflection, punchlines and awesome storytelling.

And indeed this doesn't disappoint! The album moves on to the anthemic 'Bed Stuy', a heart warming homage to the city where Spec Boogie hails from, the radio vocal sample flowing beautifully over simple kicks and snares. Lyrical experimentation comes through in abundance with the following track 'S.B', a simple 48 bar affair where Spec uses predominantly words beginning with S and B while making the subject matter relevant (not an easy task). Strong storytelling skills appear throughout 'Introspective', through 'The Stoop'; a song that documents the goings on by a Brooklyn stoop over a simple loop of guitar samples, unpredictable organs and horns flowing throughout the song, 'Memories'; a provocative story rap speaking on regret around his father's death, and 'Brother's Keeper'; Fictional storytelling centred around the points of view of two close friends dealing with the murder of a lover. Simple bragging takes place on the two awesome posse cuts 'Eviction Notice'; vicious snares and chilled guitar samples causing you to nod your head incessantly as Lessondary affiliates Tanya Morgan flow with ease, and 'Show up Drunk'; a fun posse cut conveying what happens when "the Lessondary Show Up Drunk". Reflection rears its' head throughout the album, particularly on 'Better than ever'; a feel good number speaking on blessings and dreams, 'Slave #1'; the determined piano samples and synthesisers conveying and enforcing that of Spec Boogie's drive to succeed, and the closing track 'Grow'; a laid back number speaking on mistakes and learning from them, the simplistic sample of 'Capricorn' making you want to chill and just listen.

All in all, 'Introspective' is an honest and extremely enjoyable album, short and sweet, and reminding us simply of what good hip-hop is all about (thankfully without preaching about how crap the radio is). The consistent jazz loops and drum samples evoke images of quality New York hip-hop, and, of course, it also makes me wonder what else is to come from this Brooklyn emcee..."

-Alex King

Spec Boogie -' Introspective' album is available here.

Code Emphasis would like to thank Alex King for the review.
http://www.codeemphasis.com/

Black History Month 2010 - Your Guide to 'Afrocentricty' and 'Consciousness'!

2010-10-01T17:33:00.002+01:00

So it's black history month thanks to the powers that be for allowing us poor blackies 1 whole month to remember who we are and where we came from; to celebrate the most exceptional of us, so we at the bottom of the food chain can aspire to be just like them - Ashley Cole, Tyler Perry, our beloved Oprah and the second coming himself, President Barack Obama.
It's the time when the 'conscious', 'afrocentric' black folk come out and tell us how the rest of us are all mental slaves and you might as well be picking cotton because your partner is white.

Do you ever feel that you're just not 'black' enough? Are tired of being talked down to because you haven't read 'The Isis Papers' or own Bob Marley's Discography? Is your melanin count just not enough to fit in with your black intellectual friends? Well It's time to pull out our Malcolm X tees (doesn't matter if you where it to bed), wrap our heads and put our fists in the air because here is your guide to being 'conscious' and 'afrocentric' (just in time for BHM).

Appearances First
It's obvious that having dark skin and an African surname isn't enough to be recognised as having a sufficient amount 'blackness' to qualify as 'Afrocentric'. Looking like a dickhead isn't cool this month, you have to lose the skinny jeans and the lenseless 3D glasses you got from Odeon. Men need get down with the Dashiki, you can pick one up from the white guys with the dreads at Camden Market. If you're feeling adventurous you can't go wrong with a black leather jacket and a black beret, they'll think you're serious with that outfit.

Women, if you have a relaxer, weave, or lace wig, wrap it up, you get no points for showing that deep down you really want to be white by living up to the white man's conventions of beauty...Didn't you know Africans don't naturally have long straight hair? All those Somali, Eritrean and Ethiopian women donning that look are all self loathers. Maybe wear a dress or jump suit with an 'ethnic' print, doesn't matter what country or tribe the print is from, just go to Monsoon then pop to Accessorize and by some wooden earrings and necklace to complete your 'ethnic' look. For a cheaper alternative, dig out an old plan white T shirt and use a marker pen to write 'Young Gifted and Black'. Works every time.

Get Down With The Lingo
'Ya get me doe', 'Yana ameeen' and 'blud' wont cut it in this environment but neither does the Queen's English. Use words like 'Hotep', 'Overstand' and 'Politricks', those words will get you free entry into any Black History Month event, Nation of Islam meeting and a Jill Scott concert. Everyone will think you're deep and of above average intelligence. Maybe get into a little spoken word whilst your at it and use a thesaurus to find as many ways as you can to say the same thing. Use words ending in 'ism' like 'floacism', 'lyracism', 'faggotism' then your poem will always rhyme.

Act Like You Know Something The Rest Of Us Don't
Go watch the matrix and learn the speech that Morpheus gives to Neo when he offers him the red and the blue pill. Then go to youtube and type in 'Illuminati' and click on any video that suggests Jay Z and Kanyne West are all in a secret society and reppin the devil. Complete all of the above and then you will know something the rest of us don't know. If you really wanna be clever, google 'David Icke' and you'll really be ready for Speakers Corner then.

Reading Not Essential, But Make Sure Your Music is on Point
Forget reading The Isis Papers, forget learning a Martin Luther King speech or reading the autobiography of Malcolm X. It doesn't even matter if you know the entire works of Aristotle and Plato, if you ain't listening to Talib Kweli and Mos Def then you ain't 'conscious'. You have to choose your Hip Hop carefully, no artists who have 'Lil' before their name or 'Boy' after their name. No auto-tune, infact any rapper from the South is a no no. You can't go wrong with listening to a rapper that uses a Dilla beat or has a deep sounding name like 'The Roots or 'A Tribe Called Quest'.

You can't be into Pop R&B this month, it's all about Neo Soul, so create a playlist that consists of D'angelo, Bilal, Lauren Hill, Jill Scott and anyone in that vain. Learn this mantra:- Beyonce = Baaaaaad, Erykah Badu = Gooooooooood. Beyonce half naked in a music video = Hoe, slut, fake Christian; Erykah completely naked in public in a music video (unrelating to the song) = Dynamic, Innovative, Inspirational. Beyonce - Married to a rapper = Illuminati; Erykah - Unmarried, 3 babies from 3 different rappers = Feminism.

If you are known to listen to anything else other than artists considered to be 'Conscious' or 'Afrocentric' the you will be dismissed. Use those artists as a style guide, learn the lyrics and quote them in conversation, then and only then will your 'consciousness' be solidified or 'Soulidified' - see what I did there? (refer back to lingo).

Be Seen In The Right Places
As the way you look, the music you listen to and the language you use are the most important aspects of being 'conscious' and 'afrocentric', it's clear that this month being in the right places will validate you. You can't go and pose in plush bars and clubs like China Whites and The Embassy where the drinks are ridiculously expensive but you can't be seen drinking anything else other than Champagne and all the people there are celebrities and WAG wannabes; No sirree, you have to go and pose in a bar that has wooden floors and a rustic, vintage feel with 'Afro-Art' on the walls. The drink prices are just as ridiculous but it's ok because it's cool to order fruit juice or sparkling water with mint leaf and a lime. The music must only be that of the artists listed above or anything of the like, if that is too boring for the crowd then anything 'Old Skool' is cool like James Brown, a bit of Jazz, 'Nu Jazz' if you wanna be fancy...ooh ohh even better, Afro-beat is the one, although the chances are every other song will be by Fela Kuti,that's ok because you wouldn't recognise it if you heard it anyway.

Go to a Spoken Word/Poetry Jam night, being pretentious is a prerequisite for those events so you'd fit right in. There you can top up on your lingo, maybe you could even find a word to adapt yourself and make it sound like you have a new understanding of the English language. Any music event you go to must be of the 'conscious sounding' genre... yes there is a genre called 'conscious sounding'. Also belong to a group.. this is so important it's in a category of it's own.

Join A Group with Black Leaders

Whether it be a film club, a book club, an activist group or a Facebook group, as long as the leader and the members are all black, talking about 'black issues', rocking afros, dreadlocks, head wraps and African prints, that will phase 2 of your validation. Try to contribute to the discussions; be an active member; develop an holier than thou, self righteous attitude. You're allowed to talk the talk but you don't have to walk the walk because as long as you belong to that group you're 'doing something'. If you combine all the important elements as mentioned above into your existence, then you will ready to accuse other black people as being mental slaves and 'House Niggas'. You may not know who you are anymore, but don't worry neither do they. All their 'higher knowledge' is regurgitated information they don't actually understand OR came from a book written by a white man. You wont feel judged anymore, you'll be the one judging which is the point.

So you got the outfit, the lingo, the mantra and your validity slip and you should be good to go. You are now ready for Black History Month, follow the guide correctly and you will no doubt get a 'conscious', 'afrocentric' seal of approval. Once you're in you will never want to go back, so say it loud 'I'm black and I'm Proud!'

Clarity Jane
(Secret Beyonce fan)

P.S The views expressed in this post do not reflect the views and beliefs of Code Emphasis

(Disclaimers should go at the beginning, Doh)

Elucid - Automatic Writing

2010-09-30T09:43:00.002+01:00

Here's another Brooklyn Bomber (which has nothing to do with terrorism) by the name of Elucid -'That which gives out light'. You may or mayn't know him, but we go back in time but not that far to give you one of our favourite video's 'Automatic Writing' visually the editor and director are having fun with After Effects or Final Cut or it could be something else who knows.
If you like what you heard were gonna go further back in time to 2007 to his Mixtape called SMASH & GRAB which isn't mixed its actually 13 individual tracks which features
J Davey, Von Pea, Spec Boogie and their's some Bjork, Johnny Cash and Chemical Brothers up in the mix,I can see you rubbing your chin. So check it out for yourself, copy it on to cassette tape and put it on to your Sony Walkman with those spongy headphones. If you like what you hear he's got more stuff for your walkman floating around.

CLICK LINK (Smash & Grab) http://rappersiknow.com/media/elucid/Smash%20N%20Grab.zip
Disclaimer : When post was launched the link was live and virus free.

Bunny Bread - CE Creative Assassin http://www.codeemphasis.com/

Elucid - Automatic Writing from Boombaye' on Vimeo

Lists, Questions, Ideas and Acceptable Racism.

2010-09-26T06:37:00.000+01:00

So I almost left this until tomorrow (later today now), but then a lovely person told me that there's no time like the present. So here we are. THe Web Pirate (as Bunny put it so beautifully a couple of weeks ago) has been at it again! So here's a collection of my personal experiences over the last week or so, and what has happened in the world that I think is interesting... or not!

Before I begin though, is racism ever acceptable and funny? Well it would seem that there are instances when it is, but for you to understand I'd have to explain the backwards racist compliment that was given. Really though, you had to be there to understand the hilarity and unnerving nature of it all. It wasn't directed at me, I wasn't there and it's too long to explain, so if you speak to my sister, ask her yourself. Sorry.

1. TONGUES ON FIRE! This was meant to be a short review, but it turned out to be loooooong! So I did a more complete review and put it here. Abiodun Oyewole is a living legend. My question to you all is this: When The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron and all the other legends and freedom fighters and voices crying in the wilderness are gone, who do we have that are going to stand up to replace them? To encourage and empower us? To help guide us? Who?

2. THE LOVE POLICE! Someone I met at the Tongues On Fire show pointed me to these guys, and I think most of what they do is great. If not for anything else it's more than most, and a good start for a proper "Movement of the people." "EXO-DUS!" Ha! I couldn't resist, but I'm serious. Check it out... can we do something together?

3. EMISSION IMPOSSIBLE! And The Love Police led me here! Again, it's somebody trying to make a difference in a world in which none of us really stands up for what we believe in, except when it's for better service in McDonalds or something equally mundane, ridiculous and/or selfish!

4. FEAR! So apparently France is facing the threat of a possible terrorist attack. Not to spread the philosophy of fear further, aren't we all under the constant threat of a terrorist attack? If someone robs you today, assaults you or generally makes you feel unsafe and fearful for your well being, that is terrorism. In the hope that domestic and international intelligence agencies take note I will make the following statement: "MY LOCAL COUNCIL HARBORS TERRORISTS AND PROMOTES TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. THEY EXTORT MONEY FROM POORER LOCAL RESIDENTS TO FUND THEIR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. I WANT TO BE FREE." They already know who I am, so it shouldn't be long now until i taste sweet freedom! Question to ask yourselves: Are "peacekeeping force" and "war on terror" oxymorons?

5. GOD 4 in 1?! Black charismatic church leader engaging in homosexual activities and relationships with young men who were under his wing. So this past week, Bishop Eddie Long of Atlanta, Georgia, USA has had 4 men under 25 accuse him of coercing them into "inappropriate sexual contact". Why did I put that in quote marks? Is there any kind of sexual contact that a married, religious preacher can have with anyone that isn't his wife? Apparently he's going to address the allegations during this Sunday's service at his church, but for the moment, his representatives are calling it extortion. On one hand, it smells like collusion (4 separate cases in the same week? Michael Jackson take two? Not comparing him to Mike, but dude!), but on the other hand, could his anti-gay rally and public position on homosexuality be an attempt to hide his own disposition?

Okay I don't want to push the hype on it but it makes some interesting points and raises some questions. Will he respond with love to these guys and try to settle the cases amicably if the accusations are false? Should black churches in particular take such a hardline against homosexuality when there's increasing evidence that it maybe less of a choice and possibly not demonic? Can everybody be honest for a moment? How does the church react if it all turns out to be true? Sunday service is going to be very interesting!

6. AND ACTION! Interesting tid bit, for you two of the funniest things I've ever watched, Stir Crazy and Police Squad had black diretors. Okay it's more true for Stir Crazy than Police Squad, but it's not a lie! Stir Crazy was directed by Sidney Poitier (a.k.a Mr Tibbs) and one Police Squad episode (The Butler Did It: A Bird In The Hand) was directed by Georg Stanford Brown (a.k.a Rory Schultebrand in Stir Crazy). When I looked into Georg's directing credits, it's far more illustrious than I realised. the list includes multiple episodes of: Cagney & Lacey, Magnum PI, Miami Vice, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch, Dynasty and Hill Street Blues to name a few. He's also done tons of TV Movies. He's done a lot of acting too! Roots (The original mini-series and the follow-up to it), Linc's, Malcom and Eddie, the Wild Thornberry's. Check his resume.., It's impressive. I guess i'm just saying, we can direct, so more of us should try and get behind the camera. It's not as glamorous, but it's definitely more powerful! Oh! And they're both Island boys (Bahamas and Cuba respectively)!

7. KEEP THEM PEEPERS PEELED! If you haven't heard the name Ruby Blu by now, you've probably just crawled out from under that rock where you've been for 30 years with a dirty looking afro, bell bottoms and platforms! The dude is possibly the best singer/songwriter/artist/genius I've heard in a long time! Look out for him and his music. And remember I told you so first! I really want to put a link to a song i heard recently, but there will probably be rights issues and I don't want to cause that. If you see him tell him I said to play you the song... he'll know what you mean. We may get an exclusive in the Codebreakers section of the website (but you never heard it from me *wink*).

8. DAMN! This Eddie Long thing really has me intrigued! I don't know if the "Any publicity is good publicity" moto works with holy things...

9. AN OLIVE BRANCH. I came across this and this a couple of years ago and it made me re-examine myself and my faith very thoroughly. It seemed like some much needed sanity could possibly be restored, but as ever, most who should have received it in peace, aggressively rejected it. God bless Carlton Pearson for doing and saying what he thought was right, not what was popular.

10. QUOTE OF THE WEEK. "It's like we're in a fagatocious fruitopia... I'm not on it." This could even be quote of the month! When this was said to me, I almost put it as my facebook status, but thought, it should be on the blog first. It's simply, too much! Hilarious but scarily accurate! This is not homophobia, just a general dislike for brain-draining popular culture which at the moment includes self-righteous homosexuality (I'm gay and therefore need to be up in your face with it so that you know even though you neither asked nor care.) and increasingly androgynous clothing.

On that note, enjoy the coming week. Summer is so over! Anyone want to buy me a nice winter coat, hat and gloves? Or 5 months in a warmer and much nicer country? I'm open to offers! Hit me up! OH! I'll be getting my own Code Emphasis e-mail soon! About bloody time too! That editor of mine's been taking the....

Peace out!