Archives for June 2008
Amy Winehouse vs Kanye West
Picture the scene, MissisJam and I sitting on the sofa, watching Glastonbury coverage on 91Èȱ¬ 2. Around 10.10pm, Amy Winehouse is doing her warming up for Jay-Z Pyramid Stage set and was singing "Some Unholy War". She sings a line, I look to MissisJam, she looks at me - both of us ask the same thing "Did we just hear Amy sing "At least I'm not opening for a c*** like Kanye?"...
I updated , then confirmed what I thought she said:
Why Amy Why??? It was completely unprovoked and totally unncessary. Between that and , Amy demonstrated why drugs (and whatever the purple stuff was that she was drinking through the set) are not cool mmmkay. Next year hopefully Michael Eavis and the Glastonbury organisers will put someone like our Estelle on that slot over Wino.
Gwan Yeezy! Glad he remembered the old saying..."Wise men never argue with fools, because people from a distance can't tell who is who"
Check my show on Monday for audio highlights of Jigga's Glastonbury show.
The Obligatory Glastonbury Post
I've never been. Kinda hoped I would go with work this year but instead, I'm gonna be locked into Glastonbury with the best possible view - from my sofa in my front room! No queues to doodoo in a chemical toilet, no mud and no cows - I think I've made the right choice!!
Of course the big talk is all about Jay-Z headlining the Pyramid stage.
Glasto organiser Michael Eavis definitely took a risk not booking a guitar band to headline the stage and it could still bite him back if it hasn't bit him already. Online bookmakers are offering 3/1 odds on Jigga getting booed off stage and there's of course the endless stories of Glastonbury not selling out because Jay-Z was headlining and the world famous Noel Gallagher comments that made me lose all respect for him - believe it or not, I was an Oasis fan.
Personally, I think there's a lot of pressure on Jay's shoulders and the world will be watching. Having seen him a couple of times live before and even supported him in Birmingham before, I know he'll come with an amazing show. I just hope the crowd are open minded enough to let him perform for them.
If you're like me (staying at home and will be watching from the sofa), it's all about 91Èȱ¬ Three or this site on Saturday night to watch the gig and the big dog himself, Westwood will be backstage at "Glazdunburry" (as he pronounces it) you can hear it on 1Xtra this saturday night from 9pm.
It's not just all about Jay-Z though - you can check the full line up here. Personally, it will be a busy weekend for me because I've counted over 35 artists/bands that I want to see...!
The new Black Boys remix
Actor/Writer/Comedian Jason Lewis has done a comic version of Bashy's "Black Boys". Having received permission from Bashy himself, Jason got the director of the original video and has done this:
What do you think? Is this jokes or is it in bad taste?
FREE GHETTO EXCLUSIVE GOODNESS!!
From my recent Jam Session you could have downloaded Ghetto's exclusive acoustic version of "Sing For Me" FOR FREE! But...you missed it. Make sure you keep an eye on the blog for the next time I offer a free download.
If you want to see vids from the whole session, you can check it here and feel free to thank us by using the comments section below and if you see any unscrupulous sites selling this download, let me know and I'll send the boys round.
Summer Anthem #1
Norway's platinum selling Madcon are signed to RCA records in the UK and are going to do some damage with this track this summer:
Don't front, you know it's got ya open!
Mr U Bend
For the first blog post written on my new mac, I thought I'd give you a sneak taster of the forthcoming sitcom I'm in 'Trexx and Flipside'. I'm told very reliably that it's due on 91Èȱ¬ Three next month but as soon as I've got a specific date, I'll let you know. Here's a scene with myself playing Trexx, David Ajala playing Flipside and the hilarious Rich Fulcher as Trexx and Flip's hapless manager Mr Brilliance:
More to come!
The Mash Up
A special hello to anyone checking out the blog for the very first time after hearing me cover for the queen of bass Annie Mac on Radio 1 last night. I had loads of fun, 2 major Mini Mixes (one from my fellow 1Xtra brother Seani B and one from Skepta) and jumped in the mix for the last blast. Hopefully you'll check out my normal show on 1Xtra - I played nothing on the Mash Up that I wouldn't normally play on my 1Xtra show!
If you're a regular blog viewer/listener and missed the show, you've got until 9pm on Friday 27th June to listen back to it here.
To check the tracklistings click below
Addictive are Jam Hot!
The ladies from Addictive, Louise & Aisha passed through 1Xtra towers last night and killed us with an acoustic version of Sweet Like Chocolate and Dangerzone. You can use the player above to take a listen to the acoustic tracks but if you want to hear the interview too (they were hilarious!) you can listen to the entire show from here. (Thursday's show)
That Dynamite MC free download....
Recently Dynamite MC's "What" was Jam Hot on my show and when he passed through he said he would be letting people download it for free at the start of this month. Well, he's half stuck to his word - it's the 19th July and he's just put it up!!
Click on the poster to go directly to Dyna's website and if you signup to the mailing list and you'll receive "What!" for free!
How nice of him!
Jam Hot: Week 25
Every week on my show, I choose one record that isn't just hot, it's JAM HOT and I play it every day.
This week, it's a bassline cover of a classic UKG track from 10 years ago "Addictive - Chocolate"
Who are Addictive?
• Addictive are childhood friends Louise Bagan and Aisha Stuart
• They hail from London's East End, Plaistow to be exact
• They started out in an R&B style but when their management company signed T2, they started making bassline and were championed on 1Xtra by DJ Cameo and DJ Q.
• During the day, Aisha is a social worker and Louise helps her brother out with his fruit and veg business
What is "Chocolate"?
• Chocolate is a cover of
• The original managed to make it to #1 in the national chart in 1999 and led to BRIT and MOBO nominations for
• T2 has produced this updated version but there is currently no release date planned.
Addictive will be passing through 1Xtra towers this Thursday 19th July and will perform exclusively and acoustically for us! Check it out every day on the show.
Coldplay do the Rolex Sweep
This past monday, Jay-Z's favourite indie band Coldplay did a welcome home gig at London's Brixton Academy - their first in 2 years. Always one to make sure he's up on the latest black music dance crazes, Chris Martin decided to start the song 'In My Place' with a rendition of Skepta's Rolex Sweep:
Is a Coldplay/Boy Better Know collaboration on the cards?
***UPDATE*** Skepta has remixed the remix:
He has also put it up for download too via his . Go check it out.
The Jam Sessions Videos - Ghetto
Wednesday 11th June. 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1Xtra. My show went live to the world famous 91Èȱ¬ Maida Vale studios for the second installment of our monthly exclusive and acoustic Jam Sessions. This month, Ghetto took to the airwaves and the 1Xtra camera team were there to capture the historical moment. Big shouts to Online Ali for these, the videos. Enjoy!
I'm Ghetts
from on .
Sing For Me
from on .
And he dropped an exclusive Freestyle:
from on .
The Jam Sessions takes place every month - keep locked here and to the show to find out who'll grace Maida Vale in July....
Also - DON'T FORGET YOU CAN DOWNLOAD SING FOR ME FROM THIS SESSION EXCLUSIVELY!!!
The UKG Video Post
First up, from this week's Jam Session at Maida Vale, Ghetto with "It's Ghetts":
Hold tight - next week sees more Ghetto goodness!
Next up...
The Jam Sessions #2 - Ghetto
Every month on the show I have a very special live session take place at the world famous Maida Vale studios where all the legends have played. From The Beatles to Nirvana, Daft Punk to Roni Size/Reprazent they've all done sessions there and I'm on a mission to add some of the bright lights from the black music scene to that list of artists with the Jam Sessions.
Last night Ghetto made history by being the second ever Jam Session and he absolutely tore it down. Accompanied only by Andrew on the guitar and a guest vocalist; he performed "It's Ghetts" and "Sing For Me" as well as a very murky freestyle.
Here is the session in full:
And as the 1Xtra video cameras were in full effect:
Trexx and Flipside - On screen in June/July?
For all those wondering when the 91Èȱ¬ TV show I filmed earlier this year is going to be on the telly, I'm currently being told that it should be before the end of this month. Vague I know but apparently the transmission date is being pulled forward because 91Èȱ¬ Three are really happy with it and want to get it out to the world.
Having seen 4 episodes for the first time this past weekend, I think it's really funny and hope you'll enjoy it when you get to see it.
Here's an interview with the creator of the show
Session of the Week - Dr Meaker
Up and coming Bristol D&B producer Clive Meaker aka Dr Meaker takes the session of the week slot on my show this week. Solo, he produces the Dr Meaker sound but when it comes time for live gigs, he assembles a full 8 piece band to do the business:
Catch them every day this week on the show and at Glastonbury too! For more info on the crew, check out their .
Jam Hot: Week 24
Every week on my show, I choose one record that isn't just hot, it's JAM HOT and I play it every day. This week; Fabio's been rinsing it, Bailey's been rinsing it, I've been rinsing it - it's a huge piece of Liquid Drum and Bass:
Utah Jazz's "Back In Time"
• Utah Jazz is D&B producer/DJ Luke Wilson, a pioneer of the soulful, liquid sound of drum and bass.
• He started in the mid 90's, coming up under D&B legend Alex Reece
• He's recorded for the likes of Hospital Records, Liquid V, Good Looking Records and famously remixed Roni Size's It's A Jazz Thing (which is also the name of his forthcoming album)
• As a DJ he says he plays "catchy, mostly soulful, drum & bass feel-good dance music with no clown-fest, no nose-bleed and nothing tooo 'deep'!"
• His album "It's A Jazz Thing" is dropping on 30th July on Liquid V
Utah Jazz will be passing by 1Xtra towers this thursday (12th June) and will not only bring us a preview from his album but also he will bring us a "History of Utah Jazz" mix for all those new converts!
Beenie Man: REAL Talk
Big shouts to Chris Goldfinger - he recently caught up with Beenie Man during a recent stop off in Spain. He got some REAL talk out of him - and when I say REAL talk, I mean REAL talk!
Here he is talking about the UK's Child Support Agency on his case:
If you think that's real talk, wait til you see what else he had to say.
MistaJam Video Roundup
Before Part 2 of Wiley, Skepta, Chipmunk and Kano hits the web (along with videos of Lauren Mason at Maida Vale and me at today's Rolex Sweep video shoot) get yourself up to date by taking a look at some of my recent YouTube videos:
Which one's your favourite?
Roots Manuva is Back!
A couple of weeks ago I had the world premiere on the brand new Roots Manuva record. Produced by Sheffield Dancehall chemist Toddla T, 'Buff Nuff' is the first single to be taken from his forthcoming album 'Slime and Reason'.
If you think the 'Witness' video was funny, take a look at this:
I've heard 6 tracks from the album. Roots is coming back HARD! Love it!