Anyway, as it turns out,  he’s part of this new album called Two Beats, One Soul – a project featuring a bunch of American and Cuban artists coming together to make, well, music. And it’s pretty good. Other guests on the release include Jon B, Louie Vega and Shaggy, so if you’re here for those latin beats with a little twist, it’s definitely worth a listen.

But back to Eric Benet coming to town. I’ve only known and loved one his albums – 1999’s A Day In The Life, which I distinctly remember buying in Birmingham City Centre before rinsing it to death. Can we talk about Love Of My Own? Georgy Porgy? Why You Follow Me? Love The Hurt Away? That’s tune after tune after tune after TUNE.  I just hope those make the playlist at his gig this Thursday at the Electric Brixton. Anyone else going?

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Check ’em out on Jimmy Kimmel:

Here’s my favourite song from Ego Death, their latest album that got nominated for a Grammy:

And here’s my favourite track from their previous album, Feel Good:

Gosh, I miss bands!

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The electronic act opened with the classic Black Radio and went on to deliver soothingly synthetic renditions of Jay-Z and Kanye’s Church in the Wild and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky separated by an epic sax solo by the multi-talented singer, saxophonist and coloured quiff-rocking Casey Benjamin. Let it Ride was performed drum and bass style and followed by an epic breakout from drummer Mark Colenburg.

Stand Alone was punctuated by an almost shamanic guitar session by bassist and Blue Note recording artist Derrick Hodge where everyone else left the stage.

R&B crooner Raheem Devaughn pounced on stage with No Worries and let us know what kind of woman he appreciates with his hit Woman, getting a verbal exchange between the men and women of the audience going.

The stand out song was Somebody Else with Emeli Sande, who came on stage to effortlessly add her haunting lyrics to an already atmospheric musical landscape. The other guest was Laura Mvula on Jill Scott’s Calls.

Glasper has a funny bravado on stage and his antics made the audience literally laugh out loud – saying he was going to sing, messing around on the piano and making a terrifically cheesy go of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time to the begrudging compliance of his band were highlights.

Supporting act Vula Malinga equaled if not surpassed Glasper’s hilarity when telling us about her having purchased a ticket to the show, but since she drunkenly grabbed the mic at a previous Glasper show he invited her at short notice to open for him.

It was a mellow yet innovative night full of raw talent. I could have done with even more improvisation and comedic moments and as the set ended it seemed somewhat premature – perhaps Glasper joking about Common coming on stage created too much hype! (Words, pics and video: Róisín Lonergan)

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On the surface of it, this brief 45-minute gig is just a plug for Ice T’s new hip-hop memorial Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, but it has its merits. They’re all zealous ambassadors for the part they’ve played in the scenes 30-odd year story, with Melle Mel’s being the pimp of the party, rocking the hat and suit to match. As the first act of the night, he starts us off with the obligatory call and response, before energetically laying into his famous hit The Message then skilfully reeling off the opening lines from songs by Kurtis Blow, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock and even Naughty By Nature. He then finishes off with a snippet of his guest spot on Grandmaster Flash’s White Lines before demanding the hyped crowd to say “yeeeeeeeeeeea!”.

He’s followed by Chuck D – who as the political elder statesman always makes Fight The Power sound relevant, and delivers new song I Shall Not Be Moved, a vitriol targeted at the present state of society. He’s more of a languid performer Chuck, so when Wu Tang’s Raekwon bounds onto the stage 10mins later, with a surprise appearance from his colleague Ghostface Killah, it feels like the crowd is treated to a mini-concert, and roars their appreciation accordingly. A performance of C.R.E.A.M by the younger pair is the riotous centrepiece of the night – that is, until Ice-T steps onto the stage near the end of the proceedings, with a set which proves he’s still as gangsta as he was in the 90s. When he raps “I’m an old school nigga, graying hair…still have you killed from a wheelchair”, you can’t help but believe him. By the end, we’re treated to a surprise performance from the UK’s Hijack – a Brixton MC from back in the day – and a new song from Ice-T, making tonight feel like one of those proud reunions that should happen in hip-hop more often – and hopefully off the back of his new doc, they will.

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap is out in selected UK cinemas today.

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The Music

There were three music areas to choose from – Main Stage, Garden Stage and Big Top – but given my particular urban tastes, I wandered between the main and top, and found time to enjoy the likes of Labrinth, Jessie J, Katy B and Tinie Tempah.

The highlight of those was undoubtedly Jessie J, who you can’t help but be impressed by her soaring vocals; when she sang Who You Are, the dramatic pause that followed spoke volumes of her status as currently one of the most stunning female vocalists in the country.

Attractions

There was a beach on the site which was hilarious to visit and made a brief change from the mud on the site that you could barely avoid. I was also tempted to try out the funfair’s bungee jump – a stomach-churning ride that catapulted into the sky  – but as fun as it may have been, it’s something I can confidently say I’ll never do again (!).

Food

Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts in the hospitality area was incredible (I never knew summer fruit cake and bakewell tart ice cream could taste so good!). But as for the food stalls on site, shame on that £7 chicken  burrito I picked up for not being close to worthy and the greasy chips I bought afterwards to try and compensate for it. Not great.

The Crowd

To my surprise, there were alot of young families in attendance, as well as middle-aged adults and teenagers – so displays of excessive drunkeness were rare, making IoW one of the more respectable fests worth visiting if you like to keep it chilled.

Click here to check out our pictures from the festival…

This experience comes courtesy of Acer UK. Check out the Acer Intel U-Experience team on our journey and discover more about the challenges at: https://www.facebook.com/AcerUK/app_329103610497351

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Jeru’s distinct 90’s style earned him a position up there with the greats, including the late Gangstarr member Guru. His critically acclaimed album Wrath of the Math was a massive hit 15 years back (how old do i feel!) and now he’s recruiting some old and new flames to collaborate with on his yet unnamed new release (or at least he ain’t letting the cat out the bag just yet). Expect to hear the likes of Large Professor, JuJu of Beatnuts fame and Pete Rock in there somewhere – and maybe a make-up track for him and Premier?? We can only hope! The wordsmith has been too long in the shadows, so we think it’s high time we all had a good dose of gimmickless, raw, unadultered hip-hop. See you down there. (Words: Laura Thornley)

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On fusing African music and hip-hop

I feel like African music has always been here and it has always been present and it has just been filed under the world category for so long that it became kinda like the alternative music. But African Hip Hop is becoming as important as any other kind of music. More and more artists have become way more African-centred and they’re using African music as the basis now. People are saying, “listen man, I’ll (include) the balafon, I’ll bring a kora,” things that wouldn’t necessarily be in the hip hop context, but once you introduce it, it’s fresh and it’s new.

On the perception of Africa

I feel like Africa has a stereotypical view – and most of it is negative, very few people think about the positive and it is necessary that I don’t perpetuate the negative and its necessary that I present a new Africa, you know which has always been here but unfortunately the media doesn’t care about.

On the future of African MCs

I think we haven’t even started this, I fell like that there are thousands of MCs back home who are just waiting for the few of us that are kinda in the belly of the beast, to open doors. I feel like there is going to be a flood. I saw it happen with the reggaeton movement, it took a few people to open up and the flood gates opened up. – and I think that regardless whether you’re a fan of the genre or not, it is very important that everybody’s voice is heard.

On Native Sun

With this record I’m diggin much deeper, into where it all started for me.. I’m going back to Osibi, I’m going back to Fela, I’m going back to the Miriam Makeba, I’m going back to music where it all started for me, Also I’m rhyming a lot in my native language, which I didn’t do much on my last album (Stereotype), so this is something new for me and I think people are going to be blown away by the sound. My real goal for this album is to emigrate African music in Hip Hop and I feel like I’m finally at the place where I can represent for African music and Hip Hop Music.

The Doctor’s Orders Present Blitz The Ambassador with The Embassy Ensemble & The Stepkids (Stones Throw) at Cargo on August 3^rd (with support from DJ Spin Doctor & Charlie Dark). Tickets are £5 in advance (£8 on the door) but for more info, click here. 

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