EARLY BIRD SOLUTIONS

From everyone @ Yo-EBS

My second favourite Czech DJ is Tvyks..He’s the force behind my favourite night in Prague (Plastique)…When he’s not behind the turntables, he’s blogging..when he’s not behind the turntables or blogging, he’s on his Radio 1 show..when he’s not behind the turntables or blogging or on his radio 1 show..he’s making mixes..

His latest Mix (Vibrator 11) includes the C..Monts X Chanty Poe S Express remix of Weekend Cruise that we told you about last week…

Vibrator 11 Tracklisting

Röyksopp - Happy Birthday /white/
Canty Poe feat. C. Monts - Weekend Cruise (Mark Moore S’Express remix)
Bomb The Bass - Megablast (Spenza remix)
Maurice - American Girls
Crookers feat. Bucketheads - Love To Edit (Cryptonites Edit)
A1 Bassline - Bad Man Horror Theme (Mustard Pimp remix) /white/
Fukkk Offf - Rave Is King (Nhan & Taan’s Electro Boogie remix) /coco machete/
The Bloody Beetroots - Cornelius (Radio Oi!) /dim mak/
Sharooz - Get Off (Milse Dyson remix) /plasmapool/
Tyken feat ADL - Let It Rain (Trevor Loveys remix) /trunkfunk/
Beni - My Love Sees You (In Flagranti remix) /kitsune/
Curses! feat. Nancy & Juan Maclean - The Deep End (Holy Ghost! Day School dub) /institubes/
Sigur Ros - Saeglopur (My!Gay!Husband! In The Club Edit)
Yo Majesty - Club Action (Sunship clean edit) /domino/
South Central - Higher State Of Consciousness /white/
Diplo - Reload It /mad decent/
Hollywood Holt - Hollywood (Sammy Bananas remix)
Black Peter Group - It’s Fucked Up (The Humpday Project remix) /gulp/
Digital Primate - I Ain’t Wid It (Acid Jacks remix) /palm out sounds/
Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me (Aston Shuffle Mix - Kissy Klub Version) /xl/
Dolby Anol - Dolby & Gabana (Cuz We Are Dolby Anol)
Goshi Goshi - The Lock Shot /mofo hifi/
Pette Vaydex - My Orange Vacuum Cleaner /potty mouth/
Tonka - Website (Malente Re-Edit) /alphabet city/
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (WZRDZ remix) /white/
Meterhead - Biggie Dance /white/
X-Press 2 - London Xpress (Idiotproof remix) /skint/
Pnau - With You Forever (Dirty South remix) /kitsune/
Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas (Anoraaks Christmas remix) /white/

 Download the Mix HERE & HERE

Melanin 9 X EBS X Bbarak Magazine (Czech republic)

Title: Higher Learning

Questions: C.Monts

 In all honesty I hadn’t heard much about Melanin 9. I was aware of his London based crew, “Triple Darkness”. But I had never really heard any of their music..never really read any reviews or seen them at shows. When a friend Charlee pointed me in the direction of Melanin’s Myspace, I was truly blown away by the quality of his material. Not your average MC, he speaks on serious subjects, religious based teaching & ethics laid on 90’s boom bap beats..hear what the West London native had to say..   

 C.Monts: Where are you from & what’s day to day life there?

Melanin 9: Im originally from Bush, West London, but now staying in North London. Things have changed in my native area, a lot of my friends are in jail and a few passed away, Im grateful for my day to day experiences both positive and negative.

C.Monts: How long have you been rhyming?

M9:I’ve been rhyming for nearly ten years now.

C.Monts: Melanin 9 isn’t your average name. Where does it come from?

M9: The melanin represents the element contained in the pigment of my skin which makes me the color I am and the 9 is the number that represents the highest universal number in mathematical terminologies, the combination of the two is what I feel represents me in hip hop.

 C.Monts: You have just dropped your second album 144,000, how has it been received?

 M9: It’s had very intriguing reviews, received very well, im very humbled and grateful that people still understand where im coming from considering its not all I have to offer.

C.M:What collab’s are on the album?  Which producers?

M9: I got my team Triple Darkness members Cyrus Malachi & Nasheron, Young Rootz, Phoenix Da Icefire, Yasine, Jehst and Bronze Nazareth. With production from Chemo, Beat Butcha, Anatomy & Jon Phonics.

CM: The album artwork is pretty dark, who did it? Talk us through it…

M9: Just a friend I know from around the way, I told him what I was looking for and he laid it down. The burning people, the glowing globe in the sky? Its just an illustration of the chaos that embraces the world on a daily basis eg, famine, war & pestilence  from England to iraq. It was as almost as if I wanted to hand the globe a mirror to take a look at itself to put it plainly.

C.M: The number 144,000 has strong biblical refference’s. What does the number mean to you?

M9: Yeah it’s spoken of in Revelations 14:1 (The last book of The Bible). The whole chapter came to me more as a metaphor than reality, I mean theres no solid proof of these occurrences happening in the future but I will not disregard in total. I was really intrigued by the concept and thought I’ll get more information about it & what I found led me on to this new project.

C.M: What part do you think relgion plays in Hip Hop?

M9: I think every aspect & concept on life’s experiences and principles exists in hip hop. An emcee has the power to talk about anything and make it sound like something to listen to, if it includes religion then so be it. Hip Hop is one of the best ways to spread a message whatever the agenda.

CM: Your logo is a flying dung bettle..what made you chose this image? Explain the significance.

M9: The scarab represents the consolidation of Me Cyrus and Nasheron as Triple Darkness, in ancient Egypt that symbol represents the sun known as “La Keprha”. Just as the sun is a combination of gases as to is my team are individual entities combining as one force.

CM: Tell us about your crew, Triple Darkness, who’s in it? what releases are due ect ect?

M9: The Team consists of Melanin 9, Cyrus Malachi & Nasheron, we currently have an album out right now called “Anathema”

CM: Are you currently signed to a label? If so, which one, If not, is it a conscious decision?

M9: Im not currently signed or obligated to be under any form of label. I don’t believe in putting my work in the hands of someone else, if anything goes wrong then I’ll have to blame the person who’s responsible. If I work alone then I’ll know exactly what im networking for, I believe no can be more passionate than the person making the music, if anything goes wrong then I’ll only have my self to blame.

 CM: I saw your video, Strange Fruit (See You tube Video bellow) it paints a pretty negitive image of inner city life without offering any answers, don’t you feel this is a form of scarmongering/self discrimintation? 

 M9: I just wanted to be blunt on the issues we’re facing here, especially for the black youth. Mainly all the issues I cover in that song, lie more intimately in the black race. The main purpose for that song was for self realization, I never made it to impose no hope for the future, I  made it to show those who are conscious of knowing they control on their own fate can change their outcomes.

CM: What do you think about the mass media’s view of young black Hip Hop artists in the UK?

M9: I think the view of black artists in the UK is very gimmicky & ignorant. Nowadays it seems what makes an artist is who he has in corner and his budget, it’s almost as if artists buy their way into being seen as the genius, that’s not an artist and that’s certainly not hip hop.

CM: Don’t you think that your shortend name (M9) adds to the sterotype that has already been built up for young black Hip Hop artists, living in the inner city?

M9: It can if it’s taken in the wrong way, but if they take time to dig deeper they’ll realize the meaning behind the acronym. Which is the reason why im now putting my full name on things and dropping the nick name. I Never called myself Melanin 9 to be seen as a reference to a gun when its shortened, that would totally go against what I stand for.

 CM: How do you feel about the use of the word ‘Nigger’ in Hip Hop music?

M9: Hip hop is a culture and the word nigger lives in the culture, its seen in a different way in comparison as to how it was received to us. I think the term is now being used too lightly between different races, which shows me that the strength to uphold the respect for hip hop in  the black culture is being heavily violated. Its not a word I’ll be consciously using in my lyrics but I don’t really have a major problem with it.

CM: Who did you grow up listening to?

M9: I grew up listening to Nas, Mobb Deep, Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang, Onyx, CNN, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Black Moon, Redman, Def squad and a whole load of other emcees in that golden era.

 CM: Who are you currently listening to?

M9: Ive been listening to lot of old stuff, like; Godfather Don, MF Grimm, One Be Lo, Trigger Tha Gambler, Natural Elements. The old times in hip hop is all I have left.

CM: What are you reading at the moment?                     

M9: Im currently in and out of the book science of breath, last book I read was hip hop decoded by black dot.

 CM: Any shouts/plugs

M9: My new seed Amira, family, my team Triple Darkness, d21, Germz, Jon Phonics, Supreme Sona and all the supporters.

 Melanin 9’s album; “144,000″ is available from his myspace page..It’s pure fire!

C.Monts

I have had the nangest of Mac issues of late..which has resulted in a severe lack of blogging…don’t sweat the technique..Things are almost back to normal…

Super producer Jonny Simps is currently in India, teaching teenagers a combination of UK street slang (whaaa’yousaaying fam/ Waaah’gwan blood ect ect) & the Queens English (Good Morning maarm/ More tea vicar ect ect)..He took time out and mailed us some flicks of his new manor, Pune. Jonny wittily named each photo with a Hip Hop related title..Nice touch Jon-Jon. 

Slum Village..

Rolling on 20’s (Rims..)

Cutting it up…

Crate digger..

Mean muggin’

Beach please…

Take em to churrrch…

And this one had no witty title (points deducted)

Jonny has produced a couple of tracks on the recently released Brotherman double EP: The Light & Dark EP (Silent Soundz). The EP is getting supey-dudey rave reviews..So don’t be the only one out the loop..cop it from Silent Soundz NOW!!

MORE FIRE!!

Weekend Cruise is collaboration with the the cool kids that are Punx Soundcheck/Chanty Poe. they have just dropped thier album YEAHH. C.Monts is on it amongst others..The track featuring Monts is called Weekend Cruise and it’s a banger!!. You can buy your copy here. 

There’s also a Mark Moore, Kinky Roland & S Express remix, which is nice!!! The album is getting great reviews online…you can listen to snippets HERE

Girls on a weekend cruise…..

THE ROCKETEERS X BBARAK MAGAZINE INTERVIEW (CZECH REPUBLIC)
QUESTIONS: C.MONTS
TITLE: ABOVE THE CLOUDS   

The Rocketeers are a hip-hop duo Darius “D-Win” Windfield on the mic (from Indianapolis, IN) and Lance “Johnny Rocket” Howard (Chicago, IL). They are sill relitivley unknown on the well trodden Hip Hop circuit, with only 3 singles behind them; The infectious; “Saved By The Bell“, “Stupid Fresh”‘ & “Blue Clouds, White Skies“. Those three single alone managed to get the guys a MTVU Best Music on Campus Award nomination, Not to mention the support from best U.S blogs and websites. I managed to grab a few moments with the soon to be high flyers.   

C.Monts: Who came up with the name Rocketeers? 

JOHNNY ROCKET: Actually the name came from me just playing with the last part of my name. 

D-WIN: I use to go on Rockets Myspace page and it would say “Johnny Rocket & The Rocketeers” I originally thought he was part of a crew.

C.M: Where are you based? What ’s the scene like there? 

DW: I’m from Indianapolis, Indiana born and raised. We are based out of Chicago, the scene is amazing. Everyone here is hustling, and talented. Chicago has a good culture, living here has rubbed off on me in a good way.

JR: Chicago is pretty fashionable and somewhat different music wise.

C.M: How did you meet? 

DW: We met randomly on a bus. I over heard him (Rocket) having a conversation with his sister about music. I happened to be sitting beside him, and we exchanged numbers ands from there we formed The Rocketeers.

JT: Crazy Right?!

C.M: How would you describe The Rocketeers musical style? 

DW: Our music style is sonically pleasing.

JR: It’s mixed with alot of things from hip hop, r&b to alternative & pop all mixed in with weird.

C.M: How long have you been making music together? 

DW: Less than a year, that’s the scary part about it.haha

C.M: Are all the beats handled by Jonny? or do you both produce? 

JR: Yeah I produce most of the beats. but we do get production also from my other to production partners big marcus and tron.

DW: No beat making for me jus yet but I will eventually learn the Jazz Flute .haha(Im watching Anchorman!!) 

C.M: What equipment do you use to produce? 

JR: Reason, Flstudio and a  midi controller. I play around with the keys as well.

C.M: You have been pigeon-holed as hipster rap.. how do you feel about the label?
DW: I don’t really care about a category; it doesn’t bother me at all. I fell like people make up there own definitions of what a hipster is, and people think that if u wear fitted clothes, scarves, stylish shoes that makes you a hipster. But in my eyes that doesn’t make you a hipster at all.

JR: I don’t think we have a category, we fit all of them, we’re everything in one.

C.M: Who have you grown up listening to? 

DW & JR: 2pac, Jackson 5, Biggie, Jay-Z, Tribe Called Quest, Outkast, Goodie Mob, UGK, N*E*R*D* , Kanye West,  Mos Def, Andre 3000, Zero 7, Nas, Slum Village, N sync, Usher,  Justin Timberlake, Ma$e, the list goes on.

C.M: Neither of your are currently signed, are you actively looking for a deal? 

DW: We’re not signed; we’re doing everything independently. Our managers are working hard on making that happen for us.  The blogs and the party scene have helped us build a nice following as well.

C.M: Your currently working on Blue Clouds, White Skies EP, are there any guest spots?
DW: Yes Ben, Nikki Noel, and we’re in the works of getting some other artist involved, but I don’t want to say any other names yet.

C.M: What date can we expect it?
JR: If all is well we plan to drop in January or February.

C.M: What about the Illroots collaboration (Stylish Shoes, Coloured Jeans). When is that due to drop? Will it be a free download? 

DW: There’s no set date but we are working on it as we speak, Dj Ozone is going to host it with them, and it will be free for download at www.bbarak.cz & www.yo-ebs.com.

C.M: Do you download music?
DW: Yes I do sometimes if I’m really thirsty to hear something I will, but I buy albums that I respect.

JR:  Yep but Just from the blogs.

C.M: How do you feel about people downloading your music illegally?

DW: I can’t blame them because I would do the same thing, but as long as people hear the music that all that matters. But the real fans will buy our music.

JR: We work just as hard on our Live Show as we do the music.The shows should make up for a portion of the funds we loss to illegal downloads. 

C.M: What are you currently listening to?

DW: We are roommates so we practically share all of our music. What’s on our playlist now umm.. N*E*R*D, Robin Thicke “Something Else”, John Legend “Evolver”, Kanye West “808s & Heartbreak”, Outkast, Amy Whinehouse “Frank”, GLC, Lupe Fiasco, Coldplay,  Max B, The Clispe… jus to mention a few.
Which artists would like to collab with?
DW: Gemstones, GLC, Big Sean, Drake, Janelle Monae, Kid Cudi, Devin The Dude, Gnarles Barkley, Andre 3000, Pharrell, Kanye West, Ryan Leslie, Estelle, Jay-Z, John Legend, T-Pain,

JR: Oh and Musiq, Charles Hamilton and the Jackson 5

C.M: Tell me about Rocketeer Music label? Who owns it? 

DW: Actually there isn’t A Rocketeers music as of yet, but we are currently down with Payola Inc. They’re our management and marketing team. They’ve been really instrumental in branding us and helping us find a deal.

C.M: Are there plans to sign/release other artists?
JR: Yes we have two artists right now that we are working close with, Ben & Nikki Noel. Check for them “Blue Clouds, White Sky’s” 

DW: Yeah they’re R&B dope!!!

C.M: You talk alot about fashion in your music? What are the spots you hit to pick up some freshness? DW: Solemates..Chicago, Leaders1354, St.Alfred, Got Sole, Akira Chicago, Born With Soul, Self Conscious… the list goes on. Our Fashion scene is arguably the best in the U.S right now.

Are there any plans to drop some Rocketeers garments? 

DW: We do plan to do some collaboration tees with, Fussya and Wildleek.

JR:  Were starting our own line pretty soon thats gonna be dope!!!!

C.M: Which clothing labels are you feeling at the moment? 

DW: Ends/Wealth Corp., Cheap Moday, Public School, Brooklyn Circus, Wesc, Free Gold Watch, Ralph Lauren, Tisa, PHLI,  Enstrumental, Fussya, Fall of Rome, Wildleek, Winfield Caps.
JR: Right now I’m really vibing with Fussya, Iridium, Ends Weath, Play Cloths, BBC , Brooklyn Circus.

Are you linked/endorsing any at the moment? 

JR: We got love for all of them but we don’t have anything exclusive on the table. Fussya, Iridium and Ends Wealth show much love.

C.M: You were nominated for a MTVU Best Music on Campus, how did the nomination come about?

DW: Basically, I just went on mtvu.com (It’s like MTV’s version of Myspace.com) and created a Rocketeers profile page. I had forgotten all about it, I upload one picture and one song. They called me like two weeks later. They asked if they could use stupid fresh for a new reality show they were doing called MTV Engine Room. That’s where it began. After that everyone that had a profile on MTVU could have people vote for them to win the Woodie Award. So we made it to top 25, then we made it to top 5, and then we were officially nominated.

C.M: Sweet!! You’re currently in school right? What are you studying? And how do find the balance between music production/performances & schooling? 

DW: Yes I’m attending The Illinois of Art-Chicago and I’m majoring in fashion design. It’s really hard to balance music, school, working, and having a personal life. I gotta management my time properly. It’s really hard because I want to do music full time and just drop out (in true Chicago Spirit lol), but I’m almost done so I will definitely get my degree. 

JR: Man I work at STARBUCKS

Are there any heads that our readers should check for?

DW: Yes there re so many artist: Ben, Nikki Noel, Gemstones, Fire Arms The Arsonist, Son Of Thought, Radamez (Concrete Beats), Alpha, Drake, Dave Coresh, Nick Jr, He Say She Say, B.Hollywood, Black Spade, U-N-I, Pacific Division, Embassy Music, Substance (Dat Bizness & Ill Gordon)

JR:  Mic Terror, Bullet, Hollywood Holt, Ben, Tek, Mac Mills & L.C.

Where do you see The Rocketeers in 5 years time? 

DW: Definitely with a family, Doing a tour similar to “Glow in the Dark”,  Lauching my clothing/sneaker boutique, riding in a Delorean,  5 platinum albums, 6 Grammys, Me making a song on a thriller level, being a better vocalist.

JR:  Hopefully winning a fourth Grammy and touring.

C.M: Was AC Slater gay?

DW: Naw I didn’t think he was, but it was funny how he was always blocking Zach from getting girls.

JR: lol..Na, he was just ( I hate to say this word but) swagless
Kelly, Lisa or Jessy?
JR: Lisa was the dopiest!

DW: Lisa is a DIME but wasn’t Kelly a striper??Tuff choice.lol

What colour should denim never be?
DW: Guys should never rock Purple, Yellow, or Pink denim PERIOD.

JR: Purple, most definitely

When was the last time you wanted to punch someone in the face?
DW: When I found out we lost the mtvU Woodie Awards

JR: Me and You both D
The Rocketeers VS The Cool Kids, who’d win in a fist fight?
DW: Haha man that’s a good match up, but we wouldn’t lose to any group but the Wu Tang Clan, shot out to Mike and Chuck.

JR: They don’t want it with us..lol
Any shouts/plugs??

DW: My Family & Friends, My Payola Inc Fam (Pedda Pan & Merk ), Solemates…Chicago, Dj Ozone, Dj Moondog, UIC Radio (Tessa & B.Real), Got Sole, Winfield Caps, Rich Reflections, Mike Waxx & illroots.com,FakeShoreDrive.com, RubyHornet.com, Allhiphop.com,  and thanks to the kids who listens to our music and support it! Monts @ Bbarak Magazine thanks for reaching out!

JR: Shouts to the family my girl, my friends and fans and to you.

I advise you to check out The Rocketeers Myspace..Their music is extremely refreshing to the ear! Many thanks to Merk @ Payola for making the interview happen..Keep your eyes open for The Rocketeers: Blues Clouds/White Skies project coming soon.

www.myspace.com/therocketeersbaby

DJ Wich is probabliy the best producer in the Czech Republic..His beats are polished, giving the vocalist a really 90’s feeling beat to work with…He was the porducer behind The Regime’s Change The Channel track a few years back..which is still one of my all time favourite Hip Hop beats. Wich has worked with pretty much all the heavy hitters in the Czech scene.

Now it’s time for his solo project…it’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here…check  the line up: Lil Wayne, Nas, Mobb Deep, Raekwon, Slum Village and many more…

 Here he is on the cover of this months Bbarak Magazine

The album artwork is pretty gnarly I think you’ll agree!!

Monday Wich is having a midd afternoon launch party..I aim to be there so should you if your in town…

Launch location: Queens 3pm-5pm

All the best to Wich & the Skoop team..Looking fwd to hearing the LP…

The legendary Praha Hip Hop Party is on 2nite at the roxy…

live: Vladimir 518 – „Gorila vs Architekt“ (projekce, laser, special light design)
live: Hugo Toxxx – „Rok psa“
live: Orion & James Cole (exklusivní ochutnávka společné desky)
djs: Enemy & Mike Trafik ve společném setu
200czk.
Start 20:30

Props to Vladimir 518. YUSH!

We have been reporting on the Lockdown night since day dot..now the guys are making major moves in the city..Youtube vids n everything you know!!

You’d do well to make it down to these rave’s, before they become a national institution! We should also mention our boy Teenwolf holding it down in Dam at the moment…fingers in pies and all that..check his photo blog for glimpse of the Dam day to day Life. Keep up the good work son..your killing it!!