Gifford Noel went by the name of DJ Trend in his early years, but also produced under the name TNT.
Not only did he make some fucking good Drum n Bass and Garage tunes, but he was also reponsible for several well known commercial projects and remixes - including Angels With Dirty Faces by the Sugababes. And he was a stalwart in the early years of east London's break out Grime/Garage scene, producing tracks for many of the Grime MCs who have gone on to hit the charts this year...
Over the weekend Twitter has been awash with RIP messages for him. I have no idea what happened, and no wish to know - it's none of my business.
All I know is that the music scene has lost another talented individual.
Of course, his memory will live on through the music he created.
My first Hip-Hop/Rap post. I don't listen to a lot of it at home, but out in the clubs I get down to my fair share - mostly commercial stuff, don't get me wrong though I know what's what.
The Clipse and The Neptunes made some sick music a few years back.
I was listening to Clement Marfo, an up-and-coming UK rapper, when I heard him over the Mr Me Too beat and remembered what a HEAVY tune it is.
Here's the original...
And Clement's version.
Then I got thinking about the Clipse album my flatmate had when I was at uni, mannn - they made some bad bad tunes.
Well, five nights out in a row will take their toll on anyone - man, woman or beast (I'm the former) - so as I write this I'm constantly sniffing and my head is pounding. Lovely stuff.
Still, it was worth - my last two nights were full of most of the music I love dancing to: Grime, Garage, Dubstep, House... ahhh, bliss. Well worth the ill feeling I have right now.
As my brain thumps away inside my skull, I'm soothing it with the sounds of Flying Lotus. Just received his latest album, Cosmogramma, today. It's a beauty, as I expected. Guy's got skills...
Flying Lotus - German Haircut
...In the same package I got Chromeo's new album.
Now, after having the sounds of Cosmogramma keeping my mind busy, and a little confused at times, the first few seconds of Business Casual grabbed me straight away. A woman saying "You're a hot mess" brought a massive smile to my face - I call myself a hot mess all the time, completely in jest of course. I'm nowhere near arrogant enough to think I'm actually hot.
Chromeo are brilliant, they were amazing at EXIT earlier this year - very entertaining, great party music, good lyrics. Faultless really.
At the time of writing I'm only 4 tracks into the album and I'm thoroughly enjoying every second. I have The Best Of The Bar Kays on CD, it's years old and skips constantly nowadays - but this Chromeo CD is like a perfect substitute.. it reminds of the Bar Kays a little... it's got that funk and a combination of party tunes with slower lover's songs.
The Bar Kays - Sexomatic
The Bar Kays - Anticipation
All bang up to date of course, but with a strong nod to the 70s and 80s.
UPDATE: I've come back to edit this and I still have the CD playing on repeat two hours after I first wrote this blog entry...
BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT!
Chromeo - Hot Mess (Live)
Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (Apparently this was featured in Step Up 3D... I only just found that out)
Oh, and I wrote about Devlin's new video at work today. Runaway debuted on NME.com over the weekend and it features the vocals of DJ Yasmin on the chorus.
What a brilliant video, I really genuinely like it and I think it has the potential to chart in a very high position. Fingers crossed it does.
I'm trying to champion as much GOOD UK music as I can, and this is definitely seriously good British music.
Not had much time to get on the blog this week, been majorly busy.
Last night was my fourth night out in a row this week (and I start work at 7am, so you can imagine I'm a little bit tired).
I went to Rinse FM's 16th birthday bash at Fabric, a club I haven't been to in almost 7 years. Crazy night, serious line up and everyone I saw represented fully. Plastician with P Money and Blacks, Boy Better Know, Heartless Crew, Skream & Benga and whoever was on in Room 2 at midnight (Funk Butcher I think)... all smashed the place to bits. Heavy.
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Anyway, this past week I've written articles on two really impressive up and coming UK musicians, Ed Sheeran and Random Impulse (who happen to good friends with each other too).
Check Random's latest refix/mash up of Chase & Status/Swedish House Mafia here and listen to the story... How this guy isn't signed in the UK yet is beyond me.
Really impressed with both of these two, nice guys and they're doing stuff that shows how a wide range of influences has been pouring into the younger generation of musicians in this country inspiring collaborations and a fusion of different genres that is working really well.
The UK really is a world leader when it comes to producing great music and creating genres. We have an unsurpassed depth of talent that understands a wide variety of different types of music and it's great to see that there is such a huge amount of support behind British artists from their respective followers.
My weekend has been completely dominated by music.
At home I've been banging old Grime on YouTube, downloading old sets and watching old videos. Reminiscing about a scene which is still going strong, but obviously (like all burgeoning genres) not always quite as raw and authentic as it used to be.
I've also had Skream and Benga's set from Rinse FM (broadcast August 25th) on repeat... some serious bangers on there and Example bringing nuff jokes with the crazy duo. Cannot wait to see them at Rinse's 16th Birthday this Friday.
Out and about, my good friend Jemston played a birthday set at one of my local bars, Black Cherry, and it was a blinder. Loads of top quality house, from afro beats to more melodic Masters At Work business and some serious classics... topped off with some Teddy Pendergrass and Tenor Saw. Whaaaaat!! Banging the walls business.
Ah, I don't ever want to get any older than I am now and I don't really ever wish my life away (unless I'm anticipating an exciting holiday or event of some sort, then I'm like "I just want this week/month to be done with").
But when I listen to music like this I really, really wish that I was born a decade earlier so I could have enjoyed these tunes when they were played for the first time - experiencing that authentic rave atmosphere.
Went to Kano's album launch down in Shepherd's Bush last night.
Decent night, big turnout, few faces from the scene in the place and a hell of a lot of fanboys. I'm not a huge Kano fan, but it was ok - a couple of tunes off the new LP definitely caught my attention.
However, personally speaking, I think his old friend Ghetts stole the show. G-to-the-H joined Kano on stage for Typical Me and totally overshadowed him. I think it shows how much Ghetto has advanced as an MC/performer that his presence was imposing - he had energy and charisma in abudance. Whereas Kano just lacked that spark.. maybe he should have stayed rooted in the Grime scene like Ghetts has?
I dunno.
Good show though and I hope Kano's Method To The Madness sells bucketloads, he obviously works hard and has put a lot into the new LP.
Have a listen to this to see what I mean... the good old days when Kano, Ghetto and the rest of Nasty Crew were killing it.
And listen to the track below, Ghetts 2010 still reppin Grime on a daily basis.
P Money, an MC who's become one of the Grime scene's top boys through hard graft, consistent radio appearances and a work ethic that has seen him push his levels up through the roof in recent times.
He's from blue borough as well, which makes me a little bit biased towards him. But fuck it. His freestyles speak for themselves.
