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Shouts to for the heads up (although what's with all the hate girl?) - the biggest dubstep anthem ever aka Benga & Coki's Night is getting a full release really soon via Tempa records. You know the record - I've been rinsing it for ages as has every other DJ worth his salt from across the genres: Gilles Peterson, Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens, Semtex, DJ Hype, Bailey, DJ Target, DJ Cameo, Logan Sama, DJ Q, Pete Tong - hell even Westwood has fallen for the charms of the sub base. It's done damage in clubs across the world and really deserves maximum mainstream respect. When you think how important this record is at the moment in club land - how many genres it crosses over and the potential it has on a mainstream level, I was expecting an award winning video...HOWEVER this is what we get:

Is it me or is this a seriously waste video? Can you do any better?

Big shouts to DJ Empress who passed through the studios to drop a HUGE D&B mix.

Tracklisting and more to come later but right now, here's the link to . Go check her out!!

And VOTE FOR HER: https://www.drumandbassawards.com/

Every week on my show I choose a record that is not just hot, it’s Jam Hot! Something that I think will be (or is) BIG and should be on your radar.

So far in 2008 the bar has been set by Jammer’s “It’s A Lot” – a record that has the potential to be as big as Lethal Bizzle’s Pow if Jammer handles his business correctly on it. DJ Cameo recently had the people behind the record (Jammer, Double O, C Gritz, Badness and Nikki Slim Ting) in to 1Xtra towers to PA the track on his show. Check the YouTube footage here.

This week, I had to go with an absolute stormer! By far, one of the best Drum and Bass records I’ve heard in a while – Danny Byrd’s ‘Shockout’ has been given the privilege of being this week’s Jam Hot.

From the Hospital Records stable (the people that consistently bring D&B heat from the likes of High Contrast, London Elektricity and Nu:Tone) ‘Shockout’ is everything that Jungle used to be with some elements of what keeps Drum and Bass fresh today. As the press release says:

All the elements are here – tinkling pianos, pitched up vocals – and mighty West Country bass sounds – but it’s the incredible rhythm track is courtesy of Danny’s akai S5000 dexterity which makes this track a killer. This breakbeat wizardry is a labour of love – not the result of some plug-ins and computer trickery
 and you can hear it in the results

You can hear a little snippet here:

But if you want to hear the entire record, check out my show every day this week from 7-10pm, go cop it on 4th Feb when it’s released and check Danny on myspace here.

In December, during a stage show, GZA/Genius from WuTang Clan launched into a near on 5 minute rant about the state of HipHop. Various things were said and directed mainly at 50 Cent & Soulja Boy, many of them involving the F word. Of course, the camera phones were out and the video was rushed up onto YouTube. If you would actually like to see the video, click the following bold text but please be aware that

Now you know 50 Cent was gonna go back at GZA, and he did so on Whoo Kid's radio show just before the new year. No real darts were fired, 50 just did his usual 50 - I've got more money than you, you're old blah blah blah although he was quite funny with it. If you want to hear what went down, click the following bold text but please be aware that (aka I don't want anyone complaining!)

I didn't expect Soulja Boy to say anything because let's be honest - Soulja boy can rap about as well as my right big toe. Don't get it twisted, I actually do rate him for the Crank That dance phenomenon and the success it's brought him, but the last thing he needs is a lyrical beef with a seasoned veteran rapper. In a very recent interview with the , 17 year old DeAndre had this to say:

I wouldn’t even rap against the Genius. I’d put up someone who was born in ’66 to go against the Genius so it can be a tie. He’s got like 50 years on me. I wouldn’t even associate with the Genius. [In the video] he was looking like I stole his money or something. He’s in Alaska. He’s cold. I just heard 50 Cent talking about the Genius saying he had an Impala his age. Well, that’s the Genius for you. [Laughs.] He has no choice. He got famous for five little minutes, but he had to sacrifice a relationship with Soulja Boy. Now it’s gone. I ain’t gonna be like “F the GZA” ‘cause I ain’t never met that dude. But he says, “F Soulja Boy” ‘cause he needed a buzz. Now he’s back in Alaska

Now, I love me some Wu Tang and while GZA has never been my favourite (whuddup Ghost) Liquid Swords was a classic album and there's no denying the Wu's inflluence on HipHop and popular culture but this just feels like a case of a now not so relevant rapper being very bitter about the success current rappers are having. I honestly don't think that Soulja Boy doing the numbers he's doing is doing anything to harm HipHop. When I was little, MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice helped get me hooked onto HipHop and surely SB is the same thing for the current generation of 5 year olds?

On the other hand, if you're claiming to represent HipHop, certain people deserve some respect - people that helped pave the way to allow someone like Soulja Boy to be so successful - GZA and the Wu being one of them. We know 50 Cent don't give a flying about anyone but should Soulja Boy have a coke and a smile and shut the yahhh up - especially when he's also claiming to be ?

What do you think?

It's been floating around for a good long while now but H "Two" O feat Platnum's bassline anthem "What's It Gonna Be" is finally gonna get an official release. Ministry of Sound have signed it and will be putting it out there very soon. Here's the St Trinians inspired video:

Now it has been bubbling around the bassline scene for ages and definitely has the ingredients to be the second big bassline/niche/4x4/whatchacallit crossover anthem just like that T2 record but do you think it will be?

We all know that Wyclef is a world renowned producer and business man that is 'bout that paper' but I didn't realise exactly how 'bout that paper' he really is. Seems that in a recent interview with Swedish media outlet The Voice TV 'Clef felt the need to air out Michael Jackson and his shoddy business practices:

Fast forward to about 5 minutes in to hear the revelations.

Now, the fact that Michael Jackson as Northern Rock isn't new news, but I'm not too sure what I make of 'Clef doing this. Is Wyclef a little salty that MJ didn't holla at him to work on the Thriller 25 remixes that Kanye, Akon and Will.I.Am have been working on or is a swedish TV interview the best place to try and get some money back that someone owes you??

Now, in case you were'nt listening to the show on Friday (if not, why not?) for the rest of this week, I'm off the radio show. It's not a holiday, I'm currently in Manchester working on week 1 of a special project that I'll let you know all about in the coming weeks so keep it locked!

During this week, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday the one and only DJ Target will be looking after you with the Rasta man Ras Kwame taking care of proceedings on Wednesday. Make sure you check them out - I've cut them all a temporary key to the underground to share with you!!

The reason for this post is to let you know that I'll still be blogging even if I'm not on air this week - hold tight for a very interesting post later today involving an absolute legend vs a not so absolute legend but a potential future legend... just watch out for it!!

Random thoughts:
- Does it always rain in Manchester? I'm yet to come here and it not be raining!
- My birthday weekend was pretty sick. Shouts to the family for making it what it was and big braps to my 1Xtra familia for the present.
- Gwan Ace! Mans not only living it up working hard in Ghana for 1Xtra's African Cup of Nations coverage but looks like my former big boned brother has been hitting the gym. Inspired by this, I think 2008 is the year that the Overweight Champion becomes the slightly smaller Overweight Champion!

Before the official UK charts are published and revealed on Radio 1's chart show (), a pre-chart indicator is published (called the midweek chart) that just bascially gives you a picture of where records could end up in the final chart and according to this, Mr Lupe Fiasco's single Superstar is set to be wihtin the top 5 of this week's official top ten. If this happens, there's no doubt its a good look, especially for Lupe fans and those people who like HipHop a little more organic and lyrical. UK - don't forget who put you up on the Fiasco Phenomenon...

I caught up with Lupe when we were over in New York before Christmas where he revealed that the supergroup he's part of Child Rebel Soldier (with Pharrell and Kanye) were gonna be releasing either an EP or Album before the end of 08 (CUE THE VIDEO...!!)

Before he kick pushed off into the sunset, DJ Semtex sat down with him and got him to break down his album 'The Cool'. Listen again before this friday by clicking here.

**UPDATE - Seems that Lupe made it to #4 in the National charts - a damn good result!!**

28 MILLION!!!!!!

YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!

“Rising star JosĂ© James is defining a new direction in contemporary music, combining urban blues, hip-hop, soul, drum + bass, and straight-ahead to produce a sound that is fresh as tomorrow yet deeply rooted in the tradition of jazz.”

That’s what the biog says about the guy I tip to make jazz your new favourite thing in 2008 - Jose James. Girls you’re gonna want to be with him (Producer Kasey says so!) Guys you’re gonna want to
.. I dunno! Anyway, Jose James is the latest signing to Gilles Peterson’s (of Radio 1 fame) own Brownswood label. He’s all about sassy, sexy, jazzy crooning and it’s a little bit nice you can hear it for yourself on his debut album ‘The Dreamer’ which drops on the 24th.

Not to be confused with José James the guy from Brazil who specialises in world music, this Jose is a vocalist straight out of New York and is good mates with Ben Westbeach!

I got Jose in the world famous Maida Vale studios where he dropped a tidy session for me. I’ll be playing tracks from that session all this week – make sure you lock in to show to hear what all the excitements about – open your ears to something a little different – you never know you might LOVE it.

Check his and and check the show every weeknight from 7pm!

I've been beat jacked!! Again!! For those not au fait with Hip Hop vernacular, someone may have 'appropriated' a beat I made!

Back in the days, I made some beats and did some songs (I won't go as far as to say I was a producer, but I may go back to it in the future - anyway, I digress). One of the songs I did was with Wu Tang affiliate and all round nice emcee Shabazz The Disciple called "Red Hook Day". It was released in the US on an independent record label in 2003 but never got released over here. It got quite a lot of love in the US - lots of radio spins, backing from some of the big names in Hip Hop such as DJ Premier, Funk Flex etc... #3 in boombap.com's top 10 tracks of 2003, licensed to a load of compilations/TV shows/films etc... If it had the right label behind it, it would have been a lot bigger.

Check it

First, Mark Ronson used the same sample but flipped it differently for "Tell A Story" on Rhymefest's album.

Didn't really mind that because he worked the sample differently and hey, at the end of the day, it's a sample. BUT there's a new Lil Wayne track doing the internet rounds called "La La La" that is supposed to be from his forthcoming album where the producer has straight jacked my beat! Very similar sample chops, very similar bass line, very similar drum pattern...

Listen to it here

Compare it to 'Red Hook Day' so...should I be chasing Weezy for a cheque? Or should I be sending him my beat CD from 2003?

**2008 UPDATE - It seems like this is definitely making Carter 3. I still haven't really acted on it yet, should I?**

I really love the fact that the terrestrial TV channels in the UK have heard our cries and all now offer a chance for you to watch any shows you missed online. ±«Óătv have got their iPlayer, ITV have got and Channel 4 have got . Why am I telling you this? Well, thanks to 4oD, I have just watched last night's Big Brother Celebrity Hijack and I'm really worried for our Nathan.

In case you haven't seen it yet, it's basically a new take on the Big Brother format - rather than Big Brother being a faceless Channel 4 TV production member, they have got a different celebrity to take the role of Big Brother each day (or week, I'm not too sure!). The housemates aren't people that have sent in cheesy embarrasing demo tapes, they're a selection of 'gifted and talented' young people that Channel 4 have found and auditioned.

The celebrities who will be Big Brother have total control of the house - they can change the rules, make the housemates do whatever they wish...and that's where my fears come in. Last night, Matt Lucas (he the bald fat one from Little Brother) was the celebrity in charge and he made one housemate make a complete and utter fool of himself while he was meeting his other housemates for the first time. Matt gave the housemate John an earpiece which let Matt dictate exactly what John should do and say to his new housemates. If John was successful, he would win an instant pass to the final and a party for the house. If he failed, he would be instantly up for eviction every time there is a public vote. A few choice tasks included telling the dancer he just met that she was a disgrace to the dancing field; asking the fashion designer in the house who is blatantly 5 sizes smaller than him if he can try his shirt on and also randomly saying 'cake' to housemates. Nice first impressions eh? This could be completely credibility destroying for young Nathan. Here's hoping he comes out unscathed.

Big shouts to Calista though for giving 1Xtra a mention...

, yes that Nathan, is one of the housemates in Big Brother's Celebrity Hijack show. I really am speechless! As to why he's done it, I can understand him wanting to take his music to a wider audience, but will it actually work or will it end in tears?

Damn. Got a reason to keep posted on this show now, I was planning to completely bypass it...

***UPDATE - Dev has hijacked Ace & Vis' blog and has put up his interview with Thad from Nathan's record company shedding some light on why Nathan has done it.**

Normal blog service will resume soon (and the missing New York show post will be coming soon too!) but wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of the blog readers and commentators and of course the 1Xtra Listeners for your support in '07. Hope you had a great holiday season and see you soon in '08

MistaJam