Tuesday 10 December 2013

Best of Boro.

Moving forward we want to bring you more musical content than just album reviews. Once a month we will be bringing you a little taste of what the Peterborough music scene has to offer. This month has seen the release of two EPs I have personally been looking forward to, from two of Peterborough's hardest working producers.

First up....


Overnites - Klimeks. For those familiar with his work will know to expect the highest level of production and he doesn't disappoint. 2013 has already seen the beat machine drop the "Nibbles" Ep and the"Glares" Ep and now to close the year with a bang we have Overnites. The Ep has five tracks including the long awaited "Tokyo Train". Each track has his signature wavy stamp and if that's not enough he has also posted an amazing remix of Wiley - Born in the Cold. Having worked with many of the talented MCs that Peterborough has to offer and Blizzard from Don't Flop you can expect 2014 to be a wavy one if Klimeks has any thing to say about it. Overnites available now on Bandcamp.

http://music.klimeks.co.uk/album/overnites
https://soundcloud.com/klimeks/wiley-born-in-the-cold-klimeks-remix
https://www.facebook.com/klimeks
https://twitter.com/klimeks @klimeks

Next up we have the third and final instalment from our local production legend Juxta.


Juxtafied volume 3 is a perfect example of someone that has found their sound and mastered it. Volume 3 is a bit more grimey than the first two releases and continues to showcase Juxtas ability to merge genres perfectly with hints of Trap, Grime, Hip Hop and more. From the crisp drums of "Wind Up" to the sub heavy "Martian" this one is set to keep you head nodding right into 2014. Volume 2 and 3 are still up on his Bandcamp page and are well worth a download along with the final piece of the trilogy.

http://juxta.bandcamp.com/album/juxtafied-vol-3
https://www.facebook.com/JuxtaProducer
https://twitter.com/juxtaproducer @JuxtaProducer

And finally...


For those that know, you already have this. Tha Free(ep) 2 by Omen D has been getting regular plays on the Locality show since its release late October. Omen displays amazing lyrical ability on the six track Ep firmly establishing himself as one of the best that Peterborough has to offer. Personal favourites are "C.R.E.A.M" and the lyrically deep "Hard Times" giving you an insight to Omens political frustrations of our government and money. Omen is on top form throughout every track and we look forward to hearing more from the Boro Badman.

Download link - http://www.speedyshare.com/XmrET/OMEN-D-THA-FREE.P-2-31-10-2013.zip
https://twitter.com/OMEN_D @OMEN_D



Some videos to check out.

Xidus Pain is a name familiar to any one from Peterborough that has a taste for REAL HIP HOP. This video, "One of the Flyest" was directed by Carl Peck and gives us our first taste of the yet to be released album "Project X". The video has a great super hero theme and solidifies Xidus Pain as One of the Flyest!


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Xidus-Pain/140435457689
https://twitter.com/XidusPain @XidusPain

And finaly, the TWBEATZ crew have been making some serious noise throughout 2013 as a collective. As the year comes to a close we are now waiting on solo projects from the crew. Here are some promo videos from the projects that are set to blow up in 2014.

Koxe-Conforming to the Devil promo freestyle.


Jay R Freestyle. Time is my Enemy promo.


Gav D - Just another Day promo freestyle.


These guys are defiantly one to watch next year. Subscribe to their You tube channel to keep up to date with TwBeatz music.  


Make sure you support the artists featured by downloading tracks, following on Twitter, liking on Facebook and rate/comment on videos. Expect big things from all these guys in 2014.

For more info and music from Peterborough artists check out the Locality Show page.
Listen to the Locality Show every other Wednesday on Peterborough FM.
And most of all just show your love for Local Music!


Double ES


Tuesday 26 November 2013

Ramson Badbonez - A Year In The Life Of Oscar The Slouch



Ramson BadBonez, the latest addition to the High Focus label was first discovered at the young age of 14 by the biggest entity on the Uk scene at the time Task Force. After featuring on a few of the "Music From The Corner" releases and projects from Jehst, Verb T, Mud Fam and many more UK artists, he eventually teamed up with producer Harry Love to bring us "The Official Mixtape Vol 1" which quickly got him noticed through out the UK hip hop industry as one of the fiercest Mc's around. After a few more years of pumping out highly rated mix tapes he dropped his debut album featuring production from Harry Love, 184, Farma G, Dr. Zygote and Jazz T.


Fast forward to 2014 and he has now teamed up with producer Charlie Mac (you may have heard some of his earlier work from his Instrumentals Vol 1 - 3) and High Focus records to release "A year in the life of Oscar the Slouch"

The album has 14 tracks and runs through from track 2, January to track 13, December giving us the full year in the life of the titular character. Featuring appearances from Jam Baxter, Fliptrix, Mystro, Rag N Bone Man, Row.D, Joker Starr and more, this release is set to excite the mind of anyone with a taste for the slightly darker side of hip hop; with a focus on a moody tone and a stylised take on story telling which is evident through both the lyrical content and the tight production.
The eerie artwork from Jaypee also helps solidify the mood of the concept album, whilst displaying talent from every angle, showing that High Focus and BadBonez are not to be messed with.


Here are some highlights from the album.

After the intro the album gets started with January "In Da Blitz Time" giving us an introduction to Oscar the Slouch, his struggles causing him to hustle for money and the grittiness of his streets.

"Straight from the back alleys and trash cans with no hope pockets are flat broke....."

 "Hustle from a dark crevice blood I'm hard headed, a fucking shark menace cotching in the park selling....."

Charlie Mac accompanies this with a perfect beat to set the scene and start of the story. His ability to make you feel the months through his music is amazing and consistent throughout the album.
Moving on to February "Whateva The Weathea" shows us that Oscar is willing to do whatever it takes to make money and fears nothing, not a damn thing.  Featuring  Mystro backing up Oscars harsh words, Gadget singing the chorus and a banging beat from Charlie Mac this one shines and delivers on all levels.


Another personal favourite is March, Scruffy, Bummy, Hungry featuring Jam Baxter and Joker Starr. It starts with a short vocal sample followed by Badbonez dropping straight into verse accompanied by Charlie Mac's big bass and strings. Oscar seems to be angry during March referring to himself as the Grumpy Grouch and describes what sounds like a month of madness violence and setting fire to police cars. Baxter and Joker Starr deliver with their own individual style and twist to the story in epic fashion.


October was the first single to be released off the new record and gave us an excellent example of what to expect from the rest of the upcoming album. Not only showcasing the natural ability and skills from the producer and the title MC, it also features heavyweight MCs Fliptrix, Row.D and Rag N Bone Man, giving us a clear indication of the calibre of guest artists set to appear on the record. Each MC gives us a another piece of the story to enjoy over the deep, smooth bass provided by Charlie Mac, allowing the space needed to to ensure nothing is unclear. The production value is at its best and complimented by the chorus, courtesy of Rag N Bone Man.


Above is the second single Desperation (November). This banger is not only reminiscent of the old school hip hop sound we all love and crave so much, but the visual aesthetics of the 8bit style adventure game graphics from the early nineties, which struck a personal, if rather geeky chord with me. Ramson Badbonez hits this one solo, giving us a philosophical look at poverty stricken estates, drug dealin and general husslin' to get by on the cold streets in November. This tune stands out as it captures perfectly the combined talents of just Badbonez and Charlie Mac to create the perfect chemistry, shrink wrapped and sent directly to our ears.  


In short, this album is a must for any true fan of UK hip hop. It has great production, story telling and plenty of guest appearances from well known UK artists. Ramson Badbonez reminds us he is a big player on the UK scene. If this album is anything to go by he has a bright future in the Hip Hop world.


Available now on limited edition vinyl, CD and download.
http://shop.high-focus.com/product/ramson-badbonez-a-year-in-the-life-of-oscar-the-slouch-cd-pre-order
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/year-in-life-oscar-slouch/id739066777




Review by Double ES and NDLC.








Dead Players - Self titled LP - Locality Reviews

Dead Players 
Self titled LP
Locality Reviews




  Dead Players are:
  Jam Baxter
  Dabbla 
  Ghosttown




Dead Players comprises of two of London's finest MC's with sharp as razor wits and a flow to match, counterbalance that with the eclectic, sample heavy, "avant-garde" beats from Ghosttown and your left with a psychedelic trip through the minds of hip hops weirdest (in the best possible way) trio. And my god, its quit the trip.



So this collab came to be when Baxter, back in 2010, said publicly the MC he'd "most like to collaborate with" would be Dabbla, who's skills had become widely renowned from his work with LDN Zoo.
Dabbla, hearing the call-out, put the wheels in motion and work on the Dead Players LP began. 

Having worked with both MC's in the past, the choice of who was to produce the beats for the album was a no-brainer. Ghosttown was the only producer capable of orchestrating the articulated canvas for both MC to flourish. With vocals styles being as demanding as they are, a fight for the listeners attention may have been a crucial obstacle to overcome, but they have pulled it off effortlessly and the end result is a another High Focus banger. Soon as the album came through the door it went in the cd player and hasn't left since. I was not expecting something so diverse, respecting the roots and culture but willing to experiment and flip the middle finger to whats conventional. 




Track one starts off with the sublime orchestral intro accompanied by floaty high end female vocals whilst Jam Baxter prepares the listener for the sonic tone change and complex vocal deliverance. Soon as the drums roll out, the beat and "oohhhhh's" swallow my speakers whole. This intro track sets the tone perfectly, and is a perfect example of how effortlessly both MC's can switch up their vocal time to a slower beat to constantly keep the listener hanging on to the momentum of the track and thirsty for more. And those drum rolls are immense. 




Track two starts off with a pitch-bent sequence of notes that drops into a certified headbanger thats got you fully hooked before Baxter spits his first bar, with an attitude sharp enough to cut your ears and a wit to match. Once quoted as the "new king of rap" by hip hop legend Chester P (Task Force), this song showcases his ability in full motion. With a solid hook and an equally stella performance from Dabbla, this tune is gonna stay with you for a long time....


Ever, track five on the album was the second single to drop. Directing the video himself, gives us a great opportunity to delve further into the mind of Jam Baxter. Dare you look?




The beat starts with a slow, almost hypnotic marching style drum accompanied by soulful female vocals and guitar samples. Jam Baxter hits this one solo and executes his ability from his signature lazy style of MC'ing to double time, slowly building and getting faster, only to drop straight back down to where he started.

The video switches location for each verse, gradually slipping further into chaos as each lyric is more tipped-out and twisted as the last. This all builds to a psychedelic, circus horror climax, a visual and audible treat and we hope this isn't going to be the last directional endeavour from Jam Baxter as this was too good.






Badman, track nine on the album is Dabblas time to shine and this is exactly what he does. Fusing the vibes of so many different genres on production not only sets the backdrop for Dabbla's lethal and anthemic lyrics, but also shows how Ghosttown can seamlessly have his fingers in lots of style's but the result will always be innovative and fresh, but still be recognisable . From trap style drums and simple sub, to the dance-hall-esque kicks with a snake charmer twist, this beat literally has it all. Dabbla's fast, intricate flow is, as always, killer and flawlessly executed. A chunky chorus to go with it and you'll be boppin' so hard ya neck will break.



The first single to be released off the album is Yeah and this is the tune that we think needs the biggest mention. One of our personal favourites but not just due to the lyrical content delivered from both MC's, but Ghosttowns production skills transforming the roman-gypsie style accordion sample used into a monster of a beat that I cannot get out of my head.




The video gives an example of a crazy cartoon like world and resembles the sort of stuff Mr Scruff would illustrate after a long night of watching David Firth cartoons. We heard this tune along with the video when it dropped early July and we couldn't get enough....... "YEAH....." 

"All I wanna do is get lean with my team, if you know what I mean, say YEAH!!!!
  I drink, I puff, I can't get enough and I couldn't give a f*** like YEAH!!!!!"

Once you hear the hook, it's in your head to stay, and if you've seen the video too, you can't help but crack a smile every time you hear the "YEAH...." Every time, without fail.


We decided to review these track as we thought these were our personal favourites. All of this album pushes the boundaries and innovates to the highest level and we highly encourage you to get the pre-order for the album release on the 12th. Links below.




Oh, and massive props to the art direction for this album. A gothic, almost steam punk attire and setting with the right photo filtering give this album the aesthetics you would probably consider a far-cry from the norm in hip hop culture. A bold but very successful (in our opinion) move cause it looks so damn cool.






To close the review, we thought we'd leave you with one of the closing statements from the press pack biography sent to us by High Focus as it perfectly describes the trio. Big up High Focus for sending us another banger.

"The result? A fellowship so colourful the UK hip hop will celebrate it's inception for years to come, but moreover, an outfit that looks set to span a wide spectrum of genres and movements with the music they make. Dead Players have written and recorded an album that equally suited for a Tuesday evening  barbecue with your obese Mother to a Friday night SUPER RAVE. It really doesn't matter; you could be on a sinking P&O ferry or playing strip croquet with Zsa Zsa Gabor, the sheer music dexterity on display is a times, game changing.
Just ask them yourself. Go find them. They're about. Dabbla is currently in traffic on Holloway Road, smoking a fist shaped zuggy, Baxter is at Glastonbury (still) and Ghosttown is on Regent Central watching his dog terrorizing EVERYTHING."  

Brothers of the Stone – Self Titled LP – High Focus Records 2013

Brothers of the Stone – Self Titled LP – High Focus Records 2013


Brothers of the Stone are:

Leaf Dog
BVA
Illinformed

Only three tracks into the album two things were already clear. Illinformed is a beast, and Leaf Dog and BVA are equipped with sick vocal abilities poised with a potent message.This is the hip hop sound that has been neglected as of recently in the hip hop community but has been sorely missed. If you're that guy, like us, always complaining about the current state of music and how some artists don't reflect hip hop accurately and generally commercialise hip hop, then look no further for the remedy is at hand.

Brothers of the Stone’s self titled debut has been 4 years in the making and is well worth the wait. With appearances from heavyweights such as KRS One, Vinnie Paz and the main man behind High Focus, Fliptrix, this album is a must have for any hip hop fan wanting a stripped down, un-watered sound. It’s a 14-track album and available on CD, vinyl, limited edition vinyl and digital download. Need more convincing? Read on....


In the press release, BVA states,


From developing the first tracks for the album, the idea was to always make a raw album that had no desire to be commercial.”

We've written an album that stays with the listener, from the bars to the beats. Illinformed has supplied the big sample based banger's that aren't commercial hits for the club, but more dirty classics for the heads.





Brothers of the Stones three members consist of two Mc’s, Leaf Dog and BVA, who have been working together since day one (The Three Amigos - Four Owls – RLD records) and Leaf Dog’s younger brother Illinformed on the beats (worked with Ras Kass, Jedi Mind Tricks, J Love)  all unified by one goal – to bring hip-hop back to its true glory, un-tainted by mainstream commercialism, gathering artists from across the UK and overseas to collab with them using a very DIY approach, trading “beats for bars, features for beat tapes,” and so on to score an all-star line-up for the album. Leaf Dog quoted in the album inlet:

"For all the fans, thank you for the support! I do this for those who think like me and want that real hip hop! We didn't pay for any of the features on this album, everything was made for the love of hip hop music."



The reunion between Illinformed, Leaf Dog and BVA happened when Illinformed returned to the South West from London, completing the trio and allowing their musical ideals to flourish. Whilst they all worked on various projects they continued to work on the Brothers of the Stone album.

We’re going to go through and break down some of our favourite tracks, talking about why they stand out.

Introduction – The album starts with a statement about being confused and “zombie” like. Track one, Freedom, drops with organ stabs and Leaf Dog addressing the listeners directly, “Time to get free, this is for you, this is for me…” Leaf Dog hits this one solo, setting a contextual theme for the album. A short track, but briefly describes the journey he took to get to where he is.




They See You – The second single and track two of the album (you may have already caught the official video that was released a few weeks before the album dropped) starts with a distorted vocal sample which sounds like it’s been played through an old gramophone. This compliments the video’s Film Noir/detective theme and sits perfectly with the rest of the track.




Leaf Dog takes the first verse and delivers a signature story telling style by introducing us to the “guy-gets jumped" scenario.  Reliving the incident and portraying an interrogation style account of the night he uses this imagery to describe what it’s like to be censored musically.

And then one spoke, with a rusty throat, he said he’s gonna get me for the lyrics that I wrote...





BVA hits verse two hard and heavy from his first bar. 

“We've got girls too young to drink, but sip man milk, too dumb to pass the test but leave blood spilled….” Venting his frustrations on a corrupt system where greed is primary and not wanting to sit back and take it lying down.

That’s how it goes? Nah, fuck that I’m coming, cuz the war drum’s drumming and my crew always thinks of something…

The hook is accompanied by a long, swelling, dissonant trumpet sample… “They see you, but you don’t see them. So many signs, it’s hard to pretend. They see you, but you don’t see them, you will realise when it comes to the end.”



The beat, like the entire album, hits hard. Although stripped down and simplified, the raw drum samples and eerie jazz vocals give this track depth and momentum, and is a prime example of how these 3 individuals need no help in the hip hop game, they complement each other vocally, lyrically and musically. The video is a perfect match for the tune and had us eagerly awaiting the album before its release.





The next track to mention on our favourites run down is track 4, "Go Hate". 

The first thing to really draw our attention is the "Latin-jazz" styled sampled played at the beginning of the tune... captured simply what digging for samples is about, allowing room for the drums to come in full swing.... instant headbanger. A simple message from all 3 MC's on this track, haters are always gonna hate, regardless. And don't sell the fuck out.

BVA kicks off the first verse with a shout-out to anti-commercialism. "Fuck being normal, unlike the rest of them, I got my own shit. My lyrics are so far out, sometimes it makes me homesick..."

 "And the anacondas we can see ya slitherin', the circle of respect isn't something that you're living in..."

"Money-maker to crew-breakers and every hater, I say 'goodbye', I hope I don't see you later."

Reef The Lost Cauze features on this track a keeps the theme of real hip hop, not selling out and rejecting the mainstream industry. 

Leaf Dog's first line "Different face, same case, I guess that they never knew that he won't accomplish all the shit that he said he'll do..." and further on "deep down I know you thought it was your destiny, but real skills are earned, that ego comes free..." all stand out and help solidify the message of staying true to what you do. Add the head-noddin' beat and you're left with a certified banger. 




Number 5 on the album is Imagine and features a nostalgic Leaf Dog, reminiscing about the early days, lifes "what-if's?" and how his love for hip hop progressed, through to the evolution of the various crews leading up to BOTS. Another lesson on how effective story-telling in hip hop can be, this one not only stands out for its lyrical content, but the beat that lays so perfectly behind it. From smooth, smoky sax licks, hitting all the right notes (no pun intended) to the floaty piano riffs and simple drums make this a short but instant classic.

Track 10 is Both Wicks and has the kind of beat behind it that makes you wanna crack open Ableton, even if you can't write music. Literally inspiring. Big strings, minor chords and broken marching drums... need I say more? BVA is simply lethal on this tune, displaying he can kill it on the track solo without losing any momentum. Big chorus will have you chanting along to his tale of life on the daily struggle... another story ridden beast of a tune.



The first single to be released of the album was Cartoon Days, track 7 on the album. It starts with sombre piano loop that fades out quickly for the song to drop straight into the hook. (The video edit has a sweep before the drop.) 

"These are cartoon days, see the words jump right off of the page, we all have a role to play, I should warn ya, is it you? Is it me? Who's the author?"

Deviating from the moody, down tempo beats that accompanied the tracks previous, this takes a more upbeat approach with a quicker tempo and big vocal samples that help carry one of the albums more quirkier tracks. With Leaf Dog taking the first and BVA taking the second, the single also has a guest appearance from RLD's, Jack Jetson, on the third verse. 








Track 12, Burning My Soul features Fliptrix and starts with Leaf Dog reinforcing the earlier stated message, to stay clear of what it would take to become commercial and mainstream.

Leaf Dog...

"I listen to the radio and feel my soul burning....."

"It wont change it's arranged by the powers that be......"

BVA...

"I never heard of the group, but I still hope they break up...."

"What's the definition of commercial?, an advert, make your record label money, while they dress you up in pampers..."

Fliptrix...

"We've been free from the chains, releasing the flames, ya not in the stream that's main..." 

"Pop tarts forgetting why they started since they charted...."

The beat has a great Motown/Northern Soul sounding vocal on the hook and a deep bass alongside organ and guitar samples throughout the verse. This beat is a personal favourite from the album. 



To summarise, this is a near flawless debut from BOTS and showcases true talent from the UK. Although we didn't review every track, this was simply due to the fact this review would have been too long and to also leave the remaining tracks, which are of equal standard, up to you to discover for yourselves. We highly recommend going out and grabbing a copy of this for yourselves. Link directly to the High Focus store page below.
http://shop.high-focus.com/product/brothers-of-the-stone-cd-pre-order
http://shop.high-focus.com/product/brothers-of-the-stone-double-vinyl-pre-order

Links below to other BOTS videos to wet your appetite.  






Boom Bap Festival 2013 - Locality Reviews



Boom Bap Festival 2013


Five years ago I never could have imagined a festival entirely devoted to Uk Hip Hop. This year from the 13th to the 15th of September I along with thousands of other UK hip hop fans were lucky enough to attend Boom Bap 2013. The line up alone was enough to convince any true fan to do any thing possible to get a ticket and the festival was worth every penny. 


After arriving early Friday and luckily managing to avoid the long entry queue of eager hip hoppers from all across East Anglia and further, there was the initial rush of getting the tent together and scoping out the rest of the festival, grabbing a program to plan my weekend of UK Hip Hop madness. The first thing that caught my eye was the entrance to the festival site. The graffiti was a running theme through out the entire festival and showcased the talents of many UK artist wanting to show off their skills. The canvases ranged from big boards around the site to cars that had been cut in half ( one of my favourite features) and dotted around the site for our enjoyment. Extending the overall theme of hip hop culture further brought us to the mini ramps where skateboarders where doing their thing all weekend regardless of the weather making things difficult for them. 


Already starting to feel at home I decided it was time to check out what we all came here for. First up, LDZ at the Producer stage. Half way through the first song I caught, the tent went from half full to capacity in seconds jammed wall to wall with an enthusiastic crowd going nuts to LDZ classics. Dabbla and crew knew how to keep the crowd and leave us thirsty for more.



  One thing became clear early on, making a plan of who I wanted to see and sticking to it was going to be impossible. Next up I managed to catch Rum Committee on the main stage and they didn't disappoint. Its still early and all ready, it's going off!




After a quick snack break it was time for one of the performances I, personally, had been looking forward too in the lead up to Boom Bap. Brothers of the Stone on the Producer stage, our first dose of many High Focus performances. Running through 3 Amigos and RLD anthems and finishing off with some of my favourite tracks off the new album. 


Unfortunately, due to being glued to Brothers of the Stone I missed out on Dead Players on the main stage. Even though Jam Baxter was unable to make it to Boom Bap due to an injury I heard that Dabbla and Ghosttown held their own. I am still gutted I missed out on "Badman". But no time for regrets, next up on the main stage......

The Four Owls




The High Focus team are currently red hot on the UK scene. The Four Owls set on the first night and the High focus showcase on the second night were definite highlights of the whole week end. Fliptrix, Verb T, Leaf Dog and BVA all seem vibe off each other and had some of the best crowd control I have seen to date. After running through classics from Natures Greatest Mystery the Four Owls kept on giving by treating us to some unreleased material and bringing out Dirty Dike for Much to Much. Cant express enough how much this went off.


Due to one of the acts not being able to attend the main stage, the Four Owls and Dirty Dike kept the party going until it was time for Fridays' headline act, Rodney P. With the perfect mix of hip hop, dnb and some London Posse tracks thrown in for good measure. Rodney P capped of Friday as explosively as the day began.


At some point between the Four Owls and Rodney P, I managed to catch Shotty Horroh and Mosh Team perform an energetic set on the Promoters Stage.










After all the stages had closed for the first night, Square 1 were hosting a DJ battle until the early hours of the morning. We wish we could have stayed longer, but we needed to get some sleep to get us ready for the next day.

Saturday


The first half of Saturday was mostly spent chilling in half a car, reminiscing the night before and buzzing for the day a head. After lots of coffee and some of the fine food that was on offer from the festival site, we headed off to the main stage for Fliptrix and Verb T. They ran through a load of material featured on solo projects. I can't think of a better way to start the day. Classics like Fliptrix "The Highway" and Verb T's freshly dropped "I Remain" woke the weary crowd that were still hanging from the night before.








After this we headed over to something that caught me be surprise and kept me glued to the bitter end, The Louis Den Beat Battles.Some of the best Hip Hop producers from around the Uk Battled it out for the number one spot in an elimination style tournament. Producers would step to the decks two at time and play fresh beats to the crowd until a clear winner was decided. With the likes of Leaf Dog, Ill Informed, Bambu Hands and to many others to mention, you can only imagine the level of production that was on offer.  This was so good we forgot about the rest of the festival going on and stayed put for for the duration.







We also caught a few of the rap battles hosted buy Tenchoo. Josh fox vs Logan was by far the best battle we witnessed on the day. Both came hard with Josh Fox taking the win. We also Caught the Act on words performance and was overly impressed with Deekay's freestyle ability and the groups overall performance













Sonny Jim was celebrating his Birthday in style on the main stage. I caught the end of his set and found it very amusing when he refused to leave the stage because he wanted to perform "Lemon Squeezy". It was worth it.




When Sonny Jim finally left the stage, the lights went out and the instantly recognizable intro to the UK Hip Hop anthem "It's Murder" was heard through the main stage speakers. The Main Stage instantly filled to capacity with people spilling out side trying to get a glimpse of the legend himself , Klashnekoff. 



K Lash left the crowd fully hyped and ready for the next act, Reeps One He smashed out a lively beat box performance including Hip Hop and Dub Sep sounds, and everything in between. This was the clearest sound that came from the main stage the whole weekend, you could feel the bass go right through you.





The High Focus Showcase rounded up Saturday night on the main stage. Fliptrix, Verb T, BVA, Leaf Dog, Dirty Dike, Edward Scissortongue, and Rag and Bone Man were all in attendance and delivered the headline set you would expect from the best on the scene right now. Leaving the crowed way to energized to head back to the campsite, the crew announced after their set that an after party would be held at Square One stage and every one was invited. We all partied until the very early hours and got to mingle with most of the artists that had been performing throughout the day The whole day was a very memorable experience.



 

 Sunday was a little hazy. The weather was horrible but people were up for more. Acts on the day included Dr Syntax and the Mouse Outfit, Mystro, Cracker Jon, Split Prophets Dirty Dike and was headlined by UK Hip Hop Pioneer, Chester P.


 The acts mentioned in this review are just a small sample of how much was on offer over the 3 days. The Boom Bap Staff did an amazing job and delivered an A list line up. With plenty of food, clothing and record shops, all night cinema and an electric atmosphere throughout the whole weekend, we highly recommend getting your early bird tickets for next year. The Boom Bap team are already hinting at an impressive line up and new venue for next year. And they have also announced early bird tickets will be available from December. If you are a fan of UK Hip Hop, do not miss out on Boom Bap 2014. Massive thanks to Ivan Andre for the hook up and all the artists I got to interview for the radio show. I look forward to next year. 

https://www.facebook.com/BoomBapFestival
 http://boombapuk.com/boom-bap-festival-2013/

For better quality pictures from the festival check out Mitchell Brewster Media on Facebook and give his page a like.

https://www.facebook.com/MBMedia

Review by Double Es and NDLC