Keep sending beats...

You guys are good. There's been some seriously inspirational stuff so far, I'm surprised we haven't done this before.

Keep sending whylout[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Marvin has started work on new music

So you guys did what needed to be done and I caught up with Marvin on Monday night when he revealed to me that he had just been in a meeting with Jack where they played through some beats and started putting some plans together. The thinking at the moment is that Marvin actually has half a mixtape in the bag and maybe a 3rd of an album or half of an EP. The sounds of the mixtape and the album are very different but we will be releasing them both in 2010. The album currently sounds very dark, very haunted. An intriguing development I'm sure you'll agree.

He is accepting beat submissions for his mixtape via email whylout[at]hotmail[dot]com and would love to have you guys be involved.

I have told Marvin he needs to tell you what's going on directly and he says he will do.

Tell Marvin to release some music

You guys know Marvin right? This is his blog. He hasn't posted anything on it since April and he really hasn't posted much in 2010 period. Which is cool, he works, he works hard. But he also hasn't given you any music in a long time, a really long time, I made him give away 'Loose Change' a few months back but that was it. He actually has several albums worth of material recorded. Really good shit too. He also has the ability to make new songs. He hasn't done that in months. I know right? Well he's on Facebook here and is on PlaystationNetwork as MusicMan1 so I suggest you add him on both and put some pressure on him to release some new music. He recorded on ATD:24 but he didn't even promote it here. What's that all about? If you want new Marvin music [and believe me he has it] you should absolutely get in touch via his Facebook and his PS3 identity to let him know.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

While I'm on the subject though, you should hassle Jack Nimble who has loads of songs, he's on Facebook here and you should hassle Metin 'Pixel' Balli who has way more songs than he'd want you to believe, he's on Facebook here.

If this doesn't work I'll post their phone numbers.

[p.s. that photo is by Sladey K, yes, THE SLADEY K, from Envy's album launch a few months back and in the background you can see Ben, Tiago and Marco. The elusive Marco in photo form. This doesn't mean anything to you I know, but there he is.]

Akala's F64

I watched Pro Green go in the other day, then I saw Sway go in yesterday, obviously I watched a bag of Grime man going in, but today SBTV dropped Akala's F64. Obviously that's the darg so we're gonna feel it on some level regardless, but listen to the man, he's peaking right now, not only is he fitting an insane amount of knowledge and soul in that verse, but he's way, way more in the pocket with the flow than anybody other than maybe Chipmunk I've ever seen on F64. Not to say I feel a way about Chipmunk because I really don't, but his flow was kinda nasty on his F64.

Akala's new album 'Doublethink' is out May 3rd. You already know I'm buying that shit.

VIDEO: Professor Green/ I Need You Tonight

This debuted on The Sun's website. I have good feelings about this record I have to say.

VIDEO: Akala/ XXL

Akala is coming back with his third album 'Doublethink' this summer.

VIDEO: Nappy Roots/ Ride [Trailer]

This shit sounds extra nice. Before the was B.O.B there was Nappy Roots. Remember when this would have been a hit no question? People hated on the South but you look back and they had shit locked. Creatively as well as commercially.

Gully Vs Gaza: Reggae's Civil War

Really good article on the Village Voice website about Vybz and Mavado's beef. Most of the quotes stink of Jamaican exaggeration but it's definitely a serious war and there has been some seriously great music come of it.

Read: Reggae's Civil War [Village Voice]

VIDEO: Marvin The Martian Feat. Jack Nimble/ Sterling Crumble

Ha! Jack and Marvin don't even know I'm posting this. Just found it on an old hard-drive yesterday. Figured that since Marvin's taking so long to finish his new tape I'd let it go.

This is a hood video we actually filmed at the end of 2008 if I remember correctly. Filmed in Brixton and Hackney.

Download the song for free here

Paul Morley meets Giggs

This is a really good article and video of Paul Morley interviewing Giggs. Morley really knows his shit, really well researched. Really interesting.

Crazy thing about Giggs is if you didn't know better you'd think he was a new school gangster-grime MC but because he's from Peckham in the same era as me I hear the No Limit, Dirty South, West Coast influence. You don't know how the hustlers were going crazy for Master-P and them back in the day.

LINK: Paul Morley interviews Giggs [Guardian]

Mixtape update

Almost done, thanks to everybody who got in touch about doing the artwork. You all are some talented people for real. No pressure, I'll let you know how it turned out asap.

I was given B.O.B's new mixtape the other week, that guy's on some shit. Makes me want to start writing some bluesy pop ditties to see where they go.

I just broke some secret news to somebody via email. I'll reveal a little more to the rest of you once the mixtape drops.

I can't think if anything to say. I do things all week and go "I'll blog about that" and then when I sit in front of a computer I totally forget what they were. Too much weeds. Or not enough. I forget how that works. HA.

LATERS

MTM

What Ever Did Happen To Grindie?

I spoke to Joseph 'JP' Patterson [from all those Grime articles you read] a couple of weeks ago about Grindie. Remember Grindie? Indie and Grannies? Grannies Indie? Grindie? Yeah that's the one. Anyway, the result of our conversation has been published on the MTV website here. I could go on for days but I'm introspective like that. HA! Sorry, I meant pretentious.

Sorry, sorry...

Been MIA again. Busy as a busy prick. Who's not a prick but is still busy. Almost done with the tape. We really want to make it great. But also have enough ready for the follow-up tape so we're not left waiting like we are now.

I'm also looking for somebody to do me a little Mixtape cover? We usually do them in-house but the computer we had photoshop on has perished and it's all a bit too painful to think about. If any of you are geniuses and could do me a cover please email me whylout[at]hotmail.com.

For now, check akirathedon.com for ATD:21. One of my favourite Akira projects was his Valentines Day EP a few years ago. EPs are great. I'm listening to PUSH! Montana's Valentines Day EP 'The 5 Heart Beats' at the moment. It's free online. Google it. It's kinda saccharine but it's so polished and commercial, I kinda like it. Definitely does what it says on the tin.

I'm pretty much going to start the title of my mixtape with the letter A. Akira's smart like that, his mixtapes all come up first on iPods and MP3 players. I might call my mixtape "AAA- First on your iPod". Actually I might definitely call it that.

Aight peeps. I'll write again tomorrow. Or my name isn't Marvin Juggontanitis Thomas. Which it isn't.

The Stimulus Package

Oh man this album is amazing. February 15th everybody has to buy it. Best producer/rapper combination since Gangstarr. I promise you.

MP3: Marvin The Martian Feat. Jack Nimble / Sterling Crumble

With the UK economy finally clawing it's way out of recession I figured it would be a good time to unleash my ode to the financial mismanagement. We actually filmed a little hood video for this song, we delayed releasing it and ended up losing it to a dead hard drive hence its overall delay. It bangs so heavy though and the lyrics still resonate, especially considering the fact that most financial experts are predicting a double dip in the economy back into negative growth this Spring. Woo. They say the people don't feel the pinch until well after the "Recovery" we'll see.

This track features a guest vocal from Jacketh of Nimble. It's co-produced by Jack Nimble and Ben Official and is my official 'Get ready for the double dip' anthem. GET YOUR MONEY!

Marvin The Martian Feat. Jack Nimble/ Sterling Crumble [ZSHARE]

I've got a new song for you

I said I would and I do. You're gonna have to wait until this afternoon for it though. I'm getting the final mix sent over.

I recorded a couple of big boy bangers yesterday. We had a real good studio time. Also got a tiny bit crunk on Saturday night to toast my birthday. A little Kirsch, a little Tequila, a little Cider, a little Lager, a little Amaretto, a little weedings. I didn't feel great Sunday morning but the cafe set me right before recording.

I've been asked to contribute a song to a charity album which I am going to do. I'll get more details on that to you soon.

I'll be back this afternoon with something for the masses.

VIDEO: Ginger people have souls...who knew?

Why does racism intrigue me so?

This story about a white guy from Brixton who was racist and tried to kill a black man in Mitcham is pretty scary. Mainly because the black guy could very easily have been me, very easily. Racism intrigues me so much, I don't know why! Racism from anybody, I like it. The humourous elements, the dangerous elements, the evil elements, I want to understand it all.

To be a racist with an intent to kill in Brixton? That's crazy. Not because you wouldn't expect it to happen here, but because it could so easily happen here. When you think about the route causes of racism in our society, they're as easy to see in Brixton as anywhere else in the world. If people find themselves facing enough instability and have access to weaponry like Jamie Bunter did (20 years old for fuck sake) you have a very unstable and unpredictable environment on your hands. Brixton is unstable and unpredictable at the best of times. I feel like a voyeur saying it, but Columbine style rampages are not too far in the future if this kind of behaviour is in any way consistent.

I think the escalating gun culture and the increasing levels of frustration and miscommunication between the communities in this country could lead to some fairly dark times.

EDIT: Reading this back it kinda seems like I'm blowing this out of proportion and trying to scare people. I'm not. Racism is just one potential catalyst in my opinion for something as horrific as a shooting spree. When writing this I was taken down a very visual path, one which ended in a very dark place, but I feel like my point is apt. It's very easy to feel trapped in London and it's very easy for your frustrations and your fears to become hate, at that point anything can happen. With gun culture in Britain becoming more and more the norm the fusion of those things, unfortunately, I think is inevitable. Maybe not on that scale, but the potential is very real.

Things keeping me occupied...

Example and DJ Wire have got a new mixtape up on www.trythisforEXAMPLE.com

TRACKLIST IS HERE:

Dirtyphonics - Teleportation (Audioporn)
Don Diablo & Example - Hooligans (Spor Remix) (Data)
Chase and Status - Ruffest Gun Ark (Ram Records)
Miike Snow - Black and Blue (Netsky Remix) (Sony)
Noisia - Deception (Ram Records)
Deadmau5 - I Remember (J Majik and Wikaman Remix) (Virgin)
Example - Watch the Sun Come Up (Blame Remix) (Data)
Example - Girl Can't Dance (Chase and Status Remix) (Data)
Sydney Samson - Riverside (TC Remix) (Data)
Example - Won't Go Quietly (DC Breaks vs Vent Remix) (Data)
Animal Collective - Daily Routine (Domino)
Fake Blood - Mars (Jack Beats Remix) (Cheap Thrills)
Wiley - Take That (Island)
Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers (Dirtee Stank)
Example - Pink Notes (White)
Don Diablo & Example - Hooligans (Data)
Example - So Many Roads (Herve Remix) (The Beats)
Example - Instant Replay (White)
Example - Won't Go Quietly (E..P.I.C Remix) (Data)
Don Diablo & Example - Loud (Data)
Example - I Don't Want To (Jack Beats Remix) (The Beats)
Little Boots - New In Town (Semethy and Sheldrake Remix) (679)
Florence and the Machine - Drumming Song (Jack Beats remix) (Island)
Dubfire - Roadkill (Science & Technology)
Project Bassline - Drop The Pressure (Jack Beats Rave Rinse Remix) (Cheap Thrills)
La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix) (Polydor)
Jack Beats - U.F.O (Cheap Thrills)
Count & Sinden - Strange Things (High Rankin Remix) (Domino)
Faithless - Sun To Me (Emalkay Remix)
Skream & Instra:mental - No Future (Nonplus Records)
Example - Won't Go Quietly (Wire Remix) (Data)
Breakage ft. Newham Generals & David Rodigan - Hard (Digital Sound Boy)
Rusko - Cockney Thug (Caspa Remix) (Sub Soldiers)
Troller Snatcher - The Future (Dub Police)
Rusko - Woo Boost (White)
Wire & Sylo - Raise the Finger (Dub)
Redlight - MDMA (MTA Records)
Don Diablo & Wire - Hooligans (Wire Remix) (Data)
Wire - Tales From The Crypt (MTA Records)
Cotti ft. Doctor - Rise The Temperature (MTA Records)
Emalkay - When I Look At You (Dub Police)
Redlight - Robot Chopsticks (MTA Records)
Prodigy - Take Me To The Hospital (Rusko Remix) (Take Me To The Hospital)
Example - Watch The Sun Come Up (Joker & Ginz Remix) (Data)
Example - What We Made (The Bipolar Men Remix) (The Beats)
Liquid - Liquid is Liquid (Wire Remix) (Televizion)
Rogues - Not So Pretty (Example and Wire Remix) (50 Bones)
Your Twenties - Billionaires (The Bipolar Men Remix)

Download Link


This is the Tinie Tempah record I mentioned. I don't like Auto-Tune as you know, but it works on this song and the beat, the flow, the murkage. Shit is so hard.

WOW!!!

11 Most Scandalous Saved By The Bell Revelations In Screech's Autobiography.

Good to be back

I appreciate all the comments, messages and emails you've been sending me. I also appreciate those who have posted the song, especially Akira who has a mixtape/T-Shirt coming out in 2 days. I now have to decide what song to give away next...I've got some "Songs" but I also have a thing I produced pretty much. That will be on the mixtape definitely. I wouldn't say I produced it but Jack says I did and I guess I did. It's my first original production. I did all the production and arrangements on 'Beware of the Voices' on my last tape which is where I got the bug for controlling the record front-to-back but that was Ice Cube's beat originally, he got jacked. How do you like that Cube? You got Cube'd!

Anyway, I doubt that's the song I'm going to be giving you next week. I've got a load of options. I should probably ask you guys but I don't want to spoil anything. It's going to be a banger though. Something with a more traditional arrangement than 'Loose Change' which was just...an amount of bars formed into one huge long verse while Jack brought in crazy synths, guitars, drums and what-not, building into a crescendo, an explosion, a cliff...which of course manifested itself in the word "Bitch". That's my style. Writers love to take their words and throw them off a cliff like that. Into the lake, after hitting a few rocks on the way down. "Bitch".

So it's my birthday tomorrow. I'm, years old. I'll tell you next year. To celebrate I am going to take Thursday off and spend time with my family. Woo. Then on Friday I'm going to see Avatar with Jack. I hear it's great. I'm not so into lanky blue guys talking for 3 hours but I can't ignore everybody who comes up to me and slaps me for not having seen it any longer. If I hate it I'm never trusting people ever again. I'm going to make an album about how Avatar made me stop trusting. Then I'm going to kick James Cameron in the nuts for stealing another 3 hours of my life. I'm, years old now. I can't waste that shit. Then on Saturday I'm going to get drunk with my niggas. I don't know where yet. But drunk is the important thing. Then on Sunday I'm doing straight, non-stop, unadulterated recording. Oh yeah. I've got many songs ready to go, Jack had to pick up some new studio elements this week and we're going to bang out some hits.

That's about it. I was given Hadouken's new album on Sunday, I haven't given it a proper listen but James is my boy from Leeds '06. God damn '06. That's 4 years ago now. Crazy.

Example is number 6 in the charts everybody. Number flipping 6. He'll be number 1 in the summer. He works so hard. We're all so proud of him. It's only when you look at the chart and see who he's ahead of that you realise just what an incredible job he's done. Keep going Ell.

Okay. That's me for now. I've run out of things to say. BE GONE!

MP3: Marvin The Martian/ Loose Change

I said I was giving away a song today and here it is. I'm giving you another next Monday and then the mixtape. Spread it around, tell your mother and her mother that I went in, then Bluetooth her the joint on the bus. I'm going in and I'm staying in.

Marvin The Martian/ Loose Change [ZSHARE]

You've got 24 hours to get ready

I'm dropping a pace setter tomorrow. I'm officially back Tuesday January 26th 2010. Two days before my birthday, I had a meeting yesterday to go through my new shit and what I want to do, we decided to give you something hard this week. I've decided tomorrow. I'm shitting into the abyss like fuck it. Kill the buffalo, leave his carcass and watch the vultures circle.

'Loose Change' will hurt feelings.

The best in the country. Sick of the games. Be ready.

Also buy Example's new single 'Won't Go Quietly'

Because he's my boy and he's as real as they get. He's going to chart top 10 with this single because he worked his arse off and he fucking deserves it.

Like I said

Blog claart!

I've neglected you. So sporadic, so busy, so exceptional.

I want to blog like I used to blog because a) it meant I kept up with all the B-S in the world and b) it was good for the Google Ads. But alas I am too busy and I just don't feel like it. I've noticed a lot of people have sacrificed that blogging boom of 2008 for pretty empty webspace. I'm not going to do that completely. I'm going to do some proper blogging over the next few months. What's going on Marvin? You okay? How's things? Excellent? Excellent I hope? Yes. Things are excellent. Thanks for asking. You're a scholar and a gentleman.

I wish I had some crazy depression story to tell, or an IV drip coming out of my thumb to explain my disappearance but I really don't. I've been in the studio, writing and recording, waiting for a reason to hurt feelings with my amazing rap skills again but nothing really came up. A whole gang of schoopidness. British rap is successful for the first time ever but it has come at a cost. Clearly. That new Tinie Tempah record goes extra hardness though. Everybody go and buy that when it comes out, I don't know when it does but I will find out because joints is bangin.

Instead of waiting for the climate I've decided I'll set the climate. Like fuel emissions, or government agenda, whatever. I'm going to drop 100+ songs in 2010 starting with a new mixtape which I'll be giving you in the next 31 days. I wanted it for the start of Jan, then the end of Jan, now I want it when it's ready. I'm sick of people asking me for a new mixtape for the whip, for school, for the ipod, for the journey to work, for the crew, for the block, for the blogs. So I'm just gonna fucking give you all one. Not just one, the best one yet. I've been listening to my last two recently and think they're pretty good, I know where I need to fine tune though.

After my first mixtape I'll have another pretty quickly following. Then another, then who knows? You will decide. I can't be fucked playing chess with these duck, duck, goose playing pricks. Waste of my fucking time. I know you feel me. Which one of those tramps comes near me? Not a one. Seriously. So I'm just gonna hurt the skreets with new shit.

That's my word for today. Tomorrow I'll fill you in on what I've been listening to/watching/eating or whatever.

YALLA!

Hi

What the blog claart?