Dawn of the Don tonight

VIDEO: Me on The Politics Show

The Hackney Wick DJ Vlad hooked it up! You might have spotted him on just about every hip-hop blog that matters yesterday. Hey Pix, fuck Joe Budden.

Me on The Politics Show

As Jack mentioned on Saturday, I was invited to speak on The Politics Show this Sunday about the controversial Form 696. The form relates to live music and the Metropolitan Police's ability to request sensitive and discriminatory information from promoters, performers and patrons so as to assess the "Potential risk" of that event. Feargal Sharkey wrote a fairly explicit letter to the Met asking for the form, which while officially voluntary has become mandatory in many London boroughs, to be reviewed, an "Official review" has been announced and it's hoped will see the form repealed. While the main focus of the outrage has been a racial one, there are far reaching implications for the creative community as a whole. By filling in Form 696 we are effectively allowing The Police to decide that if they don't agree with my message and who I'm delivering it to, then they can shut me down. Throughout history music has been a great communicative tool in times of struggle and hardship, the idea that I can no longer use the gift I feel I've been given to communicate a message to my people, because The Police don't want me to, scares me to my soul. The Police State doesn't get much realer than that. In Chile, in South Africa, in Afghanistan, songs were used to inspire, to teach, to relay messages of hope and determination against fascist regimes. In London, 2009 we have to ask for permission. You can watch the show on the BBC iPlayer HERE. The Form 696 section kicks in at about 31 minutes. If anybody could rip the 696 section so I can put it on Youtube I'd appreciate it. I downloaded the whole thing through the iPlayer software but the BBC appear to have it coded like clever internet people.


While in the Green Room waiting to go on I managed to grab a quick chat with Peter Tatchell about Form 696 which was pretty great. Peter Tatchell's one of the bravest men in the country, he doesn't give a fuck, a real fighter for the downtrodden. I don't always agree with him but it takes a lot of balls to be that guy.

There's been a lot of people very outspoken on the Form 696 issue including DJ Semtex, DJ MK, Bashy and Tinchy Stryder whose blogging helped me when doing last minute research on Saturday night so I thank you all. Also thanks to Akira for sending the BBC in my direction. I'm gonna tear down Dawn of the Don on Friday. Yiggity!

This week I shall be mostly listening to... Method Man & Redman/ Blackout 2

I'm satisfied. Red and Meth actually went out of their way to select nice beats, rather than stupid beats with obvious samples, they kept the skits to a minimum (when they're minimalist like that you actually enjoy them), they rapped better than either of them have on solo projects for a few years and they maintained their straight-man/ funny-man dynamic without making Method Man seem boring. Granted I've only listened once but got damn it I'm a fan. I will listen some more.

So Liverpool lost the Youth Cup Final First Leg

My first football match ended in a humiliating defeat on Friday. Arsenal's kids were something else it has to be said, as a laymen I can tell you I saw some extraordinary talent on show. We lost 4-1 in the end but it could have been more, I spent the first half actually willing the ball to a kid named Jay Emanuel-Thomas' feet, he was incredible. Despite being with only one other Liverpool fan, one Chelsea fan and two Arsenal fans, we decided to sit stand in the Liverpool section, which at least gave the game a little bit of spice. It also taught me a whole new repertoire of songs I never knew existed. I now also know the Arsenal responses to them. To be fair the fan banter got a bit heated at times when a couple of cocky Arsenal fans started singing "Sign on" lyrics to the words of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Something I didn't personally agree with. The other half of the football crew were with child so couldn't really sit in the slightly hostile setting of the Liverpool away section, by all accounts they went to a different game. We ran into Paul Ince before kick-off (I think his son was playing?) and Spoony joined our stand in the second half to a chorus of "SPOONY! SPOONY!" I think the second leg of the final is tonight in Liverpool and barring some kind of Arsenal collapse I can't see my boys winning it. I will definitely go to another football match though, the stadium alone was worth the visit. Word to the Transport Police who wanted beef in Stockwell on the way home. Cock.

UPDATE: Just found out the second leg is on Setanta Sports. Gonna have to hit Jack's to watch that.

Giggs Feat. The Streets/ Slow Songs

> Nite Nite

Marv has been invited to discuss the controversial Form 696 on The Politics Show tomorrow. Tune in to BBC1 at 12 mid-day Sunday for some opinions.

More from Marv later on. He's revising.

Untill then, here is Form 696. Have a read. See what all the fuss is about.

VIDEO: Kanye West Feat. Mr Hundson/ Paranoid

Why are you so Paranoid? Noid? Noid?

I'm going to my first football match tomorrow...

I'm going to see my boys Liverpool play Arsenal in the Youth-Cup Final First Leg at The Emirates Stadium tomorrow night. Exciting I know. Pixel, Jack, Ben, Tego & Bosh went to the Semi-Final between Arsenal and Manchester City which ended 3-1, this time I think 12 of us are going so it should be a party. I've never been to an actual football match before as I don't generally give a shit about the game but over the last couple of years I've developed a certain understanding and appreciation for it and am hoping tomorrow's game will make me a proper fan in the eyes of the lord or whatever. I might even start a team. I got those teckers!

This week I shall be mostly listening to... Gangstarr/ The Ownerz

I'm worried that this section has been too underground so far. I guess it's about that time of year when you want some of that underground shit.

I fucking love this album. Guru says he hated Premier when they made it, which I guess you can kinda hear. Beat for beat it's one of the best produced rap albums of all time. Not quite 'Moment Of Truth' lyrically it does feature some great guest features from Jadakiss, M.O.P, Bumpy Knuckles and even Fat Joe!?!?!

Things That Are Better Than The Transformers Movies (part 2&3)

Blaster USB Hub



Grimlock lazer mouse

Getting my nerd on today, boy!

More Transformer geek stuff at Bigbadtoystore.com

Things That Are Better Than The Transformers Movies (part 1)

So much better.

Pre-order at Bigbadtoystore.com.

OK, You're Right

50 Cent is so great. His new track 'OK, You're Right' is produced by Dr Dre and was premiered yesterday by Funkmaster Flex...Interscope and Funk Flex, I was sure that would never happen again...so sure.

LISTEN: on RapRadar

HipHopGame.co.uk is back

HipHopGame.co.uk is back and it looks like one of those highly-optimised future sites.

Related: Hip-Hop Connection's 2nd digital issue is out now.