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.