Tuesday 27 March 2012

Action Bronson – Barfly – Camden – 25.03.12

I was looking forward to this since I heard Well done, I haven’t got a laptop at home at the moment so the fact I couldn’t check out performances etc on YouTube made me all the more intrigued.

So I arrived at Barfly in Camden mad early but there were heads all over taking in the mid afternoon sun, the evening show sold out so this extra show earlier in the day was arranged.
I grabbed a Rum & Ginger beer and saw my boy Bello B & Jimmy James at the bar so #TeamOck were in the building which made it even better. We spoke about which album’s better Dr Lecter or Well Done and Jimmy assured me Dr Lecter is better so I’m going to have to check it out because I only really know Bronson for his work on Well Done.

So three drinks later I went upstairs feeling nice and was greeted by the supporting act the ‘The Elemental Orchestra’ well not the whole orchestra just the lead vocalist/rapper backed by a very capable Dj Rasp. Wasn’t really feeling his music to be honest, but his freestyle and interaction with the crowd was spot on. He had a sticky sheet of paper stuck up against the wall which worked as a white board, and he encouraged everyone to write random words on it and he’d make up a freestyle as he went along which he did with great skill and for that alone I salute him. (BIG!!!) Even though he wasn’t impressed by the crowd being impressed he just said in a thick scouse accent which made it hit home even harder, “You love those party tricks don’t ya? Bollocks”

‘Action Bronson time’

He strolled though the crowd cheeky grin on his face and a big spliff behind his ear, soon as he got up on stage people started going crazy. He sparked up and then the crowd went even louder then he passed it to someone in the front and the level rose again and then he started to spit. Action Bronson’s vocals are very clear he sounds exactly as he does on his product my barometer for this was raised when I first heard Sadat X live and that guy sounds even better than what the studio captures, so Bronson was off to a good start.

He performed mostly tracks off Dr Lecter from what I could gather and one track off Well Done (
Not Enough Words), but his whole persona and antics were something to behold, you could see from the reaction he was getting that everyone at Barfly are now Bronson fans for life. He got off stage and walked around the crowd spitting, lit up numerous spliffs and encouraged the crowd to pass it around and don’t be greedy “Drug with me” he said hahaha! Bronsolini then went to the bar and put £100 down and told people have a drink on him, I haven’t seen anything like it before, people were following his every move with blackberry’s, I Phone’s, I Pad’s, Cannons you name it.

So he ended the show exhausted with an acapella of Miss Fordham Road (86′ 87′ 88′) thanking the crowd for the love and the history made with the first Hip Hop matinee performance and his first in Europe. As expected people were asking for more and he said “I’ve got another show in the evening I’m tired they’re treating me like a whore my pussy hurts” and with that we laughed and he bounced.

I bought a Tee and then went outside and everyone had the same expression on their face which was one of, WOW what have I just witnessed here. Action Bronson is well on his way to cult status whether gets to live comfortably off his musical talents without compromising his style remains to be seen, but you know what who cares Bronsolini is the SHIT!!!!

Mains.






The Foreign Exchange – Valediction – Leave It All Behind (LP)




No need to remove your coat
No need to take off your shoes
Usually you could stay, but not today, not today no
This place is no longer yours and
I left your things here right by the door
Please don’t be that way, not today, not today no
Our love is such a rush
But inside it’s slowly killing me
Nothing more for me to say, but not today, not today no
So we must say all our goodbyes
To all of the pain and lies
But nothings been more true
Than these words to you

I’ve been changed and rearranged and
It’s not like it was before
And when the sun shines
I’ll show her why
She can’t keep me anymore, me anymore

Friday 23 March 2012

Well Done - Action Bronson & Statik Selektah


The first time I heard Action Bronson was via a link posted on my Facebook wall by my girl
‘I love that chick’
The video/song was ‘Cirque Du Soleil’ and what struck me first was the beat by Statik Selektah, it was fresh, grandioso, and it has this big soulful musical Hip Hop sound. Then Bronsolini blesses the beat with his flow that is pulling from so many experiences that his subject matter is very original and leaves you thoroughly edutained. Within that his dark sense of humour will have you laughing or shaking your head thinking “did he really just say that”.







So with that I bought yes BOUGHT the album (Well Done - Action Bronson & Statik Selektah) on first listen I loved it, in my opinion proper Hip Hop beats & f*cking rhymes. I thought Action sounded a lot like Ghostface but the more I listened the less he did.

Stand out tracks for me were:

Cocoa Butter
White Silk
Cirque Du Soleil
Love Letter
Terror Death Camp
Cliff Notes





If you like Hip Hop undiluted and straight up raw then this album is for you, it has a great range of subject matter, beats & turntablism it’s what a Hip Hop album should be.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/well-done/id473284177

Mains!

Michael K. Williams to Play Ol’ Dirty Bastard


Michael K. Williams has landed the role of Ol’ Dirty Bastard.


EW.com reports that Williams, who currently stars on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, will star in an upcoming film, tentatively titled Dirty White Boy, about Wu-Tang Clan rap star the late Russell Jones b.k.a Ol’ Dirty Bastard. The film will center on the offbeat friendship between the Wu-Tang Clan member and Jarred Weisfeld, a 22-year-old VH1 production assistant who, through a lot of hustle and a few half truths, finessed his way into becoming ODB’s manager when the troubled rapper was serving a three-year stint in prison in the early 2000s.


Weisfeld, who had no managing experience, surprisingly orchestrated ODB’s unlikely comeback until the star’s fatal drug overdose in 2004 at age 35.


Cinematographer JoaquĆ­n Baca-Asay, who worked on Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” video, is set to direct the picture.

Thursday 22 March 2012

Diff'rent Strokes Re-Launch & 2nd Anniversary @ LOW night club




Diff’rent Strokes is back every Wednesday in a new venue.

Launch Night & Second Anniversary Wednesday 28th March and every Wednesday after.

We’ve moved on from a successful two year Run @ cherryjam, to our new home at LOW

91 Jermyn Street, St James's, London, SW1Y 6JB

The Venue
After a refurb of the club formerly known as Hey Jo’s, owner David West (if you don’t know him, Google him) has teamed up with David Serlui (formerly of Aura) and Andy Giorgini (ex-Brompton Club) to create Low. Secretly tucked away, and accessible via the rather bizarre Abracadabra restaurant, it boasts an exceptional sound system and guest appearances from leading DJs.

So far, this club has barely advertised its whereabouts so expect a crowd that are in the know and eager to dance the night away. Securing a table is a good way to go as you’ll always have a seat and can rest tired feet. Don’t expect the customary sparklers when bottles are served as this crowd are too busy dancing to care.

This club is all about the music so sensibly they have invested in state of the art Void sound system.

Resident Dj’s are: Manny Norte, Lonyo, Maintain, Cj-iDj


Music Policy: (Hip Hop & RnB)

£10 on guest-list for ladies and mixed groups

For guest-list & table bookings you can contact me using the details provided below

Thanks



07766 232 234
BBM: 26032164
djmaintain@live.co.uk






Odd Future's Earl Sweatshirt:

Earl Sweatshirt made his live debut with his Odd Future cohorts at Tuesday night's sold out Hammerstein Ballroom concert in New York, confirming rumours that had been circulating in the days before. The concert marked his first public appearance since returning from a reform boarding school in Samoa, where he'd spent the last year disconnected from Odd Future's ascent. "Y'all better act like y'all missed me," Earl shouted to the crowd before launching into "Orange Juice" and "A**Milk," fan-favourite collaborations with group founder Tyler, the Creator. The surprise performance came on the heels of Earl's appearance in the music video for Odd Future's latest single, "Oldie," as well as an interview with New York radio station Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg, his first since returning. "We waited so long for that shit," Tyler added from the stage. "You have no idea how awesome this is."
Hours prior, Sweatshirt
spoke on making a strong return to the music spotlight.
"Were you talking to people, aware that s---'s going bananas?" the venerable DJ asks an extremely timid Earl who was put in boarding school in June of 2010, just as Odd Future began their meteoric rise to fame. "I was aware, I mean, because ... the Internet." "Were you aware that you were missing out on something this insane? Were you pissed? Were you annoyed?" Rosenberg responded. "Yeah initially, but then I also got to f---ing see that all this s--- isn't fun all the time." Earl, of course, was speaking of the block that he grew up on. An area of Los Angeles where he could skate and mess around on the pavement until the sun went down. But with the group's rise in fame, Sweatshirt can't walk through his home turf without fans asking for pictures and autographs.