Hip hop represents at the 54th Grammy's

#Rakim hits the UK...25th anniversary tour

Rakim, the microphone fiend, is in the UK!

And sources tell me he's hitting my hometown of Bristol this Saturday, May 7th, for his "Paid in Full" 25th anniversary concert (even though Eric B won't be on stage.) So if you're within 50 miles you have to reach and support. It's gonna be one hell of a show....Rahzel (of The Roots) and Rakim. Hot!

"In the history of Hip-Hop, few artists have had as great an impact on the development and progression of the art form's lyrical style as Rakim. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the release of 'Paid in Full', consistently regarded as the greatest Hip Hop album of all time - and to celebrate and commemorate, Rakim plays Bristol for the first time ever - on Saturday May 7th."

Tickets are £22.50 (stbf) - available from The O2 Academy Box Office and these fine outlets:

Rakim getting the pat down, Los Angeles 2006

• Bristol Ticket Shop – Broadmead (0117) 929 9008
• Wanted Records - St Nicholas Market (0117) 929 0524
• Cooshti - Park St (0117) 929 0850
• Prime Cuts – Gloucester Rd (0117) 983 0007
• Online.

HO, HO, HO...Merry Christmas everyone!

Thanks to Christie Z.

Hip hop rules kids' TV...Biz Markie and Yo Gabba Gabba

Nickelodeon's "Yo Gabba Gabba!" has been ruling the cable channels under my nose. Who knew kids' TV could be so cool?!

Gotta recognize! The picture shows the main characters of the show, but it's the guest stars and contributors that make this a stand-out show. Do you recognize the human in the picture? Yep, that's the Diabolical Biz Markie...the Human Orchestra! Biz has a regular slot on Yo Gabba Gabba! and even goes on tour with the show to do live human beatbox. Talk about keeping hip hop alive! Even The Roots, Money Mark and Erykah Badu have been invited on to the show.

And now, courtesy of Cinefamily, us adults have a rare chance to meet the show's creators tonight in Los Angeles for a special celebration and discussion on how and why "Yo Gabba Gabba!" came to life! Get tixs here.

Who said America was a cultural desert?!

Inspector Gadget...original b-boy?

F-F-Fresh! Inspector Gadget is a hip-hop classic believe it or not. See below for the rap renditions, but Inspector Gadget never got much love from the classical music crowd. Until now. Check out the treatment Greg Pattillo gives Gadget! Yowzer!



Flautist Greg Pattillo (and YouTube star...check him out)


Watching too much TV?

Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick (aka MC Ricky D)


Bad Boys with Veronica (bargin bin?)

Slick Rick and Biz...Lord 'ave mercy!

Legendary. The sound stinks on this video, but oh..what a moment. Beatbox pioneer Biz Markie with legend Slick Rick doing "The Show"?!

Human beatbox...world champs

Do you know The Roots? Then you know Rahzel...and his Robocop obsession. He's good (see the clip below), but in terms of versatility I think the the (white) Europeans have got something going on! ;-) Seriously!



YouTube delivers proof
Quality beatboxing comes from Belgium's Roxorloops (?!) and London's Killa Kella who freestyles with Supernatural! Here's Roxorloops...he beats the competition with his sound effects...listen for the echo.



Check the lyrics
This clip below shows Supernatural freestyle rhyming over Killa Kella's beatbox skills. Oh, mate...I've got some Killa Kella 12" from 2003. London, baby! Check the video. It's the ill-est freestyle for years!

Check the rhymes: Korea, Japan and the Louis Vuitton flow is just outstanding, dog! ;-)



If you want to learn more about Supernatural, read this interview. I, for one, didn't know he's been on the scene for years.