12/30/2014
12/02/2014
11/24/2014
11/13/2014
11/06/2014
10/31/2014
10/27/2014
10/25/2014
Rukas (Interview) (2014)
Enter Rukas!!
01. FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH YOU, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.
ANSWER:
Born in Scotland. Oldest of seven. Sadly Drugs and alcohol prominent most of my life, since I was 12. Started listening to Hip hop when Westwood was on Capital Radio. Long time ago. Started writing at about 13 or so. But stopped for the 7 years I was homeless. Only the last few years (7) I’ve been clean. Still like a whiskey, or a Stella, though not so much as my livers a little knackered. Left home at 15. Moved in with Dad (Alcoholic, but I loved him R.I.P. dad) Slept rough on the streets of London for 7 years, and got to know it intimately. Ran round with very dangerous people. Seen friends die with “Needles in their arms whilst listening to the Beatles in a trance” Been to prison (for Drugs) didn’t like it so much so, never went back heh. Spent years going thru the Hostel system till I was eventually given my current flat (Brixton, London) where I got clean. Trained up to become a support worker, helping homeless people. Met the love of my Life Cristina (Galician Actress, and film maker) over 4 years ago. Lost our baby son who was born sleeping over a year ago. Left my job to look after my fiancée Cristina after this loss. Depression and I are close now. But I write. I write…and it helps. Without the missus I’d be a shell.
02. WHICH ARTISTS INFLUENCED YOU IN THE PAST? WHICH ARTISTS INFLUENCE YOU NOW?
ANSWER:
Beatles, Eagles, Eric Clapton, Iron Maiden, Nas, 2Pac, Eminem. Big Daddy Kane, Big Pun, Big L, Blacksheep, Wu, Kurupt (From Dog Pound) Doctor Dre, Bob Marley, Alanis Morissette …The List Is Impossibly Long. I Like All Sorts Of Music, from a varied selection of genres.
03. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SEPARATES YOU FROM OTHER ARTISTS?
ANSWER:
04. DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE(S)?
ANSWER:
I will list only 2… #1: “MIRROR WRITING” is the ultimate expression of my art, and the pinnacle of what I can achieve with the English language. Entire paragraph rhyming… #2: “MULTI RHYME SCHEME JUGGLING” Secret. Look, I sent my first draft of this to Fubar, with a long detailed description of these 2 styles, all was good. But a week previous I have pasted that particular info on Facebook, as a titbit for promo. Well, after that I noticed some people were starting to… well, bite my style. I don’t wanna come off all high and mighty like “who the fuck does he think he is? lol but it took me 20 years to get to the skill level I’m at, and the 2 styles above were my hard sought prize, something I accomplished. 20 YEARS! WRITING! That’s no joke, so I take offense if someone comes along and can’t be bothered to develop their own uniqueness, their own style, nah; these people are biting my style. They ain't doing it RIGHT… but they ARE trying. Heh here, for a laugh, here is me having a rant on facebook about it.
“I DON'T USUALLY RANT, BUT FUCK YEAH I WILL TODAY DAMN IT...EVERYWHERE I LOOK, I HEAR FUCKERS BITING MY FUCKING FLOW!!! THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE...THE SAME PEOPLE I BEEN FUCKING WITH, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE OR WORKED WITH BEFORE....NOT ONE OF THEM IS A STRANGER COINCIDENCE MY SPOTTY ARSE. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THEY WERE CURIOUS, AND AT HOME WANTED TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO IT, THAT'D BE FINE, BUT SUDDENLY ALL YA SONGS YA FLOW SWITCHED UP OUT OF THE BLUE? C'MON....IF YA READ THIS, AND FEEL DEFENSIVE....THEN YOU PROLLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE I'M TALKING ABOUT. I KNOW THIS COZ A YEAR AGO NOT ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE DOING THIS TYPE FLOW. YEAH I’M TALKING ABOUT MY MIRROR WRITING AS YOU WELL KNOW. I SPENT YEARS TRYNA FIND A UNIQUE FLOW, IT WAS HARD MAN, AND I HAD SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS DOING (WELL, NOT PROPERLY ANYWAY) NOW I HEAR IT ALL OVER THE FUCKIN PLACE....YEAH I'M PISSED OFF...WOULDN’T' YOU BE? GET.YOUR.OWN.FUCKING.STYLE. THAT'S IT NUFF SAID....FUCKSAKE.... …And NO...pointless naming and shaming....so don't be asking for names people, not getting involved in teenage online fucking beef...I just want people to know that I am aware of what they're doing, and don't they have any integrity? I COULD NEVER, bite someone’s flow, coz deep down inside myself, I would know that I was copying someone else. AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS THIS WAY?“
05. WHY DO YOU MAKE MUSIC?
ANSWER:
06. WHO HAVE YOU WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?
ANSWER:
Dekay, Matt Catlow, Midi Intellect, Reno, Pro P, Chogaia, Phoenix, Tony Green, (Producers, Anno Domini Stable, Adamack and other Shadowville Producers) To be honest, this list would be too long, I have too many features and people I have worked with. Who would I like to work with in future? I dunno, whoever can write epic bars, and obviously my friends I would like to keep working with. Including my fiancé, Chogaia who has recorded her first rap verse recently, tutored by yours truly. Heh heh have to plug the missus here, or I won’t get my dinner - CHOGAIA - A talented actress (has been in tv shows in her homeland Spain), a film-maker, writer and my muse heh heh. She has done a few videos for Dekay. Here are a couple:
VIDEO CREATED, FILMED, DIRECTED, EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: CHOGAIA
Links:
DEKAY & The D'Mans -DARKNESS VISIBLE Promo Video HD - http://vimeo.com/69470863
07. WHICH ALBUMS HAVE YOU RELEASED TO DATE AND WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS?
ANSWER:
ALBUMS OUT:
1. SLAVE TO THE WORD 2009
2. APPRENTICE TO THE WORD 2010
3. MASTER OF THE WORD 2011
4. THE TERRAN TALE TELLER 2012
5. SO UNDERRATED (RUKAS & DEKAY COLLAB ALBUM 2013)
6. THE MIRROR WRITER - 2014
7. THE SCRIBE ENLIGHTENED 2014
SUNKEN SOUNDS QUOTE:
“Check out the new 7th album from Rukas John Brannan - THE SCRIBE ENLIGHTENED - best Hip-Hop album you will have heard for at least a year from the best lyricist around... Yeah I said it cuz its true”
Sunken Sounds 2014:
https://www.facebook.com/sunken.sounds1?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.reverbnation.com/sunkensounds
ALBUMS IN PRODUCTION:
8. RUKAS - SELF-ENTITLED ALBUM 2014 (Release date 1st November 2014 - FREE)
9. THE GIRL THAT NEVER TAKES HER JACKET OFF – FOR AND ABOUT MY MISSUS. Cheesy shit, and what? Lol 2015
10. I’M ANIMATED – A purely humorous side of me, and my jimmy the midget and Sid the sexist personas. 2015
11. FUTURESCAPE 13 TRACK ANTI-ILLUMINATI ALBUM – 2015 EARLYISH
12. THE WITCH & THE WARLOCK – The missis (Chogaia) and I collabing, with features from Dekay – 2016
13. UNTITLED AS YET – COVER ALBUM PRODUCED BY MYSELF, sampling my fave songs
14. UNTITLED AS YET – COVER ALBUM PRODUCED BY Mat Catlow, sampling our fave songs
Matt Catlow - http://endellstreetstudio.com/
FREE DOWNLOADS!!! DISCOVER WHY RUKAS IS THE GREATEST (and speaks about himself in the 3rd person heh) 8 number 1 tracks in the UK UNSIGNED CHARTS!! 2011 saw me hold the #1, #2 and #3 spot AT THE SAME TIME!!! Follow link, press BUY NOW, then select NAME YOUR PRICE and type in 0.... There you have it.
LINKS:
Bandcamp
ReverbNation
Issuu Clip
SoundCloud
Facebook (Fan Page)
I also feature on various COAST TO COAST mix CDs - http://coast2coastmixtapes.com/member/rukas
The UK Unsigned charts:
http://hitmanproduction.co.uk/Artists.html
08. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE UK HIP-HOP SCENE CURRENTLY?
ANSWER:
https://dekay.bandcamp.com/
https://midiuk.bandcamp.com/
09. IF YOU WERE GOING TO BE LEFT MAROONED ON AN ISLAND WITH ONLY 1 ALBUM TO LISTEN TO AND THE ONLY CHOICES WERE: JUSTIN BEIBER'S "BELIEVE" AND RIFF RAFF'S "ICON", WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? (AND YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE 1)
…I HAVE to answer this? Shit…okay…erm…well I would dramatically find the highest building and jump off it theatrically yelling “HAH! This’ll teach you world”! before listening to that Justin prick, so I’ll go for the freaky looking specimen Riff, plus at least I might be able to rap over his shit to drown out his wack lyrics, as he has more hip hopish beats than Justin…I think. PS fubar you have a sick imagination asking this question, very…very…twisted. I shall not forget this, you have made a most heinous and stubborn enemy this day, LET THE TRUMPETS RING!
…Now where’s that wench of mine with my dinner? OUCH!!! Sorry babes….sob…
RUKAS 19TH OCTOBER 2014
*** Interview conducted by Fubar
10/20/2014
10/15/2014
10/14/2014
10/06/2014
Underground HH (Hip Hop Blog)
UndergroundHH aims to keep you updated with the happenings of the UK Hip-Hop scene, focusing primarily on the underground and independent artists and labels they feel are sticking to the true roots of the culture. They are constantly updating the website during their free time to bring you the latest news, videos, rap battles, reviews, interviews as well as featuring a large database on some of the most prolific artists, listing all their albums, mini album reviews and the lyrics to their tracks.
The website was launched mid 2012 and has already received over 100,000 page views down to the combined efforts of a very small team and the support from artists and record labels up and down the country.
Samuel Tafari & Seiza - Code of Silence (COMING SOON)
Street Shit (Pt. I) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Keep It Movin' [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Concrete Jungle (ft. DJ TMB) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Mumma I'm Sorry [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Code of Silence (Put In Work) (ft. DJ TMB) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Razors Army (ft. 17z & Edd Bundy) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
9/19/2014
9/11/2014
9/02/2014
8/26/2014
8/22/2014
Ill of Writes - Blue Van Music (COMING SOON) (2014)
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Release Date: 9-1-2014
Ill of Writes.. formerly known as Hood Kings (Edd Bundy & Samuel Tafari). In the constant search for originality, the decision to change the name has been made.
The album "Blue Van Music" features production from Jake One and cuts from DJ TMB. The 1st single titled "Money" has been released in promotion for the new album.
Ill of Writes.. back in rare form immediately after the release of "Full Metal Alchamists 2" released recently under the moniker of "Hood Kings" which is available for FREE DOWNLOAD.
8/15/2014
Interview: Jus Ra (2014)
Enter Jus Ra !!!
01. For those who aren't familiar with you, tell us a little about yourself. Are you part of any crews?
Answer: My name Is Jus Ra I’m a emcee out of Flint Michigan, I’ve been grinding on my city’s music scene for about 8 years now I’ve done it all from sit with major labels such as Aftermath and Universal to open shows for established platinum selling artist like Chamillionaire, Young Buck and Freeway. Along with being a Solo Artist I’m a part of an online supergroup The Fraternity and I’ve been working with that circle of artists for about a year.
02. Which artists influenced you in the past? Which artists influence you now?
Answer: When I first started to record my main influences were Canibus, Redman, Eminem and Big Pun because in the beginning all I wanted was to be “Lyrical” but as I got more experienced I started to pay attention to techniques that Jay Z used in song writing and Incorporated that heavily regarding things like content and balance. Nowadays I’d say my biggest Influences are Lupe Fiasco and Pharoah Monch they are two of the creative artist out right now and I really do strive to be creative in everything I do as far as my sound.
03. What would you say separates you from other artists?
Answer: My voice! It’s what sets me apart from the guy rapping next to me, it makes people pay attention, I guess they don’t expect me to have such a high pitch lol, besides the voice it’s the flow I think, I’ve taken little things from my personal list of great and incorporated them into my style just with my twist added to it.
04. Why do you make music? What is your ultimate goal?
Answer: In the beginning I think I just wanted to be in that “who’s the nicest” conversation but now I do it as a means to speak out on certain things be it from a place of social awareness or just pure entertainment. My ultimate goal is just to contribute a widely recognized and acclaimed to Hip Hop culture, I just need the one please and thank you.
05. Who have you worked with in the past and who would you like to work with in the future?
Answer: In the past I’ve got work in with a lot of the local talent in my city namely artist like the songstress Shava Jay, production genius A.P and Battle Rap’s newest Star Anubis; I’ve also put in a lot of work with the Fraternity over the last year. Future artists I’d like to work with are Exile, Slaughterhouse and Lupe Fiasco to name a few.
06. Which albums have you released to date and which are currently in the works?
Answer: I recently just put out my album called Blood Sacrifice it’s on sale on my bandcamp page along with a few free album I’ve released in the last 2 years so right now there are 4 albums on there overall I’m on my 8th joint in like 4 years I’m working out here lol. In terms of right now I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a Ep I got coming out with a producer that goes by The Gonz he’s also in Fraternity and the Ep is going to be called Unclassified, beside the new music I got coming later this year I’m also going to be putting out videos for Blood Sacrifice the first visual piece is almost wrapped it’s going to be a song off the album called Dead God produced by another Fraternity member named Dope Antelope so y’all be on the lookout for that.
*** Interview conducted by Fubar ..
LINKS:
Bandcamp
Twitter
Facebook
01. For those who aren't familiar with you, tell us a little about yourself. Are you part of any crews?
Answer: My name Is Jus Ra I’m a emcee out of Flint Michigan, I’ve been grinding on my city’s music scene for about 8 years now I’ve done it all from sit with major labels such as Aftermath and Universal to open shows for established platinum selling artist like Chamillionaire, Young Buck and Freeway. Along with being a Solo Artist I’m a part of an online supergroup The Fraternity and I’ve been working with that circle of artists for about a year.
02. Which artists influenced you in the past? Which artists influence you now?
Answer: When I first started to record my main influences were Canibus, Redman, Eminem and Big Pun because in the beginning all I wanted was to be “Lyrical” but as I got more experienced I started to pay attention to techniques that Jay Z used in song writing and Incorporated that heavily regarding things like content and balance. Nowadays I’d say my biggest Influences are Lupe Fiasco and Pharoah Monch they are two of the creative artist out right now and I really do strive to be creative in everything I do as far as my sound.
03. What would you say separates you from other artists?
Answer: My voice! It’s what sets me apart from the guy rapping next to me, it makes people pay attention, I guess they don’t expect me to have such a high pitch lol, besides the voice it’s the flow I think, I’ve taken little things from my personal list of great and incorporated them into my style just with my twist added to it.
04. Why do you make music? What is your ultimate goal?
Answer: In the beginning I think I just wanted to be in that “who’s the nicest” conversation but now I do it as a means to speak out on certain things be it from a place of social awareness or just pure entertainment. My ultimate goal is just to contribute a widely recognized and acclaimed to Hip Hop culture, I just need the one please and thank you.
05. Who have you worked with in the past and who would you like to work with in the future?
Answer: In the past I’ve got work in with a lot of the local talent in my city namely artist like the songstress Shava Jay, production genius A.P and Battle Rap’s newest Star Anubis; I’ve also put in a lot of work with the Fraternity over the last year. Future artists I’d like to work with are Exile, Slaughterhouse and Lupe Fiasco to name a few.
06. Which albums have you released to date and which are currently in the works?
Answer: I recently just put out my album called Blood Sacrifice it’s on sale on my bandcamp page along with a few free album I’ve released in the last 2 years so right now there are 4 albums on there overall I’m on my 8th joint in like 4 years I’m working out here lol. In terms of right now I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a Ep I got coming out with a producer that goes by The Gonz he’s also in Fraternity and the Ep is going to be called Unclassified, beside the new music I got coming later this year I’m also going to be putting out videos for Blood Sacrifice the first visual piece is almost wrapped it’s going to be a song off the album called Dead God produced by another Fraternity member named Dope Antelope so y’all be on the lookout for that.
*** Interview conducted by Fubar ..
LINKS:
Bandcamp
8/01/2014
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