Stripez - Hear Me (Limelight) Video

Stripez is a hip hop grime Mc from Manchester who has been Mcing for around five years, Hear Me video is Stripez's latest release. The track outstanding, it has a mainstream feel yet still keeps a true hip hop vibe. This is a hard task to achieve for most artists yet Stripez seems to be able to do it with ease. The video itself is something that I can defiantly imagine on most commercial music TV channels. Stripez is destined for big things in the future. Watch this space.

Stripez has a mixtape called "I 'Aint Even Started Yet" in progress.

Slay & Remdog - Ready For The War Video

Legendary Manchester grime MCs Slay and Remdog have teamed up with K1 to bring us an absolute banger. The video itself is a hood video with a Fifa twist. Ready for the War is a classic grime track that will get any fan of the genre hyped up to the max. If you thought modern grime lacked the fire the genre originally had than think again. Slay and Remdog flow perfectly and still bring the bite when they go in, and they go in hard!

Magiic - 100 Bags Remix (Facebook Shouts)

So Manchester grime Mc has released this new track showing his lyrical talent before his upcoming clash with Shocka. The lyrical levels on this track have been pushed to new highs with most bars hitting hard! If Shocka thinks he's got an easy win he better think again, Magiic is on fire right now and he's leaving his competition in smoke and mirrors. I'm looking forward to what he pulls out the hat next.

Listen to the track here: Magiic 100 Bags
Listen to more of Magiic on his soundcloud
Find out more about Magiic's clash with Shocka here: http://standupnorth.blogspot.com/2012/01/gig-watch-rhyme-club-presents-waw-grime.html

Gig Watch: Rhyme Club presents W.A.W Grime Clash Sponsored by Monster

Rhyme Club and Meany have set up a legendary grime clash event full of Manchester's best grime MCs, the event has been set for Saturday 25th February. The announced clashes include Frosty Boi vs Toxic, Magiic vs Shocka, Appeal vs Double Deuce, Explicit vs Eyes, Barzie vs Kritikal, Prose vs Lady Killa and as if that wasnt enough to get most grime fans excited the headline clash is between Rj and Viollet! A team of expert grime MCs has been set up to judge the event including XP, Dorris, Elz, Stony, Psychosis Holocaust, Frisko, Sinseer and O.G. as well as that  the legendary Meany is hosting it! As well as this there is an open mic set and Djs Faze and Quantize. With more MCs to be announced to clash this night is going to be a spectacular night and a must for any grime fans.

This is guest list event only so reserve tickets by emailing rhymeclub@gmail.com and tickets are priced at just £2. This is an all ages event so you have no excuse.

Additional sponsors include:
http://www.menikmati.co.uk/
http://www.younaughtymonsters.com/

Tempa Lyrical - The Best Of Tempa Lyrical 90KGZ Vol 1

Tempa Lyrical is a Manchester Mc who brings an old school vibe mixed with a modern Hip Hop feel and. In the past Tempa has worked heavily with fellow Manchester Mc Rapper Crimes. The album is twenty-eight tracks long and is a collection of Tempa's best work to date. The overall feel of the album is one of peace and moving forward with the times. For me the stand out tracks are Leaders Walk, which is a positive Hip Hop classic, Time Ov Now, which has an amazing instrumental mixed with clever lyrics, No Looking Back featuring Rapper Crimes, which is my personal favourite on the album and Life Were We Be, which is a mellow track most Hip Hop heads around Manchester defiantly enjoy, although all of the tracks on the album are worth a listen to. This is a Hip Hop album that brings back the real passion Hip Hop lacks now in the industry. The Best Of Tempa Lyrical Vol. 1 is out now for free download, I would highly recommend this album to any real Hip Hop fan.
8/10

You can download the album here:
http://crimeslyrical.bandcamp.com/album/the-best-of-tempa-lyrical-vol-1-90-kgs

The hood video to Taste Sweet is out now, watch it here:

Gig Watch - Jedi Mind Tricks, Don't Flop, Red IQ

So Jedi Mind Tricks are coming to Manchester on Wednesday 15th February! They are supported by an eight man Don't Flop freestyle battle tournament, Red IQ who are a Hip Hop group from Manchester including D'Lyfa Reilly, Bo'Nidle, C Aye Monk and this time they are companied by Broke N £nglish's Konny Kon on the decks. The final support slot is The Natural Curriculum, a Manchester political Hip Hop group. The event will be held at Manchester Club Academy and tickets are £15. Its

You can buy tickets here:
 http://www.seetickets.com/Event/JEDI-MIND-TRICKS/Club-Academy/609271
Or here:
https://www.ticketline.co.uk/order/tickets/13265594/jedi-mind-tricks-manchester-club-academy-2012-02-15-19-30-00

Rapper Crimes - One Love One Life Mixtape

Rapper Crimes is a positive Hip Hop Mc straight out of Manchester who is an associate to MancStar. One Love One Life is thirty-two tracks long and every single track is an absolute classic piece of Hip Hop. The main vibe of the mixtape is one of truthful street lyrics about escaping from the cycle of gangster culture. Although each track is a classic the stand out tracks for me were Real For Ya Ears, a reminiscent of classic 90s positive Hip Hop that any fan will be able to appreciate, Too Real, a future classic I'm sure, Convos Of Weights, Broke Pockets, a track that covers a being broke which many people need to deal with throughout life and No Looking Back featuring  Tempa Lyrical. This has been released as free download, give it a try, after all this is a classic album!

9/10

You can download the album here:
http://crimeslyrical.bandcamp.com/album/one-love-one-life

Gig Watch - Will Not Be Televised: Gza, Skittles, Red IQ

On Friday 27th this month Will Not Be Televised presents: Wu Tang Clan's Gza, Manchester's Skittles with a live band, D'Lyfa Reilly and Red IQ, The Mothership Connection, Spider Jaroo and Konny Kon. This event will be help at Rusholme's Antwerp Mansion located in Manchester's Curry Mile. The line up for this event is fucking awesome. You can buy tickets on the door for just eight quid!! Bargain.

Or you can order tickets here:
http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/Antwerp-Mansion/GZA--SKITTLES--WILL-NOT-BE-TELIVISED/11579678/

Click here and click attending:
http://www.facebook.com/events/108657499255401/

Tap D - Talk To Me Video (Word On Road TV Freestyle)

Tap D is a Manchester grime Mc who has been spitting for around eight years, in the past he worked with artists such as Meany, Wrigz, Hypes and RIO. This is Tap D's lastest freestyle video, filmed by Word On Road TV, it has very street lyrics and a sense of real life for anyone on road. The track is of a high lyrical standard with alphabet bars that most grime fans will be able to appreciate. The actual hook is very memorable and gets stuck in your head. So far this is the best freestyle of 2012, Tap D has set the bar high for other MCs this year.

You can follow Tap D @ TapDmusic

Look out for Sound the Hood Vol.2 An Autapbiography E.P. coming out soon.

Lady Killa - Beast Mode Video

Lady Killa is a Manchester grime Mc, she is in my personal opinion one of the strongest female grime MCs in the scene at the moment. This is the video to her track Beast Mode, the track itself is very strong and shows off Killa's lyrical talent, its a catchy track that will leave a memorably imprint on any grime fan. The video is full of interesting shots and pyrotechnics, it has some sick shots of Lady Killa clashing herself.  Lady Killa is indeed a beast. Take note female MCs, this is how its done.

You can follow Lady Killa @lkoffkey

Sin-Seer - Hazy Daze E.P.

Sin-Seer is a Hip Hop Manchester Mc. Hazy Daze is his debut release and is eight tracks long. It features several other Hip Hop artists such as Inflict, C4, Blizzard, Nate, Red IQ's Bo'Nidle and Dot Rotten. The highlight tracks for me were Situations featuring Inflict, an interesting song from a lyrical point of view, Black Hole Prophecy, Hazy Daze Freestyle, which shows of Sin's talent of thinking from the top of the head and Deep Thoughts featuring Dot Rotten, Bo'Nidle and Nate, this is perhaps the E.P.s Finest offering, Sin-Seer's verse is outstanding, it shows a level far above his peers. To pick out highlights from this E.P. suggests that there are tracks of less importance, this is wrong as every single track could be considered a future classics. You should defiantly give it a listen.

9/10

You can download the E.P. here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gm29ae1knyjukmc
You can follow Sin-Seer @Sin_Seer
You can here more of Sin-Seer's music here:
http://soundcloud.com/sin-seer

D'Lyfa Reilly - Sewing Seeds

D'Lyfa Reilly is a Manchester Mc who is part of the Hip Hop group Red IQ. Sewing Seeds is D'Lyfa Reilly's first release, its comprised of a collection of unreleased tracks from '09 & '10. The E.P. is just seven tracks long and clocks in at around twenty minuets long. Every track on this E.P. is an absolute classic, not a single track is weaker than the other. The first track is Concrete Safari , a track which covers social topics based around living in the city humdrum. The second track, Sewing Seeds, is just as strong as Concrete Safari and has intelligent lyrics that are unpredictable. Moment of Soul is perhaps D'Lyfa's finest track, if its not that then it is most defiantly his most truthful and passionate track, it provides a small insight into D'Lyfa's problems and ideas. Keep Dreamin' is another a track that covers D'Lyfa's problems but at the same time its very easy to relate to, it too has clever wordplay and stands out. Any Beat, Any Melody and Jan 7th (All FM rip) are both straight up Hip Hop anthems. The final track, Who I Am, is a great finisher to the E.P. and keeps up the high level. Over all this album is a masterpiece. If you don't know D'Lyfa Reilly get to know, this E.P. is possible the best Hip Hop release of 2011. Red IQ regularly perform live around Manchester so be sure to keep a look out as they know who to whip a crowd into a frenzy.
10/10

You can download the E.P. here:
http://dlyfamusic.bandcamp.com/album/sewing-seeds
You can here more of Red IQ on their Youtube page here:
http://www.youtube.com/BeRedIQ
The video to Concrete Safari is out now and you can watch it here:

Briggzy - Gingerfication

Briggzy is a Manchester Hip Hop/Rap artist from Salford signed to the Misfit Music record label. This is Briggzy's debut album and is eleven tracks long, it has a running time of 34 minutes and features various other artists such as Shotty Horror, Hoodman aka Tyler Daly, Illatant, Raptor, The Mend and Samir Harmim. The highlight tracks for me are Duck Down ft. Shotty Horror & Hoodman, a straight up Hip Hop classic, Gingerfication Love, a track that shows Briggzy doesn't take himself to seriously, Home, this is a powerful track that most people will be able to relate to. For me the stand out track is Rest Of Me, this is possibly Briggzy's most passionate track yet and a nice round off to Gingerfication. All in all this is a great album that most people will be able to relate to. There are fun tracks, party tracks and heartfelt tracks, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
7/10

You can buy the album here:
http://misfitmusic.co.uk/
You can find more about Briggzy here:
http://briggzy.co.uk/
You can find Briggzy's youtube page here:
http://www.youtube.com/BRIGGZYUK
You can follow Briggzy @Briggzyuk

Sparkz - Back to Basics E.P.

Sparkz is a Manchester Hip Hop Mc who has been Mcing and producing since he was 15 years old. Back to Basics is a three track E.P. that has been released trough Sparkz's facebook page. The title track, Back to Basics ft. Helen K & Digz, is a chilled Hip Hop track which discusses a few basic truths that everyone should take on board. The second track, Smoking Ganja, is a high grade Hip Hop anthem that again comes with some wise words that any herbalist will be able to relate to. The third and final track, Too Lazy, is another piece of just great Hip Hop. Just like the other tracks this too has lyrics covering real life problems almost anyone can relate to. Although this E.P. is just three tracks long, each track is a complete banger that any Hip Hop fan will appreciate. If Sparkz isn't on your radar yet you better make sure you clock onto him soon.
10/10

You can download the E.P. free here:
http://www.facebook.com/sparkzmcr

You can hear more of Sparkz's music here:
http://soundcloud.com/sparkz101/tracks

Riddle - Art & Soul (E.P.)

Riddle is a Hip Hop producer from Manchester. Art & Soul is an all instrumental E.P. which is twenty two tracks long and features a variety of Hip Hop styles. On the whole the E.P. is a quite a mellow listen, with a number of tracks featuring almost psychedelic guitar riffs. For me the stand out tracks on this E.P. are Let Go, Keys Open Doors, Amnesia, Urban Living and Sunshine which are all good sounding songs that anyone can appreciate. Another stand out track is the Don't Flop North instrumental, a familiar sound to anyone who follows the Don't Flop battle league . All in all this E.P. is a great listen, whether your an Mc looking for an awesome variety of instrumentals to spit on or just a fan of some nice sounding music to put on in the background while you work, you should get a copy into your life.


You can download the album for £5 here:
http://riddleonline.bandcamp.com/

You can follow Riddle @RiddleOnline

That's Juvey? - That Juvey Kid (Prod by Suus)

That's Juvey? is a sixteen year old Hip Hop artist straight out of Ellesmere Port. This track is produced by Don't Flop battle rapper Suus and clocks in at three and a half minuets long. That's Juvey has some amazing lyrical word skill that at some points leaves me stunned. The video itself is quite a comical one, its filmed around a fair ground which leads to some interesting shots. Some people may find his accent a bit hard to swallow but I find it refreshing to hear some genuine talent coming from Ellesmere Port, a place not know for it's Hip Hop, especially which when Juveys so young! That's Juvey is defiantly one to watch out for in the future.

You can follow That's Juvey @ThatsJuvey

Skream feat. Dorris - Different Zone

So recently Manchester's very own grime Mc Dorris teamed up with Dub-Step legend Skream. Different Zone is quite a mellow track with a hit of a club like vibe. This is defiantly a ladies track which will rip up the dance floor when its dropped. Skream's backing track is hard enough as it is let alone when combined with Dorris's familiar truthful lyrics. You most defiantly should check this banger out, after all who hasn't got a spare three minuets in there life?

Chris Leese - Every Body Hates Chris

Chris Leese is a long time hip hop Mc as well as Don't Flop Norths first battle rapper, he comes from Macc Town, he combines a mixture of strong lyrics with a comic style,  this is his debut album and what an album it is.The album is 16 tracks long and it features other MCs such as Louis Logic, Red Eye & Assa. Mixed in with all of the "Piss Hop," as Chris calls it,   are some strong emotional tracks that can really relate to. One of the most heartfelt tracks on the album is a song called The Pain which is a tale about a heroin user and his struggle in life, Chris's lyrical word play really stood out on this song. The title track is possible Chris's best track on the album, perhaps his carer, it perfectly combines comic lyrics with intellectual thinking creating a classic tune which can be appreciated across the hip hop community. Other stand out tracks include (Still) Better than You, a sequel track to Better than you, Class in Session, a crazy track where Chris takes the role of a school teacher and Writing My Wrongs. Overall this album finds a nice way to dance between comedy and serious Hip Hop, like all debut albums this has a few weak tracks but most of the tracks are superb, any underground Hip Hop fan should definitely own this album!

8/10

You can buy the album here:
http://chrisleese.co.uk/

You can watch the video to Every Body Hates Chris here:

Spider Jaroo - Writing for Commission

This is the latest E.P. from Northern Structure Records, it is by a Blackpool artist who goes by the name Spider Jaroo aka veteran Don't Flop battle rapper Disciple. It is eight tracks long and clocks in at around twenty six minutes long, the E.P. also features fellow Northern Structure Records rapper Amos. The main vibe of the E.P. is one of politics, hip hop revival and Spider Jaroo's personal struggle within the hip hop scene.  tracks of note include the opening track Solar Flare, an old school Brooklyn style, No Doubt, which has a chilling instrumental and an almost a mild horrorcore feel to it, Who's that?, an evil hip hop track and the title track Writing for Commission, an insightful look into Jaroo's thought process. For me through, the personal highlight was the beast Machetes, a classic hip hop anthem which can be appreciated across the genre due to its anthem like feel and large hook. Overall this is a solid hip hop E.P. and well worth a listen, especially as its free to download.

7/10

You can download the album for free here:
http://northernstructure.bandcamp.com/album/writing-for-commision

You can here more music from Northern Structure Records here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/NorthernStructureRec

You can follow Spider Jaroo @Spiderjaroo

You can watch the music video to Who's That? here:

Dorris & Xtra - Less Gass More Work

This is the newest mixtape that Manchester grime MCs Dorris & Xtra have done together, it features a fair few other Manchester grime MCs such as Snoopy, XP, 007, L.K and Hypes as well as a few Hip Hop MCs like Sin Seer and C4. The mixtape is 15 tracks long and clocks in at 48 minuets. For me the personal highlights are Go Mental, a hyped up grime classic that will deffo be tearing down grime raves all over the country, Old School Vibes featuring Hip Hop MC Sin Seer, which is a Garage banger! This track from the get go wins over the listener with its raw instrumental, when the MCs start spitting it then cranks up the levels even more, Sir Yes  Sir is another classic Grime anthem with an old school 06 feel to it, it features Manchester legend Hypes who recently featured on Lord of The Mics 3. The stand out track has to be Fuckerys which is a Manchester link up featuring L.K, C4 the Polymath, Sin Seer, Lady Ice & 007, its hard not to like this track, the intensity is easy to  hear in just the instrumental let alone when the MCs start spitting some of there best bars to date. Other tracks to look out for are Did You Hear That, featuring Snoopy & XP, Deya, featuring L.K, Hyper Breh, And What, featuring Snoopy and finally From Now On, an insightful look at Dorris's life and choices, it is a passionate track that a lot of listeners will be able to relate to. Overall this mixtape is a great listen and any grime fan will lap it up!! 

8/10

You can buy the album from Amazon here:

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Less-Gas-More-Work-Explicit/dp/B006CVLC6M

and from iTunes here:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/less-gas-more-work/id482997482
The music video to Sir Yes Sir Ft. Hypes is out now and you can watch it here: