Behind Closed Doors and LDBC4

Yeah thats right it's nearly time for Louis Den Beat Cypher 4 (PLEASE NOTE IT'S A NEW VENUE THE SUNFLOWER LOUNGE as Rootys is now shut!!!!) and to make it that little bit more special it's also celebrating the launch of the "Behind Closed Doors Volume 1" DVD/CD combo pack focusing on Hip-hop production. Copies are being sent out and have reached the US, Poland and Spain...you can see how far they've reached on the tracking map here.

Dudes got his, you got yours yet?


"BCD Aims to take you behind the scenes of some of Britains underground hiphop producers; each issue we'll be bringing you exclusive interviews and features from some of the most talented beat makers and producers in the country. In issue one we have in depth interviews with THE LAST SKEPTIK, S-TYPE, EYEBS and get taken on a diggin trip by West Broms own DARREN PAUL. All this as well as one shot quick fire Q&A sessions and beats from the lab featuring BUDGIE, ED STRONG,FIGARO,JAISU and KELAKOVSKI.

If this still isnt enough each issue comes bundled with an exclusive beat CD featuring brand new material from each of the profiled producers. The DVD/CD combo is limited to an intial pressing of 300; each copy is hand numbered and comes with an onbody printed CD/DVD and chapter insert card. Order now using the "BUY" while stocks last!. "



Info swiped from Kosyne...

ON THE BOARDS
Under 18's DMC champ and Jehsts former tour dj, DJ IQ having just dropped his A-LOOP THEORY album he'll have plenty of fresh blaps to play us, he came by on beat cypher 01 with Jehst and was keen to hit us up to showcase his production. RANX DIGGLA from the mighty MSI & ASYLUM is also in the building...one of the resident beatmakers for the legendary brum crew he's hungry to show us his beats; an important member of brums hiphop scene he's been up on the beat cypher from last oct (and was one of the cats I first hollered at when sketching the BCD project)...he's told me Beat Cypher movement got him his fulltime beat making mojo back so lets see.

Also joining the producers are LDBB residents SIVEY, producer for Lowkey, Stylah, Doc Brown, Nino Bless and more! and MYKE FORTE...down with us from the first beat cypher he's been up on the homeworks and many a lab session and has patiently waited for spot since then!!..the wait is over.

On the Mic backed by the talened producers we have ASAVIOUR!, OG YNR head now spearheadding his own label Saving Grace and promoting his current release THE A-LOOP THEORY produced by DJ IQ (see what we did there??). Birmingham legends MSI & ASYLUM, coming thru to show support for the Beat Cypher and their producer RANX are bound to tear the mic apart!, and finally Londons RAMSON BADBONEZ promoting his new Mix CD mixed by Harry Love and London's SALVO promoting his new 7 inch single "The Info" which features KASHMERE and CHESTER P...out on label KING KONG HOLDING COMPANY.

We also got the usual OPEN BEATS round to play your beats out to the crowd...be sure to sign up early...places are even more limited than ever before now as we have to wrap up a little earlier (we have to kickstart proceedings a lot earlier so dont sleep..arrive late and you may miss out.

ANDDDDD following on from last time the totally pimped out extravagant BUCKS FIZZ BEAT BATTLE which was won by SHEARS, we've got the got head to head with the other battle entrants for EAT GOOD / LOUIS DEN / SAVING GRACE / BEHIND CLOSED DOORS goodies, sign up at http://www.louisden.com/beatcypher.

I'll be away over Easter so may not have internet access to update the blog or maybe I'll have OD'd on chocolate, have a good un

Blaq Poet is coming...

Blaq Poets "Blaq Print" could be the release I'm most hyped about at the moment...



Poet and Premo were over at Fabric the other week and MK and Shortee Blitz got em in the studio, check MK's Blog for plenty more dopeness

Part 1


Part 2

Nut-Rageous & Jay Large The Red Zone EP FREE EP

Not often I post free downloads up (as they aren't usully legit, not how I get down...go support the artists and buy there music) but I'm happy and sad about this one. Happy cause it's a dope collab between Flushing Queens Emcee Nut-rageous who you should be familiar with from my radio show (don't sleep on his previous releases inc Wat's Poppin with KL RIP and Nuts and Screws 12" with Blaq Poet and Kryon available from the myspaz link) and Glasgows Jay Large. The bad news is it's one of Jay's last projects as he's focusing on his Management Company "On It Management" looking after S-Type and Jaisu although I hear rumours there may still be a project with Prince Po still to come so fingers crossed (yeah that Prince Po). It also features Lord Sear who you may remember from Kurious's 'Walk Like A Duck' or his dope 12" on Fondle Em' and the crazy 'Hello' joint, here he adds his usual humour. Download link after the pics, enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Nando's Nando's Nando's Chicken, Jammy Waggon Wheels and Brocolli

As a treat for the weekend I'm giving all you basline ravers a treat!


When Chopps Derby isn't busy goin Back To Yer Yard you might find him getting his Powerlap on round your local Matalan Carpark


Never forget that the Shite is Real



You Dont Know What Brocolli Is EP out now, you can buy it here


Edit: It suddenly hit me a Chopps Derby / Dubbledge collab could be BIG or perhaps I'm just dreaming ;)

MI 30-03-09 w/ C.O.L.D. Ravage and Kosyne, BCD and The Unseen

Sorry for the lack of updates, life stuff gets in the way sometimes

Main Ingredient Radio Show
New Style Radio 98.7FM Mon 12-2am,
30-03-09 W/ C.O.L.D, Ravage and Kosyne
DOWNLOAD HERE

C.O.L.D. were live in the studio and got Ravage on too, one of those weird moments when I realised I'd never properly met Ravage before even though I'd been aware of him since MSI & Asylum were featured in Downlow magazine (yeah anyone remember that?) back when I was a kid! (I'm thinking it's about 15 years which makes it extra crazy).

Kosyne dropped in at the end of the show to talk briefly about the new Louis Den "Behind Closed Doors" DVD / CD which is out now and can be ordered from here. It's over an hour long and features Eyebs, Darren Paul, Last Skeptik, S-Type, Jaisu, Ed Strong, Kelakovski etc and comes with a beat CD mixed by yours truly...a snip at £10 (+p&p) for both. Launch night on Thursday 16th April @ THE SUNFLOWER LOUNGE (PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE!) but more on that closer to the time. Heres the teaser tailer and a new Jaisu beat vid

This Thursday is The Unseen at the Bulls Head again, PA's from The Custodians (they'll be on the next radio show too), Clarity and Justice, heres the info hopefully see you there...

Have a great week

Cro

ps Charles Hamilton is a complete wasteman, check Fresh Selects for the scoop, unfortunately it took this for me to find out about the blog but Kenny has some great music up don't sleep!

Main Ingredient 16-03-09, Radio Trip & New Diamond D Vid

Main Ingredient Radio Show
16-03-09
DOWNLOAD HERE

Juice Aleem - Birmingham 6 (Big Dada)
Heltah Skeltah - Midnight Madness Promo)
Verb T - Serious Games Prelude (Promo)
Kev Brown - Always (Chris Read Remix)
Alternate Reality - Fast Talk (Pro-Se)
Nottz feat Kardinal Offishall & Cory Gunz - Can't Hide The Truth (Promo)
Endemic feat Timbo King & Planet Asia - Robbin Hood Theory (No Cure)
Q-Tip feat Busta Rhymes & Raekwon - Renaissance Rap Remix (Universal)
Termanology - Say It (ST)
Illa J - DFTF (Delicious Vinyl)
Record Kings feat Beatnuts - Rock Ya Shoulders (All City)
Common - Car Horn (Chris Read Remix)
Big Kwam - I Don't Give a Whut Pt.2 (Blindside)
Kyza - Love and Music (Dented)
Chima - Clocks (Promo)
Harmonic 313 feat - Battlestar (Warp)
Finale - Motor Music (iM)
Capone N Noreaga - Grand Royal (Promo)
Jyager feat Jehst - The Session (YNR)
MF Doom - Thats That (Lex)
The New Classics feat Sha Stimuli, Cy Marshall Law & Sean Price - Street Life (Vimby)
1982 feat Fame - Thugathon (ST)
Sport G & Mastermind - Let The Rhythm Roll(Vinyl Addicts)
Brand Nubian - Nitty Gritty Remix (Elektra)
Kid Capri - Jokes On You Jack Remix (Cold Chillin)
Showbiz & AG - I'm Convicted (Freestyle Records)
Main Source - The Atom (Attic)
Chill Rob G - Court Is Now In Session (WIld Pitch)
Shorty Long - Say My Name (OLU)
Jaz B Latin - Set It Off (Mercury)
Bullion - Young Heartache (One Handed Music)
Frank N Dank - Ma Dukes (ABB)


Radio Trip (Schoolmaster and Mixmonster from The Apples) are our guests at Funkbox this Thursday 19th March at the Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath. Heres a video to an unreleased track they made
and the trippy Suzi


FUNKBOX present the Birmingham debut of RADIO TRIP, the brain child and (side) project of the funkiest band ever from Tel Aviv. Schoolmaster and Mixmonster are founding members of the all conquering live phenomenon that is THE APPLES. They approach this project with a different angle, they cut and paste samples, in a true old school style, to create beautiful pieces of music, from Hip-hop through to blues.

They have agreed to come and play some choice records, don't just expect funk and hip-hop, think outside the box with B-Boy styled Turkish rock, Israeli party gems, psyche monsters and all the right things to make your feet wiggle and move!!

This night will celebrate the release of their first EP and the pre release of the album proper through Jalapeno; and will surely be a journey into vinyl culture.

Just a few quid in...

Thursday 19th March 2009
8pm - 1am

The Hare and Hounds
High Street
Kings Heath
Birmingham

Hope to see you there and have a great week

Cro

Bonus addition new Diamond (D) video for Bad/Good, didn't think I'd even like the song as I've not really been into any of his new material...

Funkbox and Grand Pianoramax w/ Mike Ladd Tonight

The Funkbox residents will be playing after Grand pianoramax tonight (Sat 14th March) at the Hare and Hounds, here's what you can expect

and this as Mike Ladd will be in tow...

Kurious Back with V.I.C. and Doom

New Kurious "Back with V.I.C." from the forthcoming II album on Amalgam Digital in May


and some footage with MF Doom who's new album "Born Like This" is finally out at the start of April (just heard a terrible Thom Yorke remix too, not good). Looks like they're shooting a video for the track which also features MC Serch, should be dope!

Wu ooh

This gives me a little bit of hope the Cuban Linx 2 may actually see the light of day and so far I've liked what I've heard (although he shouldn't be making part 2's to classic tracks). I'm wondering if Baggage Handlers wil make it on there too...

Behind the scenes of Raekwon video shoot

Turns out Heltah Skeltah had been on Live 5 a few years before with Buckshot so enjoy some more inspired bars

Heltah Skeltah Freestyle

This just made my day, too many laugh out loud moments...

MI Radio 16-02-09, Maseo Live & Jibbering to shut :(

Big shout to everyone who made it to Louis Den last Thursday and made it the best one yet, Shears won the open beat battle and was pimpin with his bucks fizz. Percy, Raul, Winchester and Jon Phonics all killed it with different styles and Pentalk, Jyager and Kyza for the PA's. Ceasa also did a dope Dilla breaks mix (similar to the one he did on the radio a while back...worth hunting for the download link).


Some bad news, Jibbering will be shutting it's doors for good this Saturday 21st @ 5.30pm, it's survived 9 years (with me here for over 5 years in different capacities) It'll be a sad day but we'll be carrying on with events, CD & duplication, PA hire, Art and the Shambala Festival. If you want to be kept upto date sign up to the mailing list here and pop in for a last coffee, chat and 50% off all music!

The good news is DJ Maseo will be playing for Funkbox @ The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath


Click the blue box to buy tickets or pop into Jibbering before it shuts, not many left now and a snip at £11 (+bf) to see a truly great dj in intimate surroundings. Support from Funkbox and Guy C (Gorrilaz Soundstystem/Bee's Tour DJ)



on with the show, thanks to Roy for a great guest mix...

Main Ingredient Radio Show
98.7FM (West Midlands)
Guest Roy Roast Beef

DOWNLOAD HERE

Q-Tip Renaissance Rap Remix feat Busta, Raekwon & Lil Wayne (Universal)
Harmonic 313 - Battlestar feat Phat Kat & Elzhi (Promo)
Blaq Poet - Don't Give A Fuck (Year Round)
Jyager - Crystal Mirrors (YNR)
Raekwon - Wu Ooh feat Ghostface & Methodman (White)
De La Soul - Stakes Is High Remix (House Shoes)
Focus - Homage To Dilla feat Slum Village, Frank & Illa J (Promo)

Roy Roast Beef Guest Mix

Mayer Hawthorne & The Country – Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (Stones Throw)
Olympic Runners – Put The Music Where Your Mouth Is (London)
Joe 'Groundhog' Richardson – Take It Off (Major Minor)
Smiling Hard – Fire To The Galleon (Survival)
Crazy Elephant – Pam (Major Minor)
Ram Jam – Black Betty (Epic)
Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra – It's A New Day (Record Kicks)
The Bamboos – Amen Brother (Tru Thoughts)
The Fantastics – Soul Child (ft. Noel McKoy) (Freetstyle)
De La Soul – You Got It (ft. Butta Verses) (Red Lion)
Karl Hector & The Malcouns – J.B. Rip (Now-Again)
Clarence Reid - I'm Gonna Tear You A New Heart (Alston)
J. Dilla – Love (ft. Pharoahe Monch) (BBE)

Sport G & Mastermind - Don't Do It To Yourself (Vinyl Addicts)
Rakim - Heat It Up Remix (MCA)
Big L - Devils Son (Columbia)
Finale - One Man Show (Promo)
Assa - First Infantry feat Deadline and Jimmy Raygun (Tactical Thinking)
Truth - Rap By Numbers (Promo)
M.O.P. - Blow The Horns (Promo)
P Brothers - In A Zone (Heavy Bronx)
Resident Alien - Shakey Grounds (Columbia)
Main Source - The Atom (Attic)
Roc Marciano - Hide My Tears (Promo)
Asaviour & DJ IQ - Complicity feat Kashmere (Saving Grace)

Told you Pro was sick!

Beat Cypher was sick, best one yet imo with pictures and a little write up to follow once I've had some sleep and can actually verbalise / write anything coherent about it! Beat Cypher DVD's & T-shirts on Sale now here!

After posting his Dilla Tribute (see below if you've not already seen it slackers!) and chatting with him about it yesterday he's been getting lots of blog love (pause....had to chuck that in there for Ko!) from Consequence, Kevin Nottingham and Nerds With Swag. He got an email from Stonesthrow saying they liked it which is dope in itself but upon checking the Stonesthow front page this morning, they've put it up! Make sure you check out more of Andy's video's HERE

Have a great weekend people

Cro

Forgot the Dope trailer....

Prolifik with some more sick editing, peep it and hope to see you at the Den later...

Louis Den Beat Cypher 12-02-09 @ Rooty Fruity

Info courtesy of Kosyne, sorry for not rewording it, anyway going to be sick on a stick, be there or your a wasteman / women! Last 2 have been off the meat rack so make sure you support.

"ON THE BEATS
This time round we've got JON PHONICS, PERCY FILTH, WINCHESTER and RAUL SUPREME providing the blaps all playing beats straight out the equipment for the beat cypher and for the PA's.

ON THE MIC
The mighty KYZA (ex Terra Firma) due to release a new mixtape hopefully airing some new tracks out for Birmingham (and I think his first PA here too!).

The newest YNR signee JYAGER who hit the first beat cypher back in Oct 08 to back SIR SMURF LIL' this time he's out reppin himself for a solo set.

Brum mic heavyweights PENTALK, consisting of CASEY, PERGE and the legendary SOWETO KINCH, expect a few mics to take a beating in the process!...

all this plus the usual OPEN BEATS round where we'll play your blaps to the crowd for feedback!! bring bangers..sleepy beats wont get reloads!!...

and somethin a little special.

OPEN BEAT BATTLE JUDGED BY JEHST!
not just Jehst! but the crowd too haha, yeahhh this time we're gonna try our hand at a beat battle so if you think you've got beats to be one of the illest in the crowd! then register now at http://www.louisden.com/beatcypher ,we'll be keeping track of all the entrants from now until the beat cypher itself..the 10 best beatmakers will go into a random draw to determine the participants for the actual beat battle which'll have EAT GOOD / LOUIS DEN prizes....big.

Please do come out and support...£3.50 is good value I sweaaar!! im tryin to put Louisden and brum on the map here so do come out...and as you can see this is doesnt come out of nowhere so we need the support so we can keep putting these on!.

see you there!


Louis Den Beat Cypher 03
JON PHONICS | PERCY FILTH | WINCHESTER | RAUL SUPREME
KYZA | PENTALK | JYAGER
OPEN BEATS | OPEN BEAT BATTLE
£3.50 before 9PM, £5.00 after
18+ only (ID maybe required!)"

MI Radio 09-02-09 with Specky & Capitol 1212 Guest Mix

Last nights show with Specky live in the studio and a nice little guest mix from Capitol 1212, I've upped the full show (inc Capitol 1212 guest mix) and their mix separately so get your download on

Main Ingredient Radio Show 09-02-09 w/ Specky & Capitol 1212 Guest mix
DOWNLOAD HERE

Large Professor feat Killa Sha & Guardian Leap - Maica Living (Gold Dust)
Ed209 & Imam Thug - Karma 360 (VRD)
NYG'z - NHB (Year Round)
Jyager feat Kashmere & Foreign Beggars - Frozen In The Night (YNR)
Jay-z - Roc Boys (Def Jam)
Jay-z - Roc Boys K-Def Remix (White)

Specky Guest Mix (Sorry no tracklist)

Biz Markie - Got To Be Real (White)

Capitol 1212 Guest Mix (Sorry no tracklist)

Recordkingz feat Mobb Deep - Heat ()
Freestyle Professors - Dont Make Me Angry (Freestyle Records)
Beyond There - Glue (72 Records)
Termanology feat Sheek, Joell, Bun B,Saigon & Freeway - Say It (ST)
9th Wonder - Sunday (6 Hole records)


Heres a separate link to DOWNLOAD THE CAPITOL 1212 MIX and you can find out more about them here, now go hunt this down...

More updates and gig news to come, happy listening and have a great week

LOUIS DEN Thursday!!!!

Snow, Acorns, Dilla and Yabba Funk

Well as you know us Brits seem to have a problem with snow, it's not that we don't like it ti just seems to bring the country to a standstill! Due to the weather I decided not to try and drive to the other side of Birmingham to do the radio show so the 2nd Part of my Best of 08 Show and Capitol 1212 Guestmix will go up next week.

I got some treats for you anyway...

Hopefully blog readers will be familiar with Blake 9, founder of Irish Carbomb Music and now Candlewax Records. As a special treat I'm giving you the lead single from Blake and Mad Squirrel's new album Forming Roots following up their dope debut release, feel free to leave a comment or too, and hit Blake up direct if your feeling it.

Acorns Safe Help Single Download and Artwork Click Here

and for that wax or CD fix you can visit the Candlewax Website in the store.

Today is Jibbering Live at the Hare and Hounds with Yaaba Funk Live with support from Magoo (Overproof) and the Jibbering DJ's (plus it's Jons birthday so could get messy!)



From The Underground is a new blog you need to get bookmarked and check regularly too.

Prolifik aka AB0181 aka Andy Brown (to his mum) made this dope Dilla tribute, I'll play some tracks on Mondays show too


Dilla a.k.a Jay Dee - My Tribute 2009 from Andy Brown on Vimeo.


Have a great weekend

Cro

Sort of Best of '08 Show w/ DJ Peaks

For the first part of the Best Of 08 Show, Peaks and myself approached it a little differently, I went for records that were released last year regardless of when they were made and Peaks went for records he bought last year (with the exception of the Pitman track which is an exclusive and set the show off nicely...and offended a few of the radio station people hahaha and the Ghostface and Dilla track Stones Throw only released as a download)

Please note EVERYTHING is available on VINYL (it does still exist) and those CD thingamys so go support that good ish and happy listening. Next Mondays show I've got an exclusive guest mix from Capitol 1212 and will be rounding off my favourites for '08 (plenty more to come).

Had great fun at Heducation on Saturday too, my first all Hip-hop set out for the year and it felt good, great seeing Adios too as he made the trip over from Barcelona for the gig, props!

Main Ingredient Radio 19-01-09
Guest DJ Peaks (his selections in blue)
DOWNLOAD HERE

Pitman - Doom Flag (Son Exclusive)
Kool G Rap - I Declare War (DWG)
Jake One feat Kardinal Offishall & Pharoahe Monch - Hurt U (RSE)
Black Milk feat Pharoahe, Sean Price & DJ Premier - The Matrix (Fat Beats)
Talib Kweli feat Busta Rhymes - Conversations (White)
Black Milk & Bishop Lamont feat Diverse - Bang That Sh!t Out (Music House)
New Jack Hustle - All City Anthem (All City)
Invincible - Sledgehammer (Emergence)
The P Brothers feat Roc Marciano - Outta Control (Heavy Bronx)
Presto feat Blu - Pour Another Glass (Concrete Groove)
Carlos Nino & Lil Sci - Circulate (Shamen Works)
2Tall feat Kashmere - The Most High (Content)
Q-Tip - Gettin Up (Universal)
Nutrageous feat KL - Wats Poppin (Poor Pocket Music)
Panacea - Flashback To Stardom DJ Spinna Remix (Jakarta)
Stacy Epps - Floatin (Domination)
LMNO & Kev Brown - The Cause (Up Above)
The Roots - Get Busy (Def Jam)
Dilla Ghost Doom - Murder Goons (Stones Throw)
Black Milk feat AB - Reppin For U (Fat Beats)
Cold Heat feat Jak D and O.C. - Listen Up (Cold Heat)
Termanology feat Bun B - How We Rock (Nature Sounds)
REKS - Stages (Brick)
Kashmere - Do The Numbers (YNR)
Bullion - Get Familliar (One Handed Music)
Styly Cee & Cappo - Unwritten Rule (Son)
Lone - Borea (Dealmaker)
Illa J feat Guilty Simpson - RU Listenin? (Delicious Vinyl)
Erykah Badu feat Pharoahe Monch - The Healer (White)
Conspicuous & Evil Ed feat too many people to list! - The Illout (OEM)
Presto feat CL Smooth - Part Of Greatness (Concrete Groove)
Cadence - Stand Up Tragedy (DWG)
Supastition - Wrong (Domination)

Essential Gig, Maseo @ The Hare and Hounds

Not often you get Hip-Hop Royalty playing stumbling distance from your house but thats whats happening in Feb with Maseo (yeah that Maseo from De La Soul) gracing the Funkbox Decks...anyone who's seen him before will tell you it's a party not to miss (although I have to grrrrr) I'm more than happy to leave it in the capable hands of the other resident, Guy Carlos (Gorillaz Soundsystem) and Kosyne, heres the info for tickets get down toJibbering Records or visit The Ticket Sellers, DJ Format was a sell out so you know what to do!

Cappo Footage & Charles Hamilton vs Serius Jones Battle

Nearly there with the Best of 08 Show Part 1, all uploaded just got to get the tracklist finished, yeah I know wasteman!

Thanks to Alastair @ Son for filming this and editing the audio, some real hip-hop ish


Heres a video of Charles Hamilton and Serius Jones @ SOB's strangely titled the day after it was uploaded but it's a dope battle...

Every Night by EBO

Dope new vid from LA based producer EBO peep it


Best of 08 Radio Show Pt.1 with DJ Peaks to follow tomorrow, cars and health have been conspiring against me so glad to finally have part 1 recorded.

Have a good un

Cro