Monday 21 November 2011

Artist Profile: COLDSIDE GENERALS

UrbanVoice UK is particularly proud and excited to support and introduce to you this talented UK collective.
Formed in 2005 Coldside Generals have rapidly become the name to watch out for.  Born and raised in Manchester Zane, Red and Aitch are collectively a group of MCs, Performers, Producers, Singers, Graphic Designers and Engineers. Making all material themselves from the beats to the mastering, Coldside are a unique, self-efficient urban unit making their mark on any genre they touch. No strangers to performing, Coldside have smashed stages since they started in places like Salford Lowry Centre, Virgin Megastores in Manchester Arndale, nightclubs throughout the entire of North West in Leeds, Bolton, Liverpool, Salford, Castlefield, Manchester Academy and more recently The City of Manchester Stadium, which they were announced Manchester City Sound Winners 2011.

2009 saw the groups first major move into the scene with the debut single release on itunes entitled "In My Life". Smashing sales and getting radio play regularly from BBC and popular urban shows throughout the UK, Coldside have gained thousands more fans, from music lovers, to fellow industry musicians and professionals.
In 2010 the group was back with 2 more singles, ”Ex Man” and “Don’t Stop”, both a smash success and been proving very popular at the last shows the boys performed at and on iTunes.

2011 saw Coldside Generals become Manchester's very first City Sound Winners, since then Coldside have had frequent radio play on Manchester's Unity Radio and Q Radio with Key 103's resident DJ Alex James. Already having recorded a documentary with Key 103 and Manchester City Football club the group will be constantly blogging, documenting and streaming their road to success. References from industry experts, Lee Morrison (Sony Music), Alex James (Key 103 radio, In Demand) and Gary Stein (Key 103 Programming Director) Coldside Generals are to be recognised as the "Next Generation" in music.

Here's what music industry professional Alex James. Bauer Radio’s ‘In Demand’ and Q Radio has to say about Coldside Generals:

In an industry over-crowded with MCs and rappers all shouting for attention, Coldside Generals bring a sense of calm to a frantic market – they’ve got their eyes on success and are grafting to achieve.
 
The friendship of the lads stands out above all else, they’re unified in what they want to achieve and tight when they perform.  
 
They are able to be themselves without compromise – evident in how they look (the tracksuits should stay) and most importantly how they sound. The content of the raps and the lyrics rises above the menial whilst maintaining a keen eye on contemporary culture and sneaky, savvy celebrity references.
 
Coldside Generals performed in front of me and three other people in May 2011. They might as well have been performing to an Arena

Predicting big things for Coldside Generals in the years to come, culminating big sales, website hits and reaching out to thousands of new fans, this group is definitely one to look out for in the future... not that you could miss them.

Personally, I like this trio and in an urban music scene dominated by London based artists I think they could put Manchester firmly on the map as a serious contender for British urban music.  Let's see if you agree.
check out their website:  www.coldsidegenerals.com
 
Here is an acoustic off the spot video performed at Manchester City Football Club, returning as Manchester City Sound Winners 2011.  Hit that 'like' button down below if you are feeling the Coldside Generals.




UrbanVoice UK has also posted another video from Coldside Generals called 'Talk To Me When' under the UVUK Playlist (one of my personal favourites) - Start supporting Coldside Generals today!  I truely hope they go far and wish them every bit of success.

OFFICIAL VIDEO: HOOD G - GLISTENING

Even though it was release earlier this year UrbanVoice UK is loving the beat on this track 'Glistening' by London born and raised group Hood G. The track deserves some time to glisten on this blog as I seem to have it on rewind at the moment. There is something familiar about this track taking me back to about 2003 - 05 with its US Hip-Hop style slow beat and repetitive sped up 'glistening' alongside the soft vocals of group member Alisha.  Check out the official video for HOOD G and their track Glistening here on UrbanVoice UK.

What do you think? Hit that 'like' or 'dislike' button below.
The EP is still available to download:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/glistening/id443712324?i=443712325&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Follow on Hood G on Twitter: @hoodgmusic



 

Saturday 5 November 2011

Greasy Geezers vs Caveman - Fry You Like Fish @ The Jam

UrbanVoice UK presents to you Greasy Geezers vs Caveman and their song released on 4th October ‘Fry You Like Fish @ The Jam’.  This act is kind of like Urban/Dance + Urban Wit = Greasy Geezers

Fry You Like Fish @ The Jam is a dance/electro pop adaptation of the 1991 Hip-hop single by Caveman ‘Fry You Like Fish’. With new lyrics and a 2011 urban dance flavour, it’s a totally new song with attitude. In the 1990’s Caveman were a pioneering UK rap group introduced by Tim Westwood. It has been 20 years since the original Hip-hop track was released.

In the early 00’s Greasy Geezers were actually a label working with artists such as DJ Iron and Mathieu Karsenti now music composer for 2009 X-Factor winners Diversity. From 2010 Greasy Geezers diversified to become a production unit that has created a radio friendly urban/dance cut with a hint of that raw street vibe.

The song title suggests humour and you could be right in thinking this, however the sound is almost sinister-like
in its representation of the UK urban flavour. Fry you like fish means ‘something is cooking’ and that is a
growling baseline with catchy hooks ready for the clubs …‘lose the negative’ and ‘get the positive’. It’s a genre synergy of humour, golden rap flow over heavy dance beats.

Greasy Geezers are a production unit with a twist; uniquely they are virally represented as comedic characters online that present all their dance releases. Producers of the track and members of the greasy crew are Videoface whose previous offerings include the tribute anthem for Norman Jay (MBE) on the BBC London 94.9 radio show ‘Half is Mine’ (2005).

Also look out for the music video featuring a comedic performance by Bada Badoo from X-factor 2010.

 Check out Greasy Geezers on You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65pgndWnFis 

REVIEW: Top Boy

This past week I have stayed in to catch Top Boy, a new thrilling and raw four-part drama about young lives lived on the edge in east London - an honest and gripping rendition of inner-city drug and gang culture.
The series is based around the lives of 2 main characters, Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Ra'Nell (Malcolm Kamulete)

The Plot: The story is based around the life of thirteen-year-old Ra'Nell (Malcolm Kamulete) who lives on Summerhouse high rise estate in London's Hackney. When Ra'Nell's single parent Lisa collapses in the street and is admitted to hospital to cure her own drug addiction her friend and case-worker Leon (Nicholas Pinnock) visits Ra'Nell to tell him that he will not go into care as long as he stays of the streets and out of trouble. Ra'nells story is interlinked with local drug pushers Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson) who have a desire to make money and 'run tings' on the estate. The 4 part-episode drama sees Dushane and Sully climb up the drugs hierarchy but not without a few challenges. Dushane and Sully find themselves in some sticky situations as they are robbed after a 'snake' from within their circle informs their rivals the London Fields Gang and their gang leader Kamale (grime mc Scorcher) about their drug hideout leaving them in debt to and at the mercy of their boss,drugs lord Bobby Raikes (Geoff Bell). Dushane and Sully recruit Ra'Nell's best friend Gem (Giacomo Mancini) as a peddler whom they think is the 'snake'. Dushane wants to become the Top Boy but he begins to realise that it comes at a price as his best friend Sully's spontaneous and messy actions create even more problems for his quest to the top.


UrbanVoice UK's opinion: A grippy and gritty version of growing up on a London estate. The story line is simple but displays great emotion within the characters. There are some great moments within the series like when a certain characters' 'best friend' is found hanging and when the story line touches upon mental health issues. This is a well thought out and realistic account of the drugs hierarchy and the level of temptation for kids growing up around drugs and violence. It is great to see Kane Robinson better known as grime mc Kano trying his hand at a spot of acting and also great to see Ashley Walters back on our screens. This 4 part drama is gripping and definitely worth a watch.  My TV schedule feels a bit lost without it now...

UrbanVoice UK Score: 4/5

You can catch Top Boy on Channel 4's 4OD: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/top-boy/4od