By Richard Watson

They told us to ‘Be Alert’ back in 1997, and at the tail-end of 2010, hip-hop heads are still paying fierce attention to 7L & Esoteric. Last united on 2006’s ahead-of-its-time ‘The New Dope’, the Boston-based duo can currently be heard taking things back to basics on ‘1212’, the neck-snapping new set on which they appraise their careers (‘Retrospects’), call out clowns (‘No Shots’) and reconnect with their fellow real words speaker Inspectah Deck (‘12th Chamber’). Always affable, the indie-era survivors took time out to do the knowledge on B-Ball, Mad Men and the dreaded F-Word (but not the one you think)…

‘The Handle’, featuring Sadat X, shouts out ’80s basketball stars. Do you prefer that era to the modern day NBA?
E: “‘The Handle’ is based on nostalgia. I grew up playing ball when all those people were superstars, so I think I hold them in a higher standard. It’s like, you might hear a rapper in 2010 that’s technically gifted, but he can’t touch Erick Sermon as far as I’m concerned. You can’t explain to a younger kid why ‘Strictly Business’ is a flawless rap album – they don’t understand because there’s no technical intrinsic stuff involved.”

7L: “I’m not as big a sports fan as Esoteric, but the name references and what they’re talking about – that was a big deal for me back then. It definitely brings back good memories from when I was younger – that era of the Bird / Johnson rivalry.”

There are also a couple of Mad Men references on the album. Don Draper gets name-checked, as does Christina ‘Joan Hollaway’ Hendricks…
7L: “I love that show. It’s just good writing. It’s definitely not the kinda show you can just jump in the middle and watch – you kinda gotta watch it from the start and see the character development and all that. It’s got great women too.”

E: “The Christina Hendricks reference, a lot of people ask me about that. They don’t understand what I’m saying. I went out on a limb assuming that people knew her character’s last name was Hollaway…”

The ‘Hollaway’/‘haul away’ double meaning: “Every time that pen hits/They wanna call forensics/And haul away bodies like, uh, Christina Hendricks”.
E: “Yeah! And it turns out that a lot of people – even people who watch the show – didn’t really catch that line. Apparently you knew, which is good, but a lot of people have asked me, ‘What do you mean by that? I don’t understand it. Is it ’cos she had a couple of abortions, like, haul away bodies?’ (Laughing) I’m like, ‘No, it’s not that’.”

Do you think Don Draper could achieve hip-hop props on the same level as Tony Soprano or Stringer Bell?
7L: “I don’t know. I’ve heard people in hip-hop mention the show in interviews, but I’m not sure yet. I won’t rule it out, but I see Boardwalk Empire maybe having a little more hip-hop pull at this point, just ’cos of the content.”

E: “It’s probably only a matter of time. I’m sure there are several rappers out there that we haven’t even heard of yet that are calling themselves Don Draper.”
Continue reading 7L & Esoteric Interview

HHC Digital’s Rap Round-Up…
By Richard Watson

Demonstrating his new, softer side, Kanye backtracked on his infamous post-Katrina Bush-bashing, before reverting to hysterical type when Today host Matt Lauer got his goat. “I feel very alone very used very tortured very forced very misunderstood very hollow very very misused,” whined ’Yeezy, recycling a tweet originally composed following his appearance on The Friday Night Project.

Exhibiting greater composure, Jay-Z chopped it up with Howard Stern, while the incomparable Biz Markie dropped by Jimmy Fallon’s show for a live jam with ‘Def’ Jeff Goldblum – an unlikely hook-up, and one which presumably involved a Hasbro Jurassic Park T-Rex toy (BNIP, with realistic roaring sound) exchanging hands backstage.
Continue reading All The Hip-Hop News That’s Fit To Link…

By Richard Watson
Photography by Alexander Richter

“I’ve been in the streets since I was a young adolescent child,” says Freddie Gibbs, the Midwest-to-Cali transplant and mixtape stalwart who dropped his first official EP, ‘Str8 Killa’, earlier this year. “Gangsta rap just goes along with the culture of the streets. When you hustlin’ and you doin’ your thing with that type of element, that’s the music people listen to, so that’s the music that I gravitated to as well. I was born and bred with this.” Currently putting that pedigree to use as the face of internet era gangsta rap, Gibbs connected with us to reflect on some of his formative gangstafied influences.

Do you remember the first gangsta rap album that made an impression on you?
“Yeah. The first album that I bought and really sat with was Geto Boys’ ‘We Can’t Be Stopped’. It blew my mind. Scarface was this young, talented lyricist rapping over all these beats. It was captivating for me at like eight, nine years old.”

What did you think of the album cover?
“That was controversial ’cos Bushwick Bill had just got shot in the eye, and he had ’Face and Willie D pushing him on the hospital bed. It was just crazy. You wanted to see what that shit was all about. Everything they was saying in they rhymes, I was seeing going on around me. It was definitely a true testament to what was going on, so that’s why I fucked with it.”

What about NWA’s ‘Straight Out of Compton’? Do you remember the impact that album had on you?
“‘Straight Out of Compton’ was rebellious. It was that ‘I don’t give a fuck, I’ma say what I wanna say’ attitude – that’s what got me on it. See, gangsta rap, man, your parents ain’t supposed to want you to listen to it. I mean, my dad listened to the shit, but for the most part it’s like taboo. The watered-down shit of today has made things a lot more… I don’t wanna say commercial, ‘cos that’s a cliché word, but it’s a lot of pussy-ass shit going on out there. It don’t make you wanna grab it – you’d rather listen to something else.”

Did you adopt the NWA dress code, with the Raiders and Kings gear?
“Not necessarily the LA Raiders gear or no shit like that ’cos I’m a Bears and White Sox fan, but for the most part, yeah, that’s the way we was dressing in the streets – Starter jackets, Adidas, Air Jordans. It was just art intimating life. Did I get a jheri curl? I was a young boy when NWA came out, like nine years old, so my mom didn’t give me the jheri curl.”
Continue reading Freddie Gibbs On His Gangsta Chronicles

In anticipation of the expanded edition of ‘Organised Rhyme’ on November 8th, we hit up the legendary MC Duke with some quick-fire questions…

What’s the biggest misconception about you?
“I have no idea. I’ve just always tried to do me!”

Name the most underrated song from back in the day?
“‘Positivity’ by Gang Starr – Guru R.I.P.”

Best gig you ever played?
“Warming up for Public Enemy at Brixton Academy.”

Most influential person on the UK scene?
“My old Friend Trevor Nelson – he knows how to pick a winner!!”

Who never got the props but should?
“I think Million Dan should get MORE props as he has a true talent.”

Why is ‘Organised Rhyme’ still relevant in 2010?
“Relevant music is timeless!”

What’s your most treasured possession?
“The walking stick from the front cover of ‘Organised Rhyme’.”

What’s your favourite book/film?
“Return Of The Jedi.”

Favourite club/venue back in the day?
“Dingwalls, Camden, London.”

Your biggest regret is…?
“I have no regrets… they are a waste of time!”

And worst fashion mistake?
“The African fez style hat!”

Who do you rate at the moment and why?
“I like Skepta – he sounds the most authentic for the times we are in.”

What do you when you’re not making music?
“I’m busy bringing up my three children.”

How would you like to be remembered?
“As an emcee with style and integrity.”

HHC Digital’s Rap Round-Up…
By Richard Watson

Know The Ledge: Hip-hop heroism was alive and well as T.I. coaxed a suicidal man down from an Atlanta rooftop. With his selfless deed happening a mere two days ahead of his court hearing for drug charges, there was suspicion that Tip had pulled off a publicity stunt – given that the judge sent him down for 11 months, perhaps he should have gone the whole hog and called in Rihanna for an ‘impromptu’ rendition of ‘Live Your Life’.

In related news, Kanye revealed that he, too, had considered suicide, before realising that he speaks for all those who “never get the chance to have their voice heard” – like Taylor Swift, then, ’Ye? Yeezy also unveiled his new album cover, featuring a demonic black Tony Blair copulating with an armless, dalmation-tailed angel. Though the artwork won’t be on display in Wal-Mart, the artist has received his Toys ’R Us vouchers as per the original arrangement.
Continue reading All The Hip-Hop News That’s Fit To Link…

On October 22nd, Needlewerk’s night of top turntablism comes to the Rhythm Factory, with DMC world champion DJ Shiftee, DJ Cable and DJ Blakey all performing. Tickets are available by clicking here. Better yet, HHC Digital has one pair of tickets to give away to the first reader to tell us the name of the video game DJ Blakey was recently involved with. Email the answer to info@hhcdigital.net with the quickkness.

HHC Digital’s Rap Round-Up…
By Richard Watson

There were red faces in the Miami Police Department this week when a banner encouraging the public to report gang activity featured not one but two hoodlums clearly cribbed from photos of Jay-Z (apparently Lucy Liu and Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation also fit the gang-banger profile). Luckily for Po-Po, they’d also used a pic of the current, cardie-and-specs wearing Jay-Z for a poster deterring trick-or-treaters from terrorising the elderly.

Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon gave their own artistic impressions of Jigga and a host of other emcees as they performed a whirlwind medley of hip-hop hits – nice effort, but their Biggie impersonations wouldn’t even pass for early-period Shyne. Also loitering around 30 Rock, Kanye brought a bevy of ballet dancers onto the SNL stage, before blessing BAFTA with a ‘Runaway’ short film featuring, er, a giant paper mache head of Michael Jackson and Nicki Minaj doing a British accent. Then, just because he hadn’t offended anyone in two days, Yeezy compared Lindsay Lohan’s ill-fated fashion line to 9/11.
Continue reading All The Hip-Hop News That’s Fit To Link…

Billing itself as “the definitive rap reissue label,” Original Dope has kicked off its mission to preserve the best in homegrown hip-hop by reissuing classic sets from Blade (The Lion Goes From Strength To Strength) and the Ruthless Rap Assassins, whose Killer Album gets the 20-year anniversary treatment. Next up will be a deluxe version of MC Duke’s Organised Rhyme – click here for more details on that one.

Better yet, to celebrate the launch of the label, HHC Digital has a swag bag of both CD albums plus three limited edition t-shirts (Blade, Ruthless Rap Assassins, and the Original Dope logo) to give away. To be in with a chance of winning, simply tell us the original year of release for Blade’s The Lion… album by emailing the answer to info@hhcdigital.net.

HHC Digital’s Rap Round-Up…
By Richard Watson

Please Hammer don’t hurt ’em: Enraged by Jay-Z’s recent critique of his money management skills, Hammer hit up Twitter to nail Jigga. The boy Burrell at least had an ally in Nick Cannon, who, sensibly suggested that he and Stanley could square off against Em and Hov in a tag-team wrestling bout. Then, switching to the world of virtual sports, it emerged that Drake will be available as a secret player in the NBA 2K11 videogame. Of course, it’s but the latest example of a trend dating back to 1983, when Namco’s Pole Position 2 allowed hip-hop-savvy gamers to race as Busy Bee.
Continue reading All The Hip-Hop News That’s Fit To Link…

With the release of Stig’s new album, Mood Swings, we got the self-coined Sexiest Fat Man In Show Business to compile a list of ten utterly moody pop stars. Here’s his picks…

1. Daniel Johnston
Watch The Devil & Daniel Johnston – you’ll see my man was on another level of touched but made some of the most amazing music ever. If you’re anything like me you will take comfort from the fact that even at your worst you are no where near as shit pot mental as some people.

2. Kurt Cobain
Okay, he killed himself, but that doesn’t make him moodier than my number one pick – just less alive. And let’s be fair, in today’s world he probably did his fans and himself a favour, what with Iggy Pop doing insurance ads and Lionel Richie promoting Walker’s Crips. Were he still around, Kurt would no doubt be appearing as a judge on America’s Got Talentless Lunatics To Exploit or singing “Doo doo doo doo dooooo, I’m loving it” for McWrongald’s during the three-minute product brain-wash intervals that appear every 20 seconds anyway.

3. Mariah Carey
A great philosopher once said “Women are like roller coasters – fucking mental.” Now far be it for me to make wildly sweeping statements like all women are crazy – that would be a generalisation of heinous proportions and both misogynistic and completely unacceptable – but I will say that every women I have ever met has been completely “If you don’t know what’s wrong, then I’m not going to tell you” bat-shit mental, on some level at least.

Mariah takes the nutty crown though. She is so insane that I think ultimately her lunacy is the source of almost all of the female insanity in the world. They’re like vampires: if you kill the head, those who haven’t completely turned will become normal again. She was that girl at school who all the dudes wanted to rest their still developing nuts in and all the girls either wanted to look like or hated because she was so popular; the one who walked through life having everything done for her just because she’s pretty, but underneath, because she was also insanely insecure, she was a complete bitch to everyone and a nightmare girlfriend to any boy stupid enough to not run for safety the second he cleared his mind enough to see sense. Now imagine her if she could sing very well and got paid a shit load of coin, then became all growed up, had breast implants which made her tits look like they were a foot apart, and had an even higher opinion of herself to hide the even lower opinion she really has of herself. That’s Mariah. One day she will kill – her name should be Mariah Carrie.
Continue reading Stig’s Top Ten Moodiest Pop Stars