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“Real Hip Hop’s been lost but now it’s found right here,”
Guru recently declared in a London hotel room. The rapper, made legendary for his work alongside
DJ Premier as the wordsmith of Hip Hop duo Gang Starr, was back in town “on a global grind” with producer and business partner
Solar to promote their latest work together on 7 Grand Records;
Guru 8.0: Lost and Found, which features Solar on the mic for the first time. I last spoke to the pair in the summer of 2007, when it was clear the duo were on a mission to shake up the impact of ‘intelligent’ independent Hip Hop. Catching up two years on, their path hasn’t changed... But has the climate?
The lineup assembled to celebrate Jamaica’s 50 years of independence reads like a Reggae hall of fame. An abundance of legendary names past and present from Jamaica’s rich musical heritage are spread over 12 nights of performances celebrating the Caribbean Island’s influence on the music world. One such name was always likely to loom larger than most on the lineup, and its no surprise that Damian, Stephen and Julian Marley were given top billing with this, the first of a two-night stand at the O2 Indigo (26th July).
LP1 is Joss Stone’s fifth studio album and her fifth attempt at reinventing herself. Having sold 11 million albums by the age of 24 it should be evident at this point just how talented she is and just what to expect when purchasing it. However, as ever, the album is a medley of styles and genres, unsure where to begin or where to take it.
There are very few names in music who send a shiver down ones spine. But two huge names are coming together for a joint project to the delight of music fans from all corners of the earth.