Ye Fre Mi Richy Pitch is the name of the album that showcases the latest creative endeavours from our friend, DJ, producer and author Richy Pitch. Reflecting two years spent in Ghana, Richy has collaborated with many local musicians, adding his own unique vibe to distinctly West African instrumentation. Check out exclusive footage of songs from the album being performed live, as well as an intimate discussion with Richy, who is accompanied by the international artist M.anifest. Together they discuss their musical collaborations including the album and the making of the song and video for the original track “Blackstar”.

Check out the Blackstar video and live performances from the Ye Fre Mi Richy Pitchy album after the jump…
read more…

R.I.P. Guru of Gangstarr.

Check the social commentary in the rhymes. A true poet. He will be missed.

Check out this fresh tune from Aspecks friend M3nsa. This is the first music video off his No.1 Mango Street Album, due out in 2010!! ADJUMA captures the very essence of what the hustle is for the average Ghanaian. It literally means work and Aspecks is very much looking forward to checking out the rest of Mensa’s work when No.1 Mango Street drops in the new year! Enjoy…..

From Deutsche Welle TV

In Japan the term Visual Kei encompasses optically striking musicians, whose music has been shaped and inspired by a whole array of genres from past and present. The phrase consists of the English word “visual” and the Japanese word “Kei”, — meaning clique, origin, system or style, and describes a medley of punk, glam, rock and manga.

20 years after first appearing in Japan, bands are now also rocking German stages, and young European girls are dressing up in gothic Lolita-costumes and dancing to the beats of Japanese metal-rock. We went to an “X-Japan” concert, the biggest “Visual Kei” gig of the last decades and will explore how German youths are catching on to the special craze and making their own bands, one of which is “Cinema Bizzare”.

The second video after the jump chronicles a visit to Japan by rapper Mos Def on a promotional tour for his latest album The Ecstatic.

read more…

“Art imitates life“, we all know the discourse surrounding that phrase.  It is particularly relevant when considering the ban of Dancehall (ragga) music from the airwaves in Jamaica due to profanity and violent lyrics.  The question of whether music, movies and video games (entertainment in general) are a reflection of as opposed to the root cause of moral decay will always abound. There has been a long history of banning ’subversive’ and ‘morally questionable’ entertainment that goes back past Elvis Presley’s gyrating hips. Artists mostly defend themselves by referring to their freedom of expression while others argue that they are merely reflecting the harsh realities of life. The fact that art forms like Dancehall and Hip Hop and Rock and Roll in it’s day break class, generational and other social boundaries to reach new audiences is cause for the alarm of would-be censors.  The truth however is somewhere in the middle, some artists recognise their potential to influence their audience and see themselves as having a social responsibility while others do not. The questions is rather about the appetites of the audiences for truth and authenticity.  Would 50 cent and others be as popular and financially successful if they had different life experiences prior to rap or had chosen not to rap about them?

read more…

The next recording artist mentioned was King Tim III who is credited by some with releasing the first rap recording on 12” vinyl with the Fat Back Band in 1979.
read more…

A little insight from Wiki: A B-boy or B-girl is a person devoted to hip hop culture, more specifically, bboying/break-dancing. Crazy Legs of Rock Steady Crew explains the origin of the term – “the word b-boy originated from Kool Herc … b-boys and b-girls – break boys, break girls”.

Check out footage from the UK B-boy Championships in June where Aspecks was in attendance:

Round 1

Round 3

The UK B-Boy Championships – World Finals are to be held on Oct 11th and 12th in London and will be hosted by Crazy Legs himself. Tickets available here.