Beat Drunx album Moment of Clarity
The Beatdrunx are back…
The Belgian hip hop crew Beat Drunx stems from the work of One Cell, whose musical touches are influenced by a wide range of music styles since he previously worked with rock, jazz and deep funk bands.
MC’s Rubski, Acrid Cast(former member of Outspoken Members) and DJ Court-A-Sock (Grazzhoppa’s DJ Bigband ) joined One Cell in the formation of the Beat Drunx.
They have previously been asked as support act for GZA(Wu Tang Clan) Roots Manuva, IAM, Kerry James, The Opposites and Zwart Licht. They are regular guests at Belgium’s most renowned hip hop shows such as The Hop (Studio Brussels) and LDBK (Laid-Back/FM Brussels).
After their debut album Brewed and Bottled they kick ass with their high underground standard.
The Beatdrunx’ live reputation in addition to Acrid Cast’s and Rubski’s wordplay and lyrics tear the roof off. They bring about many spontaneous bar brawls, making it nearly impossible to get a pint for the first row listeners amongst the excited crowd.
Moment of Clarity is a dark and sinister album as for the beats composed by One Cell who produced it with a stirring up kick and snare. DJ Court-a-sock’s scratching skills lighten up the record. The experienced crew delivered nice work but I am sure they are able to make even better albums in the future.
Article written by Geert Van Laethem
http://www.myspace.com/beatdrunx#ixzz0urBFBazZ
Scraper bikes, a green ghetto movement
I was dumbfounded when I heard of this positive biker movement. Originating in Bay area Oakland California, youngsters perform stunts whilst going for rides on their customized bikes.
Average bikes are transformed into scraper bikes by applying self designed patterns, adding hard plastic and paint sprayed tin-foil.
A scraper is slang for an American modified luxury family car. Since such a car is an unknown luxury for ghetto inhabitants, they decided to turn their own means of transport into a unique status symbol.
Scraper bike parades brighten up the streets in the United States, inspiring richer hip hoppers to add large multi-coloured rims to alter their scraper cars.
Young Champ AKA Baby Shamp, MC of the Trunk Boiz, invented the scraper bike. Posting his song Scraper Bike on youtube did him credit, introducing his invention to the whole world. The track spread the message that his bike not only looks good but moreover keeps youth from the danger in the neigbourhood.
In this manner Baby Shamp paved the way for a green American movement. Let's hope it will find its way to Europe.
Article written by Geert Van Laethem
Links :
http://www.myspace.com/datrunkboiz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIsWq5xOSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCEQxOCFHJw&feature=related
The Compositive Two: Compositive thoughts
Mister Critical and Elpo, AKA the compositive two, create their own musical language.
The creative duo has previously been programmed with DJ Lefto and Jurassic Five at the AB in Brussels
Their album Compositive thoughts is now for sale.
I was amazed when I listened to this magnificent record. The compositive two compiled a great debut album with enchanting, dreamy melodies. They succeeded in accomplishing a complete conceptual record of smooth jazzy sounds, spiced up by skimming soul grooves.
I assume MC Elpo's politically committed and has proven he's able to jot down nicely developed concepts.
Congratulations, guys!
Article written by Geert-Jan Van Laethem
Downlad their songs for free: : tctwo.bandcamp.com
Contact info:
thecompositivetwo@gmail.com
www.tctwo.net
Streets ahead
Street art is a worldwide cultural phenomenon of revolutionary art which questions the existing environment. Street artists use urban settings as a platform to reach everyday people in order to influence the collective behaviour. Their pieces have their own language to communicate activist and social themes.
A large variety in street art media and techniques can be perceived, going from murals, installations, video projections, wheat pasting, flash mobbing, over stencil graffiti, LED art, poster art and sticker art to large graffiti master pieces made with aerosol paints or marker pens.
Graffiti is an initially unconventional art style which is associated with hip hop music. Hip hop, a subculture of our times, consists of several elements such as DJ-ing and scratching records, rap and beat box , graffiti and break-dance. MC’s spread their messages by rapping to beats.
Hip hop graffiti originally emerged from the inequalities poor urban youth in New York city were facing. Many poor residents were confronted with racism, class struggle, violence and total chaos. Imprisoned in their social situation, disenfranchised youth used this urban art style as an artistic resistance to authority. In New York Julio 204 and Taki 183 tagged their names in public spaces to reject their poor environment during the 1970’s.
The first hip hoppers voiced the frustrations of urban minorities on vehicles such as subway trains, public buildings, roofs, billboards, ... Graffiti artists use their pieces as a means of expression of the subculture, sharing their views on political and social misconduct in a dysfunctional society. It is not merely used to utter criticism but also spreads positive messages to inspire youngsters.
Street art is booming. Street artists as Aérosol and Banksy have achieved commercial success and seized the opportunity to show their art in museums or galleries. Or how underground became mainstream.
Article written by Ann Timmermans
Hip hop straatgebeuren: battle on Friday the 23rd of July 2010
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