Shank – The Movie & Soundtrack

Over the last 5 years there has been a boom in UK movies documenting Inner City Life. With the likes of Bullet Boy, Life & Lyrics, Rollin With The Nines, Kidulthood, Adulthood, Harry Brown and most recently 1Day all gaining critical acclaim, the market seems to be wide open for these sort of films.

The latest addition to this batch is ‘Shank’. The film is set in the 2015 and sees the likes of Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood, The Bill, Dubplate Drama) and Grime icon Bashy portray a tale of post apocalyptic London, where gangs have taken control of the streets.

The soundtrack features a full list of high profile grime names such as Skepta, Bashy, Tinchy Stryder, Newham Generals, Tinie Tempah and Roll Deep to name a few.

The Movie is set to hit cinemas on March 26th……… Lookout for this!!!!!!

Does grime really pay?

On December 4th 2009 the UK music scene was forced to say goodbye to one of their finest young talents. Brandon ‘Maniac’ Jolie was sentenced to 13 years for his part in an utterly thoughtless plot which included conspiracy to murder and attempted murder. His musical credentials can never be questioned. With endless underground hits under his belt, including the Adulthood movie soundtrack and a joint project with chart topper Tinchy Stryder, 2009 looked destined to be the big crossover year for Brandon ‘Maniac’ Jolie. With such a bright future ahead of him, it is understandable why so many fans were disappointed and devastated by his actions which have surely ruined his life.

Maniac with fellow co-defendant Snoopy Montana

So what could provoke a musician with the world on his shoulders into the mind state of a calculated cold-blooded killer? Is Black Britain following in the footsteps of their American cousin? These are a few of many questions currently asked by not only music lovers but by ordinary right thinking members of society.

Brandon ‘Maniac’ Jolie is not the first and probably won’t be the last musician from a Grime background to feel the brute force of judicial justice. In 2006, Carl ‘Crazy Titch’ Dobson was sentenced to a beastly 30 years for his part in a Haynes shooting which was allegedly over song lyrics.
With such high profile crime cases surrounding UK black music, it does nothing but add further cracks to an already damaged pre-conception of Grime. I sometimes question a musician’s moral compass and ethical values when such cases arise.

Have black inner city youngsters been de-sensitised by their surroundings or has the conquest to achieve notoriety and add substance to a glorified ghetto lifestyle been taken a step too far? Who knows, the only thing for certain is police are taking a zero tolerance approach to crime committed by celebrities who were once thought to be untouchable.

So back to the original question, does grime really pay? It was surely paying for Brandon ‘Maniac’ Jolie lifestyle but stupidity and callousness lead him to take part in an inhuman act which will see him spend the next decade and a half in Her Majesty’s Prison system.

With black music being attacked from all angles this was surely the last thing we needed to happen. The grime scene has taken a major blow, not just in musical terms but also in stereotypical terms. In the wake of this news the future seems bleak for grime artists, but there is hope! N Dubz, Tinchy Stryder and Chipmunk have been lighting the way for Grime artists and 2010 will hopefully see more young stars emerge and aid in the development and progression of a scene which is musically seen as public enemy number one.

Written by Christian Nembhard

Christian.nembhard@gmail.com

http://www.roadjournal.wordpress.com

OG’z start 2010 widda bang!!!

At the birth of Road Journal, i documented a piece on Little Dee & P-Money’s mixtapes, which were released in winter 2009. 2010 kicks off with OG’z emcees Kozzie and Desperado both dropping brand new material.

Kozzie is the latest addition to the OG’z camp and you can download his latest EP entitled ‘Blue State Of Mind’ by clicking on the picture.  Featuring the likes of P-money, Little Dee, Blacks and Nottingham’s Wariko, Blue State Of Mind is one of the hottest free downloads on the web. Kozzie shows his grime skills over flaming production courtesy of Rude Kid, SNK and Youngstar to name a few.

South Solider’s representative Desperado releases his brand new full length mixtape entitled ‘All About Money’ which features the likes of Wiley, Messy, Krept, Konan, Page and the whole OG’z camp.  You can Download this release directly by clicking on the picture.

Words – Streets Personified!!!!!

Ruff Squad affiliate Words has recently been creating a storm in the UK Underground. After performing live on the Tim Westwood show with Tinchy Stryder, Words has suddenly become the talk of the Town.

‘Streets Is I’ is his latest single which features East London producer/emcee Rapid. With a magical beat, Words laces street poetry to perfection. This highly powerful track expresses the reality of street life through a reverse mind state. Sheer Brilliance!!!!

Watchout for Words….. Road Journal Reccommended

Written By Christian Nembhard

Christian.Nembhard@gmail.com

www.roadjournal.wordpress.com

Sincerely written in the form of stars!!!

UK Rap trendsetter Sincere has been their from the start of real street UK Rap. With street bangers such as ‘Not Gangsta’and  ‘Reppin London’ Sincere is no stranger to releasing material. He was afterall the first UK Emcee to do a gritty Hip-hop musical in the form of ‘So Sincere’. Is this where 1Day got their idea from? Who knows.

After success from previous releases Sincere drops ‘Written In The Stars’ mixtape which features the likes of Ghetts, Wretch 32, Little Dee and blood cousin Sincere.

With bangers such as ‘Bloods Thicker Than Water’ featuring Scorcher and radio smash ‘Pass It Over’ featuring Ghetts, Scorcher, Wretch 32, Little Dee and Gfresh, Written In The Stars delivers a rapid punch to the eardrums and gives all sincere fans a real treat.

You can download this mixtape by clicking on the front cover.

Written by Christian Nembhard

Christian.nembhard@gmail.com

www.roadjournal.wordpress.com

Streetz Incarcerated 4 – Out Now

Streetz Incarcerated is one of the biggest DVD’s ever to emerge from the UK black music scene. Over the last 5 years they have gained notoriety for not only showcasing the rawest British talents in the rap and grime scene but also addressing many social issues in the progress such as black on black violence, police harassment and the suppression of black music in the UK.

Volume 4 features the likes of Giggs, Dubz, Skepta, Wiley, Asher D, Chipmunk and Gatsby to name a few. With top notch exclusive music videos, in-depth interviews and super rare freestyles from the cream of the UK scene, Streetz incarcerated have once again proved they are the top dogs when it comes to Street UK DVDs.

This is a must have for all fans and non fans who wish to investigate further into the UK Rap and Grime fans. 5 stars!!!

Click on the front cover to purchase Streetz Incarcerated 4 directly.

Written by Christian Nembhard

Christian.nembhard@gmail.com

www.roadjournal.wordpress.com

Stay Fresh – 16 For 16!!!!!

Stay Fresh are currently one of the biggest movements in the West Midlands. With emcees from Wolverhampton To Birmingham, they have been taking the streets over with their high quality videos and large mass of material.

16 for 16 is a brand new single featuring J1, Macca, Movez, Saf-1, Raider, Menace and P.R.E. Bridging the gap from wolftown to brumtown, this super hyped SX produced banger is soon to be all over airwaves across the country.

Look out for this crew!!!

Road Journal Back in full effect!!!!!

For all the Grime and Rap fiends that have been suffering from withdrawals while Road Journal has been on the holiday for 3 weeks, were officially BACK!!!!!!!!!!

over the next 3 days i will be posting a whole load of material, so keep tuned in and try and stay with me.

Its good to be back!!!!!

Logic – ‘Gaberlunzie: The Ancient One’ Free Download!!!!

Logic is one of the most powerful and Politically infused Lyricists to ever emerge from the UK. After numerous colloborations with Lowkey and PDC, Logic is some what of a house hold name in the UK Hip-hop scene.

‘Gaberlunzie: The Ancient One’ is his brand new Mix CD which is availible on a free download. Featuring the likes of Lowkey, Spellz & Prodigal Son, ‘Gaberlunzie: The Ancient One’ is a definite for all UK Hip-hop fans who enjoy real social commentary at its gritty best.

To download this Mixtape simply click on the front cover. Road Journal Recomended!!!!!

C.R.E.A.M Collaborations!!!

Cream Cartel have been Trail Blazing their way through UK since Dubz Co-starred in ‘Ard Bodied’ with Giggs. Dubz, Youngsta and Page have all released Solo Projects in 2009.

2010 sees Cartel member Page link up with North London Lyricist Joe Black to create ‘The Black Page’ Mix Tape. Featuring Giggs, Nolay, Desperado & Kreamz, ‘The Black Page’ has definetly kicked 2010 off to a highly impressive start. Joe Black & Page bounce off each other to perfection, i am expecting alot of possitive things from each of these artists in 2010.

Page is not the only Cartel member who has recently colloborated with outside members. Youngsta linked up with Fix Dot M to create ‘Fix Of Meth’ Mix CD at the tail end of 2010. The mixtape features the likes of Giggs and Ghetts, and Mykal Million hosts with his usual boastful swagger.

These releases can be bought directly by clicking on the pictures.