EVENT: Urban Development Presents Re:Definition 2010

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW14_RVdhUE]

Date: Thursday 22nd & 23rd July 2010

Venue: Theatre Royal Stratford East, London

Grab some loose change, top up your oyster card and jump aboard this musical excursion to discover the loves, conflicts, traditions, adventures and aspirations of the real East Enders. A co-production with Urban Development, Theatre Royal Stratford East and The Barbican, Re:Defintion explores East London’s rich past, present and exciting future through the eyes of its homegrown talent.

Commissioned for Create10, Re:Definition is to be held at Theatre Royal Stratford East on Thursday 22^nd and Friday 23^rd July and promises to be a truly unique music experience, fusing performance and multimedia in a breath-taking live concept album.

Strap on your seatbelt, sit back and relax as local heroes Ghetts, Maxsta, Devlin, Maverick Sabre, Miss D, Shezar and the UD Vocal Collective take you on a whistle-stop tour through the sights and sounds of the place they all call home. Think barbershops, backstreets and bus routes.

Throw in a live band, R&B songstress Shola Ama, soul veteran Omar, UK Funky maestros MC Versatile and Bongo Man of Crazy Cousinz and pioneers of the grime generation, NY and Lioness and you have a line-up strong enough to make any opponent envious. Re:Definition will also feature narration from Hackney’s very own wide-boy, lyricist Mikill Pane and has been directed for the stage by Matthew ‘Excalibah’ Xia. So get ready for a rollercoaster journey set to take urban music beyond Olympic proportions.

Date: Thursday 22^nd & 23^rd July 2010

Venue: Theatre Royal Stratford East, 
Gerry Raffles Square, London 
E15 1BN

Transport: Stratford Tube (Jubilee / Central Line), DLR and London Overground

Doors: 7.30 – 10:30pm

Tickets: £12/£8 concessions

Box office info: 020 8534 0310  / www.stratfordeast.com

Video: Kelly Rowland – Commander

A leak of the Kelly Rowland ‘Commander’ video has surfed on the net. The futuristic themed video, directed by Masashi Muto shows Kelly battling her doppelganger in a dance-off which was choreographed by dance supremo, Fatima Robinson.  Speaking to The Rap Up abouth the video, Kelly commented:

“It’s about me being the commander above anything, but it adds a different element of a club atmosphere—a very big atmosphere with very cool people… I had to pull out my dancing shoes for this video.”

‘Commander’ also features cameoes from producer, David Guetta and songwriter Rico Love. Kelly can truly call herself the queen of dance music at the moment – keep those David Guetta collabos coming!

Rating: 7/10

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow6cKix_5Lg]

Note: Didn’t tag or name the video properly so that it won’t get taken off YouTube!

Tracklisting: The Dream – Love King

Def Jam have confirmed the tracklisting for the upcoming ‘Love King’ album from The Dream which is to be released on 29 June. There’s also speculation that this may be the last album from Mr. Christina Milan. To be honest, I can’t say I’m heartbroken if it is.

Tracklisting

1. Love King
2. Make Up Bag ft. T.I.
3. F.I.L.A. (Fall in Love Again)
4. Sex Intelligent
5. Sex Intelligent (Remix)
6. Yamaha
7. Nikki Part 2
8. Abyss
9. Panties to the Side
10. Turnt Out
11. February Love
12. Florida University

M.I.A. Hits Back At The ‘Haters’

M.I.A has a recorded a track named ‘Haters’ after she claimed she was misquoted in a New York Times Magazine article published this weekend. If you like M.I.A.’s experimental sound then you’ll probably like this. The quirky electronic track speaks out about racism, politics and journalists and samples ‘Hater’ by UK dubstep duo, Various.

Rating: 6/10

Download/Listen to ‘Haters’ here.

Dizzee Takes The Top Spot (Again)

The boy in the corner, Dizzee Rascal has done it again. His current single, ‘Dirtee Disco’ clinched the top spot in the singles chart this weekend. The East-Londoner successfully beat B.O.B’s ‘Nothin on You’ featuring Bruno Mars and Iyaz’s ‘Solo’ to the top, making this his fourth UK number one after ‘Dance Wiv Me’, ‘Bonkers’ and ‘Holiday’.  So it seems that 2010 truly is the year for UK music and it’s not even over yet!

Catch Dizzee on the mainstage at Glasto alongside The Gorillaz, Snoop Dogg and Corinne Baily Rae on 25^thJune.

MTV: Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj ‘Knockout’ – Video Review

Weezy and Nicki Minaj pack a few punches with their latest video, ‘Knockout’. It’s safe to say that this auto-tuned, rock-inspired track was the last thing you’d expect from the Young Money pair, but strangely enough it works! In keeping with the theme, director David Rousseau gets the bubble-gum popping Barbie, Minaj and her guitar-strutting Ken, Lil Wayne to do a few rounds the locker room and boxing ring. Nuff said.

Rating: 6.5/10

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Kid Cudi Album Announces Album Release Date

Kid Cudi has revealed that his second album, ‘Man On The Moon: The Legend Of Mr. Rager’ will hit stores on 14th September. Cudi who recently reunited with Kanye West on a new pop-rock track, ‘Dance Yrself Clean’ commented:

“My album sounds nothing like you’ve ever heard before and I can’t describe it to be honest. Like MOTM, it’s one of a kind and very VERY honest.”

Leak Alert: Drake – Shut It Down ft. The Dream

I’m going to keep this simple. Drake has restored any credibility that The Dream may have had before he recently released the Aaliyah ‘One In A Million’ cover. ‘Shut It Down’ is smooth, sexy and easy on the ears. Even though I’m not the biggest lover of slow songs, we will be ‘thanking you later’ Drake if all the material on the album is this good. Fact.

‘Shut It Down’ will be available on Drake’s debut album, ‘Thank Me Later’ which is due 15th June.

Rating: 7/10

Download/Listen to ‘Shut It Down’ here.

Leak Alert: Nicki Minaj – Your Love (Remix) ft. Flo Rida

It looks like Nicki Minaj isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Don’t get me wrong I like her but it’s about time she put out some credible solo material. To be fair most of the tracks she features on are pretty good. Anyhow Nicki has teamed up with Flo Rida for the remix of her latest single, ‘Your Love’ which is a cover of Annie Lennox’s 90s hit, ‘No More I Love Yous’. To be really honest, getting Flo Rida on the track was not necessary and just taints an already mediocre offering from Miss Minaj.

Rating: 4/10

Download/Listen to ‘Your Love’ remix ft. Flo Rida here.

Download/Listen to ‘Your Love’ (Original) here.

Artwork: M.I.A – ‘Maya’ Album

Check out M.I.A‘s artwork for the cover of her forthcoming album, /\/\/\Y/\ (pronounced Maya).The album which takes inspiration from the internet is set to be a smash and lucky festival-goers the HARD Summer Music Festival in L.A and New York this July will get a sneak peak. Can’t wait to hear it! I love XXXO.