Headlock & K21 – Try A Little Penmanship (oh-tiz)

2 09 2011

The Wolfshirt Extremist and After Hours emcee Headlock has teamed up with South Australian all-rounder K21 to deliver this cracking remash of a classic Otis R track of a similar name. Both K21 and Headlock have been quite busy of late, with K21 working in combination with a number of artist’s including the almighty Brad Strut and South Australia’s own Realizm.

Headlock with his fellow After Hours crew members dropped their Darker Days release earlier this year with smashing results you can check out our review here. Below you can follow the link to the download page and grab the MP3. While you’re at it, check out Headlocks‘ wordpress page right here. You can also check out K21 on his own tumblr site here.  Direct download link to the track Headlock & K21 – Try A Little Penmanship (oh-tiz) here (Divshare).

Headlock Twitter  ||  K21 Twitter  ||  Divshare





After Hours – Darker Days (Album Review)

21 07 2011

After Hours are back (after a long break) with their third release, an EP titled Darker Days. Available now on iTunes here, Darker Days is a departure from their earlier work – with a nastier, more evil sound. 11 tracks deep, packed with some serious heat – this is a release not to be slept on.

Darker Days features the talents of Pohetikut (Pagen Elypsis) as well as production from Trials (Funkoars), Newsense (Hospice Crew) and Debate (Train of Thought). As members of the illustrious Certified Wise crew DJ Jugular, Edits, Headlock & Integer1 are back with their third release Darker Days, a departure from their previous works. It’s been awhile between drinks, but the guys are back at the bar, so line em up! The lead single and title track from the album, Darker Days serves up come classic headnod shit by way of the After Hours camp. It may have been a few years since we last heard the sweet sounds of  South Australian hip hop from these lads, but it seems time has not wearied them. The track Nightmares, haunts whack emcees in their sleep and features some tight verses from all involved. It’s quite obvious that some serious time and effort went into crafting the rhymes for this album.

“Well it’s razor-sharp, I break your phrase apart like quotation marks
blazing grass, I play the cards I wait till inspiration sparks
make it last learn from my mistakes in the past
no fucking joke it’s cut throat leave your trachea scared”

The track Razor Sharp highlights that fact perfectly. Four and a half minutes of rap fire then a full minute of DJ Juglar scratching it up, rounding out this radio destroying track. A true hip hop fans will savour every moment . Twenty Star Jumps opens up with a murderous Headlock, setting the tone for the rest of the track with a great remix to feature later on in the album. Consume Or Perish takes a nice stab at consumer culture, questioning its effect on society and our daily lives. Falling Down swings along on a drum filled beat overlayed with some serious keys work The track All There Is and a couple of remixes tie out this great album. Overall the guys have gone a little nastier on this one but still use that classic After Hours formula, great samples, killer verses, hypnotizing beats and devastating cuts from the every impressive DJ Jugular. If you grew up loving the sounds of After Hours crew then this album will not disappoint. It’s classic After Hours.

Darker Days now available on CD at Clinic 116 (SA), Cold Krush (SA), Da Klinic (SA), 567King (NSW), Obese Records (VIC) and Taste-Y (FNQ) CD & Digital Album Online here via bandcamp.

Vinyl coming soon  ||  iTunes  ||  Bandcamp  ||  Soundcloud





Integer1 – A Thousand Words (Certified Wise)

29 08 2010

Adelaide lyricist Integer1, also known as Artistik Intalekt, (After Hours/Certified Wise/Crackhouse) has quietly unleashed his solo project A Thousand Words on CD. An independently released 9 track album, (One is a secret track which is intended to make you go back and wonder what you missed? Downloadable… just read on). Featuring the likes of fellow After Hours DJ Jugular, (creator of the crazy and comical scratch track My Arm Hurts on The debut A.H release Different Rules Apply) add to the mix some insane scratch artistry by Australian DMC ITF Champion DJ Sum One as well as introducing some fresh Adelaide DJ talent in the form of Deadbeat who crushes on the track Tomorrow. Only one vocal feature on this album by Certified Wise crew member Kolaps, who seems to teleport himself out of knowhere and onto the strange and futuristic track Tomorrow.

The album was conceived and written while Integer1 lived overseas travelling around Europe. “It wasn’t really an option to put together a collaborative project. It’s not recorded in some plush studio, there wasn’t a fortune spend on engineering, mastering or promoting because ultimately I value substance over presentation.”
In keeping with this philosophy and the CDs concept the cover artwork is “Deliberately not a picture, anything else would contradict the title.” Refering back to the age-old adage ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ simply flipping around the phrase.

Interger1 presents a package delivered for those who live in the underground. A Thousand Words cuts through a lot of the marketing bullshit, ignoring current trends to place the attention firmly on the record and its contents.

“Artists should be able to paint a depiction of what they represent through their chosen media. Unfortunately, in the case of music particually, there seems to be less emphasis on the content, say 1% to the 99% focus on selling a product, as a lyricist the words are what’s really important.”
“I appreciate a good stageshow, astounding album cover or innovative film clip. Unfortunately it’s looking like the industry side of the music scene seems to be taking the focus off the actual music which is completely backwards, A Thousand Words is about taking away the fraudulent image.”
Integer’s album is more suited for the thinking listener and is in the artists words “admittedly 100% guaranteed not to make the charts”. The content is contemplative and detailed, and won’t stink of simple catchy plastic riffs you can dance to. It’s focus is the mic content, and stays topical, realistic and articulate.

The lyrics on I of the Storm, paint a vision in your mind of  devastating weather wreaking havoc through townships. Interger1′ use of tempo and lyrical structure really help deliver on this track.
Equally the track Wildfire gives a true picture of the harsh destruction of Australian bushfires during our hot summers. Tracks can easily sit side by side on a mixtape next to earlier Artistik Intalekt solo tracks such as G.S.T, Untapped Potential and Burning Books. There is plenty to absorb while listening to this release, and you will find yourself taking a second and third pass to take in the scenery.

Although the album is shorter than most in overall listening time, it packs in twice the content in the verbal description department, compared to some other more stock standard releases, and is suitably priced to posess a copy. (RRP $20)
If you search around you may even get it cheaper.
This really is a must-have album for any serious Australian hip hop collector. As we absorb each track off the album we really couldn’t help but gush with nostalgia. The albums cuts are some of the best we have heard in a long time and were highly refreshing, we couldn’t highlight that enough. The Certified Wise crew certainly hold a legacy with-in the relams of the Australian Hip Hop culture, with Interger1 – One Thousand Words set to continue that legacy.

Last night Integer1 held his Adelaide Album Launch for A Thousand Words, @Crown and Sceptre. The gig, which saw an excellent turnout and supports by Certified Wise’s DJ Staen1, Kolaps and Jugular. Also Koolta and PT (Greenhouse), Chris Bass (Defenders/Crackhouse) and Train (Venakula). Hosted by 2Biz and Jekl (Crackhouse), Sponsored by Clinic 116.

For our All Aussie Heads, we are leaking secret track 2 (Malevolence) taken from Integer1 – A Thousand Words. The download will be available for a short period of time, so grab it while you can at  http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IQ2I1FH7.





Integer1 – A Thousand Words Album Launch

1 08 2010

Integer1A Thousand Words Album Launch
The launch of the debut album by Integer1 from After Hours, Certified Wise and Crackhouse Crew.
Performing on the night will be:
Integer, Kolaps & Jugular
DJ Staen 1 (3x Australian DMC champion)
Koolta & PT
Chris Bass
Train

Hosted by 2Biz & Jekl
$10, 18+, doors open at 9pm.
Open mic after the show.
Come and have a drink for Kolaps’ birthday.
August 28 @ Crown and Sceptre, Adelaide.

Q&A with Integer1

I go by the name of… Integer1 or Intalekt or Oy You.
Fave thing in my workspace/studio is my: bottle of Makers Mark.
Most expensive piece of equipment is my: not sure, does a pile of unpaid bills count?
Fave track in my workspace: the next one.
Oldest thing in my workspace/studio: again I’d have to refer back to the pile of unpaid bills…
I don’t let anyone ever touch the: intangible.
If my life were a track it’d be: a dirt track to nowhere with a lot of potholes.
If I’m not in my workspace/studio you can find me in: a world of fantasy and make-believe.
One day I’ll relocate the workspace to: one suburb down the road.
One person that is allowed into my workspace is: my alter ego Hamish.
Currently I’m in the studio working on… a hangover.
Tell us about your debut release A Thousand Words? The title’s a lie, it’s at least twice that many words.

A Thousand Words is currently available at Clinic 116 and Cold Krush, more stores coming soon.

Integer1 – I Of The Storm





Hunter and Crew at L!ve.

28 09 2009

Hunter Show @ J!ve all aussie hip hop

18+ Event. Entry is $15. Raffle at the door, prize = 5 free drinks & 2 free entries To The 100% Aus Beef Emcee Battles.

Come down to L!VE on Light Square, November 6 for a huge night of raw aussie hip-hop. Hunter (SBX Crew) drops in all the way down from Perth, supported by After Hours (Certified Wise), K21 feat. Koolta & DJ Pt, Chase,  Lariken and Train.

If you don’t know already, here is a bit of a bio on each artist.

HunterMyspace / Facebook
Hunter, born in Yokine, emerged as one of Perth’s most venomous Battle Rappers, slaying crew’s throughout the 90′s and well into the new millenium. He released his first album with Dazastah from Downsyde, called Done DL.

The last ten years have also seen Hunter collaborating with a range of people such as Funkoars, Matty B, Clandestien, Downsyde, Drapht, Layla, Infallable and Miss Cheek. He has also appeared on compilation albums including 2 and 3 of the Culture of Kings series and Obesecity and has just released his first solo album Going Back To Yokine.

After Hours – Myspace / Facebook
After Hours are from South Australia, hailing from the almighty Certified Wise Crew. After Hours is Headlock, The Editor, Integer (aka Intalekt) and DJ Jugular, aussie hip-hop veterans with releases such as Different Rules Apply & a classic in A Hero’s Turf they have also had many guest spots and tracks on compilations such as Culture of Kings 1, 2 & 3, Obese City, Suffering City, 15 Oz Vinyl, Reason – Reography, Funkoars – Who’s ya Step Daddy, Train of Thought – Moving Heads, Hilltop Hoods – The Calling, Defenders – Self Defence, Hospice – Visiting Hours, K21 presents – The Greenhouse & Terra Firma – Music to Live By.

K21Myspace / Facebook
It all started in 2005 when a then 15-year-old hip-hop lover decided to venture into a world of making his own music. Armed with nothing more than an old computer, a handful of records and the knowledge of what he thought was dope, K21 began his voyage.

2009 is set to be the year K21 makes his move. Having already tested the waters with his production album K21 Presents: The Greenhouse, gaining crucial onstage experience and becoming a self motivated business minded musician.

Koolta - Myspace / Facebook
Koolta
is a highly respected emcee and producer. Koolta has shared the stage with many prominent artists such as C-Rayz Walz, The Funkoars, Pegz, Drapht, Terra Firma and many more.

Last year he featured prominently on K21′s Greenhouse compliation, and both produced and featured on Grifter’s Inc – Creature Of The Night album. 2009 is set to be a big year, as he is planning to drop his debut album.

PT – Myspace
Over the last few years Paul has been making a name for himself by DJing for acts such as K21, Koolta, Grifters Inc, Realizm and Chase.

He has performed alongside acts such as The Funkoars, Terra Firma, Drapht, Adroit Effusive and C-Rayz Walz. He will feature on both Koolta’s and K21’s debut albums in 2009.

ChaseMyspace / Facebook
Chase
was born in 1985, and first introduced himself to the aussie hip hop scene as a graff writer early in 99. By about 2002 he was into writing his own lyrics and entering battles. He has won such events as:

2004 Lizard lounge topic battle winner
- 2005 Channel V Aussie Friggn Hip Hop state winner (national runner-up)
- 2007 Word of Mouth 2 on 2 winner
- 2008 Oball battle winner

He has also competed in the world rap championships jump off 2 on 2 battles. Although Chase still battles he is now concentrating more on his recorded music, spitting that raw hard hitting lyrics over banging beats from producers such as Engineer (Canada) and Squared(Japan/Aus)

LarikenMyspace / Facebook
Lariken is a young lad who is rising through the ranks by winning many recent emcee battles and doing live shows regularly, his aggressive style and hilarious antics have made him a house-hold name in the aussie hip-hop community.

TrainMyspace / Facebook
Train, not your typical type of rapper. Musically and artistically balanced, He creates hip hop for many different listeners and performs at a standard higher than many. He’s been an emcee for 8 years now and has entered a couple of emcee battles in his time such as the Double or Nothing series back in 05 and pushes a hard headed freestyle. After many years of honing his skills Train’s debut mixtape is about to drop for release around Australia, always putting in work and forever dedicated to the true artform of aussie hip hop.








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