Laura Izibor & Shine

You may have heard this on numerous adverts throughout 2009, and never knew who it was. Well let me introduce you to Irish/Nigerian Laura Izibor who is signed to Atlantic Records. This young lady has opened for the likes of Aretha Frankin, Angie Stone and Al Green! Shine was the first single to be releasd from her debut album at the beginning of this year. It was written by her and her alone and her blend of pop and soul lyrics are very mature for her 22 years.
Laura Izibors' album Let The Truth Be Told is available now

Linton Kwesi Johnson

A man in his own league, for those who don't know. Linton Kwesi Johnson is a highly celebrated and honoured Black Poet who was born on the island of Jamaica and made a life for himself in the UK any immigrant first, second or third generation would be inspired by.

To do this man justice I would have to write a whole blog about him.

Linton Kweli Johnson

if I woz a tap-natch poet
like Chris Okigbo
Derek Walcot
ar T.S.Eliot

ah woodah write a poem
soh dam deep
dat it bittah-sweet
like a precious
memory
whe mek yu weep
whe mek yu feel incomplete

like wen yu lovah leave
an dow defeat yu kanseed
still yu beg an yu plead
till yu win a repreve
an yu ready fi rack steady
but di muzik done aready

still
inna di meantime
wid mi riddim
wid mi rime
wid mi ruff base line
wid mi own sense a time

goon poet haffi step in line
caw Bootahlazy mite a gat couple touzan
but Mandela fi im
touzans a touzans a touzans a touzans

if I woz a tap-natch poet
like Kamau Brathwaite
Martin Carter
Jayne Cortez ar Amiri Baraka

ah woodah write a poem
soh rude
an rootsy
an subversive
dat it mek di goon poet
tun white wid envy

like a candhumble/ voodoo/ kumina chant
a ole time calypso ar a slave song
dat get ban
but fram granny

rite
dung
to
gran
pickney

each an evry wan
can recite dat-dey wan

still
inna di meantime
wid mi riddim
wid mi rime
wid mi ruff base line
wid mi own sense a time

goon poet haffi step in line
caw Bootahlazy mite a gat couple touzan
but Mandela fi im
touzans a touzans a touzans a touzans

if I woz a tap-natch poet
like Tchikaya U'tamsi
Nicholas Guillen
ar Lorna Goodison

an woodah write a poem
soh beautiful dat it simple
like a plain girl
wid good brains
an nice ways
wid a sexy dispozishan
an plenty compahshan
wid a sweet smile
an a suttle style

still
mi naw goh bow an scrape
an gwan like a ape
peddlin noh puerile parchment af etnicity
wid ongle a vaig fleetin hint af hawtenticity
like a black Lance Percival in reverse
ar even worse
a babblin bafoon whe looze im tongue

no sah
nat atall
mi gat mi riddim
mi gat mi rime
mi gat mi ruff base line
mi gat mi own sense a time

goon poet haffi step in line
caw Bootahlazy mite a gat couple touzan
but Mandela fi im
touzans a touzans a touzans a touzans

Crookers Ft Kelis - No Security

Crookers are two out of their mind dj's/producers called Phra and Bot From Milan Italy. This is their latest single which has got that Dubstep vibe to it featuring Kelis called No Security. Check it

Katie B

UK soul songstress Katie Brien is part of a group from South London called Bassics. They've been together for 2 years and met at a Performing Arts school in Croydon.
I had to put up the whole of this gig-which comes in 3 parts - because she's got some sweet vocals plus her range and control is on point. This is raw talent at it's finest.







Bassics have a debut EP in the making and currently have a monthly residency at the night 'Chemistry' at South Side bar in Brixton every first Thursday of the month.

www.myspace.com/bassicsmusic

Bellatrix UK Female Beatbox

Pure talent!

Mz Bratt....I like her, she's got female swagger!

Above is Mz Bratts' debut single which was released early summer this year. She's only 17 and rate her, she's doing her thing! Beneath you can check her out on Tim Westwoods show for BBC 1xtra, shot little over a week ago.