Interview With N-Dubz

See the exclusive footage here...

Darnell Links with Giggs!?!?!

After becoming a household name over the summer appearing on Big Brother 9, Darnell Swallow, the 27 year-old singer/ songwriter is now going …ARD!!! He’s recently linked up with BET Award winner Giggs and had this to say on his MySpace. “What up with it?! Been working on a collabo with Giggs, getting to know why he's a BET Award winner and the best upcoming rapper in the UK... check it out... Congrats on the BET Giggs. ONE LOVE. DaRnELL”

Here is the footage…


Will Darnell and Giggs takeover the UK?

UUMMMMMM!!!!

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009: Essential Updates

Before you buy PES 2009, READ THIS FIRST…

The second leg of my Pro preview features everything you need to play PES to death this weekend. Yesterday we covered the things we noticed when we popped our Pro 2009 cherry and that was a lot (have a read). Today, we need to reveal the essential updates to make your copy sing and dance like Michael Jackson (hopefully, it will look better though).

Team and League Names…
Firstly edit the team names so that Merseyside Blue becomes Everton, London FC become Chelsea and so on. We all know who is who but if you’re clueless check out the squad names that are clearly visible in edit mode. This is like detective work for some teams but you’ll figure it out. You can also turn the ‘English’ League into the ‘Barclays Premier League’, which is handy when you’re choosing domestic clubs.

Team Kits and Emblems…
Kits and badges take a little longer to change but the new pixel edit mode makes it that little bit easier. Utilising the LIVE Vision Camera (you have got one of those, right?) you can take photos of kits, badges and sponsors to give your Pro that official look. You should see the Arsenal I made, it wasn’t too shabby. Doing all the unlicensed teams could take weeks, if you really want this you might as well buy FIFA; as we all know Evo is all about gameplay and Konami’s 2009 edition is just that.

Transfers…
Ok, so the squads aren’t exactly up-to-date but a few simple changes and everything will be as good as gold (like a winner’s Champions League badge).
Here are a few essentials…

Arsenal
Philippe Senderos – On Loan To – AC Milan
Armand Traore – On Loan To – Portsmouth
Mikael Silvestre – From – Manchester United
Justin Hoyte – To – Middlesbrough

Everton
Louis Saha – From – Manchester United

Manchester City
Robinho – From – Real Madrid
Shaun Wright-Phillips – From – Chelsea

Manchester United
Dimitar Berbatov – From – Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur
Roman Pavlyuchenko – From – Spartak Moscow
Pascal Chimbonda – To – Sunderland

There are more but I had to play Become A Legend mode. It’s so addictive I haven’t even started a Master League yet.

Last thing… If you’re pressed for time, make sure you sort out the team you support first, obviously fans of officially licensed teams like Manchester United and Liverpool don’t have to bother. And finally, we’ll see you online on Friday.

STOP PRESS!!! News just in: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is set to have a November update! The press release reads… The download will be available in about three weeks, and updates four Spanish sides – Athletico Madrid, Sevilla, Racing Santander and Valladolid, – all of whom will be officially licensed. Furthermore, it will also update the kits and team rosters of many teams within the game. The UEFA Champions League mode will also benefit from the new update, with twelve more teams added to the club list, with proper UEFA Champions League kits and kit markings added. Amongst the teams fully updated within this mode now will be Marseille, Juventus, and Basel.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009: The First Night

Last night was the first night of the rest my life… words by Danny ‘Evo’ Walker

Ok, so yesterday I opened a suspicious package and was rushed straight to hospital to my house to play Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. On the way, my creative cranium was carving out certain thoughts, ‘What if FIFA 09 outshines this year’s Evo outing?’, ‘What if I don’t like this year’s Pro?’ and ‘What if Bradley and Stacey never get back together?’ A very nervous journey home, I assure you.

With EA’s recently released football franchise improving tenfold it was a tentative start as the Lionel Messi featuring intro worked its magic on the Xbox in true 720p form (I need to upgrade, you’re right). After the first exhibition match – in new Champions League mode – I was clear the new Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is big. It’s deeper than the inside pocket of King Kong’s best dinner jacket.

The first thing I noticed that you don’t pickup in the annoying demo is that Pro Evo is slick. The new ‘Become A Legend’ mode is addictive as whatever Winehouse is on, hence the reason I was late this morning. After starting at a random non-league club I was soon snapped up by Sunderland, following that stint in the reserves I found myself being watched by talent scouts and during the Christmas break Newcastle came-a-calling.

From the 17th onwards…
When you get to play the full version on Friday you’ll realise each pitch feels different – especially Wembley – and the grass acts as an extra force of nature that will make or break your through balls. The re-worked passing model is exactly that, reworked and players no longer pass to Casper the Friendly Ghost on the touchline. You’ll also note the serious edit mode allowing you to pixel edit badges and more.

On reflection, last year’s Pro was a little lacklustre, 2009 features essential changes that make this the best Pro yet.

Long Review: Kano Smashes 140 Grime St Launch Party

Tuesday night was a grimey success…



After months of planning from Kano, adidas and RWD Magazine the ‘Biggest Grime Event of the Decade’ was exactly that. Celebrating both the launch of the all-sporting adidas adiZones and Monday’s release of Kano’s 140 Grime St, this one-off event had a lot to live up to. Luckily everyone on the bill brought their A game…

Greenwich’s IndigO2 was the perfect (secret) location for the thousands of revellers to flock to and from the boxfresh trainers, blatantly new outfits and amount of gel we saw in the queues we instantly knew the audience of complimentary ticket owners had brought their A game too. To the sound of bassy beats blaring from the adidas adiZone vans the audience soon flowed into the venue.

When they arrived they were met with the eye-capturing visual display from VJing outfit the Frame Butchers and the hosts for the evening, Kiss 100’s Manny Norte and Shortee Blitz, were as lively as ever and got the crowd in the mood for what was about to be a great evening. Manny draped in beige adidas windbreaker and white-rimmed shades had the ladies – who’d camped out at the front, obviously to be as close to the main act as possible – shouting all sorts and participating in various R&B-flavoured dance moves. When the music stopped and the cloth over the drums had been lifted, the whole venue knew what time it was. Time to once again quench our Thirst.

Starting with My Everything, The Thirst strummed though several hits and the reaction from each was a good to see. “Thanks again to Kano for showing us love,” frontman Mensah shouted in-between the likes of Ready To Move and RWD favourite Sail Away. Rhythm guitarist Mark later revealed to RWD the bands delight at nailing another gig. “Yeah, they loved it man,” he explained of the Brixton boy’s reception.

With their uniforms (sharp black adidas tracksuits with a red band across the midriff) the Peridot dancers were next on stage. To describe some of their moves would be hard as it was just synchronised sickness in the form of dance. They seemed more than well prepared and the IndigO2 insiders ate up all of their Peri-Peri moves like they’d just ordered from Nandos. The Peridot dancers were great mid-act entertainment.

Logan Sama - dressed in the Argentina football kit with Tevez (11) on the back – made his way to the DJ booth and instantly dropped some modern classics. The likes of So Solid, Ms Dynamite and More Fire Crew were all blended together in quick succession and his solid set was only interrupted by wannabe MCs. For entertainment sake Manny Norte grabbed any guy from Slough and a few girls on the stage to see if they had the mic skills to represent… lets just say they didn’t… but it was hilarious watching them try.

Ruff Sqwad’s Tinchy Stryder - with hypeman Fuda Guy in tow - then showed why he’s a Star In The Hood and got the crowd into a grime-based frenzy. Distributing t-shirts as they went, Tinchy killed it with Stryderman and it was plain to see the forthcoming grime-a-thon would go down a treat.



The main event kicked off with a 10 minute warm-up trailer. This was more like a behind the scenes movie and featured the ins-and-outs of putting together the event. Featuring a few surprise acting performances – like Ghetto working in Mr Jerk – it was a big start to the part of the show everyone paid their money for was waiting for. With footage of Kano looking nervous, throwing up and going though final plans, the East Londoner might just get an Oscar or at least a Blue Peter badge for his acting skills. Soon after the flick even Stevie Wonder – who just happened to be playing next door – could see that Kano had finally made it on stage as the roar from his dedicated fans was impressive.

Going through 140 Grime St nearly song-for-song, KA – draped in ‘where can we buy that?’ adidas – DJ Chopper, and producer-turnt-hypeman Mikey J had both levels of the audience glued to the stage. The live rendition of Hustler was really good but it was soon eclipsed by Hunting We Will Go as Ghetto dropped ferocious bars alongside Mr Robinson. The whole of the top level/ VIP area were on their feet and in the best position to see Skepta on the next track, These MC. Both going at it hard, Kano and Skeppy reeled off bars from the up-tempo riddim about MCs who simply can’t keep up. This was an immense performance and the fact that SKEPTA WAS WEARING ONLY A WHITE DRESSING GOWN AND SOCKS did the show’s culmination no harm.

Kane got a bit political as he freestyled at the start of the second half of his set. He unleashed: “If it wasn't for the Olympics them pr**** wouldn't have put money back in East London,” to a massive cheer that would have left Boris Johnson rocking in his VIP seat (had he been there). My highlight of the evening was when a camo jacket-clad Wiley joined Kano on Anywhere We Go and the two of them did the performance of the night. A big tune. The night continued with some Kano Klassics, like Bad Boy, Boys Love Girls (which both had massive responses), and of course the ladies favourite This Is The Girl (which even sounded good over the screams).



The very end of concert saw Wiley drop Wearing My Rolex, Skepta unpack Rolex Sweep, Ghetto let loose Sing For Me and a belated yet brilliant Ps and Qs encore. A very big night was had by all, if only more grime events could happen to this degree.

The Streets Then And Now

Skinner reflects...

DJ Semtex Gets His 'Dad' On - Part 2

DJ Semtex Gets His 'Dad' On

Tinie Tempah - Tears Ft. Cleo Soul (the video is crazy)

The new Tinie Tempah video is in and it’s quite something. Tears Ft. Cleo Soul is another big track taken from his ‘audio scrapbook’ Hood Economics - Room 147 and the RWD team can’t get enough of it. The video features cameos from the track's producer DaVinChe, Adulthood's Adam Deacon and more and it’s a stimulating watch from start to OMG-finish…

Enjoy…

Tinie Tempah - Tears


Tears Ft. Cleo Soul is out 15 September 2008

Is Kano A Hustler?

Can't wait to see this in full.

RIP Bernie Mac (Def Comedy Jam)

He weren't scared of you mother fuckers!!!

RIP

Kane Drops 140 Grime Street (ON CASSETTE TAPE)!!!!!!

This move is either crazy or genius, I still can't work it out. Kano has sent members of the press 140 Grime St. on cassette tape?!?!?! I literally had to jump into the Delorean to play the fucker. Review soon come!!!

Kano's Stryderman Refix

Sway - Signature LP (walkthrough/ interview inside)

When a UK rapper wins a MOBO, a BET, and gets nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, has three successful mixtapes, more features and radio appearances than the words ‘hip’ or ‘hop’, and still isn’t ready to slo’ down you know RWD have to investigate. Derek Andrew Safo aka Sway faces Danny Walker’s analysis of the Konvict Muzik situation, the effect of losing Kaya and Puffy, and why his barber has made the long-awaited Signature LP... Images by Andres Reynaga Styling by Nasrin Jean-Baptiste

“Do you want to listen to the album first?” wonders Run Music’s leggy legend, Ben Harris [AKA Sway’s PR, who you may remember got a special thank you on This Is My Demo’s liner notes]. The reply to this legitimate question was a weird one and I managed to combine two answers in an uncontrollable giddy fit. “Oh my go-yes-h,” I spat in the most unprofessional manner. Fortunately Junior and Bommer of Team Dcypha and the capped and chilled Sway – who entered the RWD office five seconds after the doppelclanger – had the 16 track CD ready. “He’s cool man; he’s really good right now. I’m healthy,” Mr Safo smiles confirming that Little Derek is doing just fine. “I’m ready to do it. I’m excited; I’m very eager and enthusiastic about releasing this second album, The Signature LP.”

As the headphones begin to waver under the thumping beat of orchestra-biased, Fit For A King (Sway’s swagger is fiery on this), I soon get the feeling that production levels have increased twenty-fold. “I don’t think there’s been a rapper in the country that has given as much as I have,” he states sincerely. “I’ve got a 22 piece orchestra on there. I’ve got at least another 15 musicians too, including Jason (Mark Ronson’s keyboard player), Amadoo (one of the best bass players in the country), June Brown (the best saxophone player) - she tours all over - and we have Silverstone, who is crazy on the keys as well. Even tracks that I didn’t produce, I rearrange. I definitely played my Virgo/ perfectionist role on this album,” he laughs. “I totally took them apart and put them together again.” This can be said of the next two tracks my ears are treated to, Say It Twice where he freakishly and funnily doubles up on everything. “That’s for American’s who can’t understand my flow. I created a track so they don’t have to press rewind,” he smiles. The other is the Sewuese-flavoured, Lemar-featuring, Shux-produced, first single; Saturday Night Hustle, which is one of the best as the ‘Maharishi Guy’ goes radio friendly and creates a potential chart crusher. “It was a banger before I put Lemar on it,” he insists. “I’ve got a lot of love for Lemar, there is a lot of mutual respect going on. He jumped on my album cos he was in my debt; I did his tour which was actually more beneficial to me but maybe we somehow managed to convince him it was the other way around.”

Sway and Dcypha are very convincing, especially to those born Aliuane Badara Thiam and go by the name of Akon. Much like TK Maxx, Sway’s been fighting labels for years. With each one trying to get his signature on the dotted line, how does he explain the Konvict deal? After listening to THREE sweet seconds of In The Morning Ft. Akon, (“I’m holding that one back, I’m holding it back”) RWD get to the bottom of it once and for all. “The deal is not as straight forward as everybody thinks. It’s not Sway signs to Konvict. I’ve worked too hard to just give it all up. Dcypha is still the label. It’s just that now we’re under a bigger umbrella on a worldwide level. Akon’s working on Michael Jackson’s album – which me and Bommer got a sneak preview of – it’s crazy. I’m also working on Akon’s single, so I get looked after, I’m trusted within the team, I fly out to different places just to link up with them and we work hard, I’ve collaborated with Kardi, on Pray For Kaya, it’s actually a family thing not just a straight, signs for Konvict. I am part of the Konvict Muzik family. That is official; the ink has dried on that.”

With my ears still devouring Sway’s latest and him making sure I don’t go back to hear that mystical Akon track (damn), I glide through more of the LP. Next up, that $tush saddled street smash F UR X which sits nicely with the rest of the tracks much like Up Your Speed did on ...Demo. Then Upload a gritty Terror Danjah follow up to, you guessed it, Download. After that was My Kind Of Girl Ft. 2 Face, a Safo produced tale of African parents excepting certain types of girls. As I listen out for the skits I come across the ‘new Charlie Boy’ on a self-titled, Sway-produced, Lauren Mason featuring, truth-filled riddim titled Jason Waste. ‘My name is Jason and I’m not gay,’ resonates from the opening bar and you can tell that his will be the anthem for wasters. “It’s the day in the life of a Wasteman,” Sway laughs as he overhears the intro, but something is wrong. Where is Kofi Annan’s pal? He can’t still be swimming to England can he? “Charlie Boy is still around; he’s still there and laying in the cut,” the slouched rapper answers as I grill him about the potential culling of one of our favourite characters. “He’s patently waiting for the right time to be back in the spotlight.” Phew, so he will feature on Signature? “It’s kinda weird cos the album is more musical, it’s more serious, bar Charlie Boy and Jason Waste and maybe Upload. It’s a pretty serious album so to incorporate Charlie Boy is gonna be quite difficult but he needs to make an appearance.” Yes he does, in a video eating tea with the Queen perhaps? We’ll watch that space.

As the personal playback continues I’m soon caught slipping, singing along to Man Of The Match, a footy themed, whistle-heavy track (“About me being Man of the Match”) and Stereo, a standout, bass-heavy monster. The hook is catchy like Chicken Pox. ‘Been around the globe, sailed around the seas/ I don’t really care about these silly wannabes,’ he raps over American producer Chops’ watt-worthy production. The explanation of Stereo is a quick and simple one. “That’s just battle rap Sway of old. I’m just showing off.”

Indeed but in terms of content, delivery and getting raw emotion on a song, nothing can be more so than the piano-led tear jerker, Pray For Kaya. This moving track details what was going through Sway’s mind as his close friend, the industry loved Queen of Clubs, Kaya Bousquet, lay in a coma. ‘We prayed for Puffy but God still took him,’ I hear in the first verse in between tales of the cinema going good times that they shared. There are several lump in the throat moments after the unhurried intro; ‘I just wish I could have called her on the phone that day and told her not to go,’ and ‘If you’ve got a bit of fire in you that means you got a bit of Kaya in you.’ Instead of giving up though, this Haringey-bred, Jonnies Barber regular turned negative low moments into positive ones. “It was only when Puffy died – he was one of my business partners – I thought I really need to step up the value and put in more money to make it something that people really remember forever and ever,” he explains of raising the bar. “Losing my friends like Kaya, Olu, my cousin

Kwesi, Banger and more all within the last 20 months, I thought it was God was showing all of us signs that this life is too short. Walk Away, which I didn’t play you, features one of my barbers, Father Noah. It’s a track about re-evaluating the situation, it’s not really an anti-gun/ anti-knife track, but it does spread the message about thinking twice before you act. You can end up in jail just wasting your life.”

After laid-back Look After My Girl Ft. Darren B and End of the Road a guitar-ridden track featuring Sting’s daughter, Coco, hit my ears we finish on Special Place. This is 6.03 catchy minutes of Sway ‘Taking music around the world’ and asking others from the scene to join him cos he ‘Can’t do this by himself’. After stop is reluctantly pressed, it’s easy to see that not only is Sway proud of his Ghanaian parentage he’s swollen with pride about this album. “It’s a product I am totally proud of,” he announces, sitting up in his chair and alert like he’s just heard the seductive siren of an ice cream van. “I’m gonna push it until the wheels fall off. This album is going to be a success. If I have to drag people out of their houses individually and take them into HMV, I’ll do it 100,000 times; I’ll do it.” After hearing 81.25% of the Signature LP it’s safe to say the UK’s No.1 rapper is back.



Saturday Night Hustle is out mid August and the Signature LP is out late August.

Quick Questions:
Biggest thing you’ve signed up for?
[Phone rings] Ah that’s Youngsta phoning me for his money for F UR X. I’m not even joking. What should I tell him? I’ll pay him tonight though. Big up Youngsta, he’s been so patient with me. I’ve been super-busy... The biggest thing I’ve had to sign for? Probably my distribution deal on the first album.

If you didn’t have this job, what would you do?
Probably be a politician or a fraudster. They’re the same thing.

Quality of Quantity?
Quality, my LP is value for money. There are 16 tracks on there. I spoke to Lethal Bizzle, I spoke to Kano, and everybody thinks that less is best. Bizzle said I should give ‘em 11 tracks and do a bonus CD a few months down the line [laughs].

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Wii?
PlayStation 3.

Vocoder or live?
Live.

Facebook or MySpace?
Facebook.

Haringey or New York?
[Loud] Haringey.

Charlie Boy or Jason Waste?
Oooooooo... Jason Waste, cos he is new.

In terms of collabs: Akon or Kanye?
Akon.

Run Music or All City?
Run Music.

Run Music or Dcypha?
Dcypha.

Who does Sway's hair?
Rhianna.

What is happening with the ladies?
A lot [laughs].

Hi Sushi...

Hi Sushi..., originally uploaded by Danny Walker 1.

Are they taking the piss? Yo.... someone should tell!!!