2012 will undoubtedly be the year that Deathgrips top the polls for the most innovative music out there. Due to the flood gates unleashing a million boring musical projects a month across the internet that get hyped one week and forgotten the next, Deathgrips have progressed from mixtape hype to insane live shows and major label backing fueled by their incredible knack of making electrifying music. They are simply light year’s ahead of the pack.
This week they released Double Helix, another dose of infectious media from the album The Money Store that sees vocalist Stefan Burnett cocking the hammer and busting the thunder from the rear-view camera of a reversing vehicle.
“So you really wanna know how I freak it?” – Yes mate, because we are intrigued to find out how your unique skeletal system is bombin’ it. Watch this. Take it in and pass it on. Sick.
THE NEXTMEN always have the best hip hop on tap. Mix this with more guests and some BBQ vibes and you have a free day out at Cargo, East London in the diary for Sunday 22nd July from midday until midnight
Where? Cargo Courtyard, 83 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY (Old Street Tube)
BBQ & Full Menu Served all day. Kids of all ages welcome until 7pm. DJs include The Nextmen, The Milk (Exclusive DJ Set), Mo Fingaz (Main Squeeze), Shepdog (Nice Up!), DJ Lok, DJ Odin, Kwake, Smitharene & Sam Zircon.
This gig starts early, really early. We arrived just before 8pm, and opening (local) band Gnarwolves had already played. Yeah, that early! And then maybe 20 minutes later Trash Talk takes to the stage. My mate Tony confirms we last saw them in Brighton in 2008 (supporting Paint it Black) – jeez, time flies. One thing’s for sure, Trash Talk have been going hard at it in the meantime, with relentless touring and recording that has gained them a strong young fan base, which is evident tonight. From the opening brutish chords, band and front stage crowd go off. Ok, I’ll be honest; much of Trash Talk’s short, blunt, metallic hardcore doesn’t have that killer impact on me that it promises to, but they are still a captivating live act, amped on anger and loaded with surly attitude.
I managed to catch OFF! on their initial blaze thru the UK last summer, but the gig I went to in Portsmouth was in a huge room, far too big for the show, with a small crowd, stage barriers, lacking atmosphere – a situation not conducive to a good night you’d think. Wrong! OFF! were ace, and we drove home stoked on having witnessed a very great band. So, in the much tighter and more populated confines of The Haunt, they are gonna be really great, right? Right! If, like me, you’ve had the OFF! 7”s and recent album on steady rotation, then you pretty much know you are in for a salvo of fast, tight, belligerent hardcore heavily inspired by the music singer Keith Morris originally cut his chops on, way back in the midst of time, but is delivered in 2012 sounding fresh and totally revitalised. And that’s down to the 3 fellow band members he’s aligned with, all accomplished musicians in their own right, and totally on it in keeping up the intensity.
4 songs bursts are interjected by Keith’s thoughts and anecdotes, and it’s good to know he’s still questioning and refusing to accept what his Government tells him. In other words; Punk Rock. Memories of his long deceased buddy Jeffrey Lee Pierce still cast a shadow on Keith, who questioned whether The Gun Club ever played in Brighton. I can confirm they did, late ’82, or early ’83 at The New Regent in West Street, which is now just another shitty bar, but back then was a hot bed of activity. Ack… the stories I could tell. Meanwhile, back at The Haunt, and approx 50 minutes after they started, OFF! departs to rapturous applause from the crowd… and we gather outside in the fading light, and acknowledge we have just seen a very great band. Intense, in your face and on the road with a vengeance, go see them!
Old school Hip Hop heads will be delighted to know that two rappers with the names Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie will be hitting London’s Forum on 22nd June. Get a ticket.
Toronto based hardcore band called Metz should be on your radar this year. They have signed to Sub Pop this week so get a first few bars of what’s coming and trust us that the Metz album is going to be one that we will be discussing by the end of the year.
‘Here’s a song from our new album!” Those dreaded words come courtesy of Offspring main man Dexter Holland as his band launch into new single ‘Days Go By’, which is greeted with little more than polite cheers and nodding from the sold-out crowd. At best a pale imitation of the Foo Fighters’ ‘Times Like These’, it doesn’t bode well for the Californian quartet’s future, but thankfully it’s the only slip-up of the evening.
An evening that, incidentally, is all about the past. You’ve got to hand it to Holland and co; it’s been well over a decade since they last made a truly great record, but they’re smart enough to realise their glory days are behind them, and to play what we want to hear. To that end, they’ve lured us into the Empire with a tasty carrot; the prospect of hearing 1992’s ‘Ignition’ album in full, which lends the evening an almost tangible sense of occasion.
Excitement trumps age tonight, with the largely 30-something crowd going crazy as the band rip through the likes of ‘Take It Like A Man’ and ‘Burn It Up’; songs infused with the kind of verve and black humour that has been sorely lacking in their recent material. A spine-tingling ‘Dirty Magic’ rivals even an encore airing of ‘Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)’ in terms of sing-along volume, and after a short post-‘Ignition’ break, the mid-90s highlights come thick and fast. Road-rage anthem ‘Bad Habit’? ‘A couple of rarities here and there? Mega-hit ‘Come Out And Play’? Check, check and check – all delivered at breakneck speed and precious little fuss.
The days of plying their trade in sold-out arenas are long gone, but as ‘Self Esteem’ seemingly transforms the floor into a giant riff-powered trampoline, it’s clear that The Offspring’s live show – on a good day – remains the ace up their collective sleeve. Sparks of the fire of old still remain, and these middle-aged men can still kill the old way.
Dinosaur Jr are back with yet another album to amazing collection of work announcing today that they will be unleashing new album ‘I Bet On Sky’ through PIAS on September 17th.
This new body of work is the 3rd album since the original trio of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reformed in 2005 and marks the band’s 10th studio album since their debut on Homestead Records in 1985.
UK dates will be announced shortly and we do not have any music to share, but for now, the track listing for this new album goes like this:
1. Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know
2. Watch The Corners
3. Almost Fare
4. Stick A Toe In
5. Rude
6. I Know It Oh So Well
7. Pierce The Morning Rain
8. What Was That
9. Recognition
10. See It On Your Side
With summer being a wash out so far, we decided you may need some fresh beats that are been dropping into speakers all over the world right now. Search through these mixtapes, videos and album reviews of what are officially Abjekt Approved and if you would like to contribute towards the next edition, then contact us.
TOP 4 MIXTAPES
Wiz Khalifa – Taylor Allderdice
Wiz Khalifa is back with a brand new mixtape, Taylor Allderdice, a nod to the name of his high school in Pittsburgh. The rapper found mainstream fame with his album Rolling Papers, but if the sugary nature of most of that album wasn’t for you, then worry not – Taylor Allderdice is a return to form, seeing Wiz vibe out again like he did on the brilliant Kush & OJ mixtape.
There are features from Juicy J and Rick Ross, production from Spaceghostpurrrp and Jake One as well as a Frank Ocean sample and plenty of weed references, of course. Sound like something you want to chill out to? Then grab it here.
Action Bronson & Party Supplies – Blue Chips
Action Bronson said he wanted to give something back to the people that have supported him over the past couple of years and what better way than some free music? The larger-than-life cook turned rapper has teamed up with producer Party Supplies for this mixtape full of references to food and women. What else was he going to rap about eh?
The beats aren’t always the most sophisticated, but they all hook you immediately and give Bronsolinho the perfect canvas to spill his guts, so to speak. You can just hear him grinning throughout the length of the mixtape and you’d be hard pressed not to do the same by the end. Get that get that.
Lute – West 1996
Lute is a new rapper on the block, coming out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Whilst it may not be the hotbed of rap talent, Lute comes out swinging, talking up his manor, proving that you don’t need to come from a coast or the dirty South to have skills. Technically, this may an album, rather than a mixtape, but either way it’s a thumbs up.
The beats are super throwback, as could have been guessed from the Nas-esque cover and that’s what makes it such a great listen. The drums snap, the samples are tight and the rapping is stellar. This might not be an instant bang-fest but give it a few listens and you’ll be sure to enjoy it. Stream it here.
Pete Rock – Portland Connection
The last offering comes from Indamix Records with the MY-G “Portland Connection” mixed by Pete Rock featuring 38 unreleased jumpoffs. Hopefully this will bring the sunshine to this rotten UK summer so far. You decide.
TOP TRACKS
El-P – The Full Retard
El-Producto is back with a new album, Cancer 4 Cure, out on Fat Possum right now. He released this and we got hyped. You should do the same as the album is amazing. Pump this shit.
Stalley – Everything New
Stalley’s latest project Savage Journey To The American Dream dropped at the end of March. Chad Hugo from The Neptunes produced this and we love it.
Yasiin Bey – Sunshine Screwface
Yeah yeah, we still call him Mos Def and he still rules. This track was produced by the always wonderful Dilla [R.I.P.] and sets us up nicely for the release of the next album, whenever that may be.
Killer Mike – Butane (Champion’s Anthem) feat. El-P
There are a few ways of getting my attention and making me love what you’re doing – one is to be affiliated with Outkast and the other is to have El-P giving you beats – Killer Mike fits the bill with both of these and as such it was with excitement that I listened to his new album, R.A.P. Music [Rebellious African People]. Read my full album review here.
VIDEOS WE LIKE
Joey Bada$$ & Capital STEEZ – Survival Tactics
Joey Bada$$ might not have the best name in the world, but considering he’s just 17, the dude has talent. He hooks up with his mate Capital STEEZ on this track where both rappers prove their worth. The video is cool, the beat is great and the MCs wrap it up nicely. Boom.
Schoolboy Q ft. Ab-Soul –Druggys With Hoes Again
Schoolboy Q’s album Habits & Contradictions has been getting some serious playbacks and this is one of the bouncier tracks, amongst the laid back, understated vibe of the majority of the record. With crew mate Ab-Soul riding alongside with him, it’s one to crank up high.
Flatbush Zombies – Thug Waffle
Likely to be next in line to win hipsters over, following in the footsteps of A$AP Rocky, Flatbush Zombies are a duo that sport gold fangs and smoke a lot of weed. Both of those things are fine with us, especially when they name tracks Thug Waffle.
Animal Collective will return with a new album titled Centipede Hz released on Monday the 3rd of September 2012 on Domino Records. The band will also be touring the UK and Irelanda at the following dates.
Sunday 4th November – London, Roundhouse
Tuesday 6th November – Dublin, Vicar Street
Wednesday 7th November – Glasgow, ABC1
Thursday 8th November – Manchester, The Warehouse Project
2012 will undoubtedly be the year that Deathgrips top the polls for the most innovative music out there. Due to the flood gates unleashing a million boring musical projects a month across the internet that get hyped one week and forgotten the next, Deathgrips have progressed from mixtape hype to insane live shows and major label backing fueled by their incredible knack of making electrifying music. They are simply light year’s ahead of the pack.
Toronto based hardcore band called Metz should be on your radar this year. They have signed to Sub Pop this week so get a first few bars of what’s coming and trust us that the Metz album is going to be one that we will be discussing by the end of the year. 
‘Here’s a song from our new album!” Those dreaded words come courtesy of Offspring main man Dexter Holland as his band launch into new single ‘Days Go By’, which is greeted with little more than polite cheers and nodding from the sold-out crowd. At best a pale imitation of the Foo Fighters’ ‘Times Like These’, it doesn’t bode well for the Californian quartet’s future, but thankfully it’s the only slip-up of the evening.
Like the Descendents? Seen this yet? FILMAGE: The Story of DESCENDENTS/ALL is being made.
Dinosaur Jr are back with yet another album to amazing collection of work announcing today that they will be unleashing new album ‘I Bet On Sky’ through PIAS on September 17th.
Animal Collective will return with a new album titled Centipede Hz released on Monday the 3rd of September 2012 on Domino Records. The band will also be touring the UK and Irelanda at the following dates.