Hopsin live @ Harry's Bar Friday 16th of September

Hey all, Hopsin is coming over in September for a show in Perth and will be supported by local talent Gunn Boy.

MURDA-US Productions (AUS) proudly presents to Perth, in association with Funk Volume (U.S), one of the biggest up n' coming name's in Underground Hip Hop today, the highly contraversial, and extremely talented "Hopsin", to be joined by fellow FV artist "SwizZz"! Also featuring a return to the stage by MURDA-US Productions own "Gunn Boy", who is set to release a "MURDA-US Productions EP" on this night, which includes tracks from his highly anticipated second release "The Serial Killer From South Of The River: Return of the Madman" among others. This will be a limited edition release to be sold directly from this event only, so if you want some of that new "Gunn Boy" before the LP's Full release late 2011, make sure you get your tickets before they're all GONE!!

This is an 18+ event.

Get tickets here.

The Beat Summit

Hey all, there is a workshop for all of those into the production of Hip Hop coming up featuring Dazastah, Hykus and Zeke. I don't have too much information as of yet but there is a teaser video below.

Check out TheBeatSummit on Facebook.

Paulie P and Rocksteady - How Long Will It Take (Live from The Rosemount)

Hey all, check out this video from Paulie P and Rocksteady taken from The Rosemount at the Del gig. I can't wait to see what these guys have in store for us.

Check out Paulie P on Facebook.

Perth City Battles 8: Azmatik VS Pafekt

Hey all, latest video from Perth City Battles is out. Check out Azmatik and Pafekt battle it out for $100 below.

Check out Perth City Battles on Facebook.

Kadyelle and Kiel - FREE mixtape

Local MC Kadyelle has teamed up with Queensland rhymer Kiel to create a one-of-a-kind mixtape, where each track has been written, recorded and mixed in one night. You can stream and download the mixtape for FREE from http://kadyelleandkiel.bandcamp.com/

Hard copies are also available for free via the above link or by contacting kadyelleandkiel@hotmail.com

To hear more from Kadyelle click here

To hear more from Kiel click here

To connect with Kadyelle on Facebook click here

To connect with Kiel on Facebook click here

Linburb Linney (BYP) - Dexie Back (Featuring Nicci Fear)

Hey all, Linney has a new video up for his track Dexie Back. Make sure you check it out. This track is funny as hell.

Check out BYP on Facebook.

Creed Birch Beat Competition and Interview

Hey all, if you haven't heard of him by now you have probably had your head under a rock but the main man Creed Birch has completed his 300th beat. To celebrate he is holding a competition where you could win the beat just by recording over it and sending it to him. Check the beat below.

  300!!! by creedbirch

Also as part of this I have a small interview with the man himself.

What gave you the idea of having a producer showcase?

the skill level of producers in perth is getting better and better since i first began witnessing the scene we have here .Its always about the mcs so i thought it was time to show off some of the beat makers we have to offer

How do you feel about the skill level of production in Perth? 

Im not to sure about the rest of the countrys producer quality so i dont have much to put them up against, but i know from what ive seen and heard that we have a very strong community of producers here in perth that are growing in talent every day

What are your influences when it comes to making beats?

All music ! I take every idea i have from everything i hear . I can listen to a song that i think is completely stupid and hear a transition from verse to chorus , or the way the song begins etc.., and come up with my own idea from what ive heard. 

Producer wise , M-phazes, Trials, Rob Shaker and Dazastah are my biggest infulences i would say

Who are some artists that you would like to work with?

There are so many , I would love to work with, Horrorshow, Drapht, Downsyde, Spit Syndicate, Briggs, Sesta, Mantra, Layla... the list goes on, Im currently working on Bitter Beliefs next album which will feature some great artists.. you'l have to wait and see whats coming.

What are your plans for music in the future?

To keep progressing, networking and understanding music as much as i possibly can. I want to stand out from the rest and bring something new.

Submit all entries for the competition to druncbeats@hotmail.com and check out Creed Birch on Facebook.

TEKTONIK - PREMONITION Album Review

**Note to all readers - This article is strictly an album review from a listeners point of view ONLY – this is not an attempt to insult, criticise or cause offense. Any offense taken is not intended. #It is what it is…**

Whaddup Hip Hopperz! Welcome to yet another album review at PerthUnderground. Tektonik is the name of the day for this review, which fell into my lap from my boy Loftee who asked to me have a listen and put my thoughts out on it….so here it is.

Tektonik, a young artist from Perth reppin the West, brings us a nice little composition of soundz on Premonition. A lot of katz seemed to get their finger in the pie of this album with various tracks bein produced by Donn Subi, Caster, Sean Divine, Rickie Drayton (who also did the mixing from Lucid Music), Loftee Beats, Siege-A, Van Beats and Tektonik himself. Recorded and mastered at Flatspin Recordings by Stuart Bishop.

Aiight so let’s get to the substance of Premonition as it kicks off with the intro, “Definition,” which is just that, Tek bringz us what Premonition means via the route of a dictionary then slides you into his first track, “Blame It On Hip Hop” featuring Knowledge Bones. Starting off with these sweet little Indian/Asian strings and smooth beat, Tektonik and K-Bones voice their views on how Hip Hop and Rap get the blame for numerous things. Tektonik’s gotta sweet delivery in this track and Knowledge complimentz him well. When I first listened to the track Tek’s lazy delivery in the hook put me off, however I couldn’t help but sing along with it and my room mates were right there along with me…Safe to say one of my favoritez on the album….

Aiight, alcoholic mixed drink number 3 makes it’s way to my hands on track 3, “Til The Wheels Fall Off” featuring NJE. The beat is fantastic, reminding me of the signature Australian Hip Hop beat with live sounding drums and trippy female vocal loops, Tek and NJE take us down the path of loving the culture of Hip Hop and doing what he does strictly because it’s who he his. Tektonik’s delivery is on point and you can feel his passion.

So I’m startin to feel a bit tipsy when “Whatever She Wants” featuring Savo kicks in. This has an excellent bouncy beat with some keyboard sound effects echoing in an out and a simple hook that you can’t help sing along with. Tektoniks delivery sounds so natural in this song and the title of the song speaks for itself with regardz to what he’s rappin about. The only thing about this track that put me off was during the hook you can hear Tek’s breath intake between lines, and once I heard it I couldn’t stop hearing it throughout the rest of the track and others that follow.

“Kiss My Ass” is up next featuring Streamlyne and Braidz, a funky little beat with some crazy shit goin on in the instrumentalz which work well with the playful delivery of all involved. Basically everyone can kiss Tek’s ass if you don’t like what he’s doin is the substance to this track! I enjoyed this, it had me laughin, and again, Tek’s hook has that lazy feel to it that you can’t help but repeat along with him.

So I decide to have a quick smoke break, chillin on my balcony, when all of a sudden “Just Stop” featuring Black Poet kicks in and I’m LOVING it. A dark, sinister beat which has Lofteez hand print all over it and you can’t help but sit and listen to Tek and Poet preach about the fucked up state of the planet and those who dwell in it. Poet is a welcomed addition to this track with his dark delivery and his timing is perfecto….REPEAT BITCH!

So I’m startin to feel a bit tipsy when“Wasted” featuring Breeze kicks in and all I can say is that it’s just dope…whereby the topic of addiction is the focal point and the female vocals on the hook bring the mortar to the layers of this beat. Loved it…

Tektonik comes out with a nice flow in “Lucid Music” but I found the beat a bit too busy for me …. However when “Never Ending Cycle” featuring Seige-A kicked in I was back on my grind… The hook is sick and Tektonik is yet again reminding us of his love for Hip Hop and Rap, how it’s his escape and release from everything else in life. I felt this one, anyone in this game of Hip Hop can relate to this track, and needless to say it took me awhile to get past this track cuz I kept repeating it…. “I do this music because it’s all that matters to me, it’s the moth and the flame… ay yo it’s Adam and Eve…”

“Birthday” – this is the next track after Never Ending Cycle, and I’ll be honest, I was a bit disappointed, one cuz I’m sick of 50 Cent, and the sample ruins it for me. In saying this I admit you can’t help but wanna nod to the beat, but I think this track, compared to others on the album, is mediocre. The track is about partying and havin a good time and getting smashed but I just wish it was done differently.

“Listen” featuring Kritical is a smooth little track with a R n B feel where Tektonik is deliverin a little verbal love makin to his girl…

“Better Days” featuring B Reddy had me head noddin. The beat reminds me of something outta 8 Mile, but the delivery from Tek and B Reddy do not, churnin on about how life is what it is, and makes you who you are…I was feelin Tektoniks verse but B Reddy sounded a bit off the beat and I wasn’t able to follow him like I wanted to. Tektonik’s lazy delivery in the hook is satisfying..

Aiight so I’m chillin back in the lounge and the beat to “This Is It” took me back to the 90’s, police sirens, LOC sunglasses and MTV playin Public Enemy…a high energy beat however a bit too busy as I was losing Tektonik in the noise. I still enjoyed the shit out of it however.

The album comes to an end with “My Theme” – and honestly, Tektoniks delivery and rhymes in this track are smashin, the beat and Tek go together like peanut butter and jelly, and I believe this is Tektonik’s sound right here…

So to summarize, Premonition has got all the basic elementz from talkin shit, talkin serious business, love for Hip Hop, love for ya girl, some story telling, phat beatz, dope delivery’s, featured artists, and most importantly all of it comin from Tektoniks heart and soul. You can’t diss anyone for putting work in and this album has the signs of some heavy labour. I definitely recommend coppin this album. Tektonik has a great future ahead of him, and I think that Premonition gives a hint of what Tek’s signature sound will be, as there’s traces of finger prints all over each track, all that needs to be done is to find what the consistency is and put it together in one package, and Tek will be causin divisions soon enough! Overall I enjoyed the album, and many who were around with me enjoyed listening to it as well, and to me, that’s a win no matter where you are. Don’t worry Tektonik, I won’t forget the name yo….#WORD

Buy Tektonik – Premonition right here.

petestyla@perthunderground.com.au or petestyla@gmail.com

Ill Recognise Ill - People Change

Hey all, a couple of tracks from the Down South Crew - Ill Recognise Ill have ended up on YouTube. Check them out below.

Check out Down South Crew on Facebook.

SOMA - HEARTCORE Album Review

**Note to all readers - This article is strictly an album review from a listeners point of view ONLY – this is not an attempt to insult, criticise or cause offense. I do not believe in baggin any artist for expressin themselves. Any offense taken is not intended. #It is what it is…**

Sup Peepz! Aiight finally got a spare minute to sit down, crack a beer and zone out to Soma’s 1st album – Heartcore. Soma, originally from England, brings a dope little gem to the Perth Hip Hop scene with this album, where most tracks are produced by Bipola, a few others were produced by Rob Shaker, Eddy Xtrackt and Creed Birch. The opening track is an intro where Soma introduces himself with a cruisy little beat combining some lovely live drum sounds and clever wordplay from Soma himself. The intro was a great opening to lead into the next track, “About Time” where Soma and the beat mix well together. So as I’m crackin my second beer it starts to get hot all of a sudden when “32 Degrees” kicked in – sick beat – A dope ass head noddin track where featured artists Apprentice, Smiley, Verdikt and LSD alongside Soma make a great little combination.

Soma then brings us into his life with “Lower Class Love Part 2.1: The Honeymoon Period.” A smooth as peanut butter beat with a sick female backing vocal, Soma get’s into some storytelling which takes you down the path of a relationship just beginning. The hook in the track took me out of it for a minute, finding a bit bland and seeing that it could’ve had a bit more substance to it, but after listening to it a couple of times I believe the hook is perfect for the song, short and sweet. “Lower Class Love Part 2.1” gets you warmed up for part 2.2 and 2.3 which are staggered out through the rest of the album, leading you down a nice path of a tale of infatuation, break ups and enlightenment.

Ok so third beer gets cracked….I sit on the lounge chair…and then zone out as I’m swept away by this trip hop sounding beat and female hook on a track called “Happiness.” This track is one of my favorite on the album, it has a hypnotizing rhythm with a female singing that reminded me of Portishead. Kadyelle and Thorts bring a nice addition to the vocals with Soma. This track got repeated about 3 timez.

Tracks “The Mirror,” “That’s Life,” and “On The Road” give us an incite into Soma’s thought process, a little history of the journey that brought him to where he is. “On The Road” really got me listening, Soma brings some salt to the mellow flavor of the beat which was produced by Eddy Xtrackt.

“Neo Prostitution” comes in with a sinister Latino soundin acoustic guitar backed up by a dark bass line and drum loop that has you intrigued right away as he leads us down the fast lane of fame and an industry of greed within the music industry. Dope track, repeat was hit a few timez….

“The Cypher Years” is a small one verse story of Soma’s finding rap and Hip Hop featuring Enkae. The beat takes you back to the school yard, hoodies, high top Nikes, basketball courts and cardboard boxes flattened on the ground for breakin…which is perfect for the content of Soma and Enkae’s verses….Unfortunately the only thing I didn’t dig on this track was the fact that it’s too short! Soma and Enkae almost tease you with their bars spittin only 1 verse each, which left me wanting more…

As the album is comin to an end Soma’s “Song for Perth” get’s ya head noddin and if you’re a Perthling you can’t help but smile to some of the things Soma brings up, from Cottesloe Beach to the Newport Hotel. The hook is fantastic with fantastic internals and wordplay.

“Microphone Fencing” kicks in as I’m deciding to pour myself a bourbon and coke….and I almost lost all bodily functions when the beat came in….Probably one of my favorite tracks of the album, featuring Cortext and Bitter Belief – the trio make for a hard hitting “don’t fuck with us” feel. There was people passing through my lounge room who weren’t even into Hip Hop (I know, idiots, right?) stopping, and head noddin with smiles on their faces askin me who the hell this was… Soma comes in first with a sick delivery swingin a battle axe of dope internals and wordplay, followed by 2 more soldiers slingin verbal weaponry…#DOPE

Soma finishes off with “Song for Leeds” – which is filled with a dope ass jazzy bass and drum line…The song title speaks for itself and is a nice outro to the album, bein Soma is from England, it’s a little reminder to remember where you’re from. If you let the track play on – you’ll find a nice little gem that kicks in as a hidden track that Soma delivers with a forcible flow.

So, to summarize, Soma takes us down a path of love, self contemplation, reminiscing, heartache and respect. Opening up his heart to us through poetry in motion Soma definitely has a signature sound that I believe will develop and grow even stronger as he continues on with his musical career. The title of the album is true to it’s content in most aspects, probably just giving us a taste of what’s to come. Soma has a talent for storytelling as stated before with his 3 part track “Lower Class Love” and definitely can paint a picture in your mind with most of his songs. I definitely recommend copping this album if you haven’t already. Thanks to Soma for keeping it real and I look forward to the next production. #WORDisBOND

Buy HEARTCORE online here BUY ME!

Check out Soma on Facebook.

L.S.D. - Self Destruct ft DJ Junior

Hey all, if you haven't peeped L.S.D.'s album yet then check this track out. The album is fire so make sure you grab a copy.

Check out L.S.D. on Facebook.

Interview with Leonidas from The Pantheon Vanguard

Hey all, got a little interview with Leonidas here so check it out. As you will notice the new featured music is from Leonidas so if you're feeling it make sure you get down to one of his gigs.

Where are you from and how did you get into Hip Hop?

Greek descent, Down South born, Lonley City raised. Being a Skater from a young age and hanging with older crowds led me to hearing Gravediggaz n Wu when I was about 12... my life's bin bin hip hop ever since.

What are your main influences when it comes to writing?

Disguised truths and righteous sins.

When did you become a member of the group Pantheon Vanguard?

When I split my physical frame from the fabric of the 4th dimension and became The God of Time.... or when Apollo plague, Konlfikt, Monolith, Oath and myself finally found a name we could settle on.

Where can we get some of your music?

Right now, get my music at a show live... un till I drop my album " Bap to the Future " then.... probably still at a live show. My focus is on music not marketing right now.

Do you have any live shows coming up?

Always something, Check those flyers.

What do you think of the Perth scene at the moment?

The Perth scene is a melting pot of diversity ready to cook up a storm.

Who is your favourite local artist?

Layla.

What are the plans for your music in future?

Go Bap to it.

Check out The Pantheon Vanguard on Facebook.

Perth City Battles 6: Dazer VS Mysc

Hey all, hows it going? New video up from Perth City Battles of Dazer and Mysc. Check it out below.

Check out Perth City Battles on Facebook.

The Stoops - Free (Official Video)

Hey all, for those that have been waiting The Stoops have released a video for their track "Free". Produced by Rae I can see this track doing big things.

Check out The Stoops on Facebook.

Perth City Battles 8

Hey all, Perth City Battles 8 is coming up this Sunday @ The Newport Hotel in Fremantle. Battles start at 12:00pm so be there.

Azmatik vs Pafekt ( $100 ) 

Spliffs Green vs Dash 

Sammy c vs Squirt

Dazer vs Baxter ( $100 )

Emcee dc vs Cable

Runninmikz vs Propa

Dzurv vs Bong Weedsley 

Phatiuge vs Skulka mc 

Ouchie vs Matti free

Mark yourself as attending on the Facebook.

Mixtape Thursdays (Ladies Night)

Hey all, another month is down and we have another Mixtape coming up. This thursday at The Newport Hotel in Fremantle it is Ladies Night. Featuring performances from Kasha J, Mama Teesh, Lady Loca and more so get down to The Newport and have a good night. There will be some promotional stuff from Alize on the night.

Mark yourself as attending on the Facebook.

Perth City Battles 7: Azmatik VS Trooth

Hey all, got the latest video from Perth City Battles featuring Azmatik and Trooth. This is the craziest battle I have seen yet out of PCB.

Check out Perth City Battles on Facebook.

Dazastah on his MPC 1000

Hey all, check this video from Dazastah AKA Charlie Chimp ripping it up and rapping on his MPC 1000. I can't say I have ever seen anybody make beats and rap at the same time so check it out below.

Check out Dazastah on Facebook.

Omac - Perth Rapper Tag

Hey all, so there is a Perth Rapper Tag I only just heard of when Omac sent me a video of him tearing it up in his car. Check out the video below.

Check out Perth Rapper Tag on Facebook.

Slackjaw - Fremantles Finest

Hey all, if you grabbed Slackjaw's latest mixtape and liked it you should check out his new album "Fremantles Finest". It features production from Rob Shaker, Hykus and Episode.

Earning his stripes in one of the most isolated cities in the world, Slackjaw was a prominent figure in Perth battles and open mic events since he first appeared in the early 2000's.

Keeping listeners inspired and his skills refined, he released three mixtapes to street level acclaim and then began searching for the landscapes on which to build his first official contribution to Australian hip hop.

The music that has been created reads like an open book into his thoughts and experiences, capturing vibe and emotion with each song displaying a natural progression from the opening paragraph to its final chapter.

The albums biggest drawcard is its lyrical and musical diversity, from the straight up boom-bap "TCB" and "You & I" to party jams "Showin Love" and "Perth City", while the more emotive

"Somethin Breezy" provides the listener with balance, depth and perspective. The lyrical content is matched with equally diverse production from Perth producers Rob

Shaker, Hykus and Episode, layering tradional sampling with live instrumentation giving the backdrop a warm and organic feel over its 12 tracks.

"Fremantles Finest" is not only a dedication to Slackjaw's place of birth, but to the music itself as it showcases the finer points that hip hop in this country has to offer.

Grab yourself a copy of Fremantles Finest from Water Front Records.

Perth City Battles 7: Leeroy Lee VS Sammy C

Hey all, got a new video out from Perth City Battles 7 of Leeroy Lee VS Sammy C. Heard this was a pretty good battle so check it out below.

Check out Perth City Battles on Facebook.