If we rewind back 12 months ago Grime was being touted as the next big thing in UK black music. Times have changed but the streets are still rough.

Check this Photo-Documentary shot and narrated by photographer Simon Wheatley.

Don’t be fooled by the press. There is plenty of life in Grime yet. (if the kids can keep out of trouble)

Play: Wiley - Bow E3 (instrumental)

Buy: Wiley - Playtime Is Over (Big Dada records)

Top artwork aside, The Heavy have been serving up some chunky UK funk for a minute or two. Coming off like Prince smoking erb with Rich Harrison - “Coleen” is an infectious groove that has been tearing up many myspace pages nationwide (including ours)

Album drops in October via Counter Records

Play: The Heavy - Coleen

Download: (zshare)

Buy: Single

The classic game is now up (see the play section) Perfect for wasting some of those precious office hours.

(still working on the high score feature)

Comin’ straight outta London via Detroit & linking up with the Beach Boys along the way, we discovered the new wunderkind - Bullion. There is not much info on him a the moment but if you’re lucky you can catch him live at this years Big Chill Festival.

You can download his new concept album Pet Sounds: In The Key Of Dee below & it gets our stamp of approval.

Download: (sendspace)

Play: Bullion - Lets Go Away For A While

Despite all the floods going on & the lack of summer in the UK right now, people are still feeling good. We got sent this Todd Terry mix of Nina Simone & it really sums up the vibe at fly music hq right now. Its a 10 minute festival style house creeper.

Don’t let the rain put you off leaving the yard!

Download: Nina Simone - Feelin’ Good (todd terry remix) (zshare)

Buy: Nina Simone albums

1st off apologies for the lack postings last week. Had some technical glitches & went to check some musical runnings in Italy

We’re back with this incredible mix from The Blessings. They’re from the same LuckyMe crew as Hudson Mohawke & have taken this mix one step further with this head noddin tech hip-hop soul mixtape. Guaranteed to impress.

The Blessings - Faux Real Vol 1

Tracklisting:
the blessings - george jitson
the blessings - yalabama
rustie - deep fried
buddy leezle - luv (hud mo refix)
jay p - keep it lit
dema - hillophi
the blessings - l.o.b
the blessings - anna nicole
rustie + kissyapslund - atomic light and sound
madlib - freeze
illa j - new shit
alecto - hele jaar door
the blessings - sumoon
cinnaman - nonamesforthisone
mr beatnick - + ahu ‘i know all the bitches’
nasty p - nastyesther
nasty p - for defo
the blessings - last days
young jeezy - 22s or better (rustie refix)
hudson mohawke - extra sauce
the cool kids - black mags
the cool kids - gold and a pager
the blessings - shinnin

Download: (zshare)

R’n'B is a funny kind of music. It’s currently the chav club favourite but now and again you’ll find some crazy tunes that change the overall sound of music for years. Let’s face it when R’N'B gets electronic and psychedelic it works. Whatever happened to Acid R’nB?

Check the 3 tracks below. It seems like R’n'B sometimes steps into the Matrix and swallows the wrong pill when nobody is looking.

Play:
Girl Gone Wild - Tiffany Evans
Download: Here (z share)
Released: September 07

Play:
Ginuwine - Pony (instrumental)
Buy: Here

Play:
Brandy - What About Us (instrumental)
Buy: Here

We’re off to Milano tomorrow to support Shea as she does her soulful funk strut. Check the snippet below. Produced by Phil Asher and released at the end of the month by Defected imprint Suburban records.

If you’re in Milan you can come see her. If not you can’t.

Restless Soul feat Shea - Tricks (snippet)

The world famous Acyde & DJ MK do the Gullyver travels thing (on friday night) and move the event south to Plan-B Brixton. Expect 80’s gems, classics and unknowns. Free before 11 so no need to ask for guest list, right?

These days Nike seems to be surviving on re-hashing its glorious past. The latest ‘Vintage’ collection features runners from the 70’s. Featuring distressed details such as real 70’s materials including faded laces. Dropping this weekend & worth checking if you like old stuff.

http://www.nike.com/nikevintage

Check 2001 track by Cali rapper Lexicon. Nikehead

Download: Here (z share)

Mp3:

Buy: Album