Some favourites of 2011:

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Blog-wise, and I don't tend to have much time to scout round the blogs these days, but my favourite urban music blog has to be Semtex's blog: http://DJSemtex.com. In terms of useful websites that I've come across this year, We Transfer has to take the prize here: http://WeTransfer.com. There've been many albums I've enjoyed this year, but 'Watch The Throne' from Jay-Z and Kanye West, 'Take Care' from Drake, SBTRKT's self-titled debut, 'Every Kingdom' from Ben Howard and Noel Gallgher's High Flying Birds self-titled album, are all firm favourites.

This year has seen some of the artists who I've bashed people over the head with on Twitter come to see huge success, in particular, Emeli Sande and Ed Sheeran, two amazingly talented British songwriters. I'd like to say I was championing Ben Howard also, but he appeared on my radar very late in the year, thanks to Lauren Laverne on BB 6 Music. Also through her show I was very pleased to be introduced to the work of Bon Iver, Lana Del Rey, M83 and some new Friendly Fires output that I'd have probably otherwise missed out on. 

In terms of the producers who I feel have excelled this year, it's certainly worth noting what the likes of 2 Bears, RackNRuin, Redlight and of course Noah Shebib (Drake's producer) have been doing. They've all produced some great music during 2011. Music people who have been an inspiration to watch and learn from this year most certainly include Eddy Temple-Morris (for his unique, all round manner, and great CMU columns I've previously blogged about), Nick Bright (a leading light at BBC 1Xtra, in terms of quality presenting talent) and Zed Bias (the mans work rate scares me... and we get told we're super-productive! Zed is on a whole new level of the term 'productive').

I could go on, but I want to keep this short, really. It's been a great year for British music, and a great year for us as HeavyFeet. Big up 2011!

Mike HF

Filed under  //   BBC 6 Music   BBC Radio 1Xtra   Ben Howard   Bon Iver   Dj Semtex   Drake   Ed Sheeran   Eddy Temple Morris   Emeli Sande   Friendly Fires   HeavyFeet   Jay-Z   Kanye West   Lana Del Rey   Lauren Laverne   M83   Nick Bright   Noah Shebib   Noel Gallagher   RackNRuin   Red Light   SBTRKT   The 2 Bears   We Transfer   Zed Bias  
Posted December 31, 2011 by HeavyFeet 
 

Ed Sheeran - Y.N.M.I.D.N.Y (True Tiger Remix) [Video]

A remix in the dance music sense of the word, but also in the hip-hop sense, as this 'remix' features two of London's hypest MC's, Dot Rotten and Scrufizer, providing the additional bars. It's not my favourite True Tiger remix to date (I'm a big fan of theirs), but it's definitely worth a listen anyway (the video isn't exactly 'wow' in all fairness either) and I'd suggest waiting it out for the synth solo that True Tiger have added at the end... as that truly is wicked!

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Dot Rotten   Ed Sheeran   Scrufizer   True Tiger  
Posted September 13, 2011 by HeavyFeet 
 

Artful ft. Kal Lavelle - Could Just Be The Bassline (video)

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So, another picture of a bald man. There seems to be a pattern unfolding here!? Anyway...

For those of you who are not so up to date on your urban music producers, Artful is Mark Hill. Mark Hill, you may remember as one half of the Artful Dodger, and producer in his own right, co-writing and producing many of this hits from Craig David's debut album, 'Born To Do It'. Mark went on a bit of a sabbatical for a few years after his success, and moved to Ibiza, returning with a music project called 'The Stix' around 2007/2008, which was prequel (that I recall) to his current production project, Artful.

Following on from The Stix, Mark returned to the UK full time to begin writing new material with a whole host of new UK talent. 'Could Just Be The Bassline' was penned by Mark and Ed Sheeran (a man who needs no introduction on this here blog) earlier this year, and re-sung by the rather wonderful Kal Lavelle (who recently supported Ed on his UK summer tour) for the single release. The official video for the single, which Mark is releasing on his new label, Workhouse Records, is now online, so I'm obviously encouraging you to give it a watch! Expect big things from Artful. Mark is one of the finest producers we have in the UK, as far as my opinion from the last 10yrs goes. 

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Artful   Artful Dodger   Craig David   Ed Sheeran   Kal Lavelle   Mark Hill  
Posted September 8, 2011 by HeavyFeet 
 

Wiley - Chill Out Zone Vol.1 (mixtape)

Wiley dropped a new mixtape/compilation on Twitter this morning. It's on a downtempo vibe, as you'd expect from the title. Check the video above for 'If I Could' ft. Ed Sheeran, this is the sort of vibe you can expect on the compilation. 

http://www.zshare.net/download/9238978253c9a5ae/

I still think Wiley is one of the best MC's we've ever had in the UK, and I've been an advocate of his over the years, despite his (what some would describe as) 'unusual' way of dealing with social media and fan interaction platforms! Either way, one thing is true, he's still very relevant to the music game, after all these years, and he's still trying to push his personal envelope as an artist, and the way in which he delivers his music to his fans. 

It's a bit annoying that there's no obvious tracklist in the zip of track (and the naming of them is all over the shop), but it's definitely worth a listen. :)

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Chill Out Zone   Ed Sheeran   Wiley  
Posted July 8, 2011 by HeavyFeet 
 

Inside SBTV: From Bedroom To Boardroom

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If you haven't yet seen this mini-documentary or know about SBTV (where've you been!?), I would recommend you take 20 minutes out of your day to learn something about the mini-phenomenon that is SBTV and Jamal Edwards (left), the man behind this rather powerful UK-based online music video resource. 

Inside SBTV: From Bedroom To Boardroom http://t.co/gLqTqPb (Channel 4.com)

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Channel 4   Ed Sheeran   Jamal Edwards   SBTV  
Posted July 4, 2011 by HeavyFeet