This week there have been a number of good interviews and articles posted online from stellar writers immersed in the UK music scene. Rather than rehash what’s already been said, I’ve decided to resurrect the Rewind! (Rewind! is simply a roundup of links to what’s good, what’s new, wha gwaan on the web, and it used to be a regular feature here on HearingTest.) This particular Rewind! features links to some great articles written by a few music journalists that I enjoy reading: there’s a T2 interview, a Durrty Goodz interview, Grimewatch, proof that Grime’s Not Dead, plus video of Skepta in the BBC radio studios with Mary Anne Hobbs, Wiley clashing Ghetto, and a dubstep documentary! ([More →])

I’m startin to think that a few high-profile rappers tallied up bar tabs they can’t handle! All of a sudden, everybody is affiliating their star-style with a liquor brand. Well, everyone except 50 Cent who is a renowned health nut, hence the Vitamin Water deal. (Rumour has it 50 was buying cases of the elixirs before getting involved). Now, Sean “Diddy” Combs has signed on to a multi-year deal to develop the Ciroc vodka brand. This news follows recent news that Vybz Kartel will be the face of a new rum (called Vybz Rum and distributed by Pimp Juice) and Pharrell’s addition to the Hennessy whiskey team for the Flaunt Your Taste campaign. I guess high-grade liquor is the new Land Rover in the hip hop scene…. (So why is Jay-Z on Budweiser’s wagon?) ([More →])

This video is hilarious! It’s obvious that the Vice chick is clueless about dancehall or Jamaican culture. In fact, she sounds like she just moved to the city last week! But, if it weren’t for her, we might not have gotten Ele’s explanation about why he wears so much bling. Scope the video of Elephant Man in the Bad Boy studio, recording his album Let’s Get Physical and chatting with Vice TV… ([More →])

The new episode of Boondocks is up now. It’s a good one too - Attack of the Killer Kung Fu Wolf Bitch! This one shows a bit of crossover with Afro-Samurai and references to Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon movie. Plus it features music by 9th Wonder and a song on the Applause riddim that I haven’t heard yet. If you know who/what it is, holla in the comments.

New Boondocks epidsode on HearingTest

Applause is the riddim under Sean Paul’s “Temperature” tune, check the vid to hear it:

Episode 9 of Dubplate Drama is up on the video page now. To go directly to it:

Dubplate Drama Episode 9 on HearingTest

The rest of the season is there as well if you need to catch up.

Khaled’s “I’m So Hood” Remix features Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross! But it’s Ludacris that’s killin it like a mouth full of guns in the new video! Plus, Lil Wayne is so ill it can’t be captured on film - they had to slow it down like a Bruce Lee movie! Busta Rhymes is boxing ears with his badman tongue twisters while Birdman plays it smooth like N’arlins jazz, riding slow and low. Roll these rudeboys over 808 drum loops and the backdrop of Grand Theft Auto: Atlanta and you’ve got it made! ([More →])

I am totally hooked on Dubplate Drama… So I’ve collected as many episodes as I could find online in order to get you lot hooked as well! The show is revolutionary as far as television goes because it incorporates audience interaction into the entire story. It’s basically a “Choose Your Own Adventure” for television. I see a lot more tv shows going this route, especially with the possibilities in online media and the current writers’ strike. I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was younger, so this makes me very happy indeed! The series is all about grime music and presents some tuff times trying to raise up in the UK music scene. Portraying some of the realities of urban UK life is itself pretty unusual for television. The stories are loosely based on MC Shystie’s real-life experiences, with some exaggerations (to make the series work) and with the audience choices shaping the plot. A lot of peeps are saying that this is the first time real life in Britain’s inner cities has been properly represented on tv. So, if you want to feel good about how easy you have it in life, this show might do the trick.

So check it - the new Dubplate Drama page on HearingTest

Gwen Stefani is a smart gyal. She balances being a superstar musician, a super mom, a stylish fashion line and makes it all look easy. The Love. Angel. Music. Baby mama played a concert this week in San Diego, recently ravaged by wildfires, that will raise funds for the victims of the devastation. The proceeds from the concert will go back into the community via The San Diego Foundation’s After-the-Fires Fund 2007. ([More →])

Revolutionary radio dj, musician and champion of reggae music Mikey Dread was diagnosed with a brain tumour and is undergoing chemotherapy. Dread is legendary for his late-night radio show on now defunct JBC Radio in Jamaica and he has been a huge force in reggae music history and Jamaican music culture. Last year he celebrated his 30th year as The Dread At The Control, dubbed so for his radio show that championed local ska, rock-steady and dub music at a time when the airwaves were dominated by american motown, RnB and pop music. His broadcast showcased new music by local artists, which led to growing respect and recognition for the music and the studios creating it. ([More →])

Need a jolt of energy? Want to shape up for this weekend’s festivities? The “Energy God” himself wants to Pump You Up! Elephant Man created a series of dancehall exercise videos that will heat up your day - so jump out of that chair and press play! ([More →])

Mavado is turning out to be the Jamaican artist of the year! His debut album on VP Records Gangsta For Life The Symphony of David Brooks blazed up the charts this summer and continues to win new fans with its dance-friendly rhythms and heartfelt lyrics. But despite his tuff exterior, the Real McCoy has a heart of gold. Now he’s sharing some of that gold with the Jamaican community, especially the youth. I’ve been receiving reports this week of a new charity organization that Mavado created in order to connect the island’s public schools to the information super highway. Mavado recognizes the importance of internet access in public schools to enhance education. ([More →])

Internationally acclaimed and beloved reggae singer Lucky Dube was gunned down in Johannesburg South Africa on Thursday night. Police say the shooting resulted from a “botched carjacking” as he was dropping his teenage son and daughter off at a relative’s home. Fortunately, his youth were not physically hurt, but will surely be traumatized from watching their father get killed. Lucky Dube was one of Africa’s most successful artists, producing several platinum records among the 22 albums he released in 25 years. Dube is known and respected for his social-political lyrics about apartheid-era South African culture. He was a voice of the people whose music and life were uplifting and hopeful during times of struggle while teaching the rest of the world about life in South Africa. His death, too, is an international statement on the quality of life in this dangerous place. ([More →])

This is Part 2 of our series on how musicians and music fans can save the world by reducing our impact on it. This installment is all about transportation - how we get to concerts, gigs, band practice, the record store and everywhere else we go to enjoy music, plus how our music gets to us. Part 3 will focus on music products, from albums to iPods, rechargeable batteries to recycling.
There are resources at the end of this article for more information on everything described. ([More →])

This is an extensive guide for musicians and music fans on how to reduce our impact on the planet. It describes a few of the most harmful activities we participate in and how to make them more eco-friendly. That way, we can indulge our passion for music while treading lightly on the earth. You don’t have to digest all of this right now. There’s so much information here, it would be a good idea to bookmark it and keep coming back to it. Implement one thing at a time into your life before trying the next one. I’d like to add even more items to the list as time goes on, so that’s another good reason to bookmark it and come back to it. This article is part of Blog Action Day which we have been promoting here on HearingTest since August, but we post articles about the environment regularly here. If you like this one, dig through our culture archives to see more about what musicians and music lovers are doing to benefit Planet Earth. ([More →])

A few days ago I reported here that Jah Cure had been banned from the UK by its Home Office just weeks before he is scheduled to appear at a string of performances in the UK. Today there are reports from the singer’s publicist and record label that deny these allegations, but it is unclear which story is true. A few different UK newspapers had reported that the decision to ban Cure had come from high up in the Home Office, citing that his presence would not be “conducive to public good.” His publicist, Alison Young, claims that they are in the middle of the visa process to gain entry to the country and that he has not yet been turned down. ([More →])