After 14 fantastic months of our Classic Material project, myself and Chris Read are pleased to announce our Classic Material exhibition.

As well as being able to look back on the last 14 months of designs created by John Brotherhood, but we’ve also invited Mr Krum (Vinyl Veterans) to show some work, as well as former BBC2 Dance Energy & Def2 presenter and photographer Normski who’ll be exhibiting some of his fantastic iconic Hip Hop photos of the late 80s and early 90s.

Our private view opens on Saturday 17 December from 7pm-9pm and then from 9pm, we’ll be kicking off our final party, celebrating the Hip Hop of 2000. More details on the party here.

Oh, and there might be a bit of booze available if you arrive nice and early

Edition#13 of our monthly Classic Material series pays tribute to the hip hop of 1999, a year which marked a coming of age for the Indie Hip Hop scene. Whereas the previous year had been dominated by leftfield and arguably less accessible indie releases, 1999 delivered more accomplished and club friendly indie releases with labels such as Rawkus really growing into their hype. At the more commercial end of the spectrum big budget albums including Dre’s Chronic 2001 delivered on expectations.

Other notable albums from the year include DJ Spinna’s Heavy Beats Volume 1 and underground classics including MF Doom’s ‘Operation Doomsday’ and Lootpack’s ‘Soundpieces’.

Mixed by Chris Read (Music of Substance).

Listen and download the whole series of mixes via the Classic Material website.

On Saturday 19th November, the City Arts and Music Project plays host to the thirteenth installment of Classic Material, a series of events and exhibitions celebrating 30+ years of recorded rap music promoted by London based collective of DJs, designers, photographers and filmmakers, the ‘Rap Music Fan Club’. Each month we celebrate an individual year of rap’s colourful history. This month way pay homage to the music of 1999.

DJs on the night playing 1999 hip hop:
DJ MATMAN (DMC Champ / Droppin’ Science)
CHRIS READ (Music of Substance / BBE)
DJ NICKNAME (Droppin’ Science / 55DSL)
LEON (Ah Sh!t)
9pm til 3am

ENTRY is FREE!

Join the Facebook Event here.

More info at www.classicmaterial.co.uk

Just a very quick one to let you know that we are currently offering 11% off all stock in the Classic Material store.

Why? Well, it’s not only 11.11.11, but we released the Edition#11 products this month too!

All you need to do, is add your items to the basket, and type in the discount code below before checking out.

Code: ALLTHEONES

Visit the store here.

Spread the word & use the code as much as you’d like between now and December 11.

Thanks!

This month we welcome back Droppin’ Science extended family member Kidkanevil to the ones and twos.

I’ll be in New York for this one, but in my absence, Druskillz will also be stepping in for what I’m sure will be another dope selection of future funk.

Join the Facebook Event here.

Edition#12 of our monthly Classic Material series pays tribute to the hip hop of 1998, a year often celebrated as the pinnacle of the late 90s ‘Indie’ era. Revered independent labels including Rawkus, ABB, Fondle Em and countless other less well known imprints released some of their strongest material during the year. Major labels were quick to get in on the act with Tommy Boy launching its ‘Black Label’ imprint as an outlet for less commercial sounding output from the likes of Defari and DV Alias Khrist.

Notable albums include Black Star seminal debut, Tribe Called Quest’s Ummah produced ‘Love Movement’ and Pete Rock’s star studded solo debut ‘Soul Survivor’.

Mixed by Chris Read (Music of Substance), download the mix via the website and the mxi CD featuring extra bonus tracks will be up in the Classic Material store.

If you like what you hear, come party with us on Saturday 21 October at The Camp, London.

My set is between track 17 with Will Session’s “Memory Lane” taken from his killer new LP “The Elmatic Instrumentals” , through to track 28 with the Deebs Bootleg version of “Doo Wop”. Be sure to check the Sam Champ remix DJ Center’s “You Got The Love” feat. Gretchen Parlato too.

Subscribe to the show via the Droppin’ Science site here.

October’s Classic Material party is just around the corner, and we’re happy to announce that this month welcomes special guest Excalibah (1Xtra) who’ll be joining myself and Chris Read in celebrating the Hip Hop of 1998.

Facebook Event here.
More info here.

Back in 2010, I had the pleasure of doing a load of gigs with the wonderful Randa Khamis before she headed back to Australia to work on her second album with The Bamboos’ main man Lance Ferguson. The album is now hear, and certainly worth the wait.

Purchase on CD, Vinyl and Digi via the Freestyle site here.
Listen back to myself and Randa on Skanks Radio here.

Further info about the new album below…

Randa & The Soul Kingdom are back – with producer Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Cookin On 3 Burners, Lanu, Black Feeling) at the controls.

The buzz on Randa And The Soul Kingdom began after the self titled debut album resulted in a full European tour with label mates Deep Street Soul, a live session for Mark Lamarr on BBC Radio 2. Randa was lauded as a modern day equivalent to Marva Whitney, Ann Sexton and Vicki Anderson in their prime by Mojo Magazine, Blues & Soul and Randa’s music even featuring in the US version of teen TV show Skins.

Instead of flying straight back to Australia after the tour, Randa spent 6 months residing in London, collaborating with lik-minded funk & soul artists to write her second album. Inspired and influenced by the music and musicians in London, this second album What You Need was born. Finally back in Melbourne, Australia she went straight into The Shed Studios where the songs were recorded and produced by Lance Ferguson and John Castle (Megan Washington) once again at the controls.

To help promote the new album, Randa has put together a short mix of her own tracks (new and old) plus some of her inspirations too.

Get tagging on Facebook here.

Photos by Garf!