Jamie T At Camden Electric Ballroom Review

WRITTEN FOR THE DAY JOB LAST WEEK...
Not many artists crowd-surf during their opening track- but at his London comeback gig Jamie T was quick to clamber on top of the devoted audience.
A rowdy show from the start, by the second song MTV was covered in beer, and by the Wimbledon boy’s sixth track there was a fight breaking out at the bar.

Up onstage JT and his Pacemakers debuted new tracks from his forthcoming second album Kings And Queens and ran through the finest moments of debut Panic Prevention.

New song Spider’s Web features ukulele and rhymes Intifada, Robert Palmer and er, pyjamas and yet somehow still doesn’t sound forced, while the killer chorus reminded us of The Clash’s pop moments.

On 368 there were echoing 80s style guitars and a rapid Beastie Boys-a-like rap, coupled with a gently sung hook, and while new single Sticks N’ Stones loses some of its breakbeat clarity live it still showcases the solo star’s knack for writing choruses - boasting two so good they put a lot of indie bands to shame. (WATCH THE VIDEO HERE)

Salavador and If You Got The Money now sound anthemic but still unexpected- thanks to Jamie’s twisting stream of consciousness lyrics. Panic Prevention highlight Ike And Tina is given a punk revamp while set closer Sheila is just perfect pop.

It was hard not to smile when Kappa tracksuited Jamie played Calm Down Dearest, prompting the previously testosterone heavy crowd to suddenly start hugging. And If you’re heading down to Glastonbury this weekend the returning Mr T is certainly worth chucking a beer and having a cuddle to.

D.O.A

This song just gets better and better with more listens. And as if the lyrics weren't enough he's now blowing up ring tone rapper cliches. Literally. Bring on Blueprint 3...

Jay-Z's "D.O.A" Video!

Sean(e) Paul

Been hanging with Sean Paul this week. Well, when I say hanging I mean I've met him twice briefly while he's been over to preview his new album Imperial Blaze. I've had serious stick from mates in the past for being a fan but fuck that- he makes bangers.

This is one of my fave SP tracks (although I prefer the album version).

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD AND INTO THE BED GIRL!"

Rogers Vs Charles

I've been following Prince Charles and Richard Rogers' debate over the Chelsea Barracks site closely and am obviously inclined to side with the architect. He did design The Dome, Lloyds of London (pictured), The Pompidou and various other groundbreaking and just plain cool buildings. Plus i've been past Charles's creepy village Poundbury and it's horrible.

But as so often happens a better writer evaluates the arguments more succinctly. As Stephen Bayley points out in The Observer Rogers is hardly known for housing projects.
FULL ARTICLE HERE

EXTRACT: They have things in common. Each is an unworldly, ultramontane exotic, fiercely protective of his privileges. The grit and frustration of everyday survival are unknown to them... The fabulous absurdity of the media "debate" between Prince Charles and Richard Rogers is that each is a historical relic. The prince is a throwback to the 18th century and beyond, the architect is a suntanned survivor of the 20th.

Hot Sauce Committee

This is the cool cover to the Beastie Boys new album WHICH I HAVE HEARD. I genuinely might get shot up if I say too much about it after signing all sorts of legal documents. There was even an ex army guy at the label listening session who gave me a right pat-down. I will say that guest vocalists Nas and Santigold both sound great on the album.

Read the tracklist at my dayjob

Watch some low quality footage of the Nas track Too Many Rappers at Nah Right

Two hip hop classics

For a Friday afternoon.

Garden And Cosmos

Saw this really cool exhibition last week with my girl CC. There are some beautifully detailed royal paintings from Northern India from the 17th-18th century. I learnt a lot about the life with the Maharajas of Rajastan, the Hindu religion and 'The Absolute.'

The art has never left India until now and is really well presented in the underrated British Museum- which is worth visiting for Norman Foster's stunning glass roof alone.

New Wu?

Rap Radar has the exclusive of the vid for Raekwon ft Method Man and Ghostface- New Wu. Is it a dig at controlling Wu-Tang head honcho RZA? I dunno but I like the tune- which is presumably from Only Built For Cuban Linx II although you never know with these guys.

I once interviewed Method Man and he did some card tricks on me before the cameras started recording. Then GZA and Inspectah Deck turned up and I had to get them to pick their favourite music videos for an MTV Base show. It was a cool afternoon.

Shutter Island Trailer

It's rare that I post movie trailers but this is Martin Scorsese directing Leo, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo and (SIR) Ben Kingsley in a chiller/ thriller/ horror. WOAH.

New Clipse- I'm Good

Clipse have leaked their new single- one of two set to come out in the next few weeks. After a couple of listens i'm not sure it's for me- not really feeling the soft Pharrell production. I like Clipse when they're more gangster.

GET THE FREE MP3 AT COMPLEX HERE
Still can't wait for the album though and the chance to hear the rappers work with some non-Neptunes producers.

Raindrops Video

BACK DOWN Calvin Harris, DeadMau5 and you vocoder loving rappers. The Jaxx are back.

What a week in politics...

I actually have very little to say about the elections, Labour's implosion or even Alan Sugar. Yes I did vote and I am praying that slimy c--- Nick Griffin doesn't win an MEP seat. I'll let better writers do the rest. Marina Hyde is one of my favourite journos- she writes celeb (see the peerless Lost In Showbiz), sport and political comment for The Guardian. This is my fave piece on the week's events.

AN EXTRACT: Most recently (Hazel) Blears was pictured smirking knowingly while sporting a "Rocking the boat" brooch. What an absolute card she is. Doubtless Hazel will now claim back the cost of the brooch on her expenses, on the basis that it was necessary for her to perform her public duties.

Lawrence Watson

Stumbled across this exhibition between Old St and Brick Lane the other day. It's well worth seeing. Some fucking cool shots of hip hop pioneers like Public Enemy, Run DMC and LL Cool J.

Later shots include Brit-pop heroes including well known Blur, Oasis and Paul Weller photos (mostly for NME). My favourites were prints of Tricky and Roxanne Shante. Just wish I was rich enough to buy them. FIND OUT MORE HERE

Jay Z- Death Of Autotune

This week Jigga announced The Blueprint 3 will be out September 11. That's 8 years to the day since The Blueprint- which is probably the most accomplished and complete commercial hip hop album of all time.

Now the first track from the album has leaked- D.O.A. Until now it was thought Kanye had produced all the beats for B3 but this one is by fellow Chicago producer No I.D. I (of course) look forward to the full album....

UPDATE: GET CDQ MP3 AT RAP RADAR

GO SEE THIS FILM

It's really funny, touching and at times a bit scary. The acting, script and Ken Loach's direction are all first class. Plus they show some of Cantona's best goals. Which were obviously amazing, even the ones scored against Spurs.

MPHO Box N Locks

I'm really into this "crazy little brown girl raised in Brixton town girl." She released a free mixtape earlier this year which showed a lot of promise and looks pretty cool in this video.



She's a pop-approximation of Santogold but with Brixton attitude. In fact she's been working with Santo' producer Switch- who has also made beats for M.I.A and is basically the king of remixes. On Box' he borrows quite a bit (ie- the whole song) from Martha & The Muffins 80s hit Echo Beach.

Jamie T- Sticks 'N' Stones

This is one of the best singles of the year so far in my humble opinion. A bastard cousin of Ike & Tina from Jamie's debut Panic Prevention. It's out June 28 and hopefully bodes well for his second album.



"When there's no one left to fight/ boys like him don't shine so bright/ soon as I see the dust settle/ he's out on the town trying to find trouble."