Rappin’ All Over

New hip hop shows on RBMA Radio

Given that the DJ is the foundation of hip hop, it makes sense that radio is the cornerstone for its development. The freedom of mixshows, controlled only by the selector’s discretion (When you play it, say it!) makes it a showcase for current flavours as much as it’s a breeding ground for tomorrow’s hits, and Red Bull Music Academy Radio is no different here. Rap radioheads listen closely: here’re a few of our recent hip hop shows that stay in heavy rotation.

Hip hop is never short of new pretenders. But how many live up to their billing? Man of the moment, and of many more moments to come, New Orleans native-turned-roaming journeyman and bonafide rap sensation Jay Electronica has won props from all corners of hip-hop in a sweeping fashion not seen since Kanye West burst on the scene, microphone in one hand, MPC in the other and ego in both. With no album in sight yet this Fireside Chat is one of the best ways to get acquainted with the man behind what was arguably the defining rap anthem of the winter season, Exhibit C.

Californian independent giants Stones Throw have in their ten year-plus history watched their roster blossom into a rich and bountiful array of artists, overseen by the illustrious Peanut Butter Wolf. In his Stones Throw Special he revisits some of the milestones in the label’s history, from his very own “World Premiere” with late partner in rhyme, Charizma, to loads of Madlib classics and a couple of tunes from more recent signings like the ultra-obscure Baron Zen or the Ambassador of Boogie Funk, DâM-FunK.

“Everybody has their own interpretation of what hip hop is and what it isn’t”, Wolf says at some point of his guided tour through Stones Throw’s past and present, but in case you like your shit pure and original, these gentlemen should do it for you: J. Rocc rips the cut at Brainfeeder in London. Jazzy Sport’s DJ Mitsu The Beats makes Tokyo’s cosy The Room move. DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples and the World Famous Beat Junkies does the damn thang at Club Bonsoir in Bern. And Brooklyn’s Sean Price shows that timeless rap travels surprisingly easy as he takes his ferocious braggadocio and witty wordplay to the stage at Paris’ La Bellevilloise, backed by Stones Throw off-kilter kingspitter M.E.D. as well as the homies Frank Nitt and Illa J from Detroit.

Speaking of Detroit, music lives and breathes in the streets of the Motor City. Guilty Simpson and Random Axe collaborator Black Milk are two of their finest exports. Drummer/producer Karriem Riggins has lent his unique sound to the likes of Common, Erykah Badu, S Villa, Roy Hargrove and veteran Philly ensemble The Roots, while working on group projects with Madlib and J Dilla. And said Dilla’s mother Ma Dukes knows there’s strength in numbers and rolls with Pete Rock and Rawkus alumnus Talib Kweli, who occupies a special and coveted space in the hip hop world – independent sensibilities with major recognition. Currently gearing up for the release of his Reflection Eternal reunion project with now-hitmaker Hi-Tek, Kweli is also working on his fifth solo effort Prisoner of Consciousness as well as another LP with group Idle Warship, while steadily building his label and management company Blacksmith: still leaving enough room to breathe for him to evolve as a rapper and one of the true few creative leaders in his field.

Still, if there’s one genre which knows we wouldn’t be here today if the old school didn’t pave the way, it’s this one. It’s written on the walls and echoes through its records. Original Bronx bomber Jazzy Jay cut his teeth in Uptown park jams under the considerable tuition of Afrika Bambaataa and Red Alert. Speaking of Uncle Red, the radio friendly Kiss FM airwaves staple ushered in the career of Native Tongues trio The Jungle Brothers. Depends who you know, we guess. Finally, the estimable DJ Monk One supplies a useful vinyl lesson on the very roots of hip hop - which of course wouldn’t look the way they do were it not for the contributions of cut-and-paste pioneer Steinski. Salute!


Photo by Mr Mass

Not Not Fun
Smooth as silk on RBMA Radio

Martial Law
A Ninja Tune Special on RBMA Radio

2011 Round-Up
Rewind the past twelve months with some of our favourite music from Academy alumni around the globe

Springtime in Fall
Highlights from Primavera Club 2011

15 years of Versatile Records
The quintessential Paris label celebrates its anniversary

Gracias Por Todo, Madrid
Total Recall: Red Bull Music Academy 2011

Merry Go Sound
Madrid 2011 - Term One

Más Matadero
Red Bull Music Academy 2011 - Week One

Amplified Beyond The Beat
Radio highlights from the RBMA World Tour 2011

Deep Fried Dap
Highlights from the Daptone family tree on RBMA Radio

Under The Westway
RBMA x Major Lazer sets from Notting Hill Carnival now on air

No Sleep Till Olganitz
Highlights from Germany's Nachtdigital fest on RBMA Radio

In The City
Festivalwatch: Stadtmusik.FM, Basel

LA Parklife
RBMA Radio goes HARD Summer

Neo Neo
Neopop Festival special on RBMA Radio

Croatia Calling
Hartera special on RBMA Radio

Sète You Free
RBMA Radio goes Worldwide

Another Place, Another Time
Sónar in review on RBMA Radio

Move, D!
Movement Detroit highlights on RBMA Radio

Heatmakers
Boiler Room one-year anniversary and special on RBMA Radio

Nuits Up
Les Nuits Sonores Special on RBMA Radio

Les Yper Sound
Festivalwatch #2: La Villette Sonique, May 27 - June 1

Making Wavves
Young Turks special on RBMA Radio

Far East Movement
Highlights from SónarSound Tokyo on RBMA Radio

The Royal Catalonian
An audio recap of the A Taste of Sonár event in London

Hörvergnügen
A German Sound Exploration

The Devil's Dancers
New Wave + Industrial highlights on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Crossing The Border
James Holden opens his record box for RBMA Radio

Kind Of Blue
Brand new shows from Hercules and Love Affair, and interview with band producer Patrick Pulsinger

Ginga Beat
Portuguese show on RBMA Radio turns 100

Word On The Street
Chairman Mao navigates through old and new on RBMA Radio

In The Moog For Love
Moog music on RBMA Radio

Elevator Music
Elevate Festival on RBMA Radio

Year-End Closing!
The year 2010 in Academyworld

Boogie Wonderland
Boogie past, present and future on RBMA Radio

Night Skanking
Night Slugs Special with Bok Bok on RBMA Radio

Circle Of Dub
RBMA Radio & Tectonic Recordings launch dubstep into outer space

Dusty Fingers
A special selection for vinyl lovers and dollar bin kingpins

Frequency Modulation
RBMA Radio Pop-Up Studio @ Amsterdam Dance Event

Concrete Jungle
RBMA Radio Pop-Up Studio @ Amsterdam Dance Event

Basement Boys
Red Bull Music Academy x Dommune

Flashback
2010 festival highlights on RBMA Radio

Another Revolution
Kirk Degiorgio's Sound Obsession turns fifty

Heat Wave
Major Lazer x Notting Hill Carnival session on RBMA Radio

Lights Down Low
Four hour set from Theo Parrish on RBMA Radio

The Hundreds In The Hands
PanamériKa turns 100

On The Double
Hyperdub Special on RBMA Radio

Green Professors
RBMA Radio at Oxegen Festival

Cabride Reveries
SonarDome x RBMA Radio

Parclife
Primavera Sound Special on RBMA Radio

Move With It
Movement Festival Detroit on RBMA Radio

future roots experiments
dublab focus on RBMA Radio

D10
Dissonanze special on RBMA Radio

Rappin’ All Over
New hip hop shows on RBMA Radio

Zombie Nation
RBMA residency at Fabric kicks off with Brainfeeder

Tech The High Road
RBMA and RA hit the Royal Festival Hall

Sublime Frequencies
RBMA Culture Clash feat. Trojan, Soul ll Soul, Metalheadz and DMZ

Hitek House
Future Garage Special on RBMA Radio

Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Disco special on RBMA Radio

Bubble Metropolis
Detroit Special on RBMA Radio

Listen Death From Above
DFA label spotlight on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Chords Got Soul
Soul singers tune up on RBMA Radio

Dub Be Good To Me
The London-Kingston love affair on RBMA Radio

Making Waves
Mavericks of an era on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Africa Center Of The World
Continental Focus on RBMA Radio

I Hear You Singing In The Wire
Wichita Records Label Special on RBMA Radio

Northern Soul
WARP/ED special on RBMA

Be Reasonable, People
Warp Records Label Special on RBMA Radio

No Ice Cream Sounds
Notting Hill Carnival Special on RBMA Radio

Yes We Cannes
Festival Pantiero special on RBMA Radio

Break A Dawn
Nachtdigital Special on RBMA Radio

Pips and Blanks
Domino Special on RBMA Radio

Punchestown Drunk Love
Oxegen festival special on RBMA Radio

Beats It
Beats Special on RBMA Radio

Catalunya Calling (Back)
Red Bull Music Academy presents SónarDôme 2009

Dem A Call Us Pirates…
RBMA Radio takes over Lisbon's airwaves

The Wolf Gang
Stones Throw Records Label Special

Lane Stage
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Special