The next Ladyfest Ten meeting will be next Monday at 7:30 at the feminist library near Waterloo Station.
Anyone can get involved just pop along and meet other people with similar interests.
Date: Monday 30th November 2009 Time: 7:30pm- don’t worry if you’re late Venue: The Feminist Library- 5 Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7XW To view a map of the area click here. Email: ladyfestten@googlemail.com
A recent article in the Guardian took the good part of 2000 words trying to convince the reader that hip hop was dead. While intelligently written and well thought through I believe the simple explanation for 50 Cent, Akon and the rest is that they have become lazy. Using old beats, relying on cliches and working only for the money has made the formerly political and aggressive form of art become just another pop song.
Hip hop, like indie, is on its last legs and could die if it doesn't diversify and look to others for new ways of creating intelligent music. There are only so many songs about bitches, hos and grills the public can take.
Hip hop should not, and will not, die but it should start from scratch and begin to look at music in a completely different way. I suggest that we look to the fringes for inspiration.
Those who have been on the fringes since the beginning have been women which is why I believe, scratch that, KNOW they are the future of hip hop.
Female rappers have had completely different issues that they want to rap about, whether it's sexism, sexuality, or world issues.
I hope you enjoy this mixtape, it's got some of my favourites on. It may be questionable to call some of the artists on this mixtape rappers but they're on this because I think they have added a lot to the genre.
Tracklisting: Bamboo Banga- M.I.A Boom (I Got Your Boyfriend)- MC Luscious Salute Yr Nurse- Jenna Riot Don't Need No- Pink Dollaz U.N.I.T.Y- Queen Latifah Rapture- Blondie Get Your Freak On- Missy Elliott Club Action- Yo Majesty Bang- Rye Rye and M.I.A
Push It- Salt-N-Pepa We Like The Cars That Go Boom- L'Trimm Lost Ones- Lauryn Hill Ship- Micachu Make It Take It- Amanda Blank Topknot- M.I.A Billionaire- Peaches Creator- Santigold
This month's 'song of the month' is a bit late. I've been pretty busy with work and stuff but I'm going to try and get all of the posts thay should have been up last week online over the weekend.
I've been listening to this song non-stop in the last couple of weeks. This girl is friends with M.I.A, had her record produced by Blaqstarr and she's only a teenager. I'm talking about Rye Rye and the track Shake It To The Ground.
The Blaqstarr produced track has a sparse, simple but catchy beat and along with Rye Rye's lyrics the song is light years ahead of some of the caveman-esque tracks released by more famous male rappers.
I'm really getting into my female rappers at the moment and Rye Rye, along with a number of other girls who I'll tell you more about in another post, is one of the best. Her songs give the listener an insight into where she is from, Baltimore, and what she loves doing, dancing apparently, without ever sounding like part of a scene.
I'm calling it now, Rye Rye is the future of Hip Hop. Jump on my bandwagon now before it's too late.
If you're in the soho area of London tomorrow night head down to Cro bar where the amazing Blood Red Shoes play a one off intimate gig. If you signed up to the BRS newsletter like I did then you've probably already got this note from the band but oh well.
hey folks
we're playing the cro bar in london (it's in soho) this wednesday - 25th november - it's free entry. i think you can fit 70 people in there if we all breathe in real hard. get there at 8 and get in, or get there late and listen from the street. we will be playing on the floor right in your faces blowing your eardrums out and drenching you in sweat. feel the love.
Goldsmiths Ladyfest poster
