We Run The Streets. Professor Green.

The UK's rap scene has been growing huge over the past few years. One of the biggest and freshest acts has to be,  PROFESSOR GREEN.

Hailing from East London, Pro Green had a huge year in 2010, with his album 'Alive Till I'm Dead' topping the charts, along with a bunch awards for his work. Anyways, a few months back, 'Live East (Live) Magazine' gave me the opportunity to interview Pro Green himself, to find out about his memories and favourite spots in East London. Here's a list of just a few. Enjoy!

1  Shopping

I get a lot of free stuff but I still buy clothes- in fact it's probably my biggest addiction. I spend a lot of money on clothes and trainers. Meteor Sports on Bethnal Green Road is a really good place to get trainers; they've always got the latest imports!

2 Childhood Haunts

Mostly the swing parks on Northwold Estate, that was where everyone used to jam. It's a lovely place. That's where I spent all my years, getting up to mischief! Apart from that there isn't much in Clapton, except the Shell Petrol Garage (raises eyebrow).

3 Clubs

I remember being outside Chimes a lot. I never went in because I was too young, but that was probably for the best. There was a lot of trouble around that club and an underpass underneath the roundabout; that all got filled in years ago because of the stuff that used to happen there.

4 Food

My favourites are both within five minutes walk of each other: Peppers & Spice on Balls Pond Road, and another called In-Ting on Dalston Lane. I love Caribbean, jerk chicken! Was I ever into fried chicken and chips? (Screwfaces) Ughh, I used to be, I'm just re-living it right now!

5 Hanging Out

I love Brick Lane, I used to be there from midday till late, but it's not that easy anymore, not as relaxed. I love the vibe, though it can be a bit cool and trendy. I've had some horrible nights in 333 on Old Street; that was always when we couldn't get in anywhere else.

6 Video Location

We filmed 'Upper Clapton Dance' on the estate where I grew up. In that video there were shopkeepers that I knew when I was a little boy. It's a weird one though, as much as I've got love in the area, people are different. I probably shouldn't walk through there now, but I'm stubborn as a mule!

7 Making Music

I got into music quite late. As far as I was concerned I was academic no creative flair, never good at art. I was at my friend Core's house- he ended up executive producing my album- everyone was freestyling, so I rapped a lyric, went all red in the face, embarrassed, but everyone was like 'You can rap!'. I just started messing around with it from there. Most of the album was recorded in Core's bedroom, in Upper Clapton.

8 Barbers

I used to go to Mario's on Southwold Road. Do I go to Toni and Guy now? Nah! Come on, look at my hair, are you serious? You can't get a shape-up there. They'll be like 'What?!"

9 Sport

Everyone on my estate used to rollerskate back in the day. Some of the olders played hockey so we'd all go to Springfield Park, take the nets down and play hockey. We spent a lot of time there or over at the Marshes, hanging out doing what kids do. The Marshes is a completely different world to Hackney, it's the only green part!

10 Gigs

My favourite performance was probably the last Green Party I did at The Macbeth in Hoxton. It was cool because I done it before which was wicked! But the second one, after the first single, 'I Need You Tonight', was the first show I realised things were on the up.

For more on Professor Green, check out: www.professorgreen.co.uk

Also, check out : www.live-magazine.co.uk 

Kraze.

SwaggerUp Photoshoot

The year's finally rolling, and the guys here at SwaggerUp have some BIG plans! Take a look at some of the pictures from our first photoshoot, with an exclusive look at, a couple of our jumpers.

For more on SwaggerUp : www.facebook.com/swaggerupclothing

Shoutout B.Kai Photography.

Think 2011.

"Happy" New Year! Lol, I hate saying that.

I've been away from blogging for a while, but i'm back. So the new year is here and everybody believes they'll change something about their lives, or do something new or different from the year that's just gone by, right?

I know it's a cliché to have resolutions, but I have personal goals that I want to achieve from now onwards. I've done quite abit last year with the music, Swagger Up, college, and even ThinkFreshh. but this year I want to do the same, but 100 times better!

You see, I'm the type of dude who starts something but never finishes coz i'm way too lazy, but I think i've waited too long to make things happen for myself! We always complain how things never go right, but how can it if we never do anything about it? So, this year I want to continue a journey I started not too long ago, and that's a journey towards success.

It's going to be tough. Things wont always go my way, and alot of the time people will ignore my efforts. But I don't mind, i'll keep my head up and carry on! And if your reading this, and you have goals and dreams or whatever, always remember there's a light at the end of the tunnel, so sooner or later you'll get to where you wana be.

“Striving for success without hard work is like looking for fruit in places that you didnt plant seeds! Useless!” Rev. Run

Kraze.

The Drop.

Finally, I've decided to drop my mixtape!

Download, share & enjoy.

DOWNLOAD

Musical Landscape Grows Ever-Krazier.

Not long ago I was chilling at home and flicking through my local paper, until I came across something that made me go "WHAT?!" I had to double check that I was seeing right. There was an article on me! I was baffed. It's something I'm proud of, so I feel to share it with you guys.

 

 "THE ever-evolving musical landscape is what keeps it exciting for enthusiasts, and the diversity of genres and sub-genres means that's one thing that'll never change, regardless of the medium through which you gain access to your music of choice.

To relate that to Thurrock, the wildly contrasting styles we're being presented with suggests we're more culturally diverse than perhaps ever before- and the variety that brings can only be good.

 Grime is ultimately a variant of UK hip-hop, with dubstep/UK garage underpinning the rhymes- as popularised by Dizzee Rascal, but with a wealth of new talent coming to the fore. 

 In recent times, Tinchy Stryder has hit number one having started deep under-ground- where most new dance genres begin- and Giggs, Wiley, Skepta and Chipmunk are all proving self-financed releases can reach the masses. 

 All of this is no doubt encouraging for Krazy, a young man with a distinctive vocal style who states his roots as East London; and is also part of the Swiftly Movin' Artists crew from South London- an area instrumental in bringing grime and dubstep to the fore.

In terms of delivery, Krazy has little of the aggression of many of his contemporaries, veering towards R&B with melodic vocals rather than spitting rhymes, and lyrically he's not short of confidence, both in terms of content and ambition.

 What marks him out as a genuine talent is his flow, with a lazy, but coherent style that's non-confrontational and, dare I say it, quite pleasant, always clear and easy to listen to. 

 The flipside of the current swell of interest is that there's plenty of competition for the spotlight, but Krazy's certaintly got something that makes him a contender. "

     

"Chances: Krazy's melodic form of Grime can make him a stand out performer of the future"

   

Andy Slocombe

Living The Dream.

Who remembers secondary school days? Every guy was about girls, clothes and tryna make money. I wanted it all. So, one day I started talking to my boy's Akeem and Damilola, saying how we need to get out there and do something to "stack that paper".  We came up with all sorts of mad ideas, from selling CD's, shotting "food" in the playground- not drugs, just cookies and that lol. But we never thought we'd get much out of it. Then, the thought of selling our own clothes came about, and we went crazy with ideas! There was so many but none of that seemed to be the "one". Until, BANG. 

SWAGGER UP!

Akeem's idea of fresh garms, went from just an idea in the bedroom to something that's become a success, in a short period of time. From t-shirt's to jumpers, the clothes kept selling out and the money came pouring in! We finally began experiencing the beggining of our journey towards success. The message, Swagger Up wants to give everyone is that, when you put your mind to something it's always achievable, no matter how "unrealistic" it seems. People are gona knock you down and things may not be perfect at first. But trust us, put your heart to it, dream big and you'll make it.

Shout out to everyone supporting Swagger Up Clothing, and a quick shout out to Dami "Scandals" Olufemi for being part of the SU team.

Akeem "Ghost" Burke

                            Imad "Kraze" Ahmod

What's Good?!

For a long time now I've wanted to "blog". I've signed up on so many blogging sites but I've never bothered to actually do anything with it. So FINALLY, I thought I might aswell take it seriously and see what I can get out of blogging. So here it is! 

ThinkFreshh.

I'ma be posting pretty much everything on here; music, fashion, "news", the whole SHABANG! Watch this space.

Kraze