Assassin aka Agent Sasco | Underhyped Legend | chapter 003

10/13/15 • 31 min

old account. Search 'no long talk'. Thanks

no long talk with Assassin aka Agent Sasco. After a two-parter with Kabaka Pyramid, this is a very short one in comparison. I wanted to know about growing up in a one room, board house (house made with board) with his family and lessons learnt. - sound system beginnings, ghostwriting for one of his childhood icons, Spragga Benz. - shares the stories behind "Ruffest", "Anywhere We Go" and "Do It If Ya Bad" (aimed at Vybz Kartel). - taking time out of blossoming career to get a degree. If there's one area I feel Assassin isn't strong at, it's the chorus. However, this year saw him deliver a world class one for Kendrick Lamar on "Blacker The Berry". I ask if that was meant to be a verse to which he replies with the verse he actually demoed. Having been a fan of Assassin from the top end of the noughties, many feel he hasn't delivered on his early promise or is under-rated. I suggest it's because he isn't the badman or the gallis. Also why he hasn't dropped a definitive body of work. So yeah, stay locked. This ain't a catch-up, it's no long talk. (p.s. I said We Bad From was on Mad Instruments. The popular version was mixed on to it. The original is a different riddim.) Available on iTunes and Soundcloud. Search: no long talk Follow on Twitter: [@]itsnolongtalk Temporary email: itsnolongtalk[@]gmail[.]com

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Kabaka Pyramid (part 2) | The Artist's Artist | chapter 002

Welcome to part 2. Part 1 - a.k.a. Uptown Top Rasta - was about experiences that lead to Kabaka Pyramid's lifestyle, which in turn informs his lyrics. This part (2) is an insight into the self-proclaimed artists' artist. This is music life, experiences since making music. We speak about his transition from making hip hop to reggae, how friend's death inspired him, current wave reggae movement capitalising off dancehall's "lowest point", meeting Chronixx at Protoje's house, the "uptown" label hindering the movement's impact in Jamaica, his relationship with dancehall artist's, importance of making money and whether Rasta label holds him back. Had to touch on social side, so there's a conversation about the uptown/downtown divide in Jamaica, uptown youths making downtown music and "getting a fight" because he's uptown. not a catch up, it's no long talk. Available on iTunes and Soundcloud. Search: no long talk Follow on Twitter: [@]itsnolongtalk Temporary email: itsnolongtalk[@]gmail[.]com

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Tippa Irie | Black History Month Special | chapter 004

It is black history month in the UK, so I linked up with Tippa Irie from London's world-famous Saxon Sound posse. As someone who wasn't around at the time, I wanted to know about Tippa's journey from Brixton beginnings to world-famous, Grammy-nominated microphone controller. Saxon Sound toured the globe; from Lewisham to Japan and USA, including the home of it all, Jamaica. Together they pioneered the fast chat style frequently used by jungle MCs (Stephen Marley used it on Rock Stone last year), plus the first British MC's to use London accents and score national chart hits. But their impact and influence still goes largely uncredited by mainstream press. Tippa shares experiences growing up in Brixton, racism, leaving a Brixton sound for Lewisham-based Saxon, rival sounds, making official Arsenal FA cup 1993 song, fellow members laughing at national top 40 hit "Hello Darling" and lessons learnt after failing to match its success. We end on why he feels Saxon aren't giving their dues. Stay locked.