Interview with ChinoBeige co-founder of the HipHopToyShop

Hip Hop gets its own toy shop, born from an MA project, the HIPHOPHEADS paper toys will be the shop’s first venture.  The first series is made up of 3  east coast rappers Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Nas. We first saw these over on TDS and decided to delve a little deeper and got in touch with Chino Beige herself to understand a little more about the concept.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m currently in London. Chino Beige is a moniker for my creative work. I don’t give too much away about myself.

What was your MA in? How did that cause you to develop Hip Hop Heads paper toys?
The MA course “Applied Imagination”, was based on developing and testing an artefact, and interpreting that artefact into a business environment. I’ve always wanted to make collectible hip-hop vinyl toys, as there is no existing hip-hop influenced toy brand.

What inspired the idea?
My creative and business partner Alexander Hughes introduced me to paper-toys to help me with my project. I really took to the idea of “building your own” paper-toy. I ended up scrapping the whole concept of vinyl toys and instead made paper ones.

Alex and I began HipHopToyShop, focusing on our first product release HIPHOPHEADS. Our main aims are to keep the brand as authentically hip-hop as possible, do the culture justice and commemorate dope and classic hip-hop.

We decided to package HIPHOPHEADS in 12-inch vinyl record sleeves, to recreate the nostalgic relationship fans once had of collecting music.
Jay-Z was the first HIPHOPHEAD to be made, creating a collectible series of 3 of hip-hop’s most prolific artists Nas, The Notorious BIG and Jay-Z, an East Coast collection.

How did you decide on taking this to the next level and producing them to sell?
In all honesty, the product looked so dope, we received overwhelming good feedback and there’s nothing on the market like this.

When are you launching?
End of February, but everyone should follow @HipHopToyShop for all the latest info and updates.

Will you release any more rappers in the future?
Currently we’re working on a second series made up of West Coast rappers, Eazy-E, Snoop and Pac. We’re also in talks with MF DOOM’s people. That’s all we’re giving away for HIPHOPHEADS. (for now)

Will the Hip Hop Toy Shop just sell Hip Hop Heads or other product too?
We hope to release collectible vinyl toys / figurines inspired by Malcolm X, Tony Montana and young Michael Jackson, becoming a home for followers of hip-hop culture. Collecting is a big part of hip-hop (sneakers, caps) no one has introduced dope collectible toys, until we came along. We’re working on a customisable O.G Bear paper-toy (our mascot), set for release in April.

http://www.hiphoptoyshop.com/

Free Brainfeeder Sampler

Brainfeeder would like to show sincere thanks to our fans after winning “Label Of The Year” at the 2012 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards.

Download a free 12-track Brainfeeder sampler, with tracks from Thundercat, Martyn, Samiyam, Tokimonsta, The Gaslamp Killer, Jeremiah Jae, Taylor McFerrin, Teebs, Austin Peralta, Matthewdavid, Mono/Poly, and an exclusive download from Lapalux.

Sampled: Sicker Than Your Average Sample Sale, 3rd Dec

The Doctor’s Orders knows what’s up! Sampled combines a sample sale with a record fair and club night featuring your favourite streetwear brands, some of the UK’s best record sellers and art stalls. If the girlfriend needs convincing let her know that there’ll also be a nail bar.

A strong hand picked selection of streetwear brands will be on offer at a fraction of their usual prices. Brands will include the likes of Stussy, Alife, Stones Throw, Gimme Five, DGK, Osiris and a lot more. For the crate diggers there’ll be classic vinyl, hip-hop box sets, rare soul and jazz LPs traded by Mr Thing, Crazy Beat, Rapandsoulmailorder, Jake BBE, JP and Nice Up will all ensure plenty of interest for any avid music collector. This will bound to be crate digging galore!

After the sale, Sampled holding a one off club night with an incredible line up of DJs including Mark Rae (Rae & Christian), Andy Smith (Portishead), Mr Thing, Spin Doctor, Mo Fingaz & BobaFatt.

Sepalcure Debut Album available to Stream

On the heels of the Fleur EP and this summer’s Love Pressure remix project, Sepalcure has released their debut full length through Hotflush earlier this week. For a brief period it has been made available to stream:

The Brookyln based duo Travis Stewart and Praveen Sharma are already well established through their individual monikers of Machinedrum and Braille. The two are behind the Cassette NYC events as well as mix archive PercussionLab. For their eponymous album expect influences from tribal dub, house, dubstep and juke as Detroit techno chords cut through wooden 2-step beats, neon synths and dubbed out atmospherics.

Available from: Boomkat, Bleep, Surus, Beatport

Elephant and Castle Mix for Mary Anne Hobbs

David Vincent Reep, who goes by the pseudonym Elephant & Castle, put together a sublime mix for M.A.H.’s Xfm show. His ethos, “Anything emotion-based is usually my favourite kind of music” really can be heard in his selection. Having lived in Colorado, Texas, London and California, his influences are the likes of DJ Shadow, Flying Lotus and Burial. One to keep an ear out for will be his debut LP Transitions slated to be released on Plug Research in 2012.

Tracklisting:
Andy Stott – Passed Me By
Joy Orbison – Ellipsis
Slowlight – Wish I Went to School
Ifan Dafydd – Miranda
Balam Acab – Apart
Matthewdavid – Truss
Beep – Mbira (Shortcircles Remix)
Crazy Bald Heads – First Born
RaveDeep – Watch It
Thundercat – For Love I Come (Lapalux Remix)

UK Premiere of ‘Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest’

Here’s the trailer that was posted a while back on here. Excited to see that it has finally made it to a big screen in the UK!

The UK premiere of ‘Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest’, Michael Rapaport’s award winning film documenting the highs and lows of Hip Hop’s Golden Era’s most celebrated group A Tribe Called Quest. Featuring an original soundtrack by Madlib and including humorous & insightful interviews with the likes of ?uestlove, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Pharrell Williamsm Adam Horowitz and Mary J Blige as well as extensive accounts from Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Jarobi White and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, never has the story of A Tribe Called Quest been better told. The screening will be followed by an exclusive live show by original Tribesman Phife Dawg featuring ATCQ classics from ‘Peoples Instinctive Travels’, ‘Midnight Marauders’, ‘Low End Theory’, ‘Beats, Rhymes & Life’ as well as new material.

Monday 21 Nov 2011 at KOKO, London
7pm-11pm (Screening commences 8pm, Live show 9:30pm) @ KOKO

Tickets: Screening + Show £15.50
Available from: www.soundcrashmusic.com & www.thedoctorsorders.com

Rustie – Glass Swords: Album Stream

It’s here!

Martyn – ‘Ghost People’ New LP Available to Stream

Pushing on from his Greater Lengths album back in 1999, Martyn’s second project maintains a refreshingly diverse exploration of music at 140 bpm. The Holland-born/Washington DC-based artist connects the dots from London’s bumpy garage to the mechanical grooves of Detroit, whilst holding a nostalgic sentinment that runs throughout as he titles the LP, Ghost People.

“A lot of the music and the themes behind [Great Lengths] were taken out of my daily life: my sorrows and my melancholy,” he says. “For this album, I chose things that are further away from me: the Ghost People theme. There are references to DJing in general. Not the jet-set DJ life, but the old Paradise Garage DJ life, where people want to share and play the music they really love, regardless of if it’s trendy. Nothing fancy or flashy. Just back to the roots.”

Brainfeeder will release Ghost People on October 10th, 2011.
Pre order it from Ninja Tune

DMC 2011 Championships: A Game-Changing Year

In it’s 27th year, the DMC Championships will see the greatest DJs in the world show off their inventive turntable vocabulary. A game-changing year as the competition adds a spectrum of digital software into the mix. This may not sit well with those stuck on tradition but hopefully will open up the doors for a leap in jaw dropping creativity. Naturally sponsors Serato and Rane will showcase their latest technology via a special performance from last year’s DMC World Champ DJ Ligone. Between battles you’ll also get to see the likes of Nathan Flutebox Lee, The X-Ecutioners, whilst DJ Switch will be taking on a 3 deck performance.

Thursday 6th October 5.30pm – 11.30pm / Friday 7th October 7pm – 11.30pm
indigO2 at The O2

Buy tickets: DMC World

Mishka x Plan B x Bump UK Fall Collection Launch | 9 September

Mishka unleash their UK fall 2011 collection with a pa rtydown at Brixton’s Plan B. A few UK Mishka ambassadors will be playing including: Alix Perez, Crim3s (live), Jakes (H.E.N.C.H), Spooky, Darq E Freaker Tomb Crew with Bump residents Motive & CWD. Plus there’s a secret special guest! Mishka are saying “this guy is the shit when it comes to heavy weight Dubstep DJ’s / Producers”. Our guess is maybe Plastician?

Check the Facebook Event for more details on the Mishka UK Fall Launch

Here’s the Look Book, recognise any of these faces?