Regular readers of this blog will probably know by now but for years Wales has secretly harbored one of the most vibrant, diverse and talented Hip-hop scenes on the planet. This is no small part due to three forward thinking crews based in the Welsh capital of Cardiff:
Associated Minds who have produced some of the strongest UK Hip-hop releases of the past few years from the likes of Metabeats, Mudmowth, Ruffstylz and Ralph Rips Shit; Higher Learning whose nights set many a Hip hop legend next to the latest cutting edge artists,and have been the primary breeding ground for Welsh acts over the past 9 years; and Mutty Wango, who have consistently supported the scene in their off the hook eclectic nights, bringing the artists to a whole new audience.
Now all three have combined to bring a killer line up of acts.
KYZA & DJ NONAMES
Undoubtedly one of the UK’s # 1 emcees at the moment, Kyza Smirnoff first came to our attention as part of the Terra Firma crew but was always slightly overshadowed by Klashnekoff. Since going solo he's gone from strength to strength and has far eclipsed his former compadres. His new Shots of Smirnoff mixtape is out on Foreign Beggars' Dented Records label and DJ Nonames from the group will be backing him up on the ones and twos.
Download: Kyza Smirnoff - Freestyle / alt link
Download: Kyza Smirnoff - Vibe-Rater / alt link
Download: Kyza Smirnoff - His Story / alt link
DUBBLEDGE
One of the most consistent emcees in the game, with massive releases on Low Life and Dented Records plus a whole bunch of legendary guest spots. He’s also the man behind the hilariously sharp Grime spoof Lips 2 Da Floor.
Download: Ralph Rips Shit & Dubbledge - Kiss The Guns / alt link
Download: Dubbledge - Deep Cover / alt link
Download: Foreign Beggars ft Dubbledge & Kyza - Hit That Gash (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix) / alt link
BEATBOX FOZZY
One of the UK’s leading young beatboxers who has worked with the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Duran Duran. He’s always guaranteed to hype a crowd.
Check this video of Fozzy live at the BBC Radio 1 Studios.
METABEATS (exclusive DJ set)
One of the UK’s finest new producers and a man of many names, faces and sounds, all of them worth looking out for. His last album Metaphysical was one of the best UK Hip-hop releases in years and had major support from a number of BBC Radio 1 DJs. Ever prolific he's got three albums that we know of ready to drop, all of which are being kept under heavy duty lock and key for the moment. There's the Sledgehammer Kisses album with Mudmowth, an instrumental future soul type one (possibly the Darkhouse Family album with Don Leisure) and another straight up Hip-hop monster (we've been assured it will be by the label, all we know so far is Elucid is on two of the tracks).
Download: Metabeats ft Ralph Rips Shit, Ruffstylz, Mudmowth & Cervantis - F**k With Me (Radio Edit)
Check this post from last month for a copy of his future soul track Fruit Salad.
CHROME KIDS
Yup that's right, we shall be up in the place with a big bag of bass. Really looking forwards to this one, we've not played our home town as a crew for some time now.
ONLY £6 ENTRY
SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER
THE GLOBE
ALBANY ROAD, CARDIFF
DOORS OPEN 19.30pm (close 12.30am)
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SOME OF OUR OLD SKOOL MIXES
Chrome Kids - Pyjama Ban
Welsh Electronic Mix recorded for BBC 1Xtra (Jan 2010)

Mix recorded for Knowledge Magazine (Nov 2009)
Chrome Kids - Pimp My Tour Bus
Mix recorded for Adam Walton's Mystery Tour on BBC Radio Wales (Oct 2009)
Welsh Hip-hop Mix Recorded for Rob Da Bank & Friends on BBC Radio 1 - Nov 2008