I was lucky enough to get myself onto the guestlist for a top secret gig that Ben Drew, aka, Plan B, did in
World Beat Boxing heavy weight faith sfx warmed up a rather sparse crowd for Plan B at The Relentless Garage, Islington on Monday 12th of April.
People soon gathered as the lights came up as this mysterious and yet mega talented support act momentarily gained centre stage, using his voice box to conduct a range of deep felt grimy dub and dance beats gradually humming round to an identikit version or Lil Waynes ‘A Mlili’. This was followed with a dropping in the beats of ‘move it move it’ then to Tom Novy’s house classic ‘I don’t want no body baby’.
Little taster of this big talent can be found at, http://www.blogger.com/goog_1465127091
After hearing the equivalent of Fabric’s room 1’s sound system resonate from one mans throat, this set could only get better.
The main man Plan B finally strolled on stage sporting a sharp pale grey suit, with some fancy neck chain detail and shiny shoes; looking like this time round he really means business. A cleaner cut and yet more presentable self as apposed to his former ‘give-me-your-wallet-now-or-else’ associated with his old image.
Plan B, aka Ben Drew, quickly settled into a smooth, yet soulful opening with writings on the wall, a track from his brand spanking new album, The defamation of Strickland Banks (out 12th April, grab it while its hot I highly recommend you upload this onto your iTunes pronto.)
A passionate performance of B’s new sound was interspersed with the classic lyrical rap twist, sharp to the point, gritty and straight talking.To be totally honest unless you were a die hard Ben Drew fan and had stayed up with your mug of cocoa the night before to download the new album, apart from the tunes that had done their time on Radio Ones' record of the week, aka She Said then the first half would have been a comparatively mellow, albeit catchy, but don’t get me wrong still enjoyable experience.
Stand out new songs such as ‘welcome to hell’’ was melodic, thoughtful, emotive and genuine. As a listener one couldn’t help but be drawn into the tale of Strickland Banks thanks to the sensitivity, depth and smooth vocals Drew produced.
Cleverly mixing his new material with a mini movie back drop, to keep the audience hooked on his story, which featured scenes from new music videos and pictures of a moody ‘Strickland Banks’, played by the man himself. This was done in an ‘i-found-this-film-in-my-attic' effect, authentic I believe you could call it. This only served to enhance the new smooth Smokey Robinson-esque image and the story of Strickland Banks this talented once called ‘asbo waiting to happen’ had created.
Hard times, lyrically hit home considering the tough economic climate, and consistently rubbish things happening all over the world I think the heartfelt lyrics really resonated with the audience atmosphere, there was almost a feeling of silent respect, admiration that this clever young boy could touch upon so eloquently such a relevant, sensitive issue. Obviously without meaning to, as Plan b would never admit to that, only if he could throw in something about prison, crime, and drugs into the same sentence, but the sentiment was there all the same.
After B had done his upmost to promote, perform and engage the audience in his new soulful sound, he just couldn’t resist reverting back to the straight spitting style that got him to that stage in the first place.
After performing old classics Pray Slyly remixed into Mama, this was when Plan B proved himself as a transitional superstar, and demonstrated his undeniable talent for merging all musical genres from soul, dance, drum and base, soft rock and dub step in a way which only enhanced the true musicality of each song. Who else could have made Seals classic kiss from a rose sound musically perfect on top of the thumping bass of dub step? I didn’t think it was possible either.
Overall the quality of talent in the relentless garage that evening was overpowering, I overheard one member of the audience say Plan B was ‘ten times better live than Oasis’, and I couldn’t of agreed more. The passion vocalised in his smooth soulful new sound could not have been better performed, without losing his famously sharp lyrical style. A good example of why you should always have a plan b.
News: Is Freeganism a waste of time?
Supermarket gaints throw away tons of edible products everyday, branded ‘unfit’ for consumption. Is this responsible customer protection policy or money concious selfishness? Freegans see that this ‘waste’ is not completley wasted.
Whilst waiting for what seemed like the whole of the frozen food section of Tesco to be scanned through the till in front of me, my absent mind pondered as to whether the current economic crisis was ever going to filter through into the reduction of the British waistline.
The waist, or ‘waste’ of Britain I think is something that isn’t spoken about enough. It is calculated that around four million people in the UK cannot afford a healthy diet. Compare that to 17 million tonnes of food that is dumped into landfill sites every year we have a shockingly realistic juxtaposition. Mindless supermarket giants simply find it cheaper and easier to dispose of their surplus stock than to use their questionable moral initiation to distribute the excess to stomachs in need. Concerned with the deservedly paramount quest for increasing profit and maintaining their reputation, of which preciously ethical priorities could not possibly allow to donate food to any persons below their middle and working class customer.
There is even a group of people who have felt so strongly outraged by this huge waste; they have developed their own method of waste-preventive, calling themselves freegans. Freegans may be snubbed by for their simple practise of only eating foods they have foraged from supermarket waste bins. Yes this probably isn’t the most dignified way of dining, but its economical, doing no harm to anybody and cutting down waste. In fact I would not be surprised Gordon Brown recommends society to delve deeper into freeganism, as our economy is being swallowed by recession.
I for one know how pocket wrenching healthy eating can be, when seeing the equivalent weeks supply of five a day in cost could buy you three meals a day from Iceland for at least twice as long.
This disproportioned pricing to health ratio is reflected in not only the statistic that 10% of NHS resources are used for treating obesity, but is affecting taxpayers. More money is needed for social services to look after the housebound overweight and put money into schools to buy larger furniture to say the least.
This disproportioned pricing to health ratio is reflected in not only the statistic that 10% of NHS resources are used for treating obesity, but is affecting taxpayers. More money is needed for social services to look after the housebound overweight and put money into schools to buy larger furniture to say the least.
It is difficult to achieve balance in a diet, not to mention within the diet of a society that has reached an economic crisis. Perhaps if material driven supermarkets can find the courage in their bubble wrapped reputations to distribute their wealth to the starving economys' stomachs no one will be left foraging for food.
Uffie Interview for Who's Jack Magazine
Below is the screen shot of the Uffie interview I did for Who's Jack Magazine.
