Illy’s second album The Chase dropped today and its yet another reason why Aussie hip hop has exploded this year. With the year almost over you would expect that we would have already heard the best of the year and it’s a tough call, this album has to up there.

This is a very beat heavy album and unlike most other hip hop releases doesn’t feature any guests, but that just means that Illy has to step up and lay down some damn good lyrics. With M-Phazes and J-Skub producing most of the album I found my head bopping the hole way though.

So if you like a damn good beat and don’t mind some hip hop in your life i recommend you give this a listen and see what Aussie hip hop has to offer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wulN61Ugrnk

Koolism’s latest album The ‘Umu dropped last Friday and their group’s sound is only getting better. With so much great Aussie Hip Hop being released this year it’s hard to pick out some of the best but I think this album is up there for one of the best releases this year. With musical styles; from hip hop to RnB, with a bit of dancehall and reggae thrown in for good measure this is a must for anyone you likes a little hip hop in their life.

Koolism have been producing for over 17 years - these guys know what they are doing. They may not have the same internationally recognised named like the Hilltop Hood or Bliss n Eso but their underground following from their live shows is massive. This is a great album from start to finish, and I believe is best listened to in that way, even their more political tracks don’t seem to waver from the great sound and feel of the album.

SO if you have never heard these guys before and like a little hip hop in your life give these guys a listen, what I believe to be one of the best Aussie hip hop albums released this year.

Check out their first single from the Album Jam Hot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ThYvlNuLBE

Bliss N Eso’s 4th album Running On Air was released today and it’s another great album from the guys there sound has grown from Flying Colours and its not hard to see why they are one of the big guns of the Aussie Hip Hop.

Bliss N Eso have once again given you bang for your buck with another long album, this time 19 tracks long. But don’t think that mean that the quality of the tracks are less, each track has its own sound and feel. With many different collaborations from both other MC’s and DJ’s the tracks have a very diverse sound from start to finish. My only down point is the “skit” intro and mid way though that I feel is just a waste of time and effort on their part.

Anyone who likes any hip hop out there Aussie or aboard should give this a listen without a second thought, this may be the best Aussie Hip Hop Album of the year, if not then the album that most pushes the boundaries of what is Aussie Hip Hop. Check it out!

If you want a little taste listen to their first single from the album Down by the River

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia5wvXfb-w4

Lowrider’s latest album ‘Round the World’ was released on Friday. And from the moment I started playing I knew they have continued with their unique style of Australian music. It’s hard to place this band into any particular genre and I believe that’s what makes this album a must listen for anyone who likes a little different style of hip hop, funk, soul mix.

The album has 2 sides the faster tempo and the nice and chilled sounds towards the end of the album. Normally when you get a very diverse album, it is considered a concept album or the bands heading in a new direction but for Lowrider this is just business as usual. And this makes it a good listen for any mood you might be in.

Now there isn’t much more I can say about this album, you will either love it hate it there is no middle ground to be had, I just hope there is more love shown to a great Australian band.

Check out their single: Here We Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK5iuCWF78M

As every gamer knows, their setup to play is an important part of a successful gaming experience. Whether you are a console, computer or even a hand held gamer, where you play can make all the difference. As a console gamer my TV setup which is why I’ve gone with the full media setup including; Xbox 360, Media PC, DVD player, 6.1 surround sound and multiple screens to get the best experience possible.

My setup is in a bedroom so the bed and bean bag is used as the seating in front of the TV Unit. In the TV unit I have:

Samsung 32 Inch LCD High Definition TV at 720p/1080i with HD Digital Tuner (LA32R81BD)

Samsung 250GB Hard Disk DVD Recorder (DVDHR755)

Xbox 360 Elite (black)

Media PC just a custom built pc running Windows Media Centre, some interesting points:

• Hauppauge Nova-T-500 MCE Dual DVBT SD/HD Tuner (NOVA500MCE)
• Logitech diNova Mini Palm Sized keyboard with media and ClickPad (920-000900)
• 3 terabytes of storage

BenQ 20.1 Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor (FP202WA)

KENWOOD Amplifier  6.1 Channels Receiver  surround sound Dolby Digital® • DTS® • DTS ES® • Dolby Pro Logic II • DTS Neo:6 • THX® (KRF-V6090D)

All connections are done through digital means allowing for the best possible picture and sound. The input devices (Xbox, PC, DVD player) to the TV run through HDMI cables and the TV is connected to the amp through a fibre optic sound cable. Also the monitor is connected to the Media PC directly allowing for multiply items accross both screens. Below is a diagram of the layout.

Although not part of the media setup what I believe to be another important part of my setup is the in cupboard bar, including a bar fridge, area for mixing drinks, a shelf for the good stuff and independent lighting.

Because drinking is always a good addition to a fun gaming session with friends and something that should always be considered.

Gorillaz – Plastic Beach is the third studio album from the English virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl. The band is composed of four animated band members: 2D (lead vocals, keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (lead guitar and occasional vocals) and Russel (drums and percussion) and many guest appearances over their tracks.

Plastic Beach is a contempt album based around a island of industrial garbage floating in the South Pacific. This theme of waste and making something out of nothing is throughout the album from the opening track “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach” featuring Snoop Dogg with its warm wash of oceanic strings to the last track Pirate Jet. The album has a list of A Grade collaborations including; Snoop Dogg, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kano, Bashy, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Little Dragon, Mark E. Smith, Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, sinfonia ViVA and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music.

And with two other very successful studio albums you would think that, once again Damon Albarn has produced a big hit; I have to agree it will be hit. But I don’t think that this concept album is anywhere as good as their other two studio albums, it moves away from a lot of the sounds the first two albums with less dance based tracks and had a lot more pop then the others. Damon Albarn has even stated its more pop then their other albums stating: “I’m making this one the most pop record I’ve ever made in many ways, but with all my experience to try and at least present something that has got depth.”. So if you’re a fan of the Gorillaz give this album a listen but you have be warned.

Check out the first single “Stylo” featuring Bobby Womack and Mos Def below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEhUsdaTavw

Yesterday in the mail I received by pre-ordered signed copy of M-Phazes debut album Good Gracious and first impressions; yet another great Aussie Hip Hop Album.

For those who don’t know who M-Phazes is he’s an Aussie Producer from the Gold Coast. He has done production on Bliss N Eso’s Flying Colors album and tracks for many other Aussie and International MC’s.

The Good Gracious album features some of the big names in the Aussie Hip Hop Scene including @Drapht, @blissneso, @bigphrase, @illyal, Pegz, @MuphandPlutonic, Delta, Solo, @spitsyndicate, @Dialectrix, Mantra, Nfa, Nine High, Forthwrite (360 n Pez), 13th Son and Haunts. With this list of MC’s not only does it give us a fresh sound but an extremely diverse sound, showing that the Aussie Hip Hop since although smaller that other places is still large enough to get a different sound.

This is a great start to the year for Aussie Hip Hop and a must have for those you enjoy Hip Hop.

Check out the Interview from the @allaussiehiphop blog with M-Phazes talking about process and effort that went into producing his debut album Good Gracious.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqoRqgByCjs

Well this is the first post on the new blog site (not that I really need one). The point to this pointless blog is to have a written spot of my life as a gamer in the world of anti-gamers.