So J Holiday has been killing it on 1Xtra with his record 'Bed' ever since DJ B put the station up on it - lots of requests, G Money declaring love for the song, the whole 9 yards! There's been lots of talk about J Holiday - who is he, is he any good? etc... well, any none believers - watch this:

VERY big.

Listen back to the Ronnie/Rahsaan interview here

Next week, Ronnie makes me a cup of tea!!

DJ Sara is 8 years old and DJ Ryusei is 5. 5 years old. And they can both scratch better than me!

Every week on my show, one of my fellow 1Xtra deejays chooses an artist or a track that they're championing and we get it on air again on my show. It's called Specialist Choice and last week, DJ Cameo put us all up on Chipmunk.

Now Chipmunk is white hot in the grime scene at the moment - only 16 years old and educated as well as talented (dude recently got all C and aboves in his GCSEs!) and his current mixtape "League Of My Own" is doing big things.

If you wanna check out Chipmunk, ya dun know the myspace...!

Tonight, Ronnie Herel put us all up on Young Nate

Produced by Soundbwoy Entertainment, "Mixed Messages" is definitely gonna be huge this year. Remember where you heard it first!!

If you want to link with Young Nate via Soundbwoy - check Soundbwoy's myspace!

More Specialist Choice next week - don't forget to check out the show every weeknight from 7pm.

Max with Ne-Yo

Max with the Foxes from Eastenders

Can you take the Solja Boy dance to this level?

I can do that. I'll post my video on 31st September...

So the MOBO 2007 awards are finally upon us. The UK's first awards ceremony set up to celebrate music of black origin celebrates it's 11th year this wednesday. Confirmed guests include 50 Cent, Robin Thicke, Kano & Craig David and more - hosted by Shaggy and Jamelia.

As usual, there's a lot of controversy surrounding the awards show - this time mainly because the lack of of a Soul category. Artists such as Jill Scott, Omar and Nate James have been very vocal over their unhappiness of this and it seems for all the good the MOBOs does, someone knocks it year after year.

Now, this tuesday on my show I'll be looking at the MOBOs and I need your input. Make sure you're locked on to 1Xtra from 7pm.

Just to get the juices flowing now, I'd like to know your thoughts on how relevant you think the MOBOs are to black music in 2007?

The new dance that has taken over the USA and is doing the same over here in the UK is the Soulja Boy. Invented by new dirty south artist Soulja Boy on his new song 'Crank Dat Soulja Boy' - forget the motorcycle, this is the way to get down to dirty south in the club right now! Here's Chilli from TLC showing you how it's done:

Shout to the crew at London's "Get Down" at Bar Rumba last friday - there were a lot of people in there who knew how to Soulja Boy. If only I had a decent camera phone...

**CONTAINS LANGUAGE SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE**

Looks good doesn't it? I'll let them off for not giving me a part in the series because Cameo's in it! Next time though...

Sorry to ruin people's illusions. If you're upset, let me buy you a drank!

More than 3 things refrenced in this video is familiar to you!
Internet People! - The Meth Minute 39

How many are familiar to you?

...I'mma, I'mma put it down!

He not only whupped 50's gorilla behind in our 1Xtra online vote (over 60% of the vote went to Kanye) but he's currently outselling 50 by around 6 thousand copies in the UK. Who? Kanye of course!

Here's Kanye's Good Life video:

This was directed by the same guys behind Justice's D.A.N.C.E - I really like the vid. Really innovative!

Promise this will be my last Kanye post for a while!

Ever since they put the call out for people to audition to play the part of The Notorious BIG in a movie based on his life a few weeks ago, people at 1Xtra towers have been pestering me and my fellow 1X big framed deejay;, Seani B and Ace to audition. Now, Ace has caved in - he's done an audition tape and remade Biggie's Warning video with Vis playing the part of Puff Daddy. It's hilarious - check this:

You know what Biggie looked like - what I want to know - is Ace the right man for the job out of me, Seani and Ace?

We'll be talking about this during the show today - Britney Spears' superfan Chris Crocker is a little upset that the media has been gunning Britney over her lacklustre performance at the MTV VMA's.

**WARNING - THIS MAY DISTURB SOME PEOPLE** (oh, and he uses bad language)

Someone get him a kleenex and keep him away from the hair clippers....

Shouts to my big bro Seani B for putting me up on this one!

Hot 97 in New York recently held a Dancehall version of their summerjam event and Elephant Man decided to bring Chris Brown out on stage so the two could perform the remix of "Wall To Wall" - well, seems like Ele wanted Chris to get the full Dancehall stageshow treatment:

Hilarious!!

Don't forget to check Seani every weekend from 2 and me now everyweek night from 7 til 10pm!!

After the track by track break down of Graduation, it's only fair that I break down 50 Cent's Curtis album. As you know, the pair are going head to head, releasing their new albums on the same day and it seems to be Fiddy with all the trash talk (surprise surprise!!)...but does his album back his talk?

Before I delve into this, lets not get it twisted - I AM NOT A G UNIT HATER! Since getting the album on Friday, I've given it a couple of listens and in all honesty, it's an ok album but not the standard I'd expect with the amount of big talk Fiddy is throwing around - especially compared to the quality of music on Kanye's release and even compared to the standard he set himself with "Get Rich Or Die Trying". I expected after the luke-warm "The Massacre", 50 would be coming back out with all guns blazing. Seems as though some of those guns have jammed... Let's take it track by track:

Intro
A very weird way to start the album. Over a melancholic guitar, 50’s chosen what sounds like a film clip of two men - one seemingly Welsh, one Scouse talking about some guns. Super Sunil thinks they're supposed to be Irish - if so, they definitely need some accent lessons!

My Gun
Over a typical Eminem beat with plenty of muted guitar and dramatic harpsichord (sounding a bit like “You Don’t Know” from the Re-Up album) 50 drops some of that standard gangsta ish talking about shooting people and how gangsta he is when his gun goes off which sets the lyrical tone for the album. There’s actually nothing wrong with this record, just that we’ve heard it before and done better on ‘Heat’ from “Get Rich Or Die Trying”

Man Down
This sounds like a Dre-a-like on the boards. An infectious piano looping the same 3 chords over and over over some very hard military style drums sets the tone for another gangsta epic which lyrically lacks the usual 50 Cent finesse. Like using a sledgehammer when a slight tap would have done.

I’ll Still Kill ft Akon
4 tracks in and we get treated to an appearance from the man who stole the King of HipHop Hooks crown from Nate Dogg, Akon. When Akon spoke to 1Xtra over the summer, he said that this record was amazing and while it is the best track out of the first 5 on the album, it’s not what you’d expect from a 50 & Akon collabo. Now, that’s not a bad thing - I quite like the fact that 50 and Akon haven’t gone the top 40 route and cooked up a girl tune and instead created a convict (notice the spelling) anthem but you have heard much better from both artists.

I Get Money
The gangsta club banger that I’ve been loving over the past few months. There’s over 20 different versions of it on tinterweb but 50’s swagger matches the beat perfectly (even though the beat is a direct rip off of Cassidy’s “I’m A Hustler”). By far the best track on the album – 50 sounds confident, cocky and humorous – exactly what he does best. If the album was all this quality, Kanye would be sweating!

Come And Go
“It’s Dr Dre & 50 Cent trick…” With this one, Dre cooks up a Dre by numbers beat while 50 talks about women that have done him wrong but even Fiddy singing a refrain from SOS Band’s (or Beats International’s depending on your age) “Just Be Good To Me” can make this anything more than meh. I love Dre, I love 50 (NH) and I sound like a broken record but this was done much better on ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’ and even on tracks like ‘Outta Control’ on ‘The Massacre’.

Ayo Technology ft Justin Timberlake
This is definitely a grower – when I first heard it, I was straight not into it but it’s since grown on me after seeing the reaction in the club. I know it’s because I’ve got such high expectations of what a Timbaland/Fiddy/Timbalake collabo would sound like that nothing short of “Cry Me A River”/”The Way I Are”/”Bounce” would have matched. The beat is one of those electro influenced double time ones Timbo has been knocking out recently that are oh so club friendly with 50 and JT on beg mode (substitute the word technology for pornography and you get a clearer idea of what the song is actually about – as if “why don’t you sit down on top of me” isn’t graphic enough…). Timbaland got the best Fiddy/Timbaland collabo on his album with “Come & Get Me”.

Follow My Lead ft Robin Thicke
A 50 love song akin to “20 Questions” or “Wanna Get To Know You” – quality beat, lyrically slushy but on point (although there are no ‘…love you like a fat kid loves cake’ moments here) and Robin Thicke does what an R&B singer should do on these things – add some sprinkles here and there.

Movin On Up
A Russell Simmons intro from his mid 90’s documentary movie ‘The Show’ sets the tone for one of the most straight up uncompromising Hip Hop tracks that 50 has done. The problem with this one for me though is that 50 doesn’t lyrically match the beat. Flow wise, he’s nailed it but after 2 listens, not one line has stuck in my head. That’s the general gist of the album so far – 50 just seems lyrically bored/boring. There’s a distinct lack of hunger and fire maybe it’s because he doesn’t need to try; no matter what - he’s gonna shift units which brings us nicely to…

Straight To The Bank
You’ve heard this by now. Very indicative of where Curtis’ mindset is throughout this whole album. Very lazy Aftermath/G Unit/Shady records hit song by numbers that doesn’t quite hit you as hard as you would hope. That said, Tony Yayo’s ha ha’s have fast become the new standard way to laugh at people at 1Xtra towers. Or maybe not.

Amusement Park
Candy Shop 2007. Nuff said.

Fully Loaded Clip
Now I like this one – this is some straight up uncompromising put the kids to bed gangsta ish that musically sounds like something that Mobb Deep would have done in 2000 around the Murda Muzik album. Lyrically, he’s on Clipse mode and comes with a lot of Fiddy swagger but it’s got a feel of mixtape about it.

Peep Show ft Eminem
One for the freaky ladies in the club. Funnily enough, I’d expect it to go down well in strip clubs.

Fire ft Nicole Scherzinger & Young Buck
This should be a single. Straight up uncompromising Fiddy club joint that I expect will be requested by the ladies in the not too distant future. With the right video, this one could be a big hit.

All Of Me ft Mary J Blige
Mary makes this record – this should have been hers, she’d have smacked it to pieces. One of the strongest on the album with the mid 70’s soulful sample and simple drums complimenting a typical cocky 50 flow but lyrically he just sounds lazy which lets the track down.

Curtis 187
“I’m grimey, I’m greasy, I make a 187 look easy…” Sounds like something left over from the GRODT soundtrack or the Re-Up mixtape – I can imagine hearing it in a film or a game like “Grand Theft Auto” but that’s about it. Filler.

Touch The Sky ft Tony Yayo
A G unit anthem – complete G Unit by numbers which in this case isn’t a bad thing. Over a well produced beat, Yayo outshines 50 by far. Difference being that Yayo sounds quite hungry and comes with some good one liners in his verse. 50 sounds uninterested.

Overall, I feel disappointed by “Curtis”. Even if this wasn’t up against Kanye’s musically, conceptually and lyrically superior “Graduation” and I didn’t have such high expectations of a 50 Cent release then I’d still rate it as I do. You’ve heard all the ideas and beats on the album before on previous G Unit mixtapes and previous albums. A lot of songs feel unfinished – those that hit lyrically fail musically and those that have fire beats have weak lyrics. Out of his 3 released solo albums this is the weakest for me – just below “The Massacre”.

If you’re a G Unit soldier, buy the album. If you’re a quality music fan, buy the Kanye album instead and download “I Get Money”, “Fire”, “All Of Me”, “Movin On Up” and “Follow My Lead” from your favourite legal download site...

Don't let me influence you - vote and tell us what you're going to be buying on Monday.

I hope they both had a mint before that photo...

Shouts to Eskay for the image.

50 album breakdown coming very soon!

Shouts once more to kanYeTalk.com - apparently members of their board put this together:

**CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE!!**

Imagine if Yeezy actually sounded like that....

50 should have put this on his new album - would have made it hotter!!

Expect a track by track breakdown of Curtis tomorrow!

If you're a bit of a net geek like myself, you may have already seen/heard this - US King of Prank Calls at the moment, Ralphige managed to get Michael Jackson's number and prank called him pretending to be Akon.

Check this out:

Happy September!!