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May 2012

Monthly newspaper and online publication targeting 18 to 35 year olds. The ultimate guide to the hottest parties, going out and having fun. Music, fashion, film, travel, festivals, technology, comedy, and parties! London, Barcelona, Miami and Ibiza.

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Issue 39 / 2012 HIP HOP / RNB 37 www.guestlist.net RIP MCA ( Beastie Boys) 7 The death of MCA is not only a huge loss for music, the world has lost an irreplaceable pioneer, and if you're not yet familiar with his work now is as good a time as any to get enlightened. WU TANG CLAN Emerging in 1993, when Dr. Dre's G-funk had taken over the Hip Hop world, the Staten Island, NY-based Wu Tang Clan proved to be the most revolutionary rap group of the mid-'90s – and only partially because of their music. Taking their group name from a powerful, mythical kung fu sword wielded by an invincible congregation of warriors, the crew is a loose collective of nine MCs. All nine members work under a number of pseudonyms, but they are best known as RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon the Ched, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa. The vision of the Wu- Tang Clan is undoubtedly due to the musical skills of RZA. Under his direction, the group – through its own collaborations and solo projects, MAY RELEASES OH NO Ohnomite ( STONES THROW RECORDSY) EL-P Cancer For Cure (FAT POSSUM RECORDS) CURREN$Y The Stoned Immaculate (WARNER BROS RECORDS) CAMRON More Gunz Less Buttah (ENTERTAINMENT ONE RECORDS) KOOL KEITH Love and Danger (JUNKADELIC) SLAUGHTERHOUSE Welcome to our House (SHADY RECORDS) ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIP HOP GROUPS OF ALL TIME. all of which he produced or co-produced – created a hazy, surreal, and menacing soundscape out of hardcore beats, eerie piano riffs, and minimal samples. Over these surrealist backing tracks, the MCs rapped hard, updating the old-school attack with vicious violence, martial arts imagery and a welcome warped sense of humor. By 1995, the sound was one of the most instantly recognisable in Hip-Hop. The first Wu-Tang member to become a major solo star was Method Man. In November 1994, he released Tical on Def Jam Recordings, The first official Wu-Tang solo album. Again, RZA produced the album, creating a dense, dirty sonic collage. Tical became a big hit in early 1995 with the Hit, I'll be there for you featuring Mary J Blige. The hip-hop community suf- fered a tragic loss the day MCA or Adam Yauch, musical pio- neer and activist, left us at the all-too-early age of 47. Yauch had been quietly battling ill- ness since 2009 when he was diagnosed with cancer which he finally surcumed to on May 4th this year. With a career spanning 33 years as vibrant as it was diverse it's almost futile trying to sum up what made the man the legend in so small a space, but I'd say it's a task that deserves the ef- fort. Many may not have known Yauch by name but as soon as you say Beastie Boys they'll all know exactly who you're talk- ing about. But his work with the Beastie Boys isn't all there is to it, his career highlights include directing his own music videos and the 2008 documentary that was Gunnin' For That #1 Spot. His work with the Beastie Boys could be considered the de- fining element of his relatively short artistic career, and with good reason. By 2010 they had sold a gargantuan 40 million records internationally, a feat not easily rivaled making them the best selling rap-group since the beginning of the 90's. As a white punk rock group break- ing their way into hip-hop in the 80s the Beastie Boys rep- resented something very dif- ferent, by refusing to adopt the traditional they demonstrated that people who weren't from the streets or the ghettos who wanted to enjoy the culture didn't need to and in fact probably shouldn't dress themselves up as the gangsters they're not. hip-hop personas DEL THA FUNKEE X PARALLEL THOUGHT Attractive Sin (PARALLEL THOUGHT LTD) BIG KRIT Live From The Underground (DEF JAM) DMX Undisputed (UMMG) LARGE PROFESSOR Professor @ Large (FAT BEATS RECORDS) BIGG JUS Machines that make civilisation fun (MUSH RECORDS) WORDSWORTH The Photo Album (WORLDWIDE COMMUNICATION) LEGENDS

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