B:Experimental

Time to illuminate the masses: Most Slept on pt.2 - V.A.S.

2010-07-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

I personally discovered V.A.S. when he hit me up on facebook and I was instantly impressed by his video and the professional way in which he approached me so much so that I decided to make him the subject of BPM's first ever artist interview!

Before we get into it though, here's the video to his single "Beat Up" I think this is a pretty good way for him to introduce himself to you,

check it out and then read the following interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IHfIDxZouk
download link: http://bit.ly/9EfFVb

[BPM] So first off tell us a little about yourself, where are you from?
[V.A.S.] Hey! Well I'm V.A.S. (aka Ajile) and I'm from London. I'm an artist planning to make a big difference in the music industry. Not only with my style but also the vibe I create, without having to use certain images or words to connect with people and paint something.

[BPM] I can definitely relate, I guess you want to be more intelligent with the lyrical content and visual aspects of your work, I can definitely respect that! You rap and produce right?
[V.A.S.] Yisser! However I don't only rap and produce, I can dance and sing a little bit too!

[BPM] Multi-Talented Quadruple threat! That's definitely fresh. How long have you been doing music for and how did you get started?
[V.A.S.] I've only been taking it seriously for a couple of years now but I first started getting into rapping after completing my GCSEs.

[BPM] So you really concentrated on getting school finished before really stepping out into the industry, that's an admirable approach for sure! So who would you say are your strongest musical and career influences?
[V.A.S.] I would say Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Pharell! I say that because they're just so unique with what they do. The way no one can replicate the stuff they do influences me to do what I do. Like them I plan to be 'imitated but never duplicated'. They've all influenced me to create my own Unique flow and way of doing things. Michael Jackson with his performance abilities, Pharell for his uniqueness in 'genre', and Stevie for his catchy and melodic vibes.

Oh one last thing, Michael Jackson…when I first saw that moonwalk.. I felt like I HAD to be able to dance lol.

[BPM] You definitely picked some ground breaking unique artists and I think a lot of people can identify with feeling an urge to dance after seeing MJ do his thing. So you introduced yourself earlier and told us you're a born and bred Londoner, How does it feel being a young independent artist living in this city?

[V.A.S.] Nowadays, in London, everyone wants to be an artist so sometimes people won't separate you out from the rest. However because I have a few skills plus the way I create music, my style and other things that come with it, I believe I will FULLY be distinguished from the rest.

[BPM] Yeah I agree it can definitely be difficult to stand out from the herd, I guess it's all down to talent and being creative in the way you present and market yourself, Your look is fresh, I have to give you props on that, would you mind telling us where you shop and which clothing brands you're into?

[V.A.S.] Well Im into stuff like BBC/Icecream, Stussy, Bape and Kid robot! I love wearing them not only because they're produced in limited quantities, but they're just… so different from what everyone else wears and i like the designs and combination of colours! I usually get them from their official stores online or selfridges.

[BPM] Cool, Well you've mentioned a few brands there, hopefully this article will be seen by thousands of people as will you're video and then the endorsements will roll in!!! btw..... I wear a large t-shirt and size 12's if you feel like sharing the bounty when it arrives, lol!

[BPM] So tell us where and how you like to record your music?
[V.A.S.] Well I produce the beats at home really, on my laptop haha. Then I go to a studio and do it there. Where depends on availability of the studio really.

[BPM] That's a great way to work I think, creating beats in a relaxed environment then tracking in a bigger studio, is a good way for an up and coming multi-talented artist like yourself to work. A lot of producers these days sell and lease beats, do you?
[V.A.S.] Nope! haha. I plan to focus on my career at the moment before I start producing for others unless its for an established artist, in that case I may make an exception.

[BPM] Yeah so I guess if the right collaborations come along of course you'd be interested, makes sense! Who on the UK scene right now would you most like to collaborate with?

[V.A.S.] Erm, how many artists are we talking? haha.

[BPM] Go for it, several, as many as you like......

[V.A.S.] Most probably would be FDM, Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, NDubz and Bluey Robinson.

[BPM] Cool some dope artists in the mix plus a few with chart success! Definitely feeling Bluey Robinson from that list and FDM are getting ready to take over after their linkup with Ne-yo and Compound music. It seems though as if a lot of our artist have to go to america to succeed, do you think of the urban music scene here in the UK is progressing?

[V.A.S.] I think its recently becoming much better. There are a lot of great ideas being conjured up and it shows that not only the US are good in all sectors of music.

[BPM] I checked out your video on youtube, it's a really dope, who directed it and how did the whole project come about?

[V.A.S.] The 'Beat Up' video? Well my friend Prince directed and shot the video. I had got some footage for the video but he thought the beat was "way too sick" to use that footage for it. So we came up with ideas and decided to come up with something really different. The video was pushed back a lot due to weather but I'm glad it was because it turned out better than expected.

[BPM] Yep it did, it's definitely fresh, We here at BPM wish all the luck in the world with it, it's been good speaking to you, maybe finally you could fill us in on your plans for world domination! Where do you want to be career wise in a few years time?

[V.A.S.] oooo… let me think… Topping the official charts! haha. I really hope to not just be labelled as someone who does UK music, but music for many other countries!! I have had a lot of good responses from people who don't even speak much english so its starting to work xD !.

[BPM] Mos Def, Well no doubt if you keep the work ethic you already have I can see nothing but good things ahead for you.

A massive thanks to you V.A.S. for taking time out to speak to us here at BPM! We wish you all the best for the bright future ahead!

If you want to get in touch with V.A.S. here are a bunch of online links.....

http://vasmusic.co.uk
http://youtube.com/versatilevas
http://twitter.com/vasmusic
http://mediafire.com/vasmusic
http://facebook.com/vasmusic.co.uk
http://myspace.com/versatilevas

Time to illuminate the masses: Most Slept on pt.3 - Paigey Cakey

2010-08-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

The most slept on feature returns and this month I'm featuring Paigey Cakey.

I met this young feMC at a crooked tongues bbq last year in Shoreditch where she and her bff were styling in identical uniform! We did the usual typical networking thing and stayed in touch via facebook......
Fast forwarding several months we finally got to lacing some futuristic tracks in the studio, No doubt we'll be back in the lab really soon as I'm right now in the middle of setting up my new studio the way I want it. (impending fire, you've been warned)

I'm personally a big fan of her MC'ing skills and her swagga is definitely 110% ahead of the curve and always on point, if you don't know about this flyy young Londoner then have no fear you're boy Steezy is here to illuminate the way.......

check out her Youtube

Time to illuminate the masses: Most Slept on pt.1 - Apatight

2010-06-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

This is the first of what will hopefully become a regular feature on www.bexperimental.com
There's a whole host of music out there waiting to be discovered but with the vastness of the internet as with the vastness of our world it can be hard to get to the information.

So we're gonna try to do what blogs do and share out discoveries with our readers and light up the dark!
First up on the "Time to illuminate the masses: Most Slept on" agenda is my boy 'Apatight' hailing from ma home town Huddersfield a northern UK town brimming with talent, if you don't know get to!

Here's 14 quality cuts from his latest 'Ayepee Beat Library' there are a few classics in here waiting to be recorded!
Sit back and listen to the whole album, bump this shit and remember the name 'Apatight'

<a href="http://producersiknow.bandcamp.com/album/ayepee-beat-library">Anksure by Producers I Know</a>

Melody Ellington - Boss Lady Anthem

2010-06-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch the video on youtube

Melody "Bosslady" Ellington is Hot, you know this! From the look of this video though she's talented too (and I'm talking vocally not in a pervy look at the hot scantily clad girl kind of way)

With production handled by 'Harmony' and a pretty nice looking video directed by Luke Biggins this track looks destined to be somewhat of a hit! Big up the bosslady!

Jade Green

2010-03-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Here is an exclusive preview of forthcoming Single 'Jade Green' from musician/producer Ste Keyz to be released under his alias B:experimental, fresh off the back of 2 mammoth sell out European tours with DJ Vadim and then his own band The Electric, Ste is finally getting down to independently releasing a few previews to his forth coming EP.

'I always want to share my music not keep it to myself while working on securing record deals etc. I feel like I have more good music in me so hey when I sign my deal I'll still have many many unheard, unreleased tracks to unveil'

For now April will see the release of Vol1 of this latest work titled BPM:Project_Unknown.

Jade Green by B:Experimental

Mz Bratt - Selecta (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

2010-08-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

Mz Bratt - Selecta
produced by Redlight
Video by Tim and Barry

New EP release from Stephan Keyz

2010-08-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://bepm.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-instrumental-ep">Maybe (Instrumental) by Bexperimental</a>

Andreya Triana 'Lost Where I Belong' Live @ Soundwave Croatia

2010-08-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Readers of this blog should already know what a huge fan of Andreya's I am. After watching this acoustic version of 'Lost Where I Belong' captured by Amelia of Put me on it you should be too (if you're not already!)

Thanks to the PMOI fams for capturing this great performance.

p.s. If anybody out there has footage of Dreya from the Wax Tailor show at Koko from last year I'd dearly love to see it, for now it remains etched on ma brain as one of my favourite all time live show memories......

Andreya's Debut album 'Lost Where I Belong' is currently riding high on the itunes charts, if you don't already have it ---> http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/lost-where-i-belong/id383584907 you will not be disappointed, it's a beautiful album!

Andreya Triana - Lost where I belong out today!

2010-04-05T05:59:00.000-07:00

If you follow B:Experimental any at all then you'll already know we heart Andreya 110%.
I've been lucky enough to have seen her perform a few times now and each time the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention.

Today the first single from her soon to be released debut album hits the streets and I say if you buy any music this week you have to start here!

The track is available from www.ninjatune.net

Peace out!

Steasy, One......

Beginning

2010-08-23T18:52:00.001-07:00

Just doing a lil' bit of self promotion, I have a new blog. http://beginning3.blogspot.com/

Watch this space.......

My current Blackberry and ipod wallpapers

2010-08-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

Calling all MCs and Vocalists: Holla if you wanna get on a Stephan Keyz beat!

2010-08-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for MC's and Singers......

To get involved with my latest project!
I have a surplus of beats that I'm going to form into an album and I want YOU to be on it! Over the next few weeks I'll be posting instrumentals online through my Youtube and Facebook accounts. If you hear something you like then record some vocals and send it to me via Soundcloud (http://soundcloud.com/bexperimental/dropbox) I'll be picking the tracks for the album at the end of November and releasing singles and a video first followed by an album in 2011! I know there are 100's of talented people looking for an opportunity to shine, this is your time!!!

Check out some of my previous projects Here

Go to the bexperimental contact page Here to contact me for further details.

Jaime Winstone, Donkey Punch....

2010-08-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

After seeing Jaime Winstone in Kidulthood I kinda developed a little crush on her....

Even with a dodgy fake Northern accent she's still doing stuff here!
I only recently found out about this movie and if I can find somewhere to watch it online or can be bothered to re-instate my Lovefilm account I might just give it a go.

Looks like a decent british thriller that has something of 'Dead Calm' about it, sexy girls, murderous guys and a yacht!

Oh and of course Jaime...... yeah I might just give it a watch!

And the Donkey punch is further explained in this clip if you're still confused!

X-Factor autotuned like Glee, wtf! the joke has gone too far!

2010-08-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you something about me you maybe didn't know! I find it really hard to watch regular people singing on TV.
Talent shows, musicals, Glee and Rihanna singing 'Te Amo' just make me cringe, turn down the volume or plain and simple switch channels! For this reason I don't watch X-Factor even when people I know personally are on there.

One of my close girlfriends made it to the last 10 in the 2009/10 series after I helped vocally train her girl group in preparation for the auditions and even then I could only watch the clips they posted online, I just can't watch that show!

So you can imagine my horror when I discovered that this year they've taken to autotuning the contestants. Seriously what the hell is the world of music coming to. I actually can't say too much more on this subject as I've lost the will to live at this point!

Music is my life and look where she has ended up in 2010!

A Picture says a thousand words!

2009-10-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

Akon and Wyclef....
We need to know the story behind this,
because at the moment nothing good is springing to mind!

Wyclef Jean out of the Haiti elections.

2010-08-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Wyclef in recent weeks managed to turn attention unto the forthcoming presidential elections in Haiti and remind some of us how much work still needs to be done there.

The prospect of him becoming president became a global news story but the powers that be in the country as often in politics had other ideas and through bureaucracy and cunning use of the rule book they managed to put and end to any prospect of him becoming president.

Many in the country itself seem disappointed by this turn of events as Jean has been a visible force in Haiti bringing aid to ground level personally.

A brief statement concerning the electoral councils decision on Friday said he disagreed with the council's ruling but "respectfully" accepted its decision.

"I want to assure my countrymen that I will continue to work for Haiti's renewal; though the board has determined that I am not a resident of Haiti, home is where the heart is — and my heart has and will always be in Haiti,"

Selah ft. Sadie Ama, Mz Bratt (Prod. DaVinChe) - Womans World

2010-05-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Huge song from Selah with a serious collaborative effort calling in backup from a trio of the UK's finest including the hardest working female MC in the UK right now Mz Bratt, another exceptional talent from the Ama familia Sadie and powerhouse production from UK super producer Davinche (he deserves the title, come on people!)
This is a serious track that deserves copious amounts of airplay!

If you don't know you need to understand the almost insurmountable odds that are stacked against our urban UK artists. We all saw Estelle move to America to find success and have all wondered why more of our incredibly talented artists here struggle to receive the credit they deserve.
It's on us the record buyers to step up and support independent artists!

Big props to Selah and the other artists here for working together to make a quality track!
UK STAND UP!

Topless Tila Tequila..... Attention whore much?

2010-08-18T02:31:00.000-07:00

Click Picture to see Tila's dodgy fake boobs! *NSFW

It seems Method man and Redman aren't the only ones to have been attacked by insane Juggalo's with Tila Tequila coming under attack from ICP fans too. In her case they threw several rubber dildos along with beer cans, Faygo containers, Stryofoam cups, liquor bottles, cigarettes, mustard, half a lemon, a pizza slice, a pearl bracelet, a pudding cup, an unopened can of ICP’s self-branded energy drink Spazmatic, part of a watermelon allegedly soaked in feces and urine, a clothed baby doll, a mini Mag Lite, a bag of chicken tenderloin. When Tequila first came out, shooting Silly String at the angry mob an onlooking photographer, who was shooting at the front of the stage, apparently saw an egg hit her in the face. At one point, a Juggalo with a kerchief over his face even climbed up and lunged at her; he was stopped. Then suddenly, Tila Tequila was topless, bleeding, and holding a cloth to her head…....

Just goes to show that when all else fails and your show isn't going so well the only solution maybe is to whip out a pair of fake boobs in hopes of satiating the restless juggalo's and at least ensuring that the pictures end up all over the internet, up and coming artists take note!

Life is about connections!

2010-08-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

Mooj is a mofo G legend! damn this lil dude is funny as hell!

I decided to do a quick youtube search and post this clip from 40yr old Virgin where the very wise Mooj gives the character Andy some sage advice about what's really important.

"Life is about love, people, it's about connections"

Who's coming to see Zarif at Yoyo?

2010-08-17T04:26:00.000-07:00

I'm getting me a Blackberry Torch!

2010-08-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

Yup that's right! just look at the latest offering from Research in Motion and tell me this phone isn't too sexy for itself! It's all about timing too with my current BB curve showing the dreaded app error white screen and my Vodafone upgrade almost here I can't wait to get my hands on a more powerfull BB!

For one the new generation of handsets come with a new more powerful operating system and a great list of specs....

Features

Optical trackpad
High-resolution touch screen
Full QWERTY keyboard
3G network support
Simultaneous voice and data
Email and text messaging
BlackBerry® Messenger
Instant Messaging
Phone
Browser
Social feeds
Camera and video recording
Wi-Fi®
GPS
Media player
Organizer
Bluetooth®
Tethered modem

Arghhhhhhhh!

In the meantime I'm off to the High Street to get my current Berry sorted!

Remember when you were a kid and you mum bought you the wrong sneakers!

2010-08-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

At £99.99 the JSM 7" Touchscreen Netbook is trying to do some ipad beating. I dunno how that's gonna work out but 100 quid ain't bad is it!!! I think I'll still get the ipad though, my inner child is already embarrassed at me for even blogging this!!!

Technical Details

Google Android Operating System
800 x 480 TFT High reolution Touch Screen
Super Fast WiFi - 802.11 B/G
PDF E-BOOK READER
OFFICE APPLICATIONS compatible with WORD, EXCEL & POWERPOINT

How Genuine are your charitable intentions?

2010-08-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

I went to dinner with a group of friends recently and we talked at length on any number of subjects but the one that has stuck most in my mind was talk of people's perceived charitable natures, particular globally famous celebrities like Bono, Naomi Campbell and their many philanthropic peers.

You see what I discovered in that conversation was that sometimes charitable giving when done from a comfortable place can cost the ones we're supposed to be helping great expense due to international tax laws and other unseen red tape.

This led me to further investigate those particular laws and some of the bigger more corporate charities. In doing so I struggled to find much information on the web but I did discover a few interesting websites investigating international tax laws.

Amongst them http://www.globalissues.org and http://www.taxjustice.net both worth checking out, in an exert from an article on globalissues.org it becomes apparent that the money we think we're giving can get tied up in several layers of red tape.

Aid has often come with a price of its own for the developing nations:

Aid is often wasted on conditions that the recipient must use overpriced goods and services from donor countries
Most aid does not actually go to the poorest who would need it the most
Aid amounts are dwarfed by rich country protectionism that denies market access for poor country products, while rich nations use aid as a lever to open poor country markets to their products
Large projects or massive grand strategies often fail to help the vulnerable; money can often be embezzled away.

In addition to this many large charitable organisations have any number of overheads similar to any other large organisation with many wages needing to be paid, business premises needing to be maintained, rented and any number of business costs associated with a large organisation needing to be met.

A strong statement was made at the aforementioned meal with one of the dinner guests pointing out quite passionately something along these lines......

"If you're really passionate about a cause then don't just publicy announce the fact but actually leave your comfortable town house in Muswell Hill, sell up even and move to a mud hut somewhere in Africa and invest the proceeds into your newly adopted village"

Of course that is an extreme action to most of us, very few of us would be prepared to uproot from our comfortable lives in the west but it perfectly illustrates the point doesn't it!
It's very easy to appear socially aware talking publicly about the injustices of the world in order to appear caring and charitable, it takes a slightly greater effort to dip into your own pocket and donate to a charitable but corporate organisation, maybe you could go that step further and actually fly to a third world country to see first hand how the people you're so passionately campaigning for actually live instead of going on a two week holiday to fiji next winter! At least then you'd have some point of reference but then we'd inevitably still return home to comfort.

What answer do I have then? I think it all goes back to how genuine we are in our convictions and caring for our fellow man. If we really cared we wouldn't stop short in our giving.
If a health care professional for example simply made sure a sick and injured person made it to the hospital but then once there left the injured party to fend for themselves this wouldn't be in keeping with their remit to deliver health care until their patient is well again. In moving the sick person but not following through in treatment to a satisfactory conclusion it's possible matters could actually have been made worse.

With the internet at our fingertips along with any other number of sources of information available the least we can do is take some time to research the thing we're apparently so passionate about, maybe even try to make contact with the people we're apparently helping instead of being a faceless contributors on the other side of the planet.

I've by no way exhausted my research into this topic, I've really only scratched the surface. But having had a passion for sometime to somehow combine my love of music and my belief that having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument at a young age enriched my life to the degree that music has become my life. With the clear gaping chasm between where I find myself living compared with what so many on this planet have to go through I'm resolved to do something about it. But of course talk is cheap!

Selah - Womans World out today! cop that disk!

2010-08-02T03:17:00.000-07:00

Selah's debut single is out on iTunes today and I just downloaded my copy!

If your one of my facebook/Myspace/Tweeter/Bebo (Ok I don't have Bebo) but I do also have Youtube/Soundcloud/Linkedin/Formspring.... errr Blackberry (I think that's all of my social networks!) That was long!

Back to my point if your one of my friends then you should know I've been working with Selah for a few months now and I think she's amazingly talented so you should get online and 'cop that download!'

Here's the iTunes link - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/womans-world-feat-sadie-ama/id382250151
And here's the video on Youtube........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FznXn_OkC3Q

Misfits - Series 2 commissioned.

2010-07-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

I for one am relieved that the powers that be at Channel4 saw fit to continue one of my favourite TV series of recent years!

I'm not only into this because it has the gorgeous Antonia Thomas! I really do have a thing for mixed raced girls that I can neither fight nor explain! There's just something special that happens when Africa, Europe and Love combine, the picture on the right bares witness!

But na I actually watched all 6 episodes of the first series in one day! I love this show!

Here's what they had to say at channel 4 about the imminent follow up series.........

"E4’s gang of Misfits have their Community Service Orders extended for a second series.

Starring a charismatic cast of next generation British talent, Misfits blazed on to E4 earlier this year and rapidly became one of the most talked about television drama series this Autumn. Hailed by The Telegraph as a 'British horror comedy to rival Shaun of the Dead' and "brilliant, sharp and funny" by the Guardian the series so far series has averaged over 1m views per episode, across E4 and 4oD.

Head of Drama Camilla Campbell says "Misfits always felt like a perfect E4 show and the response has been phenomenal. I’m delighted to commission a second series, and like its fans, I can’t wait to see where Howard’s inventive scripts take us and the gang."

Howard Overman will write 6 x 60 min episodes, while storylines are firmly under wraps, one thing’s for sure, there’s still no danger of E4’s Misfits saving the world anytime soon."