01.02.13 Music Week 11
ON THE RADAR MIC RIGHTEOUS Mic Righteous, real name Rocky
Takalobigashi, has been dubbed ‘one to watch’ by Metro and The Guardian, recently signed a publishing deal with Naughty Boy’s imprint and has supported Wretch 32, J Cole, and Talib Kweli on tour. Following an appearance on Charlie Sloth’s BBC Radio 1/1Xtra show in 2011, the video of that freestyle session has since attracted over 1 million views online.
“I think that's what every artist
strives for; the hard part to be over, which we've achieved. The hardest bit about this whole journey is trying to get the listeners and
trying to get the support of mainstream radio. It’s difficult for artists, especially coming from underground hip hop, but we're grateful for the support of Radio 1.” he tells Music Week. After the Margate-born rapper
was spotted by producer Naughty Boy, he subsequently appeared on remixes of tracks by Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé and Cher Lloyd. Takalobigashi’s own seven-track Open Mic EP will be released on February 11. He says the EP is an attempt to “break out of the typical underground stigma that a UK rapper can carry.” “I think a lot of UK rappers
HE SAID / SHE SAID “
struggle to make commercial-sounding songs, songs with some sort of credibility and sometimes they do it and it works but it's not them. The idea behind the EP is with an Open Mic anyone can jump on stage and showcase their talent. This was just an open invite to say my music is out there for everyone to listen to.”
The opening track (named
Outro) is produced by Naughty Boy, another by London producer Ollie Twist and the remaining tracks by trio TDH (Tom, Dave and Harry). An upcoming collaboration with “good
friend” Ed Sheeran could be on the cards too… Inspired by “people who work
hard”, it’s Eminem, Dr Dre, Skinny Man and The Craftsmen who influenced the rapper’s style. Takalobighashi said: “I like to see myself as more of a people's artist. I'm always going to be socially aware because that's what hip hop is about, it's about the expression of the oppressed and that’s what's
[Entertainment retail] just isn’t profitable. HMV was the last man standing: pretty much everybody went because nobody could make any money out of it.
WH Smith CEO Kate Swann responds to the FT’s questioning on whether the retailer would boost its entertainment section following HMV’s decline
”
MUST-SEE MUSIC TICKETING INFORMATION LATEST SECONDARY TICKETING PRICES
HITWISE Primary Ticketing Chart
POS PREV EVENT
1 15 Bon Jovi 2 NEW Stereophonics 3 NEW Wilko Johnson 4 1 5 3 6 2
One Direction Paloma Faith Madness
7 NEW Hard Rock Calling 8 4
McFly
9 NEW Bastille 10 12 Fleetwood Mac 11 13 Girls Aloud 12 NEW Rihanna 13 NEW Counting Crows 14 5
15 11 Olly Murs 16 9
Pink
17 14 Alt J 18 17 Mumford and Sons 19 NEW Biffy Clyro 20 19 Robbie Williams
JAKE BUGG 02 Shephards Bush Empire Feb,27
Bruce Springsteen
FACE VALUE £14 SEATWAVE £39.00 - £253.32 VIAGOGO
£45.00- £201.62 STUBHUB £66.00 - £153.00
THE SPECIALS O2 Academy Brixton, May 29
FACE VALUE £37.50 SEATWAVE £56.00 - £73.99 VIAGOGO
STUBHUB £80
Capacity2600 THE TROXY
£58.00 - £152.27
490 Commerical Road London E1 0HX t 020 779090000
wtroxy.co.uk Bands contact
enquiries@troxy.co.uk
Coming up
03/02 Nagar Baul James 16/02 New York Comedy Kings 21/02 Music+Sound Awards 23/02 Richard Hawley 29/03 The Gaslight Anthem 30/03 The Gaslight Anthem 12/04 Bad Boy Promotions presents ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’
TAKE A BOW TEAM LUMINEERS THE LOWDOWN
Label: Decca Records
Album: The Lumineers Highest chart position: No.8
General manager: Rebecca Allen
A&R: Christen Greene Onto Entertainment (US) Oli Harrop (Decca)
Manager: Christen Greene, Onto Entertainment
Marketing: Sophie Hilton
ESSENTIAL INFO
RELEASES Out now Yob Culture / Kam-Pain mixtapes Feb 11 Open Mic EP
LABEL Naughty Words / Sony/ATV CONTACT
Mike.Bartlett@
umusic.com
MANAGEMENT Jack Lambert
micrighteous@gmail.com
LIVE Feb 12 Open Mic launch party, Barfly London March 1 Zanzibar, Liverpool
missing from it these days, I think that's what people are thirsty for; that's what people want to hear.” Aside from an album and headline tour, the rapper’s main ambition is to “not lose my head and stay focused. My ambition is to stay ambitious.”
National press: Emma Philpott - Purple PR
Regional press: Jemma Litchfield - Purple PR
Online press: Louie Gatas - All Leo
National radio: Hungry & Woods
Regional radio: Steve Stone (Decca)
TV: Nirvana Chelvachandran (Decca)
HALL&NOTES
THE BEST LIVE VENUES IN THE UK
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