Today we release the 4th instalment from the Setting Standard Series by Tha 4Orce.
Imagine for the last 4 years straight every month Tha 4Orce has dropped a single plus videos delivering 4 albums. One Of the greatest hip hop artists ever to come out of the UK. The talent this man has. Not just an M.C, a competent DJ, an Incredible producer with a long history in studio engineering and mastering.
I got to work on the project, editing the videos as well as photographing and designing the album artwork. It’s been nothing but a pleasure to work alongside Tha 4ORce on every project. We have been through some very tough trying times. its been a real journey.
This project has been three years in the making. After the release of Dicemans debut solo album the Power of Now produced by J.Depina and myself we embarked on our second album Powermoves.
Then the pandemic happened. My life changed there and after loosing my job my circumstances changed. Diceman also invested in equipment. Drum machine after drum machine, exploring production and building his skills and experience of the tools that make this music.
For years even before I was part of the picture. He had this vision of having all the equipment and tools to be a fully independent force. This was not an investment just for himself but for his crew too, the Legion.
I came along and showed him how to do it.
Over that time I continued to release more projects with TR Love, Si Spex, Tha 4Orce, A.dee and Chucky Smash. While doing that me and Dice always communicated. Things were going slow in my opinion and the energy from Dice needed a spark. Something had to happen to kick start a new chapter. Dice always kept writing lyrics and would call me all the time over the years spitting bars and explaining them.
Many years before I met Dice I knew the Producer and B-Boy Maurizio the Nextone. I spent a lot of time with him, at his studio Beats for Life and watched him work. He has an incredible history and story. My gut was telling me that if I put Mauri and Dice together I think we can produce something very special. All of us have our own stories and been on our own journeys. We all know what its like to the underdog and overlooked. We all have a fire in a belly.
We all have plenty in us and plenty to prove and goals to achieve. I set up a meeting and introduction to everyone and also a time we can listen to Mauri’s music and select music to put an album together. I know Mauri very well and I know he knows where I’m coming from when I say this. Mauri makes music every day. A listening session could be long and can for days if he wanted too. So my idea was to keep it short. My mindset was pick the beats Dice write the album, record it lets get it out and keep it moving.
We picked the beats, I left Mauri and Dice to form a friendship and build a working relationship. So they can see what they can create together.
This didn’t turn out how I planned. Dices circumstances changed. We are all grown men and have our own responsibilities. Depression is no joke. Loosing motivation is a killer. It has a knock on effect and when you got productive people like Mauri and myself it has an impact. We need each other to be motivated. Otherwise once that high and excitement of creating is gone its painfully draining.
This was addressed and we had a meeting 6 months ago addressing everything and being as clear and honest with each other as we possibly can. It was not a pleasant meeting at all. Our aim however was to get everything out in the open and get back on track.
I had actually flown to New York to finish off the last 4 songs recording them at Dice’s House of Bars. The footage you will see in the footage below is from October 2023. The footage of Mauri is from 2011 filmed in Italy.
I decided to release some of this footage to really address the place we are in right now. I had to create a film to inspire my brothers and really put out into the world the real truth that artists deal with behind closed doors.
Action was required. This film is solely my opinion. Both Dice and Mauri did know this was coming.
Over the last two weeks, Mark has been on my mind. Over the last few years, I have lost many of my friends and family due to health issues or complications.
I think about my own journey and whilst making my film the amount of people I lost close to me while I carried on working. I was asked once why to you carry doing what you’re doing. One of my answers is that many people who were part of my journey either passed on or their lives took them in a different direction. Some people who are still alive are proud to see me still doing what I’m doing. Living their dream so to speak. Keeping that dream alive.
Before Mark passed I was heading to NYC to show people a rough finished draft of my film ‘looking for the perfect beat’. Before flying out Mark would ring me regularly from his home in Germany. Late evenings we would play each other beats, and Mark would play me his new music and talk about his ideas. I sent him the links to my film which he watched and just a couple days before I left the UK he talked to me about his thoughts on my movie.
What happened after most people know. Mark is no longer here. He has left a strong body of work that all of us can be proud of.
Back in the 1990s when the internet was still dial up. Websites were all code and videos were in flash format I had a site called www.nu-skratch.co.uk. I was always out with my camera and my friend Chris Malbon was designing and building websites. He was up on the new technology. My close friend Steve Bridger understood HTML and would put up the content I created onto the site as and when I passed it on to him, which was all the time. One of the reasons he left the crew. I went to college and learned HTML to continue the site.
In 2000 I was at Marks home in Kingston where I filmed this
piece. Extracts from this appeared on my
site back at that time. I held on to
this very preciously for years.
As hip hop is changing, ideas, attitudes, and even it’s history are being re-written I felt compelled to put this out. Whatever your thoughts are, you are free to think them. I put this out so people don’t forget who Mark B was. To get to know him a little more about him and see coming from Mark his passion for his craft. He was a big part of my journey. A good friend. I appreciate the friendship we had and I will never forget you.
Thanks to Casz from M.S.I for helping me film my part. Huge thanks
to Damian Wilkes for introducing me to Mark back in 93. Samebeat Records.
Today I saw the deeply sad news that Chris Lewis had passed on. Myself and the team from King of the Beats are heartbroken and would like to pass on our sincere condolences to you Sasha and the family & friends of Chris.
King of the Beats what it became and what it is today would not of happened the way it did if it was not for Chris. I got introduced to Chris about 2009/10 by Kev DaKosta I believe. It was a long time ago.
I had 10 years before made the film King of the Beats featuring The Creators, P Brothers, Beyond There, The Nextmen & The Unsung Heroes. The film’s concept, the challenge of digging for records and producing something with just a budget of £20 ten years later still intrigued people. This led me to create the format for a live event which I was able to package and present alongside a tour with Mikey D from the Hip Hop Group Main Source.
When I went to London to meet Chris, Sasha and see the venue I was met with such positive and supportive energy. Chris himself was an avid record collector and also had a history with the city of Birmingham from when he was a student if I remember correctly.
We quickly formed a very strong friendship and The Vibe Bar became the home of King of the Beats. Chris & Sasha introduced me and the crew to everyone. Every member of staff got to know us. From that point The Vibe Bar became a meeting place for years.
Chris invested so much energy into supporting the event and doing everything within his power to make the event a success, it was clear he personally loved the concept of KOTB. Chris infact was the first person we gave an award to for all his support and effort.
There was a lot of us involved with the event. Sparkii Ski the host, DJ Devestate, Cutmaster Swift, Malcome. the Steel Devils, Keith, Jay King, A.Dee, Pogo, Tha 4Orce and so on. Whatever money we made we split between us. After a course of shows the next step was to start the record label. This was to give artists passing through a platform to have their music pressed on wax. This happened because of Chris’s & Sasha support. After years of working together, the Venue was taken over and Chris and Sasha moved on. Our last gig there was done under the new management. Things were not the same.
Chris had moved onto a new pasture and I got caught up in my divorce. We kept in touch via social media and would drop messages to each other from time to time. waking up this morning to see that Chris has passed is devastating as I’m not going to be able to speak to him anymore. He was such a good person. Real honest. He cared about you and how you were. He cared and had a passion for music and the arts. He was a musician. He is part of my journey and nothing can ever take him away from that.
All of us here, are deeply saddened. I personally want to pay tribute to Chris Lewis a really important part of this story. Never to be forgotten.
We can announce that this week we will be shipping the long-awaited third album in the Setting Standards Series.
I would like to take the time out to first apologize to all those who supported this project and purchased the record very early on. We are grateful for your support and patience. the record arrived this weekend and we will start shipping the item now.
Cafe Artum alongside the team at the Hockley Social Club to celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop have asked me to program an event to be held in Cafe Artum on the 12th of August.
I joined the team at HSC over 2 years ago as a dj and video/photography collaborator. The owners always made it very clear to me how important it is to them that Hip hop music is represented in their venue.
My first time djing there was alongside Birmingham Veteran E Double D. So aside from me just playing there, there are many other DJs there who do play quality hip hop music. James Swindourne who is one of the owners has always been keen to get me involved in there events and has been watching and paying attention to my journey for many years now and alongside Jayson Wynters from Cafe Artum they have been programming with their team led by Andrew Milford and George been putting on some very intersting cultural events in the Cafe Artum Space.
August the 12th to mark and celebrate 50 years of hip hop I will be screening a version of my film alongside my guests DJ Sparra ( Former DMC Champion) and tha 4Orce ( recording artist). The Event will start at 2pm and the film shall start 2.30 pm sharp. The film is 96 min long and then be followed by a quesions and answers with my self and my guests.
The Q&A will be streamed live via IG. If you can not make it tune in from 4pm UK time. The event is free and the film itself is made and directed by a local unfunded artist. In the words of Lord Finesse, ‘This is a film for us by us’.
We are also proud to present at this event our new lp Setting Standards 3. Our new release arrives from the plant this week so that this event will be the first time this album will be available to purchase. The Album is by tha 4Orce who will be in attendence. Get your copy signed at this event.
Great news, After 3 weeks since submitting the album the Test Pressings have arrived.
Thanks to everyone supporting our projects, we are very close to dropping our new album KOTB 0019 Setting Standards 3 by Tha 4Orce. A remix project from one of the UK’s most prolific and talented artists. This is a limited edition pressing.
Leading up to the release of the debut album by Chucky Smash from the Legion. The Taking of Pelham is finally getting a release.
Chucky sat down to do an interview with A Vision Media. Speaks about his history and early experiences. Forming the group The Legion.
The group had a classic 12′ Jingle Jangle, produced by Molecules probably the least talked about producer from that very special fertility we can associate producers like Showbiz, Diamond, Buckwild, Lord Finesse and Minessota among others.
Molecules return to produce most of this project the taking of Pelham 123. Tune in get to know Chucky Smash.
We are proud to announce the release of our new project. The album ‘The Taking Of Pelham’ by Chucky Smash. Hailing from the group ‘The Legion’ this is Chucky’s Debut album.
Recorded at the DITC studio the album has been 2 years in the making. Largely produced by Molecules this Album speaks volumes. nicknamed Yoda Chucky Smash has his own sound, there is not another M.C that sounds like him. Kick start 2023 with something that will not disappoint. The album has taken almost 2 years to record. In the studio Showbiz’s son Jahlil RL recorded the lp. DJ Eclipse makes a guest appearance on the cut as does tha 4orce who had the job of mixing the album. Key Figures returns to produce two of the tracks on the project.
Once again this is a great example of the artists themselves coming together to create, record, produce, manufacture and distribute our own product. We are trying hard to encourage and bring each other up, learning from the experience that we can do this ourselves.
We are proud to announce Diggers issue 2 is now available to order. Limited to only 100 copies printed you can now order from our store. Shipping date Nov 10/11.
The magazine created by Pritt Kalsi delves inside his world and bubble giving people an inside view into his journey. A visual fly-on-the-wall perspective a behind-the-scenes diary captured by himself and by some of the very talented artists and photographers who support his vision.
Modelled upon gallery photo books compared to the normal presentations produced by art houses you get a few extra pages here.
Pay attention to the QR codes that in this issue take you to over 5 hours of footage from Pritts Archive. As well as leading to web sides and content created by some of the featured artists and photographers.
As we all know, the warlock is the most powerful system.Have you always talked like this Meng Jingzhe asked.
The end of the way of swordsmanship is that although there are tens of thousands of people, I will go there.The boarder Lina squatted beside another tangerine plant in a daze.
I have a lot of blood in my heart.If you draw blood like this, I m afraid you will be the first to die.The Ten Thousand Laws of Non Taoist Golden Elixirs are inviolable.
The stage of transforming the gods is originally the top cultivation level in the world of cultivating immortals, but such a top existence is so vulnerable to this poison called immortal pouring.Time stopped, and the only one who could move was Meng Jingzhe.
Meng Jingzhe said sincerely.Yun Xi was even more proud when he heard the words, and said Since that s the case, you know you re afraid.Hearing this name, Ah Jing s face was blank for a moment, but soon, she became that deadly female killer again.
The sword energy was the same, those sword lights didn t attack him Unlock Relaxation: How CBD Massage Cream Benefits Your Body again, but thought of a child who was a little confused, after a pause, he looked very confused because he couldn t find his opponent.Dragon is the auspiciousness of heaven and earth, and its body is full of rare treasures.
Twelve pairs of arms surged with terrifying strange power, squeezing the Exploring Natural Pathways: How Cannabidiol Might Support Mental Wellness golden sun, trying to pinch and extinguish it.Boom, thump, thump.Asuro, carrying a pitch black amulet, swung A straight fist that exploded the air hit Jia Luoshu s face, causing him to stagger.
Perhaps it was because the deeper it sank, the more effort it took, but there was still not much looseness.When it was time for dinner, Second Uncle Xu came back from duty and took his white haired nephew and son to exchange glasses.
Xu Qi an stretched out his right arm, facing the heroic souls of the nine first rank warriors, and gave a firm grip.The vines on both sides seemed to have triggered some protection mechanism.
Ah, why did you get up by yourself The girl said with a little resentment.The Great Sun Reincarnation Dharma is not allowed here Xu Qi an slashed down with a single sword.
After the flying sword killed these human races present, Ah Xi only thought that he had encountered a more powerful enemy, and he had already closed his eyes and prepared to kill, but unexpectedly, the flying sword passed her directly and attacked the resentful beast.Looking at the Extremely Cold Queen and the guardian of the Holy Land It is obvious that it is not the first time she has entered this holy place.
There was no sign, no breath fluctuations, the fox s tail split into two, entwined towards Guangxian and Liuli Bodhisattva.Even if you are a Valkyrie and not bound by rules, you can t destroy me.
Do you think your district is in a hurry If you go slower, you may not be able to complete the process.Even in private clinics, the price of medicine may be a bit higher, but it is not too outrageous.
And on Du Heng s table, a cup of steaming tea has already been brewed.After chatting for a few words, Wang Zhenzhen knocked on the door and came in.
After saying that, Wei Kaida asked Pei Jihua seriously, Do you know what core journals are Thesis Pei Jihua looked at Wei Kaida speechlessly, I am a graduate student from Jinzhou University and an editor and writer of the Jinzhou Evening News.The two arrived at the ward. When they saw the patient, Xu Pinglin s highly nervous mood calmed down.
However, if we need food now, it will be difficult for our children to live in.When he looked inside, he saw that the boy had actually swallowed his tongue.
Dr. Du, you can t talk nonsense about this. He couldn t help but remind Du Heng that he knew how serious the consequences of selling counterfeit medicines were.Come on. Bao Mi glanced at the publication and said his first words after entering the door calmly, I don t understand.
It s true. If there are more, there will be problems with the operation of the health center.Dr. Du, can this thing still be popular Li Qiuhua asked in a daze.
Du Heng had just attacked him, and he would seize the opportunity to attack him back.He knew that in the ward just now, In that scene, he was embarrassed.
However, within two steps of leaving the private room, he saw Ma Zichen Unlocking the Potential: A Deep Dive into Broad-Spectrum CBD Uses and Benefits coming out of the previous private room, Goodbye, Uncle Su, goodbye, Doctor Zhang.Wang Shuqiu s mother pointed to the aunt carrying the hoe and said to Du Heng, This is the aunt from Grandpa Qiuqiu s family.
Du Heng was helpless, but he could only explain in a gentle voice, Your child didn t catch a cold, it was caused by the heat.The vehicle then continued along the main road, traveling about sixty or seventy meters, before turning around and entering the nearby police station.
Brother, how do you choose the priority and order of strengthening the The Comprehensive Guide to Harnessing Cannabidiol for Wellness body and eliminating evil Seeing Du Heng strolling into the office, Wu Buwei quickly took the book and asked questions.Calm, must be calm. He thought well, but his body was out of control, and his brain secreted dopamine for free, making Du Heng s pulse diagnosing fingers tremble.
Susu also just smiled when she heard the words, and tapped the tip of her nose to tell her Said Her spiritual The Comprehensive Guide to Harnessing Cannabidiol for Wellness power is not as good as yours, just pay attention to avoiding the master before you do it.Years later, Tan Su s battle with the demons became famous many years later.
Tan Su glanced down, most of the ordinary spectators below them had already screamed, and all of them ran towards the exit in a panic.A rare beauty.The shopkeeper is a tall and slender woman with a slanted bun, and a red flower is pinned on the sloping bun by her.
The name of the store is very strange, just like the previous garment store was called garments, Now this store sells women s hairpins, which are called hairpins.Watching the back of the master returning to the room, Tan Su clenched the empty teacup on the table, it was his.
don t mess around Move.Yu Liao seemed to be delayed for a few moments before hearing the voice from the side.They didn t expect someone to draw the number corresponding to Qin Su so soon.
Tan Su looked into Master s line of sight and noticed that this was the boy who was about to go up the mountain earlier.However, I was only happy for a moment.What she said next let me know that she did this for Wugou Mountain sect.
Stimulated by sister Susu s wailing and pain, Qianqian couldn t help but say something.Don t you think you should give me an explanation Hearing her words, Gu Jia s face showed a rare trace of panic, he was too selfless on stage just now, and couldn t suppress it at a certain moment Scarlet spiritual power, with a touch of magic in it, can t hide it from her Unlocking the Potential: A Deep Dive into Broad-Spectrum CBD Uses and Benefits in the end, he thought he would spend some time together.
There is no space for a piece of clothing, and after a long time, I don t know where it was thrown by myself.She glanced at Shan Wan who lowered her head.The senior sister probably didn t know that she already had She must be a child, and she is probably hesitant about how to speak to her senior sister.
Under his words, Yu Liao glanced at Su Mu in front of him, his face was indeed as pale as he said, It is estimated that it can only be supported by a mouthful of spiritual power.At this moment, in order to avoid the sword on the opposite side, the young man leaned his upper body down, his head and waist were almost swept away by the black hair, and he deflected his wrist and swung the sword from the side to hit the opponent s body.
What did you say You say I just want to go out and see her Absolutely not After all, I must be with Tan Su forever, of course not to see her Shut up, and say such words again, I, Gu Jia, will kill you together The deity is not in the mood to stop talking, get out Gu Jia.Tan Su responded lightly, and finally replied aloud Disciple believes.
In this life, she will absolutely prevent him from having the desire to practice on this thing.Speaking, Yu Liao didn t want to talk nonsense with them, so he directly summoned the Qingchen sword behind his back, and the sword was covered with spiritual power in an instant, and there was a blue gleam in the night.
Gu Shuhuai, he really didn t see this kind of sword competition, trying to find a way, basically relying on his own use of the sword Unlocking Wealth: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful CBD Marketing and Affiliate Partnerships for a long time, avoiding the opponent s moves back and forth, intending to exhaust the opponent s physical strength.Then he said I didn t expect to say goodbye so soon.
Su Mu said as he reached out to her again.Yu Liao glanced at his bewildered look, and looked at the claws that were about to attack her.We, he is the first disciple under Master s sect, and sometimes he would point me to the second senior brother and me on weekdays, Yan er deserves such a precious thing, and deserves it.
Bang After the rapid drumming, the gong rang, and the Hairpin Conference officially kicked off.Qin Su took a bite of the same pastry that Master had in his hand.
Since he insisted on talking about him like this, After Yu Liao finished Drift Off Naturally: How CBD Oil Can Enhance Your Sleep speaking, there was a bit of annoyance on her face.It s not uncommon I feel sour for you.Accompanied by the crisp tone, a woman in a pink shirt with hanging ears and hair bun appeared in everyone s eyes, and Yu Liao from above also glanced at her.
Thinking about it this way, she glanced at the master s bun, and there was no jade hairpin or hairpin, but the jade colored hairpin on the elder brother s head was brought, which is strange.He responded affirmatively to her and jumped out of the yard directly.
if it doesn t work, we ll try again next time.In the end, Yu Liao s tension dissipated a little.What I want to tell everyone is there are no demons in this town, and someone killed your children in the name of demons.
He said I know that the situation in Qianzhou is severe, and Ouyang Feng is also a great force, but this matter has nothing to do with me.Xu Yang took the jade talisman, bid farewell to the three of them, and flew out of the crack in the ground.
The Gongshu family s refining techniques are too sophisticated, and Xu Yang has always been obsessed with it.All the attacks it passed were fixed in mid air, and they couldn t get close to Xu Yang s body.
Gengjin Shenzhen, Baidi Jinhuangzhan shot consecutively, constantly attacking Qingpeng s severely injured giant claws, Qingpeng screamed and flapped its wings and Baidi war.At this time, dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators were already present in the main hall.
Secondly, I want to see the Jade Eye Slip written by the public loser about the forbidden magic circle and refining equipment, so as to improve my own level.Although most of the treasures had been scrapped, there were still many treasures left, including hundreds of space rings alone.
Compared with Sunset Demon Venerable and others, Luo Hu and the others are much better.A layer of chaos surrounds himThe color qi is actually a forcible combination of the pure yang true fire, Unlocking Topical Wellness: A Comprehensive Guide to CBD Massage Oils the power of the small world law and the inextinguishable golden bell.
Seeing that the knife gang and the stick shadow were about to collide, a ferocious beast roar sounded suddenly, and then quickly fell down.Fortunately, Wu Feiyang survived.Although she was seriously injured, after this battle, her bottleneck was gone, and the Nascent Soul Realm was within reach.
She then asked Xu Yang How is Old Devil Sunset now He has been suppressed by me.Qian also understood Xu Yang a little bit, knowing that he would not do useless work, so he quickly led Yin Ji and others into the space crack.
With this method, the mutated miasma can do nothing to you.Fortunately, his cultivation base was so strong that he mobilized his primordial spirit to suppress it in time, so he was not seriously injured and lost his combat power like Luo Hu.
In the secret room, Yin Ji used a formula to activate the magic circle, and Yin Hong s figure appeared again.Shang Yang laughed sinisterly, threw his white bone claws towards Xu Yang s face, and then nine skeletons flew out from their necks, squawking and spewing ghost fire to burn Xu Yang.
Under the blessing of the projection of the small world, their power went up to a higher level.After finishing all this, Xu Yang put away the body of Master Panlong and left in a flash.
It was the three ancestors who were walking in the clouds during the day.since encountered, of course can not let go.It didn t take long for Xu Yang to find Zhu Guoshu and successfully brought it into the small world.
Although most of them are things of ghost cultivation and have little effect on him, there are also some things that are useful to him, such as Sanyang flower , Extreme Sungrass, a gray phalanx, and a large number of ghost coins.He got up and walked out of the room, and immediately a monk came forward, Congratulations senior for leaving the customs, junior Qian Lai, my master Huodi ordered that if senior leave the customs, please go to the meeting hall.
Everyone stood up and thanked Master Taiyin, and then stood behind him.Seeing this, Xu Yang immediately raised his vigilance, Everyone, be careful, my three senior brothers are nearby.
Absorbing the power of the six tribulation thunders, Xu Yang only felt his body swell, and a large amount of tribulation thunder force was destroyed in his body, and hurriedly urged the Immortal Golden Body Jue to speed up the refining of the tribulation thunder.Otherwise, he would have exhausted his strength and turned into ashes.
Xu Yang was so angry and murderous that he almost couldn t control his rampage.Gu Yanyuan Jun looked at the magic lotus carefully for a while, and then signaled Luo Hu to put it away, then bowed his head and muttered in silence.
Seeing Xu Yang moving quickly here, an illusory sky shattering seal flew out, silently entering the city wall restriction, the restriction trembled and broke Understanding the Modern Approach to Wellness: A Deep Dive into Cannabidiol’s Potential a gap, Xu Yang entered inside in a flash, then flew up to the top of the wall, past the guards and entered Inside the White Emperor s Mansion.
They must have some cards to hide.Don t capsize in the gutter.Before they could attack in close quarters, Xu Yang had already prepared, and now these flame wild beasts were no longer in his eyes.
Let s go inside After hearing this, Baidi s heart moved, and he immediately looked at Xu Yang and listened carefully.Immediately, the four formation spirits were shattered in reverse, and the monks of Song Dynasty s complexion sank.
A simple gray giant ax appeared in Xu Yang s hand, and then he held the giant ax tightly and used the nine forms of opening the sky, starting from the beginning of the first yuan, the sudden appearance of yin and yang, the trio of talents, the tumbling of the four images, the convergence of the five elements, the world of Liuhe, the sun of the seven stars, From Bagua Yandao to Jiugong Zhenshi, the nine style supernatural powers were continuously used, and finally turned into a shocking ax light, the entire ascension channel collapsed completely, and the pitch black space was divided into two.
Hearing this, Xu Yang glanced at the two people opposite him, and found that both of them were in the middle stage of Yuanying, and the ancestor of copper coins in the late stage of Yuanying was indeed very strong, but Xu Yang was no longer what he used to be, he curled his lips in disdain, You really don t know how to live or die.
The landscape paintings on the screen fluctuated like water waves, and then slowly rotated, appearing A space channel.
