Oh boy, this was worth the wait. Remember London-based group, A Yellow Man? Christ-fueled hip-hop group emerged into the scene in late 2010 with a promo video then disappeared, leaving us wanting to know more. I’m not a big fan of UK based Christian hip-hop heck even mainstream hip-hop as it just never really feels authentic. Their visuals back then impressed me and now with the help of Paul Akinrinlola of PDesigns, I’m blown away by the cinematography. The dynamic trio’s flow is immense, easy to listen to and no ignorant lyricism – such a rarity nowadays, the profound lyrics filled with positive thoughts and light production just work so well. I’m really looking forward to hearing more, haven’t come across ANYONE like them in the UK. More on the reverse.

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 A Yellow Man – Facebook | YouTube

They actually dropped two videos yesterday – 3000 Miles of Youth and My Lyrics Are Alive. They give me Tribe vibes! listen to both songs below.

My Lyrics Are Alive – Download (Click Buy Now and enter £0.00)

3000 Miles Of Youth – Download (Click Buy Now and enter £0.00)

I don’t post music videos, hardly ever in fact nowadays but this one was just too good to pass on. Everyone loves to hate on ‘Ye but I’m a big fan of his creativity when it comes to fashion, music and art.  The overdue visuals for his track Lost In The World off his last solo album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy surfaced earlier today and I know for a fact, it’s not going to be a lot of people’s cup of tea. It’s so abstract, too abstract for those who are used to the hoes, the cars, the bling – you know the usual MMG/YMCBBC video. What I love about it? The simplicity – no cinematic storyline required, the black & white sharp buildings, typography, high energy dancing and contrast just carry it for me. It’s been directed by Ruth Hogben – a London-based director who’s known for her fashion films. Makes sense now ey?

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If you’ve seen any of her previous works then you know why this is so slick and fast paced. It’s not your typical rap video for a not so typical rap song. Kanye’s on his fashion grind and when the two worlds collide, you get this stylist video. What do you think? or you left completely dumbfounded and lost by it?

Now ‘Ye, allow the PR stunts with Kim Kardashian and get back to making music or even a video for Never Let You Down off College Dropout. That song deserves a video.

Yes I know that i’m breaking the usual mould by posting a single music video but this one has to be done. It’s strange really because I met Rickstar on the bus many many years ago on the way to school. We talked and became friends however after school we went separate ways and never saw or heard from each other again. Until late last year when I bumped into him at Y&Y favourite music night out Wired. After years of not speaking to each other it was wierd that we’d end up in the same place let alone tryna get into the same industry. Anywho fast forward a couple months and Rickstar is ready to share with the world the visuals for his new single ‘Hanging On (Let Go)‘. Peep the vid & some behind the scenes footage after the cut.

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Rickstar Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

Behind The Scenes

Morning Parade are a new and exciting indie rock band, inspired by the likes of Radiohead, Elbow and The Stills and are soon to be launching their highly anticipated debut album and embarking on their first European tour. ‘Headlights‘ is the first single from the album and the band, alongside the Music Video Commissioner at EMI have called upon aspiring film-makers to create their the music video for the track and win $1000, along with other great prizes. Hit the jump to find out more and enter.

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Morning Parade launched a competition in partnership with Talenthouse – the social contest platform, and are inviting film-makers to create their own music videos for ‘Headlights’. The guest judge for the competition is Oliver Hammerton the Video Commissioner for EMI creating a great opportunity for up and coming filmmakers and video editors to get their work seen by an industry expert. Luckily the band have made their exclusive performance footage and idents available for download so that if you don’t fancy shooting a whole brand new video, you can rework the visuals into something amazing!

The winning submission, chosen by the band using Facebook and Twitter public votes as a guide will be announced on 2nd April, and will become the official music video for the upcoming single and will be featured and promoted on MUZU, YouTube, VEVO, Daily Motion and other key digital platforms. In addition, the winner will receive $1000.

A ‘People’s Choice’ winner will also be selected via a public vote and will win a Canon Digital Camera and an EMI merchandise bag.

The deadline for submissions is March 12th and you can enter the competition on Talenthouse.com!

I’m exactly a week late with this, I blame my sickness and the laziness caused by it. Better late than never, right? Olan debuted his latest motion picture, another masterpiece for up and coming rapper Brewer. This one isn’t as fancy as the Question’s video and it doesn’t need to be. Sometimes less is more and honestly with a location like this, you didn’t need extensive colour grading and cutaways. Though I do love the increased clarity! adds a crispy finish to the video.  The story behind the Olan’s filming process is pretty funny, hop on after the cut for the video and more.

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Brewer - Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Due to the short notice, we decided to shoot outdoors. What an insane idea! The temperature was sub-zero! It was so cold my fingers became popsicles and I couldn’t feel my feet and toes (wearing plimsolls on snow). It was so painful, I was close to saying “Lads, let’s reschedule for another time, my fingers are pretty useless right about now!”

However, I wasn’t going to pass on the opportunity of filming at a great location with perfect scenery; snow-covered trees with an amazing city view. We soldiered on, risking the loss of limbs to frostbite but we knew the end work would be worth it!

I actually didn’t know Nick Brewer was a Gospel rapper, clearly haven’t been paying much attention to his older music as I would have been able to decipher the message. Have a listen to the song below and you’ll see what I mean. Lyrically he’s come a long way!

Olan Collardy – Twitter | Website

It’s not often that we post music videos on the site without it being part of Tara‘s Video dukebox series however exceptions can and will be made. Today I am glad to say that we have an exception in the form of Daley‘s new music video for his sickeningly dope track ‘Alone Together’ which features the lovely Marsha Ambrosius. This is by far my favourite song from Daley thus far and i’m so happy that it has received video treatment, whenever I hear this track I just get taken to a different place. I start singing like my name is Usher and feel the music, I’ve stated too many people including Daley himself that this song MUST appear on his forthcoming album which may I add i’m hugely anticipating, dare I say slightly impatient for *Yo D I think your gonna need to gimme me a lil preview of some new tracks to tide me over :D* Anywho peep the monochrome clip on the flipside.

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Daley - Download Mixtape | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube 

New visual delights from Childish Gambino, Phonte, MeLo-X, Little Dragon, Brother Ali, Bonobo, Esperanza Spalding and of course Kanye/Jay-Z in this week’s Video Jukebox! Went for more of a Hip Hop/Electronica theme this week as you can tell. Catch you on the other side…

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Childish Gambino – Heartbeat

Childish Gambino has provided us with the visuals for his track, ‘Heartbeat’ which tells the familiar tale (to some) of break-up-to-make-up-to-break-up-to….. I must admit, I couldn’t take this rapper-turned-actor seriously before, for exactly that reason – everyone knows you must rap before you act, unless you’re Will Smith of course. But Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover turned the tables on me…and there’s something about his angry shouting on his tracks which I love. His anger and passion comes across quite immature, as if he’s been holding back a lot of anger since his teenage years…but it’s not anger in the DMX/Eminem kinda way, it’s more relatable – I found I listen in an observatory manner with some rap, but with Childish I can see where he’s coming from, and I guess that’s why I’m kinda feeling him right now! The video isn’t exactly groundbreaking…but Childish Gambino looks cute.

Childish Gambino – Website | Facebook | Twitter

Phonte – The Good Fight

Kenneth Price directs the new music video for Phonte’s track, “The Good Fight” – produced by 9th Wonder. The first time I heard this track…I found it a little depressing – but on a second listen, this track is probably one of the most real things I’ve heard in 2012! The video adds some basic visuals in the way of further illustrating the story that Phonte is putting across. It’s quite daring to put out a song complaining about the very thing that you’re doing…but I bet 99% of the people that will watch this video can relate – which is actually pretty scary!

“5 dollar gas, and poverty rates, are rising much higher than your hourly rates. So if you thinkin ’bout quittin you should probably wait. Cuz everybody gotta do a fuckin job that they hate”

Phonte – Twitter | Website | Facebook

MeLo-X – Fire Geomu

I first heard of MeLo-X via a mixtape by a beautiful singer called Jade…who then introduced me to Theophilus London….and then Jesse Boykins – all of whom are from Brooklyn and have created incredible music with MeLo-X. The MC/Producer/Musician/DJ has released a video for his new track, “Fire Geomu” shot and produced by TONE and Vinny Picone. The jazzy new track is the new single from his album,”Fewture” out now.

“My goal in life is to fully explore the depths of my minds creativity.  I choose my means of creation solely off of emotion, and inspiration.  I am the God of my destiny.  I choose where my life is headed and what I will become. My mind is never incarcerated in any specific field, or genre.  This allows me to explore the true possibilities of my artistic freedom.  From music, art, photography and traveling the world, this is where my journey lies.”

MeLo – X – Website | Twitter | Bandcamp

Little Dragon – Crystalfilm

Little Dragon’s new video for the track, ‘Crystalfilm‘ is more like a short film set in the beautiful Scandanavian countryside providing insight into a young girl’s rather strange dreams featuring a grumpy grandfather and scarecrows who eventually become her friend as she grows up. The music video, beautifully shot and directed by Daniel Wirtberg provides a really nice backdrop to the synthy-electronica track which is Little Dragon’s latest single.

Little Dragon – Website | Twitter | Facebook

Brother Ali – Shine On (ft Nikki Jean)

Brother Ali’s new track, “Shine On” featuring the lovely Nikki Jean has just received it’s visual treatment, with direction from Dave Wilson. Taken from his new Valentines-themed EP, “The Bite Marked Heart”, “Shine On” is produced by Jake One and is one of 6 new tracks to feature on the record. Mega chilled and mellow, real nice for that Sunday listening sesh. You can catch Brother Ali performing on his UK tour in May, further info here

Brother Ali – Shine On (Free download) | Facebook | Twitter

Bonobo – Eyesdown ft. Andreya Triana (Machinedrum Remix)

Taken from Bonobo’s forthcoming album, Black Sands Remixed (released Feb 21) here are some rather interesting visuals for the Machinedrum remix of ‘Eyesdown‘ featuring Andreya Triana. Animator, Anthony Schepperd created these fast-paced crazy visuals which almost fit in time with Machinedrum’s remix…or is it just me?

Bonobo – Website 

Jay-Z & Kanye West – Ni**as In Paris

Weirdly. I’m not really feeling this video. It’s meant to be all kaleidoscope, strobe lighting, euphoric amazingness…but I’m a little hungover right now and it just made me feel queasy. I guess when you’re fuxing with two of the richest, most powerful and talented men in modern music…you’re gonna run out of ideas sooner or later. lol.

 Esperanza Spalding & Algebra Blesset -  Black Gold

Taken from Esperanza’s forthcoming album ‘Radio Music Society’, ‘Black Gold ‘is a collaboration between herself and neo-soul songstress Algebra Blesset. The video sees a father educating his children on black history and their heritage after they come home from school having not learned enough.  The uplifting track is a about empowerment, knowing your heritage and being proud of it- It debuted quite fittingly during black history month in the US. Esperanza will promoting in London later this year, until then… have a peek at the video below.

So on Saturday was a day of two half for me. Having woke up after a deep and meaningful sleep that lasted all of 1 hour I headed down to the studio (photography studio), still intoxicated, to meet Yin. After the shoot was done I took my ass home and slept for a lil bit. Having returned to being a fully functioning human being I then took my self down to the second studio shoot of the day where I again met up with Yin. We had no business being on set really other than just to be there but it was good just to be in the presence of such talented people. Olan was busy doing his thing behind the camera creating his next Cardy Films masterpiece while Joel Baker and Monique Sian were busy looking pretty and showing off their acting skills. If you guys aren’t familiar with Joel and Monique then take a peak at our previous Eargasms post but before you do that just watch the visuals that Olan has crafted. May I just add that this was shot on Saturday, his turnaround is crazy I don’t know how he does it.

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YIN: I’m here, alive and well. You think I’m going to go on set without my camera? Please. It was another opportunity to play with my camera and see what I can do indoors. Especially since there is lighting involved – I’m a big fan of natural lighting, absolutely despise of the overly commercial ‘shiny reflective’ skin look that many people yearn for. To me, it’s like the autotune of photography but that’s just my opinion. I want to be able to make studio lighting look as natural as possible, will take practice! Here’s a few behind-the-scenes photographs, including a few funny ones. Poor Joel, he almost got Chris Brown’d by Monique.

And the cover for DJB & Joel’s upcoming single – Changing Room (Drake Cover)

Dayum. Friend of the site, Olan Collardy really outdid himself with his latest visual masterpiece – a music video for up and coming London based rapper Brewer. Wait wait, hold your horses. When you hear the words; up and coming, London and rapper in the same sentence, y’all instantly think ‘oh no Channel AKA!’. This video is the complete opposite, it’s classy and the song? Just as good. Brewer has a steady flow, lyrically sound and this time he questions everything that’s wrong with him in relationships. I’ve been impressed with his music so far, look forward to what he’s got to offer in 2012. Hop on after the cut to see the video.

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Brewer - Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

The styling is on point too, works really well with the location! Boom.

‘Why am I make the same mistakes as I made when I was 18′

Olan Collardy – Twitter | Vimeo

He definitely took his TIME to release this video! think we previewed it a good 3-4 months ago on the site. Shakka’s released a few incredible Shakkapella’s in that time – click here to check them out. The ‘Take Our Time‘ video features Shakka meeting a woman (Hannah Ogahara) and taking it ‘easy’ with her as they galavant and dance through Notting Hill/Ladbroke Grove area. I can’t help but think she’s helping him walk at one point in the video – it looks like he’s walking with a limp! Haha. I’m excited to see what he brings out in 2012. Video on the reverse.

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