Hard News by Russell Brown

It was everything I hoped for.

Brilliant. I didn't know you wrote for Select. Loved that mag.

My friend pointed out to me this Vice post: Rave and Hardcore YouTube Comments will Restore Your Faith in Humanity.

It's basically just a collection of people having a moment as they fondly recall their old-skool clubbing days. Really quite sweet.

I........I mean.....just....thank you. My brother was more into Hammer than I. He went to the NZ show whilst I stayed at home, perhaps listenin to some country or the likes. Such a great story, bro.

My surreal MC Hammer encounter happened when I saw him at a music festival held in a medieval square in Brasov, Romania in 1995 (along with Kenny Rodgers, Status Quo, The Temptations and 2 Unlimited). Dont ask how i ended up there, its a long story. Although Hammer was way past the height of his fame and I had little interest in making the effort to see him, what i witnessed was a truly amazing spectacle. His stage set had a cast of thousands and to this day I rate it as one of the loudest tightest and funkiest gigs I've ever seen. The sheer energy of the performance obviously a testament to his uninterruptable work out regimes

In a New Zealand music month week, it's gratifying to mention that P-Money's Gratitude album entered the US iTunes Hip-hop album charts at 59 on Wednesday, thus becoming the first ever NZ hip-hop album to chart in the US. It's now bumped up to #43.

It's also an amazing record that I've been playing non-stop all week.

Oh, and AudioCulture goes live a week today at 10am.

In a New Zealand music month week, it’s gratifying to mention that P-Money’s Gratitude album entered the US iTunes Hip-hop album charts at 59 on Wednesday, thus becoming the first ever NZ hip-hop album to chart in the US. It’s now bumped up to #43.

It’s also an amazing record that I’ve been playing non-stop all week.

Thanks Simon -- I meant to check that out but haven't had time to get to it. The album is streaming in full on Soundcloud.

Oh, and AudioCulture goes live a week today at 10am.

WA-HEY!!

If you mention Bobby Brown, I am almost physically compelled to post this clip (also starring Whitney, natch) from his reality show, Being Bobby Brown. So here it is.

I couldn't possibly comment upon whether staying off drugs was still on his mind at this point.

Countless (well, three) people

Many.

Oh, and AudioCulture goes live a week today at 10am.

Congratulations on the impending birth of this big baby.

Hey Simon, thanks for the kind mention! I must point out that although this is a huge achievement for me and my team it is not actually

the first ever NZ hip-hop album to chart in the US

That honour belongs to my friend Savage and his 2008 release 'Savage Island' which reached number 25 on the RIAA Rap Album Chart. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Island_(album)
Savage also sold a certified 2 million copies in the US of his hit single "Swing".
These are outstanding (and widely overlooked) stats! Just wanted to shed a little light on that : )

A couple of music-related pics for Friday. Two icons (to use that much-abused term) : a canopy and one of Elvis’s cars

So impressed that you worked with Graham Linehan! In the spirit of Geoff's post, here's a couple of pics from a visit to the EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum in Seattle last month. Hope the links work.

Jimi Hendrix's hand-decorated guitar from his last London show, 1967

Jimi Hendrix's guitar from Woodstock, 1969

So impressed that you worked with Graham Linehan!

As I said, lovely man. Haven't seen him since then, but I thought I should tweet the link to this post.

That honour belongs to my friend Savage and his 2008 release 'Savage Island' which reached number 25 on the RIAA Rap Album Chart.

Whoops, sorry Peter, that was the word that was buzzing around social media a couple of days back.

Either way, wonderful album and extraordinary feat.

Thanks for the music update Russell - please do this regularly. I remember Select! A (younger) friend of mine is currently LA/West Coast correspondent for NME. She seems remarkably sane despite interviewing and reviewing all sorts of major league musos on an almost daily basis. What fun...

Jimi Hendrix’s hand-decorated guitar

I actually met Jimi Hendrix, in a corner store on South Mouton Street in London. He was buying a pack of tissues, he had a cold, I was star struck...

Nice to meet you at the book launch today, Glyn.

And you Russell.

I've just been listening to the new Daft Punk opus on You Tube. It's pure disco to begin with, morphing from Chic into 7os prog and alarmingly even Ozric Tentacles and Hawkwind. I think it will grow on me and many other people...it feels like a classic 70s concept album already