The Cut Issue 07

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E J E S S I E J J ES S IE J J JESSIE J JESSIE J J E S S I E J JE S S I E % 3 3 ) % * * % 3 3 ) % * SSIEJJESSIE

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2011

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06 11

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INTRODUCING – Yasmin; Lil McKell; Ruff Diamondz; Smiler; Ghost Poet

FEATURES – Famous Fakers; High Street Experiment; Milgram Experiment; Iconic Brands, Money In Music

THIS IS REAL LIFE – Anastasia: Battle Front; Debate: Can You Change Your Status?; A Kick In the Teeth For Education

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She said…

Is everybody hyping them– selves a bit too much these days or if you believe in yourself will others follow? To find out we carried out our own Highstreet Experiment inspired by psychologist Stanley Milgram. With Number 1 best selling singer Jessie J dropping in on The Cut Studio and New York ballet star Misty Copeland telling us what it’s like to work with Prince we’ve got the inside story on the dedication it takes to live up to the hype.

If you’re disillusioned with the big time, check out our piece on famous fake celebrities who fooled the world. Stay in with our lavish fashion spread of cakes and jellies at The Mad Hater’s Tea Party and get some pearls of wisdom on “nice toes” with Lil Mckell’s guide to dating. For the more politically minded out there, hear what’s going on in Politics as we talk to MP Karen Buckand enjoy our specially commissioned illustrations from artist Onye Asoluka.

He said…

Everybody is internet famous these days. But in a hype saturated climate, how do you separate the praise worthy from the plain rubbish? This issue we take hype to task.

Does money still makes the music world go round? And how do some fashion brands stay hype over centuries?For this issue’s big debate we go deep and ask ‘Can You Change your Status?’ By the way, I’m talking social status, not Facebook status...

As ever, our music section is awash with new talent, from the mysterious Dave iD, to the hyperactive Shadez The Misfit.

FASHION – Mad Hater’s Tea Party; Gourmet; SCND To None

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MUSIC – Talay Riley; ; Foreign Exchange; Shades the Misfit; Homeboy Sandman; Dave ID

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INBOX

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The Institute of IDEAS The Institute of IDEAS is a student run collective from Ravensbourne University, in which we portray Architecture and Design in a new and innovative way.

The organization exhibits the world of design through many methods, ranging from lectures by leading architects and designers to events and competitions open to all. The Institute of IDEAS is also heavily involved in getting schools involved in Architecture and Design, and holds many workshops over the summer to get children more actively involved in expressing their creativity through the wonderful world of design.

INB Keep up to date with The

Institute of IDEAS via www. instituteofideas.co.uk

Yohji Yamamoto At the V&A 12th March- 10 July 2011 Yohji Yamamoto, the Japanese fashion designer is one of the key figures from the ‘80s world of fashion, challenging traditional notions of fashion by designing garments that seemed oversized, unfinished or played with unusual fabrics like felt and neoprene. His work is characterised by a frequent use of black, a colour which he describes as “modest and arrogant at the same time”. This retrospective of his work houses over 60 of his creations and is a must see for all budding fahionistas, creatives and anyone out for a bit of leftfield inspiration.

Book tickets at www.vam.ac.uk

KFC Wedding Reception Kalli Buchan and Gary Pritchard have thrown their wedding reception in a branch of KFC. Around 30 guests tucked into £200 worth of chicken and chips alongside other customers although the Bristol branch of KFC did put out some balloons.

The couple carried on the tradition set by Kalli’s parents, who held their wedding reception in a McDonald’s. Bride Kalli said that her friends had laughed when she first told them about her plans. Speaking before the ceremony she said, “I’ll probably have a Fully Loaded meal”.

INBOX

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R.I.P T-Shirt Party For the past year Stan Still, prolific proprietor of white tees, has been releasing a new tee shirt, along with its very own video for just a tenner a time. Why? Because ‘Real G’s Where White T’s’, of course.With 52 designs that range from celebrations of cult 90’s show Dance Energy (We Danced The Dance), homages to the £50 note ( Elizabeth is my Wifey) to collabs with creative stalwarts like Ferry Gouw and Tim & Barry, there’s plenty to choose from.

Last Dance Last Dance London is an online movement focused entirely on championing experimentation within music, art and design. On the 1st of every month, Last Dance brings you a podcast that covers forward thinking music from across the board.

BOX http://lastdancelondon.com

http://twitter.com/lastdancelondon http://soundcloud.com/last-dance

If you’ve missed this, then you must have been living under a rock for

the past 52 weeks. Fret not, there’s still time to get your hands on one,

or three, but they’re only available until April 3rd, so don’t miss you

chance to get hold of a piece of true London 21st century memorabilia. www.t-shirt-party.co.uk

Neurotic Mass Movement

One of the best live acts on the scene, Neurotic Mass Movement consists of 5 musicians, specialists in different genres, who have created a blend of emotive music which sets them apart.

Citing influences that vary from Le Tonneau de la Haine to Scooby Doo, the songs themselves vary just as much, from the soothing yet melancholy Blueskin to the more soulful Last Days. One recurring thing recognisable throughout their songs is the raw emotion driven out from singer Yin Neurotic’s powerhouse vocals. They’ve

already made a stance in the music scene having been awarded Fred Perry’s Subculture Award last year and they are working with Japanese film makers Yokna Patofa and Tom Hara expanding their artistic outreach. Having been in and out of Belgium recording their upcoming EP, Aphasia set for release in late 2011, they’re leaving an indelible impression with their dark and atmospheric live shows and visual imagery. For a full interview with NMM log onto www.thecutnewspaper.com. www.myspace.com/ neuroticmassmovement

By Nellie Owusu

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She’s not just a pretty face, she knows what sounds good and when you hear what she has to say, it might just burst the stereotype bubbles you have of the pop world.

She’s not just a pretty face, she knows what sounds good and when you hear what she has to say, it might just burst the stereotype bubbles you have of the pop world.

Yasmin on progress: I’ve been really blessed to have really good momentum, when signed it’s like ‘straight on to the next thing’ and planning the releases to come out, it’s just gradually been picking up and picking up and picking up.

I’ve been really lucky to work with some awesome people and they’ve sort of spread the word, my publishing with EMI, few months after that a record deal. You sort of get to meet a lot more people and work with a lot more people and (pauses and giggles) party.

Yasmin on meeting celebrities at a party: (She giggles) I wasn’t invited, I sort of gatecrashed but it’s alright, I was in the building.

Yasmin on Rihanna (I know what you’re thinking): Very very sweet, gorgeous girl, absolutely funny.

Yasmin on the existence of her free time: I wish I had more. It’s really busy and you know what, it gets really hard sometimes. I’m quite a control freak, I feel like I need to take on everything, I feel like I need to know every detail, I need to know who’s the photographer doing this, what clothes I wanna wear for that. I find it very hard to leave things up to other people because I’ve been so self-sufficient for so long.

Yasmin on TV series marathons (and Beyonce): I’ve finished Prison Break, I’m really up to date with Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives and America’s Next Top Model, I’m

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“I find it very hard to leave things up to other people because I’ve been so self-sufficient for so long.”

up on all of them. Got really into Cougar Town, it’s actually really funny, I think that’s the first time she’s ever sort of stopped playing Monica. Now I wanna watch more movies, I just bought Beyonce’s tour DVD which I think I’m gonna watch every night before I go to sleep and worship her.

Yasmin on the importance of being the “full package” female artist: It’s quite funny because I’ve come from the hip-hop scene, I’m not a rapper but I’m in the DJ community and it is very ‘real recognise real’. You just get props for knowing your craft and now I’m in the ‘pop’ industry, it’s a completely different world and it is really superficial, you do realise that

there are certain people that are where they are because of the way they look. It literally is ‘aw you’re pretty, well I don’t need to hear you sing’ but when I DJ’d I would just get gigs and no one had ever heard me play before. I was stereotyped when I was a DJ and nothing beats that feeling when you break out of that and you have people like DJ MK and Shortee Blitz giving you spuds, it’s the best feeling ever. I kind of want the same thing to happen with my music.

Yasmin on the evolution of her music: I kinda know myself a lot more. When I first started making music, obviously because I’m such a music lover I had so many songs in my head I thought ‘it’d be cool to

have a bassline like this and a sound like this and a sound like that’. I was making songs and other people liked them, but they’re not doing anything for me and then after I had a session with Labrinth and we made the song Finish Line and I got that feeling, it feels really good, it feels like ‘me’.

Check out the extended interview with Yasmin on the 90’s, her favourite producers, popular phone contacts, sleep etc. on www. thecutnewspaper.com Yasmin’s singles On My Own and Finish Line are out NOW. www.yasminsworld.co.uk Text by Marvin Jay Photography Akwasi Tawia Poku

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“…like “…like a girl a girl with with that that Supermodel Supermodel walk, walk, you you know, know, and and obviously obviously a a pretty pretty face…” face…”

no age no age bracket. bracket.

Obviously Obviously if if N Dubz N Dubz or Black or Black Eyed Eyed they they waswas likelike wrinkly wrinkly I wouldn’t I wouldn’tPeas?

Peas?

Definitely Definitely Black Black Eyed Eyed TheThe Cut Cut tracked tracked down down truetrue go there, go there, but but other other than than thatthat Peas.

Peas.

N Dubz N Dubz areare newnew in in player player Lil Mckell Lil Mckell to get to get his his tipstips ageage isn’tisn’t really really a question. a question. the the game game but but Black Black Eyed Eyed on dating on dating andand relationships. relationships. What Peas Peas have have been been there there from from What do you do you firstfirst notice notice in ain a Ideal place place for a forfirst a first date? date? time, time, so Iso gotta I gotta staystay loyal. loyal. girl? girl?

It depends It depends where where I meet I meet Ideal I would say,say, a nice a nice quiet quiet her her andand the the environment environment thatthat I would restaurant restaurant where where me me andand Tinie Tinie Tempah Tempah or Tynchy or Tynchy we’re we’re in, but in, but usually usually what what the the girl girl cancan have have some some oneone Stryder?

Stryder?

I like I like them them both, both, to to sparks sparks my eye my eye is the is the girlsgirls on one on one time, time, get get to know to know compare compare them them is quite is quite hard. hard. walk, walk, I like I like a girl a girl withwith thatthat each other other a bit a better. bit better.

Supermodel Supermodel walk, walk, youyou know, know, each What What areare your your favourite favourite andand obviously obviously a pretty a pretty face, face, What’s What’s it like it like at school, at school, areare brands? brands?

I have I have my brands my brands andand andand howhow intelligent intelligent sheshe is. is. youyou popular? popular?

In school In school I I then then I have I have my brands. my brands.

To be To be have have got got a little a little more more popular popular honest, honest, I like I like anything anything thatthat Girls Girls thatthat play play hard hard to get, to get, from from my videos, my videos, but but yeah, yeah, looks looks nice. nice.

If it If looks it looks nicenice then then is that is that good good or isorthat is that bad? bad? it’s been it’s been a good a good thing. thing. it looks it looks nice, nice, youyou know know what what I like I like girlsgirls thatthat playplay hard hard to to I’m saying, I’m saying, I’m not I’m not thatthat guyguy get,get, it gives it gives me me a little a little bit of bit of Do your classmates classmates come come thatthat buys buys things things because because of of a challenge, a challenge, andand it gives it gives me me Do your to you for girl for girl advice? advice?

They They the the price. price.

Even Even though though I wear I wear insight insight intointo their their personality. personality. to you haven’t haven’t at the at the moment moment but but if if Louis Louis andand Gucci, Gucci, if it if looks it looks they did did I would I would help help them. them. nice, nice, then then youyou should should buybuy it. it.

FirstFirst spotted spotted on Oxford on Oxford Street, Street, YesYes or no or to nogirls to girls withwith weaves. weaves. they chirpsing chirpsing every every girl girl whowho went went I don’t I don’t have have nothing nothing against against Females withwith peep peep toe toe shoes, shoes, If there If there waswas oneone tip you tip you could could intointo Topshop, Topshop, TheThe Cut Cut tracked tracked weaves weaves to be to honest, be honest, but but it’s it’s Females good good or bad? or bad?

I think I think thatthat if if givegive all guys all guys about about dating, dating, down down truetrue player player Lil Mckell Lil Mckell all about all about maintaining maintaining thatthat your your toestoes areare nicenice they they youyou what what would would it be? it be?

Make Make suresure to get to get his tips his tips on dating on dating andand weave, weave, youyou can’t can’t have have the the should show show them them off, off, if your if your you’re you’re nice, nice, don’t don’t go in gofor in the for the relationships. relationships.

If you If you follow follow thisthis weave weave in for in six for months, six months, andand should areare likelike Hammertime, Hammertime, kill. kill.

Don’t Don’t try and try and get get physical physical guys guys advice, advice, you’ll you’ll never never be be it’s all it’s crooked, all crooked, the the tracks tracks areare toestoes then hide hide them. them.

If you If you endend up up on Valentines on Valentines dayday or on or a on a short short of aof date, a date, we promise. we promise. showing, showing, youyou looklook likelike a rag a rag then coming back back to my to house, my house, youyou firstfirst date, date, don’t don’t go too go too hard. hard. doll.doll.

That’s That’s not not a good a good look. look. coming have have to take to take off your off your shoes, shoes, If you If you could could take take out out 3 girls 3 girls What’s What’s the the oldest oldest girls girls so just so just be prepared, be prepared, bring bring from from the the U.S U.S on a ondate, a date, whowho In your In your videos videos youyou talktalk to ato a number number you’ve you’ve got? got?

I’d I’d some some bags bags in ainhandbag, a handbag, would would youyou take take out?out?

KimKim range range of ladies, of ladies, what’s what’s youyou brings some some socks socks in ainbag. a bag. saysay sheshe waswas about about 35. 35.

Kardashian,for Kardashian,for overall overall looks, looks, ageage bracket? bracket?

I don’t I don’t really really likelike brings Loren Loren London, London, for her for her million million asking asking women women their their age, age, ageage www.twitter.com/Lil_Mckell Beyonce or Rihanna? or Rihanna?

Beyonce.

Beyonce.www.twitter.com/Lil_Mckell dollar dollar smile, smile, andand letslets say,say, doesn’t doesn’t really really matter, matter, looklook at at Beyonce TextText

by Shamz

by Shamz Le Roc Le Roc I think I think her her body body is aislittle a little Amber Amber Rose, Rose, anyany girl girl thatthat Halle Halle Berry, Berry, she’s she’s in her in her 40s 40s Photography Photography

by Ahmad

by Ahmad Graida Graida bit better than than Rihanna.

Rihanna. cancan shave shave off all off her all her hairhair but but she’s she’s looking looking hot hot still.still.

I got I got bit better andand stillstill looklook beautiful beautiful is ais a winner winner in my in eyes, my eyes, andand plusplus sheshe follows follows me me on Twitter. on Twitter.

THE THE CUT CUT 07 07

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“The equation is simple; we’re individual but we fit together like a jigsaw. Take soul, add R&B, add a bit of grime and you’ve got RD…”

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magine if the Power Puff girls could sing, and you’re close to picturing Ruff Diamondz. RD formed when when Chronz met songwriter Carla-Marie Williams in 2008, and Carla encouraged Chronz to form a group.

Before long the pair found Lewisham born Troy and singer Martika on MySpace.

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Ruff Diamondz was born and Carla decided to manage the group full time. Their ability, to sing, dance and MC has opened doors for them in the music scene, with RD proving themselves to be a girl group with more energy than spandex trendsetting Mr. Motivator. They pack the best of Hip-Hop, Pop and Grime into their tunes.

Funny, bubbly and full of flair these diamonds will not be left in the ruff. The trio came out with a bang at the end of 2010 with the free release of the Introduction to RD AKA Ruff Diamondz, which featured the likes of Marvell, Wretch 32, Selah and Baby Blue. Citing

“Funny, bubbly and full of flair these diamonds will not be left in the ruff.”

legendary girl groups En Vogue, Destiny’s Child, SWV as big influences, RD have strong female role models and this is evident in their hard hitting live performances and slick routines. Cronz also confesses to being a huge fan of Busta Rhymes, someone who the group would love to tour with.

Having toured with JLS, N Dubz and been signed up for a Mobo tour, they have left fans eagerly awaiting the debut album, which is due for release later this year.

The girls are rumoured to be working with a host of the best

producers around, including Crazy Cousin’s Flukes and Parker and James, who did Chipmunk’s Oopsy Daisy track.

On a recent trip to L.A the girls were hooked up in the studio with Jukebox who did Willow Smith’s ‘Whip My Hair’ plus the well respected John Baptiste. With names like this signed up you can be sure the album will be well worth waiting for. Until then we’ll have to make do with more hot remixes, but they assure us that we won’t be disappointed when it drops! www.rdofficial.com Text by Ricardo Nunes Photography by Akwasi Tawia Poku

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Smiler is is going places and like Smiler going places and like hishis name is is one hundred per name one hundred per cent authentic. cent authentic.

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t’st’s december inin Wardour december Wardour Street and The Cut has the Street and The Cut has the pleasure ofof introducing aa pleasure introducing rapper who smiles, which rapper who smiles, which inin the depth ofof midwinter is is the depth midwinter not aa common occurrence!

The not common occurrence!

The rarity is is south east London’s rarity south east London’s Smiler, born inin Woolwich Smiler, born Woolwich ofof Ghanaian heritage.

Ghanaian heritage.

With his unique rhyming style With his unique rhyming style converging awith flow that converging awith flow that makes beats smirk cheekily, makes beats smirk cheekily, Smiler is is going places and Smiler going places and like his name is is one hundred like his name one hundred per cent authentic. per cent authentic.

“Smiler is is the same person “Smiler the same person asas my government name but my government name but itsits more like my alter ego more like my alter ego you know the funnier, more you know the funnier, more sinister side ofof me.

I was sinister side me.

I was given the name due toto my given the name due my ability toto smile inin the face ofof ability smile the face adversity and because ofof adversity and because how magical the effect was”. how magical the effect was”.

Many ofof usus first encountered Many first encountered Smiler when his debut Smiler when his debut underground smash underground smash ‘Neighbourhood’ was ‘Neighbourhood’ was shown onon Channel AKA shown Channel AKA and MTV Base.

It It had taken and MTV Base. had taken time forfor Smiler toto settle time Smiler settle into the music world but into the music world but his focus drove him on. his focus drove him on.

“I’ll bebe focusing onon the new “I’ll focusing the new single and forthcoming single and forthcoming album, potential film roles album, potential film roles and my clothing line.

AllAll this and my clothing line. this after my trip toto SXSW [South after my trip SXSW [South byby South West music fesitval] South West music fesitval] inin Texas.

I’m very excited Texas.

I’m very excited about performing atat SXSW about performing SXSW toto bebe honest!

I’ve performed honest!

I’ve performed inin America before but toto America before but nothing toto this capacity”. nothing this capacity”.

Confidence runs through Confidence runs through Smiler and it’s that ‘oomph’ Smiler and it’s that ‘oomph’ that hehe seeps into his music. that seeps into his music.

SoSo much soso that while hehe much that while

“My “Myparents parents made madesure surethey they instilled instilledparticular particular Ghanaian Ghanaiantraits, traits, beliefs beliefsand andan an understanding understandingofof the thelanguage languageininme me which whichisispriceless”. priceless”.

was doing his Fire InIn The was doing his Fire The Booth Freestyle with Charlie Booth Freestyle with Charlie Sloth hehe was named inin Sloth was named Charlie Sloths ‘Ones toto watch Charlie Sloths ‘Ones watch 2011.

HeHe is is clear that his 2011. clear that his south London upbringing south London upbringing and Ghanaian roots have and Ghanaian roots have shaped what hehe is is today. shaped what today.

“Growing upup inin Woolwich “Growing Woolwich was eventful, especially my was eventful, especially my childhood years onon Walpole childhood years Walpole Council Estate.

The struggle’s Council Estate.

The struggle’s nono different toto any other different any other cosmopolitan neighbourhood cosmopolitan neighbourhood with guns, drugs, fraud and with guns, drugs, fraud and violence.

It It definitely shaped violence. definitely shaped me asas aa person and made me me person and made me who I am today.

My parents who I am today.

My parents made sure they instilled made sure they instilled particular Ghanaian traits, particular Ghanaian traits, beliefs and anan understanding beliefs and understanding ofof the language inin me the language me which is is priceless”. which priceless”.

spoke and Pete insisted hehe spoke and Pete insisted wanted toto come down toto the wanted come down the studio the following night studio the following night and the rest is is history!” and the rest history!”

Smilers next offering -a soso Smilers next offering -a far unnamed album - will hithit far unnamed album - will our streets later this year our streets later this year and hehe hopes that his busy and hopes that his busy schedule does not delay it.it. schedule does not delay

association with enfant association with enfant terrible Pete Doherty who hehe terrible Pete Doherty who met after aa studio session met after studio session and was asked toto accompany and was asked accompany the Babyshambles toto NME’s “There are always the Babyshambles NME’s “There are always weekender inin Camber Sands. due toto recording weekender Camber Sands. interruptions interruptions due recording mix tape material and mix tape material and “Pete’s very cool, down toto simultaneously doing features “Pete’s very cool, down simultaneously doing features earth and definitely aa smart plus ofof course day-to-day earth and definitely smart plus course day-to-day guy.

He’s creative and has life.

But the biggest obstacle guy.

He’s creative and has life.

But the biggest obstacle aa passion forfor his music and ofof allall is is making soso much passion his music and making much lifestyle, we got onon very well. that I love and then lifestyle, we got very well. material material that I love and then I didn’t think much before being faced with the reality ofof I didn’t think much before being faced with the reality meeting him toto bebe honest having toto sacrifice particular meeting him honest having sacrifice particular apart from the fact that hehe songs when the time arises apart from the fact that songs when the time arises The diversity ofof his upbringing aa talented musician.

We due toto space onon the album!”

The diversity his upbringing was was talented musician.

We due space the album!” has allowed Smiler toto develop personal invites toto has allowed Smiler develop received received personal invites anan open approach toto his attend their NME weekender. www.smilermusic.com open approach his attend their NME weekender. www.smilermusic.com Text byby Ricardo Nunes musical collaborations.

This After their performance we Text Ricardo Nunes musical collaborations.

This After their performance we Image courtesy of of the artist has included the unlikely allall chilled inin their room and Image courtesy the artist has included the unlikely chilled their room and

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Since the last time we had met Ghostpoet in June of last year, he had certainly been busy.

Fortunately, he was quick to tell us how happy he was to be back in the capital and that life was good

M

ith a fedora hat, navy blue trousers, loafers, black vintage sweater, a cream trench coat and glasses that would shape our talk that day, Ghostpoet cut a striking figure.

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Ghostpoet talked calmly, chilling, like he does in the music of his debut LP, “Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam”. The weather however was not as chilled as Ghostpoet. Since the last time we had met Ghostpoet in June of last year, he had certainly been busy. Fortunately, he was quick to tell us how happy he was to be back in the capital and that life was good:

people are listening to the music which is most important to me and there’s good reviews with people just been buzzing off it you know? It’s getting busier and busier with gigs and so on and so forth. So all good, all good, surprisingly good but good”.

“I’m good, I’m good. Sunny day in London can’t complain, can’t complain. Yeah it’s a bit weird, it’s kind of like it just wasn’t expected, it wasn’t expected at all but can’t complain. It could be worse. More and more

We wondered if the hectic schedule allowed Ghostpoet to meet the deadline of his debut LP and whether there had been any pressure getting the record done and released for the official date in February.

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“Yeah, I can’t remember now, I just remember that it was important that the music was right and I was happy to take as long as I needed to make it right. So I may have taken a little time extra on that front but overall it was quite efficient I guess (he laughs)...

Efficient as it can be when making an album. It’s a weird one because this depends on the situation. Some people get years to make one, some 6 months, so I was lucky that things were in development by the time I was going to make it. So it was easier”.

“… it was important that the music was right and I was happy to take as long as I needed to make it right.”

He was quick to praise Giles Peterson and the rest of Brownwood Records for letting him have the run of the studio during recording and being left to do his own thing.

“Yeah, they have just been really wicked. They really left me to do what I did, you know? It was like let’s get an album out before a particular time and that was it. They weren’t like, ‘do it like this, do it like that’, they were just ‘let’s do it’ and that really was appreciated. You find the right home. It’s good for me personally, everyone works different from me and I like just to be left to do the music myself as much as possible”. www.ghostpoet.co.uk Text by Ricardo Nunes Image courtesy of the artist

were were entirely entirely peaceful. peaceful.

If If some some young young people people can can dodo this this kind kind of of thing, thing, dodo you you think think they they can can bebe trusted trusted with with the the vote? vote?

I think I think they they should should bebe trusted trusted with with the the vote vote because because thousands thousands of of young young people people wanted wanted to to campaign campaign peacefully, peacefully, but but a small a small minority minority completely completely wrecked wrecked that that campaign. campaign.

AsAs well well asas that, that, the the media media completely completely manipulated manipulated the the whole whole situation, situation, giving giving young young people people anan awful awful reputation. reputation.

If you If you had had the the chance chance to to vote vote in in the the last last general general election, election, who who would would you you have have voted voted for? for?

I would I would have have definitely definitely voted voted forfor the the Liberal Liberal Democrats.

Democrats.

I really I really respected respected Nick Nick Clegg Clegg because because hehe promised promised in in hishis manifesto manifesto that that sixteen sixteen year year olds olds would would now now have have the the chance chance to to vote. vote.

But But if if I knew I knew back back then then what what I know I know now, now, I would I would have have probably probably voted voted forfor the the Green Green Party!

Party!

EE

ver ver the the past past few few months, months, this this country country has has witnessed witnessed more more and and more more young young people people standing standing upup forfor what what they they believe believe in.in.

Anastasia Anastasia Kyriacou Kyriacou is is one one of of those those young young people. people.

She She is is hard hard atat work work with with the the ‘Where’s ‘Where’s our our Vote?’

Vote?’ campaign campaign which which is is lobbying lobbying forfor sixteen sixteen and and seventeen seventeen year year olds olds to to bebe able able to to vote vote in in general general elections. elections.

Seventeen Seventeen year year old old Anastasia Anastasia is is one one of of eleven eleven campaigners campaigners being being followed followed byby Channel Channel 4 for 4 for this this year’s year’s series series of of Battlefront.

Battlefront.

What What inspired inspired you you to to start start your your campaign? campaign?

I suppose I suppose it all it all started started when when I was I was studying studying politics politics forfor A-level.

A-level.

One One of of the the issues issues debated debated was was whether whether wewe should should bebe lowering lowering the the voting voting age age to to sixteen. sixteen.

AllAll the the arguments arguments put put across across against against this, this, such such asas ‘it ‘it would would take take away away their their childhood’ childhood’ I thought I thought were were ridiculous, ridiculous, soso when when it came it came to to election election time, time, I was I was furious furious about about the the fact fact I couldn’t I couldn’t vote. vote.

I thought I thought I would I would have have to to dodo something something about about this. this.

government government dismisses dismisses young young people people and and their their political political voice, voice, because because they they dodo not not realise realise young young people people are are the the future future generation. generation.

How How have have you you gone gone about about spreading spreading your your campaign? campaign?

I have I have tried tried to to get get asas much much support support asas possible. possible.

During During the the summer, summer, I had I had anan interview interview with with new new boy boy band band The The Wanted.

Wanted.

One One of of the the members members Nathan Nathan asked asked why why shouldn’t shouldn’t hehe bebe allowed allowed to to vote, vote, if he if he is is allowed allowed to to bebe a member a member of of a successful a successful boy boy band. band.

If you If you ever ever came came into into power, power, would would you you focus focus onon young young people? people?

Yeah, Yeah, definitely. definitely.

I I think think it’sit’s ridiculous ridiculous how how the the

If sixteen If sixteen year year olds olds are are allowed allowed to to vote, vote, don’t don’t you you think think they they should should bebe allowed allowed to to smoke smoke and and drink? drink?

In In terms terms of of drinking drinking and and smoking, smoking, I think I think wewe should should bebe encouraging encouraging young young people people to to protect protect their their health health rather rather than than doing doing things things to to damage damage it. it.

That That would would really really make make them them feel feel more more adult. adult.

The The country country has has recently recently seen seen young young people people allall over over the the country country protesting protesting about about the the increased increased university university tuition tuition fees. fees.

Not Not allall of of those those protests protests

DoDo you you think think young young people people will will soon soon get get the the chance chance to to vote vote and and will will you you keep keep onon campaigning campaigning until until that that happens? happens?

I think I think this this will will happen happen eventually. eventually.

I I know know that that the the new new labour labour leader leader EdEd Miliband Miliband is is very very supportive supportive of of young young people people and and their their right right to to vote, vote, soso I I think think change change will will eventually eventually happen. happen.

I will I will definitely definitely carry carry onon campaigning campaigning until until the the voting voting age age is is lowered, lowered, but but even even after after that that happens, happens, I I will will carry carry onon campaigning campaigning forfor a variety a variety of of things. things.

www.battlefront.co.uk www.battlefront.co.uk Text Text by by Fraser Fraser Simpson Simpson Image Image courtesy courtesy of Isabel of Isabel Mcclelland Mcclelland

THE THE CUT CUT11 11

With the change of government has come renewed interest in the opportunities open to young people in terms of education and employment. The Cut team were particularly interested in the challenges related to social class and status and whether it was possible to ever truly change your position in society. As ever the discussion was lively and thought provoking.

Is class a myth?’

Johnny We see it everywhere.

Society ranks people into who is advantaged, who is in control and who is restricted on the basis of property or materialism.

Johnny It is evident in the education system with private schools, academies and the way certain children are put in schools based on upbringing and background.

It’s different from America where it seems to be more divided on ethnic background.

Jide The issue with class has always been there but now the terms have been remixed.

It is not just about money, it’s about family ties, your contacts and the schools you go to.

Johnny You feel it when you go to university and then go onto get a job and come across the glass ceiling. You

go to certain places and you will be encouraged to be a partner but coming from certain universities does not give you those opportunities.

Johnny We should accept that we are concerned with the human race period and that there is only one universal class. Anything else is just created.

The mention of education led to more detailed discussion about the current government’s policies including the tuition fee debate and whether or not they would make education more elitist.

Lamarah It feels like the whole point of the changes is to re-create the situation that university is affordable only to those in the middle class and those who are poorer and less well off will have fewer chances.

Jide There will be a divide between the best universities for certain professions and the rest based on the cost of tuition fees. Those who

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can afford the high fees will go to the best universities and be ahead of the rest when it comes to jobs.

Johnny It is scary because by tripling prices and then ignoring all the protests it means that they will keep on doing things their way.

Robert This has been one of the first times the youth have challenged in this way, but they have been ignored. Just like the Iraq protests. The old boys’ network from Eton and Oxford have their own agenda, look how Clegg said one thing about tuition fees but then did another once in government.

Having established that class and status exist and that current policies may make it harder for people from certain backgrounds to progress we asked the panel if they felt it was possible for people to truly change their status.

This was assisted by showing them pictures of key celebrities who some would say have changed their image and status.

Victoria Beckham Nicole She has changed her image and how she lives; she changed her style and more people look up to her. If it is purely on basis of income she has changed but I am not sure if she has as a person.

Jay -Z Johnny This is different because it’s America. Here it is old money and those who acquire new money are looked upon as nouveau riche. In America you can make money and manipulate a new status and image and choose who you want to be with and associate.

Nicole I could walk into a job interview with an afro, two pairs of earrings and African dress and would be less likely to get the job than if I was wearing a pencil skirt and heels. It can take away our identity but we are not forced to do it and to a certain level you have to adapt.

Lamarah I wouldn’t care.

I am not going to change myself just to suit someone else. I would wear an afro and probably not get the job but it is up to us as young people to bring hip back into fashion.

Right now I don’t feel that we are proud of ourselves.

Lord Alan Sugar

Robert The problem with the UK is that we accept this. We have to stamp our own identity on society and not conform.

That’s why I think Jay- Z has done the right thing and set up his own social structure.

Johnny He is well respected and has done it by himself like Branson. They approach the glass ceiling differently and find different circles.

Jide He has become a Lord but he has always talked about where he has come from. His programmes encourage people who have come from nothing to do things for themselves.

Debate chaired by Silas Osei and Clio Mcleary Photography by Marvin Alvarez

Lamarah She has moved up in class materialistically because she has gone for a fashion career but she may be perceived in the same way as she was before.

Can you change your inner self and your image?

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?

was first elected as Westminster North’s MP in 1997, but had already spent many years as an elected councilor, working on housing and welfare issues. After studying social policy at the London School of Economics, I worked for a charity helping the long-term unemployed get back to work and also for Hackney Council.

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I got involved in politics when I was 16 or 17. I remember thinking the world was very unfair and it was necessary to get involved with solutions that would make it fairer. I felt that there was a difference in opportunities available to people if they are poor. The issue of inequality has always been my biggest driving force.

I am a Shadow Minister in the Department of Work and Pensions and have a particular interest in the benefit system and unemployment. Locally there are issues around housing and, at the moment, some issues around gangs.

In the last couple of years there has been a significant increase in clashes between

groups of young people from South Kilburn, the Ladbroke Grove area and north Westminster, and in recent weeks that has come to the boil. Several people have been stabbed and we’re very lucky it hasn’t led to deaths.

Although the police have been involved we have had to get to the bottom of what has started this, and I think youth work and youth services are very important as youth workers are able to find out what’s happening and come up with ideas for solutions.

It worries me a great deal that we are on the edge of having some very big cuts in the youth service. That might make things a lot worse.

Westminster has one of the highest proportions of sixth formers receiving EMA, so that cut is going to be devastating for local young people.

Westminster College tell me

Educational Maintenance Allowance has helped with attendance at school and helped young people get qualifications they wouldn’t normally have got. If young people don’t get qualifications they are at greater risk of being unemployed and unemployment costs the country much more than EMA. If I wasn’t an MP, I would love to be a DJ. There’s a BBC DJ called Annie Nightingale who’s been around a long time and still has a show. I’ve got to know her a bit as she lives in Maida Vale. Because she found out I said that if I hadn’t been me I would like to have been her, she got in touch and she’s really nice. I can’t imagine anything better than being paid to play music all the time, particularly soul and R&B. Text by Amelia Dimoldenberg Illustration by Onye Asoluka

DD

ovember ovember 2010 2010 was was one hell one of hell a month. of a month.

Despite Despite protests protests which which attracted attracted thousands thousands of of people people of different of different agesages and and backgrounds, backgrounds, our coalition our coalition government government still voted still voted ‘yes’‘yes’ on the onproposal the proposal to allow to allow universities universities in charging in charging students students up toup £9K to per £9Kyear. per year.

This This is a kick is a kick in the inteeth the teeth for most for most of usof working us working classclass students students who’ve who’ve worked worked our our socks socks off only off only to discover to discover university university isn’t isn’t a wise a wise option option unless unless we’re we’re willing willing to come to come out in out serious in serious debt.debt.

The The government government has stood has stood us us up only up only to run tous run over. us over.

Apparently, Apparently, universities universities havehave beenbeen struggling struggling to meet to meet the the growing growing demand demand for places. for places.

If that’s If that’s the case the case thenthen the the answer answer seems seems simple simple universities universities should should raiseraise theirtheir if you’re if you’re not academic, not academic, a a ability ability levels. levels.

It’d cut It’ddown cut down financial financial advisor advisor isn’t isn’t going going the pressure the pressure on places on places and and to betoable be able to fixto the fixleak the leak access access to university to university would would underneath underneath youryour sink!sink!

Children Children depend depend on an onindividual’s an individual’s are brought are brought up believing up believing that that ability ability instead instead of wealth. of wealth. university university is theisbe theall beand all and end all, endso all, even so even if they if they don’tdon’t The status The status of a university of a university perform perform well well at GCSEs, at GCSEs, they’re they’re education education has gone has gone downhill downhill encouraged encouraged to gotocollege. go college. heard heard David David Willet’s Willet’s ridiculous ridiculousIt’s not It’seasy not easy to extract to extract very very bigtime. bigtime.

Should Should anyone anyone who who Where Where is theislogic the logic in that? in that? solution solution to this? to this?

He says He says that that many many positive positive points points fromfrom this this has not hasachieved not achieved at least at least a a sixthsixth formers formers who who fail to fail secure to secure new new policy policy but hopefully but hopefully as a as a C at A-level C at A-level be permitted be permitted to to You know You know it’s ait’s messed a messed up up a university a university place place should should result result of this, of this, moremore people people will will take take up aup course? a course?

If someone If someone education education system system whenwhen openopen up businesses. up businesses.

Is heIs he see university see university as an asacademic an academic is getting is getting below below C grades C grades at at the DDD the DDD students students get their get their for real? for real?

If banks If banks aren’t aren’t eveneven challenge challenge to achieve to achieve a degree a degree A-level, A-level, surely surely theythey should should place, place, the A*A*A* the A*A*A* students students lending lending money money to companies to companies rather rather thanthan threethree years years of of be doing be doing something something moremore also also get their get their (well(well deserved) deserved) who who they’ve they’ve had had relationships relationshipswild wild parties parties and and socializing. socializing. vocational vocational - not-being not being left left place place whilst whilst the AAB the AAB shoot-Ishoot-I- with with for years for years with with I don’t I don’t with with a crippling a crippling debtdebt they’ll they’ll needed-AAA needed-AAA students students don’tdon’t really really see them see them bending bending Text by Text Ivaby Lila Iva Lila be paying be paying off for offmost for most of of because because theythey aimed aimed too high too high over over backwards backwards to help to help a a Photography Photography

by Kevin

by Kevin King King theirtheir working working lives.lives.

It’s fine It’s fine and and missed. missed.

And And havehave you you bunch bunch of 17/18 of 17/18 yearyear olds.olds.

THECUT CUT THECUT CUT 15 THE THE 15

S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J ES S I E J J E SSI E J JE SS I E J JES S I E J IE J JESSIE J JESSIE I E J J ES S IE J JE SSI E % * * % 3 3 ) % * * % 3 3 ) % * EJJESSIEJJESSIEJJ S I E J J E SS I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J E SSI E J JE SS I E J JES S I E J IE J JESSIE J JESSIE I E J J ES S IE J JE SSI E 16

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S I E J J E S S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J E SSIE J JE SS I E J JES S IE J JE J JESSIE J JESSIE J E J J ES S IE J JE S SI E * % 3 3 ) % * * % 3 3 ) % * * % JESSIEJJESSIEJJES S I E J J E S S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J E SSIE J JE SS I E J JES S IE J JE J JESSIE J JESSIE J E J J ES S IE J JE S SI E THE CUT 17

S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J E S S I E J J E SSI E J J E SS I E J JES S I E J IE J JESSIE J JESSIE I E J J ES S IE J JE SSI E % * * % 3 3 ) % * * % 3 3 ) % * EJJESSIEJJESSIEJJ S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J ES S I E J J E SSI E J J E SS I E J JES S IE J IE J JESSIE J JESSIE I E J J ES S IE J JE SSI E Justified Hype.

Jessie describes her life as “busy.com”, her schedule as “crazy” and says she misses her weekends. Only a few months since her stomping arrival on UK chart ground with the #2 debut anthem Do It Like A Dude you would think she has her own dedicated fast lane on the road to success.

With the BBC’s Sound of 2011 nod and the BRITs Critic’s Choice Award under her belt, not to mention her monumental #1 single victory as the first song under Universal’s new policy of same day radio and retail release, it’s hard to predict what else is left for the Great Essex Hope to conquer.

“I’ve just got Oprah left… and maybe Jeremy Kyle”, she quips. “I’m just trying to take each step as it comes and not give myself too many expectations, I never ever imagined winning both awards, and to be honest with you, I think the best key to success is to be happy. “Honestly I’m just an average chick, I’m just really tired all the time”. Angry stragglers, take note.

Having witnessed her perform a live set, I was taken aback by her perfectionism. “It’s just in my blood, you should always aspire to be the best that you can be. I don’t just do what I do for me, I do it for everyone else. One thing I’ve always based my career on is consistency. I would never give an amazing performance because it’s 10,000 people and then give a crap performance because it’s 30 people in a pub, I’ll be the same. I think that’s how I’ve built up my buzz”.

As clichéd as this sounds, Jessie J is a rare example of how a positive mentality can be applied to achieve truly colossal results.

Her striking looks might suggest quite the opposite, but apparently it’s all eyelashes and foundation, just another weapon in her vast arsenal of talents.

But like all pretty super-heroines, with great powder comes great responsibility: “People are like you don’t drink? I can’t, this is my life, this is going to save lives, this is going to pay for my house, this is my career.” Thinking of a comparison quickly off the top of her head, she comes up with the example of a footballer. “They wouldn’t go out in 6 inch heels everyday because it would ruin their feet”. True that, Jessie, true that.

As far as personal style goes, Jessie J is a far cry from your typical Essex girl, taking a more effortless approach to her off-duty look. “I’ve never been obsessed with fashion, it’s funny to me when everyone who says they’re individual, actually they all look the same. I’ve noticed people wear skinny jeans, messy hair and geeky glasses and say ‘I do this ‘cause I wanna be me’, when there’s actually a lot of people doing that.” Jessie prefers styles that are past their time to the uniform of the trend-obsessed.

“I never did Uggs though, just to point that out. I don’t think style should have a label, I think it should come from you. A lot of people call me ghetto chic, I’ve been told I’m a closet yardie, I just do what I do”. This part of the interview was brought to you by Jessie J’s black and gold leather varsity jacket with lyrics embroidered on the back from her song “Who You Are” which isn’t out yet, but Jessie whispers, “it will be”.

“I want to make a difference in the UK music scene, I want to be around forever.”

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S I E J J E S S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J E SSIE J JE SS I E J JES S IE J JE J JESSIE J JESSIE J E J J E S S IE J JE S SI E * % 3 3 ) % * * % 3 3 ) % * * % JESSIEJJESSIEJJES S I E J J E S S I E J J E SS I E J J E S S I E J J E SSIE J JE SS I E J JES S IE J JE J JESSIE J JESSIE J E J J E S S IE J JE S SI E “It’s just in my blood, you should always aspire to be the best that you can be. I don’t just do what I do for me, I do it for everyone else.”

From watching her animated facial expressions in Do It like a Dude, it was fair to assume that Jessie J was no stranger to theatrics. For those that don’t know, Jessie J has a series of video blogs aptly titled “Dare Jessie J” which she says is her easing into the acting role. When asked if she ever thought about acting, she answered with certainty.

“That was my first thing before I started singing, I did my exams and always used to get honours, I loved acting. I’m writing a musical at the moment. I’m ready for film offers, I want to do comedy.

I’d love to have my own comedy show. I don’t think I could write out the songs that I do if I couldn’t put myself into an exaggerated character of how I’m feeling. You can’t be embarrassed; you have to be able to do emotions.”

As well as singing and performing, Jessie J’s been busy penning songs for other major artists, so I tried to find out more about her songwriting process. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought ‘this is how I do It’, because then you just become a diva and you can’t adapt and work with different people. I’m 22, who am I to work with Dr. Luke and be like ‘Oh I’m sorry I don’t work like this’?”.

Thorough and perceptive, Jessie is no less of a perfectionist when writing for other artists, making sure to do her homework in order to temporarily step into the singer’s shoes. She believes this attention to detail is the reason she’s been able to write for artists as huge as Alicia Keys and Britney Spears.

Jessie’s impressive library of skills have all come from years of being independent and relying on herself, an approach which she is hoping allows her to play a huge role in the evolution of the UK music scene. “I didn’t have my own budget, it was like ‘dress yourself, there’s no money, we don’t have a budget’, so now I don’t want to be dressed, I don’t want to have my make up done by someone, I want to live. I’m 22 and not many female artists can associate themselves with being signed or having advances. I want to make a difference in the UK music scene, I want to be around forever. I’m not gonna take the darkside and disappear in 6 months, I can’t. My health won’t let me so I’m around for a little while!”.

Styling by Patricia Williams and assisted by Patrice David

Pervious page from left Jessie wears: Outfit 1

Trousers by American Apparel, Shoes by New

Look, Leather Trim Corset & Sleeves - EG by Emma Griffiths, Earrings stylist own. Outfit 2 Shorts by

American Apparel, Peplum Track Top by Jeremy Scott for Adidas, PVC reflective tassel jacket by Rachel Freire, Shoes by KG

This page Jessie wears: Left: Jumpsuit by Hedonia, Headpiece by Nathan Gooding, Shoes by KG Above: As before

Make up by Helina Varma Text by Marvin Alvarez

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5.

S U T A T S D N A E P Y S H FA M O U FA K E R S 4.

1.

2.

3.

and his performance was so bad, he was released

by Southampton just two weeks into his contract.

Many dream about becoming a celebrity, some will go to great lengths to achieve it and others are simply born into the hype. The Cut looks at five people who achieved fame the hard way and the not-so-hard way.

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1. David Hampton In 1983 Hampton managed to enter one of New York’s hottest nightclubs by posing as the son of famous actor Sidney Poitier. Hampton continued to assume the identity of ‘David Poitier’ for years thereafter, allowing him access to some of the biggest clubs and restaurants in New York for free. When he was eventually caught by the police, Hampton was ordered to repay thousands of dollars to his victims.

2. Frank Abagnale Frank Abagnale was a notorious con artist, forger and imposter in the 1960s.

He now owns a financial fraud consultancy and has become a multimillionaire yet again – this time the legal way. The film Catch Me If You Can, starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, is based on his life story.

3. Ali Dia Ali Dia is a former professional Senegalese footballer who once played for Southampton by falsely claiming to be a cousin of Liberia international George Wech. Dia played only one game for Southampton

4. Calum Best Calum Best is the son of the famous Manchester United star George Best. He has been able to become a fashion model turned television personality and appeared on TV reality show Celebrity Love Island.

5. Paris Hilton Paris Hilton is the heiress and great granddaughter of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton. Hilton is best known as a socialite but is also a singer-songwriter and – apparently - an actress.

Text by Fraser Simpson Ilustrations by Onye Asoluka

H Y PE

AND S TAT U S

HIGH STREE E X PE R T IMENT

a problem. The only obvious difference, apart from the very obvious gender difference (!) between Marvin and Clio, was that Marvin was wearing a suit and acted like a middle-class businessman and Clio was dressed in sports casuals and was playing the ‘chav’. Clio was approached sooner than Marvin to see if she needed help by a male seller. The female seller ignored her.

Weirdly enough, the closer you get to White City, generally considered the poor end of town, the less classy the shops become. Funny how they don’t have a Burger King in the village or a champagne bar where the ‘commoners’ wander. Now look at where the Village is positioned, just on the border of affluent Holland Park. It’s hard to believe this is pure coincidence!

When plans for Shepherd Bush’s Westfield shopping centre were drawn up, they came with the aims of regenerating a less-affluent area and bringing together different sectors of society in a better sense of community.

Yet on walking around Westfield, in some ways it appears to reinforce the status divide. The ‘village’ – a haven for upper-class, affluent and rich shoppers – is divided off from the rest of Westfield, which contains lower-end and more affordable brands.

Has Westfield actually helped with local problems? In some respects it has improved things – bringing money, people and the high street to the Bush and changing perceptions of what the area is like. It’s brought a new train station, a new tube stop and more a more frequent bus service – all incredibly useful but, nevertheless, the divide remains.

Walking around the Village is uncomfortable if the shops aren’t intended for you, and if you only shop designer then your distinct area is tailor-

made so you don’t even have to see ‘cheaper’ fashion. It offers chauffeur services, a concierge, a personal stylist, ‘hands free’ shopping, home delivery and a lounge. It is doubtful that you could get any of this from Sports World.

The Experiment Part One Could we test the classical notion that we should never judge a book by its cover?

We all naturally judge people by their property, status and the way they present themselves. The Cut wanted to test the theory we do judge people’s status and how much money they have by the garments they wear.

Clio, Marvin from The Cut were told to go into a jewellery shop in Westfield and see how long it took them to be served.

Once they were served they were both told to use the same question, “I’m looking for a present for my girlfriend (in Marvin’s case) and Mum (in Clio’s case) and price is not

Marvin was approached for help by a female sales person. They both told the sales assistants that they didn’t need help, they were timed to see how long it would take to get the sale assistants attention again. For Clio it only took her 2 minutes but for Marvin it took three minutes to be served but the assistant said she would be back in a minute because she was serving someone else. Clio was shown some pieces of jewellery and was able to try them on, the items with the highest price that was shown to her and that she could order cost £675. Clio was in and out after 10 minutes however Marvin was still waiting for assistance after Clio left. When he did get served the most expensive item that Marvin was shown and could order cost over £3000.

In both cases, perhaps unexpectedly, the sales people were polite but because Marvin was dressed in the suit it seems the sales assistant thought he had a lot more money to spend. So it would seem that the old cliché is true, people are still judged on how much money they have by what they wear.

Text by Clio Mcleary and Silas Osei Photography by Ricardo Nunes

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H Y PE A S TAT U S M IN L GD RAM E X PE R I M E N T

If your political leader (hierarchy) told you to jump off a bridge would you?

If that hierarchy asked you to inflict pain on another would you do it knowing it would kill the innocent person?

Would you electrocute someone to death in the name of scientific discovery because you were told to and the benefits outweigh the cost?

As humans our first reaction to these type of questions 98% of the time would be NO!!!

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One man seemed to think different, He believed if you were put in a scenario where a hierarchy is ordering you to do something you will obey. This is what Stanley Milgram called Obedience to Authority. Milgram was a Jewish psychologist who was particularly interested in what happened in World War 2 (WW2).

He wanted to understand how apparently normal German citizens would willingly obey orders to kill innocent people during the Nazi ragtime in WW2. He wanted to know, was this because the German people according to historians are “different” to other races and ethnicities, or was it because of their obedience to authority?

Milgram put out a public announcement in a local newspaper to recruit participants, from this he got a variety of males with different ages and jobs.

In 1963 he set out to determine what happens if a person comes to a psychological laboratory and is told to carry out a series of acts that come increasingly into conflict with conscience. The focus would be how far an ordinary person would comply with the experimenter’s instructions before refusing to carry out the actions required of him. Milgram would carry out a series of 18 different experiments. I will be focusing on experiment 2 (voiceFeedback) at Yale University.

Participants would arrive one at a time and would be greeted by a Jack Williams, the experimenter, who was wearing a grey laboratory coat; in addition you were greeted by another participant a 47 years old accountant Mr Wallace, unknown to the participant Mr. Wallace was an actor.

Both are told the experiment is about the effects of punishment on learning.

They would pick out of a hat who would be the teacher or the learner (it was fixed so that Mr. Wallace was always the learner). The teacher (naive

S U T A T S D N M A A R G E L I P M Y H T N E M I R E P EX

participant) would witness the learner (Mr. Wallace) being strapped into a chair and electrode being attach to his wrist. The learner is told that he is to learn a list of words pairs, whenever he makes an error, he will receive an electric shock of increasing intensity.

No actual electric shocks would ever be administered but to make it look genuine the teacher was given a 45-volt shock. The teacher

is taken into another room where he can’t see but can hear the learner. He would operate a shock generator which had 30 switches ranging from 15-450 volts.

The scale goes from slight shock to danger and severe shock.

At certain shock levels the learner (acting again) would complain or scream; at 75,90 and 105 he made a little grunt , at 270 volts he lets out an agonised scream, at 315 volts he lets out a violent scream , reaffirming vehemently that he was no longer participating and after 330 volts there was silence.

Milgram previously asked 14 Yale psychology student to predict what happens for 100 participants in this situation.

There was a average of 1.2% that anybody would go to the max of 450. He also asked 39 psychiatrist s,31 university students and 40 middle class adults. The psychiatrists predicted that most subjects would not go beyond 150 volts when the victim makes his first demand to be freed they said only 4% would reach 300 volts and only one in a thousand would administer 450 volts.

However when Milgram made his results public, psychologists around the world were flabbergasted over the results. Out of 40 participants over 90% inflicted shocks on the learner and an astonishing 62.5% that’s 25/40 participants went all

the way to 450 volts and pressed it 4 times. These results surprised many people- how an “ordinary” human being could commit such an act of evil by technically killing the learner just because some guy in a grey coat said ‘it is absolutely essential that you continue’.

This verified that in times of war and even peace hierarchy can make ordinary people turn into monsters.

Text by Silas Osei

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S U T A T S D N A E P Y H ICON IC BR A N DS How come some brands manage to sustain hype over centuries, while other labels are resigned to become the fashion equivalent of ‘one hit wonders’? We trace the history of five iconic brands which have been through the hypecycle and back and again, picking up a different fan base with each resurgence.

Levis Blue Jeans This iconic and fashionable phenomonen began way back in 1873 when a 24 year old German immigrant Levi Strauss left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of rough canvas. Miners liked the pants he made from this, but complained they chafed, so Strauss substituted canvas with French cotton “serge de nimes”, creating the renowned ‘blue jeans’.

Levis’ clientele has moved from cowboys, lumberjacks and railroad workers to greasers, mods, rockers, hippies and skinheads. Now you’ll find even a rich man wearing them! It is weird that these days your average pair of Levis sets you back about £100, when essentially it all sprung from a bit of canvas for your run of the mill workman!

Little Black Dress: In 1926 the timeless ‘LBD’ was introduced by Coco Chanel.

Prior to the 1920s black was reserved for periods of mourning and considered indecent when worn outside of such circumstances.

However Chanel redefined the colour black, transforming it into something unique and everlasting. Her short, simple black dress became an elegant and accessible item for women of all social classes.

It’s been lacy, feminine, skimpy, knitted, and formal, pretty much everything, and definitely something that any woman has owned. The LBD is one of the most sought after and popular item of clothing; every girl wants the perfect one. Truly an iconic piece.

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H Y PE

AIN DR ASN TA CB DS T U S

ICON

Dr Martens From postmen to factory workers to the rebel youth movements including skinheads, mods, Goths, numetalists and Britpop followers, Dr. Martens are forever reinventing and evolving.

They were born out of a chance meeting between a German inventor and a British family in footwear who met through an advert in a magazine. The inventor, Dr Klaus Maertens, had a shoe sole made literally of air, whilst the Griggs had the background in shoe-making. Together a boot that defined comfort but was practical and classic was created. Since then decades have come and gone, brands have exploded and then imploded, but Docs are still living original and strong.

Burberry Burberry is a recognised luxury fashion house founded in 1856 when 21 year old Thomas Burberry opened his store in Basingstoke.

The iconic tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks.

Essentially designed for the rich, things evolved in the 1970s when the brand became popular with the British casual cult. Subsequently the distinctive beige check, associated with A-listers, became the uniform of the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;chavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and labelconscious football hooligans even started to adopt the brand. Burberry became somewhat of a joke after this, but has since recovered partially with the likes of Emma Watson and Alex Pettyfer endorsing the famous check.

Fred Perry Fred Perry clothing pieces are among the most iconic items in the recent history of British fashion. It all began in the late 1940s when Fred Perry, the world Number 1 tennis player for five consecutive years, was approached by Tibby Wegner, an Australian footballer, to invent the sweatband. Over the years the brand has managed to expand its range to suit everyone.

It was the shirt of choice for diverse groups of teenagers throughout the 1960s and 70s, making appearances among the skinheads and at the Northern Soul scene. In the 80s it was appropriated by the likes of The Specials and The Beat to revive the old skinhead ska look. Throughout the 90s artists such as Moby and Oasis wore the brand to show their rejection of designer-led fashion.

Today Fred Perry is still a thriving brand whose timeless style and design has not once changed since the iconic polo shirt was created in the late 1940s.

Text by Clio Mcleary

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MAD HATER’S TEA PARTY

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Previous page Simon wears jumper by Topman; shirt by American Apparel.

Racharna wears dress by American Apparel; earrings by New Look.

This page Kazia wears shirt by Rokit (vintage).

Opposite page Simon wears shirt by American Apparel; jumper by American Apparel; accessories by New Look. Kazia wears shirt by American Apparel; necklace

by New Look; Racharna wears shirt

by American Apparel; earrings by New Look. Guetan wears shirt by Rokit (vintage); Blazer stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

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This page Shelly Pinto-Duschinsky wears jacket by Merci Moi. Opposite page Kazia wears shirt by American Apparel; skirt by American Apparel; sock s by New Look; shoes by New Look. Guetan wears trousers by Topman; long sleeve top by Topman; shoes by Fred Perry.

Photography by Akwasi Tawia Poku, Kiran Nijjar, Isabel Mcclelland and Alicia Jaloul.

Art Direction by Amelia Dimoldenberg Styling by Patrice David Make Up and Hair by Rhea Le Riche using Bumble and Bumble.

Models Kazia, Racharna, Guetan, Simon and Shelley Pinto-Duschinsky.

Special thanks to Georgia Frost at Marks and Spencers, and Patisserie Valerie. Location with thanks to Marianne Cotterill www.mariannecotterill.com

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<7I>?ED =EKHC;J

“The beauty of owning your own independent brand is that it makes it possible to explore various design avenues.”

This season one Italian– American brand are changing up the sneaker–game.

We spoke to the brains behind Gourmet’s spring/ summer collection.

What is the main concept behind your new footwear collection? From the inception of the Gourmet, the design concept for each season has in all likelihood remained the same: making nostalgic, high quality footwear. High end for the regular guy.

There is a collaboration with Undefeated, how did that come about? A sense of family is the main ingredient when it comes to any collaboration we do. The UNDFTD crew is our extended family and the projects we do with them are treated as such.

Gourmet will soon be stocking in Size? - what was the thinking behind the decision?

Because Size? Matters…

Over recent years in the UK females have struggled to find nice exclusive kicks that come in their size, will the

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women’s range be available in all sizes? Absolutely. We offer the opportunity to buy into our entire women’s range and all of the men’s shoes come in women’s sizes. Look out for them in the near future.

The 35 definitely has a more sports shape to it, can we expect Gourmet to produce more shoes of this similar silhouette? The design was something we wanted to do for a long time. Heritage runners have always been a favourite and now having the capabilities as a brand affords us limitless opportunity. To answer the question, yes, look out for future athletic and runner based models.

Due L (for men) & Quattro (for women) has a very interesting leopard print, was this intended for stylish couples to rock matching kicks on a day up in central? Definitely not.

This is for a more sophisticated consumer, someone who understands the classic nature of the leopard print.

Some of your shoes are clean and simplistic then others are a little bit out there! The beauty of owning your own independent brand is that it makes it possible to explore various design avenues. With three of us being Co-Creative Director, the styles do tend to look a bit disparate, but that is what Gourmet is. To look at it in terms of a restaurant, it would be a fusion of different cultures or ideas. We are the bacon ice cream of the footwear world.

Where do your designers draw their inspiration from? The true design inspiration comes from our backgrounds as

Italian-Americans growing up on the East Coast in the 80’s and everything that comes with that. The music, the TV, shoes, the food, the times, the sports, the art, the everything.

Which shoe from SS11 do you believe best captures what Gourmet is about and why? One shoe that comes to mind is the Quadici. This showcases all the DNA of Gourmet when it comes to a design. The use of a classic upper with the best leathers in the world , coupled with athletic accents and technical outsoles. This is Gourmet.

www.gourmetinyourface.com Text by Damien Malontie Images courtesy of Gourmet

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bit morebit content more content and youand can you can tell efforttell has effort gone has into gone it. into it.

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You go on You togo on to our favourite our favourite blog of the blog of the everyone obviously obviously the rightthe people. right people. everyone is on theissame on the thing. same thing.

HypeBeast HypeBeast and seeand something, see something, moment moment to see what to see they’re what they’re SB: With SB: lower With end lower streetend street- then go then on High go on Snobiety High Snobiety saying about saying life about in London life in London I see what I see you what saying youbut saying but wear brands wear with brands justwith hatsjust hatsand the and same the thing same is there. thing is there. right now. right To kick now.things To kickoff things off I think blogs I think are blogs the most are the most and teesand there tees are there way are too way too That’s lazy That’s blatant lazy reposting. blatant reposting. we hooked we up hooked with Scnd up with To Scnd To powerful. powerful.

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Why Why know half importance importance of blogsof within blogsthe within the it’s about wear street today. wearAll today. All I think I think hardit’s forhard brands for to brandsare to people aregonna peoplego gonna on go on about street street wear street industry. wear industry.

Are blogs Are blogs new looknew books lookand books videos andare videos are be different be different nowadays. nowadays.

If you If your you little your shitty little blog shitty for blog that for that all powerful, all powerful, or it justor hype? it just hype? all onifblogs, they weren’t if they on weren’t on look at Billionaire look at Billionaire Boys Club Boys Club info when info they when canthey go on can go on all on blogs, therewould wherethey would be?they be? and Bape, and obviously Bape, obviously I know I know HypeBeast?

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S: Yeah Cause man!like Cause Onlylike Only why youwhy guysyou stood guys out. stood out.

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But Supreme But Supreme S: Yeah it’s S: Yeah something it’s something that thatwww.scndtonone.com www.twitter.com/scndtonone viewed as viewed commercial, as commercial, I think it I think it do what do they what do and they do do itand do it we felt needs we felttoneeds be done, to be done, www.twitter.com/scndtonone gets lotsgets of haters lots ofcommenting haters commenting well. That’s well.why That’s theywhy have they haveanyone anyone can postcan thepost new the new Text by Malontie Damian Malontie about selling aboutout selling or people out or people been so been successful so successful and and kicks up kicks that they’ve up that seen they’ve on seenText on by Damian Photography Photography

by Jemil Saka

by Jemil Saka jumping jumping on bandon wagons. band wagons.others need others to need allow to it. allow it.

HypeBeast.

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CKI?9 CKI?9

Whilst rightly proud of of hishis Whilst rightly proud achievements Shadez is is achievements Shadez only too happy to to give only too happy give praise to to those who hehe praise those who works with, particularly works with, particularly hishis producer MrMr Sleaze. producer Sleaze.

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MeMe and SirSir Sleaze have known and Sleaze have known each other forfor like four years. each other like four years.

WeWe hooked upup onon MySpace hooked MySpace when it was actually quite when it was actually quite bigbig and wewe have seen each and have seen each other grow asas musicians and other grow musicians and seen each other change into seen each other change into different genres and work different genres and work together a lot.

SoSo meme and together a lot. and SirSir Sleaze are like brothers Sleaze are like brothers in in a sense, hehe is like the left a sense, is like the left side mymy brain and I’mI’m the left side brain and the left side of of hishis and asas a result wewe side and a result form this cohesive movement form this cohesive movement . . to to music which is cool music which is cool

“I “Itry trynot nottotolisten listen totoone onegenre. genre.

You Youcan canalways always draw drawinspiration inspiration from fromdifferent different genres genresofofmusic.” music.”

Despite the success of of hishis Despite the success album and performing onon album and performing Channel 4 Evo Music Room Channel 4 Evo Music Room and with Plan B and Fun and with Plan B and Fun Lovin Criminals and even Lovin Criminals and even performing at at Love Box performing Love Box alongside N.E.R.D and Duran alongside N.E.R.D and Duran Duran, Shadex still believes Duran, Shadex still believes hishis break is is yetyet to to come. break come.

You might recognise Shadez You might recognise Shadez from hishis stint onon Channel from stint Channel 4’s4’s Evo Music at at the end Evo Music the end of of last year, but make nono last year, but make mistake, this won’t bebe the mistake, this won’t the last time you see the the self last time you see the the self described ‘misfit who stands described ‘misfit who stands out from the crowd’ onon the out from the crowd’ the big screen.

WeWe caught upup big screen. caught with him asas hehe warmed upup with him warmed forfor hishis G-Shock session.

G-Shock session.

WeWe get straight down to to get straight down business and although business and although the first question may the first question may appear a little obvious appear a little obvious it had to to bebe asked, just it had asked, just where did hehe get the title where did get the title Shadez the Misfit from?

Shadez the Misfit from?

a lot of of rappers mostly the a lot rappers mostly the freshmans of of the game like Big freshmans the game like Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Drake Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Drake and then I will gogo back and and then I will back and People ask meme this allall the time.

People ask this the time. listen to to the oldold school artist listen the school artist It has a deep meaning but if if It has a deep meaning but like Pete Rock, Dj Dj Premier and like Pete Rock, Premier and I was to to describe it in a few I was describe it in a few A Tribe Calldc Quest to to give A Tribe Calldc Quest give sentences it would bebe this -a-a sentences it would this that oldold school vibe.

I listen that school vibe.

I listen wolf in in black sheep’s clothing. wolf black sheep’s clothing. to to a mixture of of everything. a mixture everything.

It’sIt’s just meme standing out like just standing out like a sore thumb in in a crowd and a sore thumb a crowd and This unique approach This unique approach Shadez meaning shade in in Shadez meaning shade is is something Shadez something Shadez Gods light and Misfit meaning, Gods light and Misfit meaning, incorporates into hishis incorporates into ‘Look I don’t want to to conform ‘Look I don’t want conform performances asas hehe likes to to performances likes to to anything - I-want to to dodo me.’ anything I want me.’ mix it up, sometimes using mix it up, sometimes using Whatever I do amam me, I don’t Whatever I do me, I don’t audio music rhyme over and audio music rhyme over and want to to bebe like anybody else want like anybody else at at other times performing with other times performing with asas it is about setting your it all is all about setting your a live band.

It is anan approach a live band.

It is approach own barriers, your own goals own barriers, your own goals hehe believes gives hishis believes gives and creating your own destiny. and creating your own destiny. audience a true insight into audience a true insight into hishis persona and character. persona and character.

The theme of of independence The theme independence and self motivation makes forfor When and self motivation makes you gogo to to a concert When you a concert a very unique music style that a very unique music style that you want to to see the artist in in you want see the artist stands out in in the British hip stands out the British hip their fullfull light and that’s the their light and that’s the hop scene, a style that Shadez hop scene, a style that Shadez best time to to become intimate best time become intimate puts down to to the inspiration puts down the inspiration with anan artist.

I always trytry with artist.

I always of of a range of of musical styles. a range musical styles. and bring that with the and bring that with the music.

With a live band you music.

With a live band you I try not to to listen to to one I try not listen one love the live instrumentation love the live instrumentation genre.

You can always draw genre.

You can always draw you are hearing.

Music that you are hearing.

Music that inspiration from different inspiration from different you listen to to viavia the stereo you listen the stereo genres of of music.

I listen to to genres music.

I listen is different and you get to to is different and you get

36 36THE CUT THE CUT

hear certain aspects of of the hear certain aspects the tune differently.

For meme it’sit’s tune differently.

For allall about pushing barriers about pushing barriers and playing with the ear. and playing with the ear.

Shadez explains that this Shadez explains that this message is is borne out in in message borne out hishis lyrics and in in amazing lyrics and amazing tracks such asas Time tracks such Time Continuum a song that Continuum a song that says much about him. says much about him.

MyMy message is pretty much message is pretty much you get to to understand me, you get understand me, you get anan insight to to who I I you get insight who am.

In In mymy music I don’t swear am. music I don’t swear it’sit’s just straight word play just straight word play and being articulate with and being articulate with words and coming across words and coming across asas clever.

It’sIt’s outcomes and clever. outcomes and scenarios in in ways that you scenarios ways that you have never seen before.

You have never seen before.

You may have thought about that may have thought about that situation but you’ve never situation but you’ve never seen it in that light.

It about seen it in that light.

It about showing people different showing people different perspectives and that’s mymy perspectives and that’s whole message and aim with whole message and aim with the word play and music I I the word play and music do, like Time Continuum.

The do, like Time Continuum.

The message in in Time Continuum message Time Continuum is me being cocky but at at is me being cocky but the same time being cool the same time being cool and you can relate to to that and you can relate that onon the mixtape and album the mixtape and album that will bebe coming soon. that will coming soon.

Not a lot of of people know meme Not a lot people know yetyet and mymy bigbig step to to the and step the next level is still to to come.

This next level is still come.

This year you’re going to to hear year you’re going hear more of of mymy music and I want more music and I want to to give something to to show why give something show why there’s hype behind meme and there’s hype behind and why there’s talk.

I aim to to back why there’s talk.

I aim back it up with some good quality it up with some good quality music which is different and music which is different and shows a different outlook onon shows a different outlook the UK. I’mI’m trying to to represent the UK. trying represent the side of of the UKUK that nobody the side the that nobody usually sees from the hipsters usually sees from the hipsters to to the people that strive to to dodo the people that strive well.

For meme it’sit’s about setting well.

For about setting a new golden standard forfor a new golden standard UKUK and I enjoy doing so.so. and I enjoy doing SoSo finally in in keeping with finally keeping with the theme of of this edition of of the theme this edition the Cut wewe asked forfor hishis own the Cut asked own definition of of HYPE, typically definition HYPE, typically it was unique and colourful. it was unique and colourful.

MyMy definition of of hype?

Wow, definition hype?

Wow, okay . You know when you okay . You know when you get a bottle of of spirit and you get a bottle spirit and you shake it nonstop and then you shake it nonstop and then you open it?it?

That’s may definition open That’s may definition of of hype; when the bubble hype; when the bubble comes allall the way to to the top comes the way the top and you open it and it shots and you open it and it shots out, yeah, that’s mymy definition out, yeah, that’s definition and description of of hype. and description hype.

www.myspace.com/shadezthemisfit www.myspace.com/shadezthemisfit Text by by Silas Ossei Text Silas Ossei Photography by by Ahmad Graida Photography Ahmad Graida

CKI?9 CKI?9 :7L; :7L; ?:?:

“I’m “I’mstrictly strictlyaaloner, loner,it it allows allowsme metotomove move forward forwardwhen whenI I want wantto, to,construct construct my myown ownideas ideasand and break breakaway.” away.”

part of of a movement or or scene part a movement scene that’s going onon in in London at at that’s going London the moment?

I’dI’d have to to say the moment? have say no,no, I don’t pay much attention I don’t pay much attention to to stuff like that, I barely stuff like that, I barely know other people, letlet alone know other people, alone musicians in in London and most musicians London and most of of them ain’t even from London them ain’t even from London anyway, I pretty much move onon anyway, I pretty much move When wewe opened our letterbox When opened our letterbox mymy own, soso I can dodo what I feel own, I can what I feel at at The Cut to to a shiny blue The Cut a shiny blue when I feel it, it, being attached when I feel being attached rhombus made entirely of of rhombus made entirely to to something isn’t really mymy something isn’t really blue plastic wewe were pretty blue plastic were pretty thing, I’mI’m strictly a loner, it it thing, strictly a loner, intrigued, to to say the least. intrigued, say the least. allows meme to to move forward allows move forward Inside was a copy of of Dave Inside was a copy Dave when I want to,to, construct mymy when I want construct i-D’s E.P Gangs.

Eschewing i-D’s E.P Gangs.

Eschewing own ideas and break away. own ideas and break away. today’s twitter overkill promo today’s twitter overkill promo If you’re part of of a scene it it If you’re part a scene culture in in favour of of a more culture favour a more feels like there are too many feels like there are too many mysterious flex seems to to bebe mysterious flex seems rules forfor meme to to follow and I like rules follow and I like working in in hishis favour.

When working favour.

When doing things mymy own way. doing things own way. wewe caught upup with him in in caught with him hishis studio, hehe was pretty studio, was pretty How important is is style and How important style and talkative forfor someone who talkative someone who image to to you in in presenting image you presenting has been described asas a man has been described a man your music?

Can you talk your music?

Can you talk of of few words.

HeHe gives usus few words. gives more about this and your more about this and your the favourite South London the favourite South London collaboration with Simon collaboration with Simon haunts, getting kicked out of of Owens, haunts, getting kicked out who designed the Owens, who designed the Cheddar Gorge in in Somerset Cheddar Gorge Somerset amazing blue rhombus? amazing blue rhombus? and last but but nono means and last but but means It’sIt’s something extra to to think something extra think least, hishis love forfor gozlemes… least, love gozlemes… about forfor some, but it’sit’s a a about some, but pretty standard thing forfor me, pretty standard thing me, Your music has been Your music has been something that just comes something that just comes described asas defying genre, described defying genre, along with what I do.

It’sIt’s anan along with what I do. but would you say you are but would you say you are everyday thing, because that everyday thing, because that

just how I think.

What I like, is is just how I think.

What I like, what I do.

Working with Simon what I do.

Working with Simon Owens is cool, hehe likes to to dodo Owens is cool, likes different things and knows a a different things and knows lotlot but hehe understands meme and but understands and has great ideas forfor what I do has great ideas what I do and wewe work well together.

This and work well together.

This is something that will continue is something that will continue and develop further forfor sure. and develop further sure.

You’re from South London You’re from South London right?

What’s your favourite right?

What’s your favourite place to to in in get breakfast in in place get breakfast South?

Yes, I’mI’m from south South?

Yes, from south London, Lewisham to to bebe London, Lewisham exact.

MyMy favourite place exact. favourite place forfor breakfast is definitely mymy breakfast is definitely mum’s house, but other than mum’s house, but other than that I used to to gogo to to a place that I used a place called Cafe Time in in Walworth called Cafe Time Walworth Road a lot when I was younger, Road a lot when I was younger, it’sit’s nothing special though! nothing special though!

The cave video is is amazing, The cave video amazing, Stalactites and Stalagmites!

Stalactites and Stalagmites!

It was It was Where was it shot?

Where was it shot? shot in in the Cheddar Caves shot the Cheddar Caves and Gorge in in Somerset, it it and Gorge Somerset, was cool there.

WeWe actually was cool there. actually got kicked out forfor setting offoff got kicked out setting flares but they letlet usus back in in flares but they back to to finish the video eventually finish the video eventually after wewe apologised. after apologised.

When did you first realise When did you first realise you could sing?

I’ve never you could sing?

I’ve never realised I can sing, singing’s realised I can sing, singing’s bullshit, everyone can sing! bullshit, everyone can sing!

I just express myself with mymy I just express myself with voice the only way I know how. voice the only way I know how.

Word is is that you spend a lot Word that you spend a lot of of time in in your studio.

What’s time your studio.

What’s your favourite studio snack your favourite studio snack break?

Almonds, tea, coffee, break?

Almonds, tea, coffee, cigarettes, gozlemes! cigarettes, gozlemes!

In In your track ‘Only MeMe I can your track ‘Only I can What dodo you think of of the other What you think the other Save’ just what is is it you are Save’ just what it you are Dave iD,iD, Dave iD iD Busaras?

I I Dave Dave Busaras? saving yourself from?

The saving yourself from?

The haven’t listened to to hishis stuff yet. haven’t listened stuff yet. song is more about walking song is more about walking But I’llI’ll check it out forfor sure!!!

But check it out sure!!! away from something that is is away from something that suffocating and drowning you suffocating and drowning you and making you miserable, and and making you miserable, and info@offtheuncertainbutton.com info@offtheuncertainbutton.com taking that plunge to to leave it it taking that plunge leave www.offtheuncertainbutton.com behind, even though it means behind, even though it means www.offtheuncertainbutton.com Text by by NMNM Text you are gonna bebe onon your you are gonna your Photography by by Jorn Tomter Photography Jorn Tomter own.

It’sIt’s anan oldold story forfor me. own. story me.

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CKI?9 me but I didn’t start doing it myself. I mean I always rapped here and there but I didn’t make it my profession until my first show, March 30th 2007, so about 4 years now. Coming up on 4 years and I was doing a bunch of other things before that”.

>EC;8EO I7D:C7D

“I’m not going to be in the street…I was in law school, I was a full time high school teacher for two years when I was 24.”

The CM Brady Arts Centre in the heart of the east end was the venue for The Cut’s first encounter with Homeboy Sandman. The venue appeared less like a music studio and more like a basement but once the main attraction walked into the control room the mixing and engineering began and a studio it became.

He complimented everyone in the room and had all present in stitches with his; “Where’s the restroom or should I say toilet” quip. When he got into the booth, he would hold his pad on the left hand and move his hand slightly composing his rhythmic flows while bumping his head to the instrumental being played. He would be welcomed kindly by the instrumental being played and then attack it with a dynamic flow. Within minutes the room filled with half a dozen people who were totally focused on Homeboy Sandman’s next line.

Our next encounter was catching a train to Brick Lane from Liverpool Street station, a journey which was spent talking about kung-fu flicks.

Time was ticking to get to Brick Lane where the photographer would be patiently waiting. The interview would be conducted at Rough Trade in diamond black chairs at a black table next to bicycle slots. Sandman was wearing a Northface hat and stylish Reebok Shoes.

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But despite this desire to break into Hip Hop, Homeboy never let it get in the way of his studies something that is equally his passion and something he believes everyone should take seriously.

As the wind blew cold breeze our way, Homeboy Sandman grew impatient, asking loudly; “Are we there yet, before we catch ammonia!”

Once at the meeting point, and the location set to take the pictures, we established that Sandman had been in rap for four years and he told us what it was like growing up in Elmhurst, Queens, New York during the 80’s surrounded by Hip Hop. “It was lots of fun. I was born in Manhattan but always lived in Elmhurst until I was 12 years old. And I still went back when I started high school out of state but I would always come back, that’s where my family was, and be there for the summer and everything for holidays. It was great, Hip Hop was everywhere, Queens was a very Hip Hop area and then at that time in the 80’s LL Cool J was real big, Run DMC was real big”.

This early influence had a huge impact on his route into music.

“I’ve always been a fan of Hip Hop and everything. I went away to high school in New Hampshire, I went to college in Philadelphia. So Hip Hop music in particular has been my home from home, it’s what I always brought with me so it’s always meant a lot to

“Narh, Narh. I think school is a good thing to do if people have nothing else to do. I’m not going to be in the street, academia has always been something that I’ve done good at. I was in law school, I was a full time high school teacher for two years when I was 24. There’s this thing in New York called the New York City Teaching Fellows.

It will license you to teach even if you don’t have your certificating, you get a transitional B certification and you can start teaching while you’re getting your degree, your masters degree. So I was teaching kids 14-18 years old when I was 23. So we were dealing with a lot of similar things. It was lots of fun the kids were real cool. You learn a lot from kids ,they are a lot like adults only younger you know.

That was awesome; I did all types of different crazy jobs”.

It was another passion, Marvel comics, that led to the name of his stage act as he modelled himself on the character, Marvel. He used to read comics as a kid and like his father was big into the likes of Daredevil and Spiderman that was his two favourite ones. He is happy to tell us that Sandman has a great influence on his rhymes.

“Sandman is very versatile and that’s the way I am with the way I rhyme. I have a versatile style, it doesn’t all sound the same, [it] turns into different things. But it’s also very much about dreams as the Sandman brings you dreams

so it’s about being able to put dreams into your head with vivid imagery. It’s also about following your dreams that’s where the Sandman comes from. The Homeboy comes from the homeboys”.

Despite being taken by the action packed stories of comic superheroes, Sandman is passionate about using his music to preach peace and dissuade young people from violence.

“Yes I think children are very curious, that’s why I think that it’s our responsibility as people to making music and as people that are in the public eye to not lead these people in the wrong direction doing a bunch of dumb nonsense. You know how it is in a lot of popularised Hip Hop, everybody coming out saying the same thing most of them are lying anyways most of them are punks really which is why they are coming out behaving that way. People that are tough don’t act tough, acting tough isn’t tough”.

He is adamant that the music is not about violence. Hip hop he believes should not be used to break people down but to bring them together.

He is delighted that his fans in the UK are listening to his music and is more than happy – and a little surprised- at the reception he has had.

“I’ve been so impressed out here at people listening to lyrics, talking to me about lyrics after the show. That to me is real. I make music so people that love music come to my shows it’s not just people that love Hip Hop”.

We had caught Homeboy Sandman in the build up to his 15 show tour and leave him with a smile to carry on his prolific song writing.

“Yeah, yeah sure I was writing this morning I was writing before I met up with you I was sitting in Starbucks writing, I always write”.

Text by Ricardo Nunes Photography by Ahmad Graida

“I think “I think thatthat it’s it’s ourour responsibility responsibility as as people people to making to making music music andand as as people people thatthat areare in the in the public public eyeeye to not to not lead lead these these people people in in thethe wrong wrong direction direction doing doing a bunch a bunch of of dumb dumb nonsense.” nonsense.”

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Maybe its just the guys we know at The Cut, but these days it would seems that boys are more into their image than girls. And image certainly does not stop as clothing, ofcourse. For guys who need a few pointers in the barnet department, we’ve picked our favourite Boys haircuts for Spring 2011.

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The Pharrell Williams If you’ve got the face for it, you can’t go wrong with a shaven head in the warm weather. A Pharell-esque neck tattoo will complete the look.

Choose your tat carefully!

The Nick Jonas Tame those curls with a touch of Brylcream, whip on a button up shirt, and you’re a Jonas brother in an instant. The girls will swoon.

The Nike Tick Bring back some old skool 90’s vibes with this classic tick, and get a Nike earring to match if you’re feeling brand loyal.

High Top Fade Not quite as high as KId of Kid ‘N’ Play, but high enough, this do’s been back in for a while but is still looking fresh as.

With thanks to Stevie Photos by Jemil Saka

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7HJI C?IJO 9EF;B7D:

Misty Copeland is the 28 year old dancer being celebrated as a true ballet “prodigy”.

Last year, recording artist Prince sought her out as a collaborator, and Misty danced alongside him as he performed at Madison Square Garden. Born in Kansas City and standing at a slight 5’2 tall, Misty is the first black ballerina to be made a Soloist with the world-famous American Ballet Theatre (called ABT for short). Performing in Paul Taylor’s Company B- a piece set to the music of the Andrew’s Sisters and other popular dance numbers from the 1940s, the dancers had pin-curled hair and the guys were be-speckled geeks and preppy heart-throbs.

Misty astonished the audience at Sadler’s Wells Theatre with her solo: virtuoso technique and outrageous musicality, the applause was so loud the roof nearly flew off the theatre.

But the ability to perform like this does not come easily, working her way through at least four pairs of pointe shoes a week and rehearsing up to twelve hours a day in the busy performance season. The Cut wanted to find out what life is like for an artist who devotes herself to dance.

“When I first discovered ballet. I watched a lot of ABT videos. I remember studying Gelsey Kirkland and Misha’s

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“Yes, dance does take being fearless.

Fearless in every way. You’re not only risking injury, falling, forgetting steps, but putting yourself and personal expression out there for the world to judge.”

Photograph by Mike Ruiz

Don Quixote at Wolf trap […]

If I could be transported back in time I would want to dance in the late 70’s early 80’s with ABT. It was such an exciting time for dance. Misha and Gelsey were household names. People in pop culture were excited about ballet!

Gelsey was on the cover of Time Magazine! I still have hopes of dancing with Desmond Richardson! Then the first live ballet production I ever saw was ABT’s Don Quixote with Paloma Herrera and Angel Corella. Paloma and Gelsey instantly became my idols…”. Even though Misty came to ballet relatively late at the age of 13, her “mother had dance training from a young age. She cheered

professionally for the NFL team, the Kansas City Chiefs [and Misty’s] youngest brother was a prodigy on the piano.”

The American Ballet Theatre is one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world and is based in New York City. Thousands compete to enter the company, but only a very few individuals are accepted into the training stages each year. Many of the Principal dancers come from Russia, other parts of Europe and increasingly, English candidates try out for the company too. Ballet at this level requires dancers to be born with a perfect dance body; highly flexible backs, a lot of extension in their limbs and well turned out hips, as

well as beautifully arched feet and beautiful “line” (the way the dancer holds each body part relative to their centre of gravity when moving). One of the hardest things about dance is that it is an expression of the music through your whole body rather than just showing emotion with facial expressions.

Scientists have long said that ballet puts more physical strain on the body and is more demanding than any other “sport” or exercise. Misty says, “A typical day begins with a 10:15 am ballet class to warm us up for the rehearsal day.

We work up to 7pm Tuesday through Saturday. This is during our rehearsal season, when we are not performing

“I“Igo gothrough throughabout about 44shoes shoesper perweek week while whilewe weare areinin rehearsal rehearsalseason season but butup uptoto1010aaweek week during duringperformance performance season.” season.”

fast fastfootwork…Every footwork…Everyballet balletwe we perform performisisset setby byan anexpert expertthat that may maybe bethe thechoreographer choreographer ororsomeone someonewho whohas hasdanced danced the thework workand andwas wasgranted granted permission permissiontotoset setthe theballet. ballet.

We Weare arethen thencoached coachedon on that thatparticular particularpiece piecefor for weeks. weeks.I love I lovethe thechallenge challenge ofofperforming performingtwo twocompletely completely different differentgenres genresofofmovement.” movement.”

Part Partofofbeing beingaadancer danceratat this thislevel levelisisthe theconstant constant challenge challengeofofunderstanding understanding the thestyle styleand andprojecting projectingthe the vision visionofofthe thechoreographer. choreographer.

different differentway wayofoflife. life.“I’m “I’msure sure dance dancedoes doesinfluence influencethe theway way I see I seethe theworld. world.I don’t I don’tknow know ofofany anyother otherway wayofofseeing seeing the theworld worldbecause becausethis thisisiswho who I am I amand andhave havealways alwaysbeen. been.I I think thinkit itmakes makesme meappreciate appreciate music, music,art, art,love, love,food. food.I think I think all allofofmy mysenses sensesare aremore more alive alivebecause becauseofofdance.” dance.”

Without Withoutdoubt doubtMisty Mistyisis destined destinedtotobe beone oneofofthose those greatest greatestofofballerinasballerinas-ororaa ballerina ballerinaassoluta assolutaas asthey theyare are sometimes sometimescalled. called.I wonder I wonder how howshe shewill willmake makethat thatjump jump psychologically psychologicallytotothat thathighest highest When WhenMisty Mistyperformed performedwith with ofoflevels levelsonly onlyattained attainedby byaa Prince PrinceatatMadison MadisonSquare Square few fewlike likeMargot MargotFonteyn Fonteynoror Garden, Garden,she shewas wason onpointe pointe Sylvie SylvieGuillem.

Guillem.Misty Mistyreflects, reflects, on ontop topofofaagrande grandepiano, piano, “I“Idon’t don’tthink thinkthat thatininorder ordertoto technically technicallyaahuge hugechallenge challenge become becomeaaPrincipal PrincipalDancer Dancerit it ininaadifferent differentway wayfrom fromthe the means meansthat thatI need I needtotoimprove improve Balanchine, Balanchine,“The “Thestage stageas as ororchange changemy mytechnique. technique.It’s It’saa well wellas asthe thepiano pianowere werevery very bit bitdeeper deeperthan thanthat. that.I wouldn’t I wouldn’t slippery slipperyatatMadison MadisonSquare Square be beininABT ABTlet letalone aloneaaSoloist Soloist Garden.

Garden.I had I hadrubber rubbersoles soles withthem themif ifI didn’t I didn’thave havethe the put puton onthe thebottom bottomofofmy mypointe pointe with ability. ability.AtAtthis thispoint pointI think I thinkit’s it’s shoes shoestotokeep keepfrom fromsliding. sliding. going goingtototake takeexperience. experience.Just Just It Itstill stillwas wasslippery slipperythough”. though”.

Photograph Photograph byby Steve Steve Vaccariello Vaccariello getting gettingthrown thrownout outthere thereinin So Sodoes doesdance dancerequire requireaa aabig bigleading leadingrole roleininorder ordertoto certain certainfearlessness? fearlessness?“Yes, “Yes, but butpreparing preparingto. to.During Duringour our Jet Jetglue glueisissimilar similartotosuper superglue. glue. dance learn learnand andbe betested testedand andsee seeif ifI I dancedoes doestake takebeing being performance performanceseason, season,we weare are I go I gothrough throughabout about4 4shoes shoesper per fearless. have havewhat whatit ittakes[…] takes[…]My Mydream dream fearless.Fearless Fearlessininevery every ininthe thetheatre theatrefrom fromabout about week weekwhile whilewe weare areininrehearsal rehearsal way. role rolechanges changesall allofofthe thetime. time. way.You’re You’renot notonly onlyrisking risking 11am 11amtoto11pm, 11pm,rehearsing rehearsingand and season seasonbut butup uptoto1010aaweek week Hahaha!

Hahaha!I think I thinkininterms termsofof injury, injury,falling, falling,forgetting forgetting performing[…]Pointe performing[…]Pointeshoes shoes during duringperformance performanceseason.” season.” being beingaablack blackwoman womanit itwould would steps, steps,but butputting puttingyourself yourself don’t don’tseem seemvery verysupportive supportivebut but be beincredible incredibletotodance dancethe therole role and andpersonal personalexpression expressionout out they theyare areand andI would I wouldnot notdance dance InInLondon, London,Misty Mistyalso also ofofOdette/Odile Odette/Odile[the [theblack blackand and there therefor forthe theworld worldtotojudge. judge. on onmy mytoes toeswithout withoutthem themand and performed performedininBalanchine’s Balanchine’s white whiteswan] swan]ininSwan SwanLake.

Lake.On On I think I thinkit ittakes takesaacertain certaintype type wouldn’t wouldn’trecommend recommendit,it,even evenatat Theme Themeand andVariations, Variations, aapersonal personalartistic artisticlevel, level,I have I have ofofperson persontotodo dothat.” that.” my mylevel levelwith withmy mystrength. strength.We We an anextremely extremelytechnically technically aalist listofofdream dreamroles: roles:Juliette, Juliette, do dobuild buildmuscles musclesininour ourwhole whole demanding demandingpiece piecewhich which Giselle, Giselle,Nikiya NikiyaororGamzatti Gamzatti When WhenI ask I askMisty Mistyif ifPrince Princeisisaa body bodytotosupport supportstanding standing requires requiresdancers dancerstotobalance balance LaBayadere’.You Bayadere’.Youcan cansee see fan fanofofballet balletshe shesays, says,“Prince “Prince ininLa on onour ourtoes. toes.The Theelastics elasticsand and on onaasingle singlepointe pointewhilst whilstinin MistyCopeland MistyCopelandatatthe theNew NewYork York isisaafan fanofofart artand andartists. artists.It’s It’s ribbons ribbonsthat thatwe weattach attachtotoour our arabesques arabesquesand andsupporting supporting Metropolitan MetropolitanOpera OperaHouse House fun funtototeach teachpeople peopleabout about shoes shoesadd addsupport supportas aswell, well, the theweight weightofofother otherdancers. dancers. startingon onMay May16th 16thuntil untilJuly.

July. ballet balletand andget getthem theminterested. interested. starting totoour ourankles. ankles.[…]I […]Iwear wearBloch Bloch Balanchine’s Balanchine’sstyle styleisissoso It’s It’scool cooltotofind findsuch suchsimilarities similarities Axiom Axiompointe pointeshoes. shoes.They Theyare are specific, specific,formal formaland andelegant elegant ininmusic musicand anddance danceand andhow how For For more more information information onon Misty Misty specially speciallymade madefor forme. me.I have I have that thatspecialists specialistscome comeinin they theyreally reallyare areone oneininthe the Copeland check check out out her her website website atat them themhard hardininthe thesole solebecause because totowork workwith withthe thedancers, dancers, same sameand andinspire inspireeach eachother.” other.” Copeland Mistycopeland.com.

Twitter Twitter page page my myfeet feetare arevery veryflexible flexibleand and “Balanchine’s “Balanchine’sstyle stylecan canbe be Ballet Balletisisan anart artform formwhere wherethe the Mistycopeland.com. @mistyonpointe @mistyonpointe and and the the Misty Misty the theshoes shoestend tendtotobreak breakfast fast very verydifficult difficultif ifyou youweren’t weren’t dancer dancerisisconstantly constantlypushing pushing Copeland Copeland official official page page onon Facebook.

Facebook. there. there.I also I alsoput putjet jetglue glueininthe the trained trainedthat thatway. way.It Ittook tookme me themselves themselvesand andwith withclass class Text Text byby Nendie Nendie Pinto-Duschinsky Pinto-Duschinsky toe toetotokeep keepthem themhard hardand andadd add aacouple coupleofofyears yearsofofbeing beinginin and andrehearsal rehearsalall allday dayevery every Images courtesy courtesy ofof the the artist artist support supportaround aroundmy mymetatarsal. metatarsal. the thecompany companytotoadapt adapttotothe the day, day,dance danceliterally literallybecomes becomesaa Images

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H;L?;MI CK I ?9

K – NITE 13 K-Nite 13 starts the baking of a cake filled with flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, while his comrades TB, Skillit and Pyrobarz Salute the recipe with driven, hunger for the track, which any hip hop artist which does or should do. Viktor Vaughn made a baby with Wonderwoman and made a son who produced Back To The Drawing Board with Zuz Rock doing what his second name does and rocks the beat. Miracle Worker deceives and tucks many to bed with a goodnight kiss.

It’s glorious, horning which dwells with Big Cakes on the track. Dark and steady K-Nite hits the moon with For The Longest. Shut It Down shows that he will be doing more than just baking cakes. RN

CKI ?9

Bennett, who range in age from 16 to 23. They have so far released their music for free, under the banner of a mixtape. To me this mixtape is better than any album that had been released this year. It would seem like Odd are releasing countless free albums which are filled with bowls full off gunge, visceral, bloody injected mythical vomit.

Bfeore, being Odd was odd, now Odd is the future. RN www. oddfuture.com http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=XSbZidsgMfw http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=78_loMbmKJ8

MEMOTONE - MULTICOLOUR EP Reluctant Funk: this is the phrase that Black Acre newcomer, Memotone, uses to describe his debut EP. Although at first glance such a term may seem obtuse, after listening to the works of the West Country youngster, nothing could seem more appropriate to sum up such imagination.

The 4 track EP set to drop in March bleeds creativity, with influences from all aspects of music being incorporated in the works of Memotone; making this piece of work undeniably captivating. TM

www.myspace.com/knite13

www.memotone.co.uk

ODD FUTURE As I write this, I’m drinking a Cherry flavour Lucozade, which is an odd situation indeed. Over the other side of the Atlantic, a bunch of young supremacists figured out how to do Web 2 well. The cult consists of Tyler the Creator, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Mike G, Frank Ocean, Left Brain, The Jet Age of Tomorrow (also known as The Super 3), Syd tha Kyd, Jasper Dolphin, and Taco

GENESIS ELIJAH, BEFORE I WAS FAMOUS Genesis Elijah has grown up in Brixton collecting the memoirs left on the streets.

It shows in his new album.

Aggression flows through him in the track ‘What I Am’ which feaures The Krate Krusaders on the production. ‘Doing My Damn Thing’, the single, is upbeat with Genesis Elijah leaving messages perpetrating from time to time.

He is reminiscing in the past,

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conversing about the present and planning the future in ‘Before I was Famous’. ‘One Day’ he wants to realize just that he’ll “be centre stage entertaining crowds… they all paid to listen, and one day he’ll see his CD in HMV, or one day he’ll see his video on MTV, or one day we’ll listen to the radio and the host will say “and on the top spot then they’ll mention me, eventually I’ll be the head to be”. Elijah brings his soft side to the music, personally dragging reality to his dreams. Talking about his wife and children in “Daydream Part 2” waking up next to ‘her’ and his children already dressed up, fixing their breakfast themselves and seeing chickens running wild in the garden. The unrest and unweary runs through the whole album; in ‘I Wanna Be An MC Remix” he and his peers show that melodic, pedalling rhythm, blended to make that mix just right. This album is stable and out now. RN http://genesiselijah. blogspot.com/

Reviews

by Tom Ricardo Reviews byMullett, Tom Mullett, Ricardo Nunes, Marvin Alvarez and and Nunes, Marvin Alvarez PolinaPolina Nastavnikova Nastavnikova

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BLASTED, LYRIC society’s values and and criticises BLASTED, LYRIC society’s values criticises HAMMERSMITH, LONDON stereotypical ideas in politics.

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Together with with his family, The The Evidently, the production Together his family, Evidently, the production revived production of Blasted a dramatic impact revived production of Blastedgenerates generates a dramatic impact bursts into the fifteen audience and and afterafter a bursts intoscene, the scene, fifteen on itson its audience a years on from the premiere relentless minutes, years on from the premiere hundred hundred relentless minutes, that that trigged the biggest one crawls out of the trigged the biggest one crawls out oftheatre the theatre outburst of disgust in Britain bothboth mentally and and outburst of disgust in Britain feeling feeling mentally THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU sincesince Shakespeare’s Macbeth. physically drained.

This This THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU Shakespeare’s Macbeth. physically drained. meets Bourne’ Critics and and audiences alikealike are are modern classic has given us us ‘Inception ‘Inception meets Bourne’ Critics audiences modern classic has given The Adjustment alarmed to meet Ian, a racist vision of the The Adjustment alarmed to meet Ian, a racist the unforgettable the unforgettable vision of thedoesdoes very very little little tabloid journalist, who who rapes paidpaid for living Bureau tabloid journalist, rapes consequence consequence for living Bureau justice as far go. Itgo. It his epileptic former girlfriend compassion, and and justice asas fartaglines as taglines his epileptic former girlfriend without without compassion, just as layers as as Cate,Cate, unveiling repulsive bothboth the director SeanSean Holmes bears justmany as many layers unveiling repulsive the director Holmesbears if notifmore. horrors that that blastblast theirtheir way way and and author Sarah KaneKane and and Inception Inception not more. horrors author Sarah of our ontoonto stage.

The production cast cast deserve the highest The idea ofactions our actions stage.

The production theirtheir deserve the highestThe idea reactions being exposes the atrocities of the for the reactions being exposes the atrocities of the congratulations congratulations forgift theof gift of and and PN PN controlled subconsciously by a by a political world we enjoy to live performance. controlled subconsciously political world we enjoy to livethis magical this magical performance. group of very powerful men men is a is a in today and and attempts to shock group of very powerful in today attempts to shock conspiracy theorist’s the audience with with a rape and andhttp://www.lyric.co.uk/ http://www.lyric.co.uk/ conspiracy theorist’s the audience a rape dream and and if that doesn’t hellish devastation of civil dream if that doesn’t hellish devastation of war. civil war. attract enough people KaneKane objected to the attract enough people objected touse the of use of to gotoand see itsee I don’t theatre music, and and so the go and it I don’t theatre music, so the knowknow whatwhat will. Just rain was a creative solution will. Just rain was a creative solution imagine every single that that mixed suitability with with imagine every single mixed suitability detail of your everyday aesthetics.

KaneKane shows Ian’sIan’s detail of your everyday aesthetics. shows livingliving was was made to to mental instability through the the made mental instability through follow a seta‘life visualisation of sound and and the the follow set path’ ‘life path’ visualisation of sound and and you found out who naturalistic set contrasted laterlater you found out who naturalistic set contrasted makes those details possible with with a plain and and warlike setting makes those details possible a plain warlike setting and and had had the power emphasising his physical as as the power emphasising his physical to change it. Allit.I know well well as mental disintegration. to change All I know as mental disintegration. is I’ll is never turn turn a door EvenEven though the Daily Mail Mail I’ll never a door though the Daily knobknob the same way way described Blasted as a as a the same described Blasted again, go and watch it ‘disgusting feastfeast of filth’, I don’t again, go and watch it ‘disgusting of filth’, I don’t so you inside doubt the argument that that it is it is so can you share can share inside doubt the argument jokesjokes with with me! MA a masterpiece that that explores me! MA a masterpiece explores

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IM7= I>7CP >EC; IJK:?E

The first step to creating or recording your music begins in your own hands. For some there isn’t always a local youth club with music facilities available and even if there is, securing time can be harder than ever. So you can look to the last yet best resort, a home studio. Home studios have been growing in the past 10 years, and contrary to belief they can be quite affordable. You don’t need a big midi sequencer and a £3000 mic to make it happen.

Take Avid Technology for instance, the creators of the M-Audio Fast Track.

This is probably one of the most reasonable audio interfaces, but it seems they’ve topped themselves, they’ve teamed up with Pro Tools to create nifty new soft and hardware bundles.

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The Avid Recording studio bundle comes with an audio interface ‘M Audio Fast Track’ with a mic and guitar inputs, which is essential for all beginners. There is also an express version of Pro Tools included.

The Process & Critique Installing the hardware was fairly easy, they included a simple step by step leaflet with the package which made the process very easy. All you do is connect in a mic - you can purchase a decent quality one for around £80. Although I found the real problem was the actual software. As the version of Pro Tools included was simplified, various useful options were unavailable. Also, once the interface is installed the help provided for use of the software is poor. So it can leave you slightly confused.

I would suggest going for another recording software such as Logic Express, as this allows various inputs which is much easier to use.

None the less, the M-Audio Fast track definitely does the job, and is a good buy at the price of just over £100.

Add Ons Studio headphones - will also be an imperative buy. Be sure to buy a pair of closed headphones. This means the sound heard through the headphones are kept tight with no sound seeping through, and cannot be heard by the outside world. This is important as you do not want the sound to leak through as it will be picked up when recording and ruin your mix down process.

A little on the pricey side but very professional is the Beyer Dynamic DT 770 Pro, they are closed headphones and retail at around £150. The sound playback is immaculate and sharp. They are also super comfy and can contort to a range of sizes whether you have a pea or air balloon

head. If this is way out of your budget other closed headphones are available starting from as low as £20.

Mic – I worked with the Rode NT1A. They provided a vocal pack which included a pop shield, mic holder and more.

This was great as it saved over £60 in costs for the extra add ons needed. Of course a mic stand is needed to hold all of it up, but only costs as little as £10.

Conclusion Audio Interface w/software = £100 Mic = £150 Mic Stand = £10 So for around £260 you can have endless amounts of recording. It may sound like a lot but this can last for years, and will be saving you a whopping on studio time!

Happy Recording guys!

To win the M-audio Recording bundle pictured please send an email: info@thecutnewspaper.com Text by Shamz Le Roc Photography by Ahmad Graida