YUNGUN (a.k.a. ESSA)
The FRMX EP- JACK THE WORLD MIXTAPE
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The FRMX EP
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JACK THE WORLD MIXTAPE
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VIDEOS
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MUSIC
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ABOUT
- "Not your average rap sheet ...."
YUNGUN (a.k.a. ESSA) – ARTIST BIOG
After gigging with De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, KRS-One and Slum Village, recording with Guru and winning a BBC Performing Arts Fund award, Yungun mysteriously vanished ...
His string of successful indie releases had won praise from Zane Lowe, Gilles Peterson, Mark Ronson and Nas. Most MCs would have set their sights on the mainstream. Why would he instead dig deeper underground? Then again, his story was never your typical rap sheet...
Born in a quiet North London suburb to an African father and English mother, he was educated at England's most prestigious school, Eton College, where he excelled in literature, languages and drama. He went on to read law at UCL. Between lectures and exams, he dropped the classic albums The Essance and Grown Man Business (with DJ Mr Thing) establishing himself as a hero of UK hip-hop in what's now heralded as its golden era. But every hero needs an alter ego...
Rumours that he had hung up his mic to become a high-flying city lawyer were apparently confirmed by Channel 4 and the Independent in a documentary on "Polymaths" - an expression based on the Greek words poly (meaning many) and math (meaning knowledge). A fitting description of a man who’s as comfortable giving advice on intellectual property law as he is rocking the mic. Oh, and not just in English – he spits in Spanish too …
But as reports surfaced of shows in Australia, Dubai, China and Japan and a sold out performance at London’s Southbank Centre, hopes grew of a full-fledged return.Never one to disappoint his loyal fans, Essa now reunites with DJ Mr Thing for the Jack The World mixtape. True to his diverse background, it weaves the common thread through hip-hop, disco, soul, house, afro-beat, jazz and electronica, all sewn up with his needle-sharp raps. A treasure trove of new, exclusive and unreleased Yungun material, recorded in two "sides" and expertly blended by the DMC winner and self-proclaimed "Champion Nerd", it reminds us how good a mixtape sounds when it's actually mixed ... by a real DJ ... with real records!
Available now for free download from www.yungun.bandcamp.com, it's the perfect re-introduction, laying the foundation for the long-awaited Middle Man album - his ambitious manifesto for the multicultural generation.
THE WORD ON THE YGE:"One of the UK’s most intelligent rappers" - THE INDEPENDENT
“Really feeling the Yungun and Mr Thing collab …” – MARK RONSON
“Rap heads beware, this guy is good!” RAS KWAME (BBC Radio 1 and 1xtra)
“The ever-dependable Yungun. Check out the mixtape with Mr Thing, 'Jack The World'. Nice!” DJ MAGAZINE
“Yungun stands toe to toe with his most talented contemporaries” DROWNEDINSOUND.COM
“There’s no denying the guy’s talent: Yungun is one of the most diverse lyricists around… an essential chapter in the homegrown hip hop history book… (5 stars)” – TOUCH MAGAZINE
“Yungun flows with such a cocky confidence that you can’t help but marvel at the talent of the lad … one of the most skilled and poetic lyricists of the moment” – HIP HOP CONNECTION MAGAZINE
“Yungun nonchanlantly dismisses the common perception of UK rap being dour by adding a few smirks across the faces of all who hear” – IDJ MAGAZINE
Photographs by Camilla Waite:
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CONNECT
- For live bookings and all other business enquiries, please email me at yungunmusic@gmail.com
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Posts
Some people already got this but now it’s here for all. Off the upcoming Jack the World mixtape with @DJMrThing. Enjoy!
Oh, and if you’re feeling this, come and see us perform it live at Jazz Café 3 Nov, where we have the honour of opening up for Elzhi.
Bottletop Band - “A Message” ft. Yungun - out now!
I’m extremely proud to be involved in the new album by the Bottletop Band, “Dream Service”, which is out now on iTunes. As well as performing on the record, I actually helped with the legal work behind the project too - first time I’ve ever done that!
I feature on the track A Message, alongside Fink, Nina Becker and Sam Duckworth (Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly).
The album also features (*deep breath*) Eliza Doolittle, Carl Barat, Gruff Rhys, Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Fly, Sam Sparro, Didz Hammond (Dirty Pretty Things), Gary Powell (Libertines), Money Mark, Rodrigo Amarante (Little Joy), Kassin, Domenico, Buraka Som Sistema, Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys), Andy Nicholson & Jon McClure (Reverend & the Makers), VV Brown, Seb Rochford, Drew McConnell (Babyshambles) & Matt Park (The Noisettes) and there are also remixes by Evil 9, Greymatter, Radioslave, Optimo, Howie B and Stereo MC’s.
The Bottletop Band is a cross-pollination of the sounds and stars of British music with a host of like-minded Brazilian musicians. In 2008 the charity Bottletop devised the concept of an interchangeable lineup of leading musicians collaborating on either side of the planet, with the aim of producing a groundbreaking cross-cultural record. Bottletop and a number of the artists on the album set up recording sessions over a two year period at Dean Street Studios in Soho and in Rio De Janeiro and asked everyone to let loose. Super producer Mario C Jr (renowned for his legendary production work with The Beastie Boys and Bjork) oversaw the entire project and mixed the record to create the 10 track album “Dream Service”.
All profits from the project go towards Bottletop’s charitable work, which focuses on alleviating poverty, supporting grassroots education projects and empowering young people to take control of their lives. Bottletop supports initiatives in Brazil, Malawi, Rwanda, Mozambique and the UK, providing employment and addressing key issues such as sexual and reproductive health, substance abuse and gender equality.
Besides releasing incredible music like this (check out their amazing “Sound Affects” compilation series), Bottletop also designs and produces ethically sourced and environmentally friendly fashion items, generating employment in Salvador, Brazil. Well-known fans of Bottletop accessories include Jesse J, Kate Moss, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Alba, Annie Lennox and Livia Firth.
Big shout out to all Footsteppa crew - my man C.O.N.E. and Mariska just passed through London - great to see you guys! They handed me a promo CD which I’m very excited about. If you like banging, bass-heavy music you have to check this label out. Straight out of Rotterdam - Dock City in the place! Click the logo to check out their website. Some more Yungun/Footsteppa collaborations coming soon ….
Yungun (Un)Raps Mozart!
Here’s a clip of me recording vocals at my home studio over a Mozart-sampling beat. This was for the Mozart (Un)Rapped project, a fantastic competition I was recently involved in. I’m afraid the competition’s closed now so this post is a bit late (sorry!). Congratulations to the fantastically talented Brotherman for scooping the prizes. Bigup also to Kosyne, Kelakovski, Taharka and all Louis Den Beat Cypher crew for the beat. Thanks to Giovanna for getting me involved. Enjoy!
“Last orders for musical mixology…”
Once upon a time, there was a Parisian multi-instrumentalist living in Copenhagen.
He linked up with a Swiss producer based in the UK….
They put together some banging beats.
They got a Nigerian/English MC to lace one of them …
A German label decided to put it out and shoot a video.
They brought two film-makers from Frankfurt over to North London ….
… where some Russian friends had a photography studio …
… They all got on like a house on fire …
… and you can see the results HERE …
THE PROSOULYTES FEAT. YUNGUN - “Mix Shake Stir”
Coming soon on www.weaintmusic.com
Video by SuperblakShot at (and around!) Green Lens Studios
Still photography by Camilla Waite
Much love to Henry, (Soundspecies), Beatnik, D’Ablo and Guynamite (Bogelwaltz) and the rest of the cameo crew!
For more info on the Prosoulytes, check out their Facebook page
For more info on Yungun, go to www.yungun.com.“Mix Shake Stir” will be available soon on vinyl and digital from www.weaintmusic.com
That’s all for now folks, thanks for your time …
Peace and love …
- "Jack The World" mixtape - cover art
Mr Thing and I are almost ready to drop our “Jack the World” mixtape. It’s going to be available via the Yungun Bandcamp page (where there’s already a few free tracks to download). Tracklist and some music from the project will be up on here soon, but for now here’s the cover art …
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Tweets
- @samseyes92 cheers! Will check it out
- @djesSDee most kind, sir!
- @TooManyTs ha ha! I wish!
- @DjBonesuk Freestyle + Remix = FRMX. And it's a freebie. Voila.
- @Mystrogen say it ain't so Mys!
- @DJMrThing wasn't Illmatic released that year? And also Ready to Die? And 36 Chambers? If so "93, that's my favourite s**t y'all!"
- @_Fumo_ thanks. As an artist, when you put a bit of thought into your music, it's always nice when people "get it".
- @JumpOffTVUK thanks a lot for spreading the word, much appreciated!
