What Cee be on... Richard Ashcroft

On the real, I've been to like 5 shows in the last couple weeks, with two more next week, and it just doesn't get old.

I was lucky enough to score free tickets to the 30 Seconds To Mars show on Wednesday, which was brilliant, and last night I also landed freebies to see Mr Richard Ashcroft and his new band, United Nations of Sound, live at Palace in Melbourne.

I've only been a Verve fan for the past couple years (serious #latepass, I know), but in that short time, 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'Sonnet' became two of my favourite songs of all time. His new project, entirely produced by No ID, is brilliant, and it translated amazingly well live. Even though dude looks like a heroin addict, he put on a brilliant show, and the band were tight as hell.

Dude even managed to bang out some old Verve classics, knocking out 'Bittersweet Symphony' with the band about mid-way through (a song he rarely plays), and acoustic versions of 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'Sonnet' during the encore. Goosebumps, yo.

The above track is one of my faves off the new album too.

Cinque "Talkin' 2 Myself" ft. Kobe (Track produced by DJ Khalil)

Aight, so a nice lil bit of controversy for ya.

Check the above video for 'Talkin' 2 Myself' from Cinque, with Kobe on the hook. Sound familiar? A certain Mr Mathers used the exact same beat and hook for his most recent album, 'Recovery' (my fave song on the album). How did this happen? I have zero concrete facts, but as we all know, YouTube comments might as well be bond, so check the details...

"No money was ever asked from Cinque for the track, so that is not an issue. A batch of beats were sent to Cinque from Khalil through a mutual friend (No ID) as a favor and Cinque happened to use the track w/ no intention of marketing it or making profit from it, just to further build an online presence and work on a project. Yes Eminem paid for the rights, but that still does nothing to disprove Mr.Mathers used a recycled track that has been floating around for almost 2 yrs, lame."

"in Cinque's defense, he did not steal. The producer (Khalil) provided the track to Cinque himself a full year in advance through mutual connects in the industry. It would be the producer's and label's fault for not fact checking and looking into the record which was out on Youtube since April 5th, 2009."

"Everybody that knows nothing about the industry and how shit works, shut your cock holsters cause you're looking real stupid rite now!!! As far as legally, what can a lawyer prove about this situation except the facts that are already known? Cinque aquired the beat 1yr to 1 1/2yrs ago thru some of the peeps he knows in the industry, recorded a song and then shot a video!!! One year or so later, the same instrumental was sold to Eminem!!! How is that Cinques fault? Everybody S.T.F.U."

United Nations of Sound - Are You Ready? (video)

So this is gonna be some shit. Richard Ashcroft of The Verve fame has come with a new group project entitled United Nations of Sound. He's worked with some huge musicians from all over the world and here's the video for the teaser song, 'Are You Ready?', produced by No I.D. This shit is gonna be interesting...

By the way, if the video won't work, check it out in the following links:

Richard Ashcroft's website

YouTube