A question many of you have asked yourself:

I don't like to brag but I think my Ultimate Body Butter is the key to my fame. And check out the Zia-to-go Facial Starter Kit, on sale now!

A Guy Called Gerald

I was watching 'Ideal' on BBC3 earlier today and I heard them play 'Voodoo Ray' by A Guy Called Gerald in the background. I remember when that tune came out when I was a kid, I used to call it 'Voodoo Dad' cos people who couldn't say my Dad's name called him Ray instead. So I thought I'd give it a mention, it's still one of my favourite ever tunes.

Gerald later produced one of the most ground-breaking albums ever, 'Black Secret Technology'. It was probably the first ever drum and bass album to be released, but it was so much more melodic and - dare I say it - intelligent than the jungle and techno that was around at the time. This album was years ahead of it's time, it's re-release in 1997 sold much more than the original. I still listen to it now, it's definitely in my top 3 albums ever.


I heard Gerald was releasing a new album, so I checked his website. The album 'To All Things What They Need' came out Jan 31st. It was interesting (for me anyway) to see one of the tracks was called 'Call For Prayer', and was dedicated to Bilal. This relates to the African slave who converted to Islam after meeting the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), and was freed from his slavery to be given the role of calling Muslims to prayer (Adhan). That was 1400 years ago, and to this day every time Muslims get together to pray they emulate the adhan performed by Bilal, regardless of race or status.

Origin 95.2 FM

Over the past few years the only radio station I'd ever listen to is Origin FM, it's the only drum n bass station that doesn't have some MC chatting shite while you're trying to listen to the tunes, or have a tune selection so dark it sounds like a drill. I haven't been able to pick them up at all recently, but I think they've got the aerial sorted 'cos it's sounding crisp on my radio now.
At the moment they're playing some Congo Natty ting, which is better than the commercial cack on the other stations in London. Big up Origin FM.

HSBC - Not my favourite bank

To anyone with any money - DO NOT GET AN ACCOUNT WITH HSBC.
The thieves are keeping my money from me and I'd get better customer service from a crack dealer down Coldharbour Lane than at my local branch.

They're supposed to give me my money back next Monday, bunch of ****s.

Film: 'Ali Zaoua, Prince de la Rue'

I'm not really into films, but I came across this Morroccan film on BBC2 the other day that managed to keep me interested right till the end. It was about three glue-sniffing kids on the streets of Casablanca, trying to give their friend and leader Ali Zaoua a burial fit for a prince.
The plot was difficult and upsetting, but the characters had so much depth it was hard to remain detached from the emotions they were going through. And the imagery of the symbols of beauty that were dropped in alongside the harshness of these children's existence was really thought-provoking. I still can't get over how good the acting was, none of them seemed more than 10 years old.
It is sad to think that people might be living like the kids portrayed in the film, yet it probably happens in many places all over the world.

'Man stabbed in IKEA store chaos'

Ya dun tes dem man wid dem flat-pack futon fi real.

'The Ikea spokesman said that a counselling service had been set up for the workers by the company following the events'.

Deep.

'Shooting of Palestinian girl threatens fragile ceasefire'

'Norhan Deeb was hit by a rifle bullet apparently fired from an Israeli army observation post 800 metres away. "She suddenly screamed and fell bleeding," a witness said. "The children scattered in all directions."
'The school has been hit many times over the past four years, but yesterday's shooting was the first death there'