United Kingdom
Writes for love, labour, and coin. Words in Passion of the Weiss, Stereogum, Okayplayer, IQ, Bandcamp, Little White Lies, Crack, NME, Fanbyte, Yahoo, & more.
Available for commissions throughout 2024! Contact me on [email protected]
Had the privilege of interviewing one of the world's most exciting and important rock bands in Mdou Moctar, whose meteoric rise hasn't stopped their humanitarian efforts in their homeland and beyond. We spoke about their new album Funeral for Justice, the situation in Niger, being compared to Hendrix and Van Halen, and loads more...
I interviewed legendary sibling producer duo Da Beatminerz about making classics with Black Moon and the Boot Camp Clik, the art of the sample flip, Sean Price anecdotes, their turbulent time at Rawkus Records, their upcoming album Stifled Creativity, and tons more...
For Passion of the Weiss' list of 2023's best albums (of any genre), I waxed poetic on one of the year's waviest releases in RXK Nephew & Harry Fraud's kaleidoscopic 'LIFE AFTER NEPH'
For Passion of the Weiss' list of 2023's best rap songs, I looked back on Florida-raised, LA-based YUNGMORPHEUS breaking "Cassava Bread" with Fly Anakin
For the 2023 edition of IQ magazine's European Festival Report, I interviewed several festival heads and industry experts on the pros and cons of offering VIP ticketing packages (requires a subscription to read)
In a personal career highlight, I got Chuck D to reflect on several moments that dotted the lines of his legendary career, such as Spectrum City, Public Enemy's iconic 1987 London gig, launching Rapstation, Prophets of Rage, and more
I spoke to DJ Shadow about his seventh solo album Action Adventure, as well as his pre-Mo' Wax days, working with Thom Yorke, Richard Ashcroft, and Wong Kar-wai, his DJ Hero mixes, and much more
For the 2023 edition of IQ Magazine's Global Arena Guide, the definitive reference on arenas hosting live music and entertainment, I reported on a multitude of European, Middle Eastern, and South American territories — each featuring insights from a range of directors, arena operators, and other industry experts (requires a subscription to read)
For my Bandcamp debut, I wrote about Dur-Dur Band — a group that was at the core of Somalia's disco-laden Golden Era, and their second coming: a revival group formed in exile, who've released the 1st album of new material by Somali artists in over 30 years
For POW, I interviewed ascendant NJ producer/rapper Brainorchestra about the art of sampling, being called "New Jersey's Alchemist", video games as a source of inspiration, '70s European film scores, and plenty more
Profiled ten of the 40+ territories (including interviews with company heads, promoters, and other industry insiders) covered in the 2023 edition of IQ Magazine's International Ticketing Report, which has been the only global guide to the live entertainment ticketing market since 2015 (requires a subscription to read)
Ahead of their June 2nd, 2023 appearance at the Barbican, I interviewed Arooj Aftab, Shahzad Ismaily, and Vijay Iyer about their near-telepathic chemistry throughout the ethereal 'Love in Exile' — one of the year's best albums
I caught up with legendary Senegalese singer Baaba Maal about community, connection, and 'Being' — his first album in seven years — before his May 30th, 2023 concert at the Barbican
I spoke with Philadelphia-based poet, musician, activist, visual artist, community educator, and Afrofuturist Moor Mother before her May 20th, 2023 gig at the Barbican, where she's set to perform her newest record Jazz Codes
Recapped the fourth (and final) season premiere of Succession, which revealed little on who ends the HBO saga as the winner but we've all learned to never count Logan Roy out of any battle
Beef cooks. For Yahoo, I reviewed Netflix's sharp dramedy — featuring career-best turns from Steven Yeun and Ali Wong — which starts off as a road rage revenge tale before descending into chaos and complex themes
Wrote a comprehensive guide on the post-pandemic state of the theatre & musicals sector for IQ Magazine's inaugural Touring Entertainment Report, featuring interviews with numerous producers, promoters, directors, and other industry experts (requires a subscription to read)
For my Stereogum debut, I wrote about the the Diplomats' timeless mixtape-of-sorts 'Diplomatic Immunity' as it approaches its 20th anniversary, and explored why the Harlem group's timeless opus and the Dipset movement were "more than just music"
I reviewed HBO's The Last of Us, which will probably go down as the greatest video game adaptation of all time
For Passion of the Weiss' list of 2022's best rap songs, I wrote about Cash Cobain's wavy sample drill anthem "SLIZZY LIKE"
I interviewed acclaimed trumpeter Yazz Ahmed and Lebanese oudist Rabih Abou-Khalil in the build-up to their 13th December, 2022 showcase of contemporary Arabic music at the Barbican, which also featured the haunting vocals of Emel
For Yahoo!, I spoke with Brian Tyree Henry about his haunting turn in Causeway, and the pain shared between Atlanta's Paper Boi & his character in the Apple TV film
For Okayplayer, I looked back on Roc Marciano's generation-defining classic 'Reloaded', and explored its impact on modern-day rap from an underground and mainstream perspective
Reviewed Amazon Prime's Mammals for Yahoo!, a cross between Moby-Dick and Mike Nichols' Closer that features some stellar performances from Sally Hawkins and James Corden (!)
With The Bear finally making its way to UK audiences on Disney+, I reviewed 2022's best new show for Yahoo! and argued the case for more TV dramas set in high-octane restaurants
I reviewed Gangs of London's second season for Yahoo!, a showcase of no-frills brutality that uses too many clichés but will appeal to fans of The Raid
I interviewed Gustavo Santaolalla in the build-up to his July 23rd, 2022 concert at the Barbican Centre, in which we spoke about a career that has seen him blaze a trail in Latin music and win back-to-back Academy Awards for composing Brokeback Mountain and Babel
I reviewed Danger Mouse & Black Thought's long-awaited collab record, a lush yet unrelenting record that stands out among the many excellent records leading the revival of socially-aware rap in 2022.
I wrote about the talented Quebec producer Nicholas Craven, who's logged credits with the likes of Griselda, Roc Marciano, Mach-Hommy, and many more of the underground's sharpest rappers
For my Okayplayer debut, I interviewed Cypress Hill's Sen Dog about the legendary group's 10th album 'Back in Black', a joint effort with renowned Detroit producer Black Milk
In my debut for Yahoo's Film section, I look back on Mike Newell's Donnie Brasco, an often under-appreciated classic that paved the way for grounded portrayals of the mob since it was first released 25 years ago
William Regal was crucial in establishing NXT's Black & Gold era as arguably the hottest wrestling ticket in town throughout the 2010s, and I wrote about why in this tribute for Fanfyte
For Passion of the Weiss' list of 2021's best albums (of any genre), I wrote about Alfa Mist's 'Bring Backs'
For Passion of the Weiss' list of 2021's best rap songs, I wrote about Boldy James & The Alchemist's "First 48 Freestyle"
For Fanfyte's end-of-year coverage, I wrote about Miro's brilliant 2021 in which he redefined the monster heel trope in wrestling as a holy bruiser devoted to his God and his wife
I wrote a retrospective on Bryan Danielson's last great run in WWE as the 'New' Daniel Bryan: a sinister eco-crusader who became one of the best bad guys in modern wrestling history
I interviewed Alfa Mist in the build-up to his December 4th, 2021 concert at the Barbican Centre, in which we discussed his latest album 'Bring Backs' and the influences behind his acclaimed project
I reviewed this compilation of unreleased material by various artists under the legendary Ghanian producer Dick Essilfie-Bondzie's Essiebons label: a collection of effervescent highlife from the label's golden era of the 1970s
I interviewed singer/songwriter BeMyFiasco about the making of her jubilant debut album 'Where I Left You', her musical influences, being mentored by Phonte of Little Brother and Foreign Exchange, and much more
My defence of (arguably) the most criticised entry in the whole Halloween franchise - a mess of a film which still manages to satirise celebrity & exploitation, while foreshadowing mass media trends nearly 20 years on from its release
I wrote about the WWE's relationship with the War on Terror, which began as an earnest tribute to America before often regressing into rabid jingoism and offensive stereotyping in the 20 years since 9/11
I went deep into Lloyd Banks' first album in 11 years, a project that's darker and more introspective than what we're accustomed to hearing from the 'Punchline King'
I looked back on Mannie Fresh & Baby's most successful album as the Big Tymers, released during a period of uncertainty at Cash Money despite massive success at the turn of the millenium
I reviewed Rejjie Snow's second studio album: a blissful effort that fluidly blends hip hop and R&B into his attempt at crafting a joyously cinematic soundtrack
I reviewed Dave's excellent sophomore album: a mature, compelling record that cements him as a voice of a disenchanted generation
I wrote about how Bad Bunny's stellar showing at WrestleMania 37 was a rare instance of WWE not dropping the ball on being trendy, and how the company needs to take heed of hip hop's deep love of pro wrestling for it's own good
I caught up with the Norwegian producer Ol' Burger Beats about his love for jazz, expanding his influences through sampling, his aversion to the 'lo-fi' label, and more
I reviewed Mdou Moctar's latest album 'Afrique Victime', a scorching record that cements him as one of the world's most exciting guitarists right now
For Passion of the Weiss' DMX tribute series, I wrote about one of his last musical contributions after a ten-month prison stint, reuniting with The LOX and proving how much he had left in the tank before tragedy struck
I revisited the production discography of famed New York producer Harry Fraud, ranging from boom bap love letters to DatPiff classics
I reviewed Alfa Mist's latest album 'Bring Backs', a hypnotic love letter to London and more evidence that the UK has the most exciting jazz scene in the world right now
A retrospective on Kanye West's last great album in 'The Life of Pablo', which turned five years old on Valentine's Day 2021
I paid tribute to arguably MF DOOM's most underrated album, recorded under the guise of one of his alter-egos in 'Viktor Vaughn'
I explored the late MF DOOM's ties with comic book culture and how it formed the foundations of his work for Crack Magazine
I wrote about how rap music has intersected with The Sopranos and vice versa for Passionweiss