Vice beats
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Vice beats
|birth_name = Vice beats
|birth_date = June 18, 1984
|birth_place = Birmingham, U.K.
|genre =
|occupation =
- Music producer
|years_active = 1984–present
James Kennaby (born 18th June 1984) better known by his stage name Vice beats, is a UK based music producer, podcast host, event creator and educator. He has long been part of the UK Hip-Hop scene. His most notable release to date is the only official UK based J Dilla tribute to date entitled Dilla: The Timeless Tribute.
As a music producer, Vice beats led a Birmingham, UK based Funk / Soul band Genius Collective, who received critical acclaim from 2010 - 2013 from BBC Introducing, Craig Charles, Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music and more.
Vice beats created Diggin The Crates in 2020, a podcast exploring Hip-Hop culture at large. Currently in its 3rd season, previous guests have included Marley Marl, Romesh Ranganathan, Blu (rapper) and a wide variety of DJs, producers, rappers and ambassadors of the Hip-Hop scene. Vice beats was the managing editor for UK based Hip-Hop magazine Wordplay Magazine [1] supporting artists internationally, including interviewing established musicians. The most notable being the cover story with Anderson Paak, in addition to DJ Premier, Marley Marl,Illa J and more.
Biography
Early life
Vice beats was born in Birmingham, UK, to parents David and Karen Kennaby. He discovered music through a large record collection at home, spanning from Jazz to Blues, Soul and more. Whilst at school he was introduced to Hip-Hop through artists including The Fugees,Eminem,Will Smith and dominant French artists including Suprême NTM,IAM (band) and MC Solaar.
Vice beats musical journey began with poetry, and at age 17, whilst studying at Joseph Chamberlain College in Birmingham, UK, he won the Oxford University Revolution Literary Award for a poem entitled "Revolution", an award that was presented to him at Oxford University.[2]
Solo career
In 2017, having worked with a variety of musicians and groups, Vice beats began his solo production career, moving away from rapping and group collaborations. In 2017 he released his first solo project "Directions", a concept piece with each track linked to a compass point. The EP featured a variety of independent musicians.
After a series of single releases, in 2019 the first single was released from his first full-length album "Dilla: The Timeless Tribute", an official tribute to J Dilla. Vice beats worked with the James Dewitt Yancey Foundation. The organisation established by J Dilla's family after his passing (originally the J Dilla Foundation). The album's lead single "That Love" is a reworking of Slum Village "Fall In Love". The album reworked Miguel Atwood-Ferguson "Suite For Ma Dukes" a classical tribute to J Dilla, recorded in Los Angeles. The album was released in February 2020, with a launch party at cHIP sHOP in Brixton, London. The album received critical acclaim and a wide variety of editorial playlists on Spotify including Jazz Rap. The album received radio play from DJs including DJ Premier, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Gilles Peterson and more.
After the J Dilla tribute, Vice beats released a series of singles and EPs. Most notably Lost Time, released in 2021 featuring London based vocalist Ellie Harris and Manchester based MC Kinkai, alongside Bristol based saxophonist Thalassic. In the same year Vice beats released "Beats N Bobs", a collection of songs created within a 10 year period, featuring graphics by Greg Blackman.
In September 2022, Vice beats released "The Totem Trilogy Part 2" in collaboration with Bristol based band The Scribes. The EP features Akil of Jurassic 5 and Dizzy Dustin of Ugly Duckling (hip hop group).
2023 saw the release of Vice beats second studio album "Aspects". The album was developed during Covid-19, and took 3 years to make. Aspects explores connection in different forms. The artwork was created by Japanese artist Nearski, and a wide variety of musicians from around the world including Blu, Napoleon Da Legend, Pseudo Slang, Shelley Harland and more. The album was funded by Help Musicians and MOBO Awards.
Podcasting and journalism
In 2009 Vice beats (at this point called Vice) launched his first podcast, on Podomatic called Basement Sessions[3] featuring a range of DJs from the UK and America. The shows included a mix of interviews and guest mixes. The podcast was successful enough to gain Arts Council funding for a 1 day event in Birmingham in September 2009, UK called Basement Sessions Live, featuring live performances, DJs, live graffiti, breakdancing and retro games.[4] Basement Sessions continued until 2013.
Vice beats moved to Bristol, UK and joined Passion Radio, a community music station based on Stokes Croft, Bristol, starting with a live radio show in September 2013, entitled Kaleidoscope Radio [5] producing 40 shows over the course of 2 years.
References
External links
- Official website
- Vice beats discography at Discogs
- Vice beats Bandcamp
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