The Unconventionals

Chan-wook Park: Thirst
The director's dark revenge trilogy of Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance were astonishing examples of the noir thriller. Now the Korean film-maker is exploring the subject of vampires. Following the release of the beautiful Swedish film; Let The Right One In, I have high hopes for Park's foray into the horror genre.

Richard Linklater: Me and Orson Welles
1937, and a young Orson Welles is directing the theatre production of Julius Caesar. Linklater always understands characters and insists on naturalistic performances. Christian McKay is a revelation as Welles and Zac Efron, away from his High School Musical noose, gives a mature performance. The production should also be commended for convincingly portraying 30's America.

James Cameron: Avatar
Combining a titanic (sorry) budget and revolutionary special effects, Avatar looks set to be revelatory. Given Cameron's science-fiction pedigree, at the very least this film should be a mammoth spectacle.

Pixar: UP
Following the magnificent Wall E, Pixar are tackling a decidedly more human story. The elderly protagonist is a first, but as demonstrated in Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, an aged character works as well as a teenager. Press screenings indicate that Pixar's standards are ever-increasing.

Nicolas Winding Refn: Bronson
Tagged as the Clockwork Orange of the 21st Century, the films cinematography is striking and Tom Hardy, as the titular lead, gives an electrifying performance.

Alex Rivera: Sleep Dealer
Made with a low budget, the film is a disturbing distopian vision of future technologies and social reliance.

Shane Meadows: Somers Town
The flag bearer for British independent film-making, Meadows' latest should be another stark but creative exploration of life in suburban England.

Top 100 Hip-Hop Tracks Of All Time

What follows is the culmination of 15 years’ work, if it can be referred to as such. A lot of time, money and love has gone into the composing of this list, which started out as a Top 50 until I realised there was no possible way that I could cut any of these tracks. So without further ado, here are my Top 100 hip-hop tracks:
100. I Got 5 On It - LunizA nostalgic choice - one of my first CD singles - a summer ode to mary jane.
99. Overnight - Hudson MohawkeThe most recent addition, the Glasgow beatsmith’s club-ready fractured instrumental which just edges out label-mate Flying Lotus’ ‘Massage Situation’.
98. Live At The BBQ - Main SourceA consummate posse cut, featuring the then unknown Nasir Jones AKA Nas.
97. Holla If Ya Hear Me - 2PacThe perfect distillation of Tupac Shakur’s fury, swagger and street insight.
96. Down With The King - Run DMC/Pete Rock & CL SmoothA leg-up for past masters courtesy of the mid ‘90’s most in-demand beat-maker
95. Thuggish Ruggish Bone - Bone Thugs N HarmonyCleveland’s finest announced their arrival with this truly unique gem. Just don’t mention Blazin’ Squad.
94. The Man To Praise - Percee PNew York old-school mainstay takes a lap of honour with help from Madlib.
93. Concrete Schoolyard - Jurassic 5Warm, witty childhood reminiscences from the old-school throwbacks.
92. Get Ur Freak On - Missy ElliottTimbaland’s finest ever production and a visionary megastar at the top of her game.
91. The Scenic Route - PanaceaDaisy age throwback from the reformed Rawkus label, with buttery flows and melodic beats.
90. Mice In The Presence Of The Lion - HardnoiseA nod to the UK scene of the ‘80s, which spawned other luminaries such as the London Posse and Hijack.
89. Regulate - Warren G/Nate Dogg“It was a clear black night, a clear white moon”.88. Nobody Beats The Biz - Biz MarkieOften derided as comedy-rap, Biz was also responsible for some of the genre’s most influential novelty classics. Ask Rahzel.
87. Bump - Spank RockFilthy, funny and funky, mostly courtesy of Amanda Blank’s scene-stealing last verse.
86. Workinonit - Jay Dee/J DillaThe late, great producer’s ‘Donuts’ was a visionary suggestion of future routes for hip-hop.
85. Livin’ Proof - Group HomeStark New York boom-bap, with the trademark Premier cuts.
84. 99 Problems - Jay-ZRick Rubin-bolstered flossing from one of the greatest.
83. Nothing In Particular - The BrotherhoodLittle known gem from the solitary album (5* in Hip Hop Connection) by the UK’s Shylock, Spyce and Mr Dexter.
82. Children’s Story - Slick RickWimbledon’s finest at his very best. No Slick Rick, no Snoop.
81. The Corner - Common/Last PoetsKanye West’s finest moment behind the boards, as Common ropes in the venerable Last Poets to pay tribute to a cornerstone (pardon the pun) of ghetto life.
80. Raw - Big Daddy KanePure lyrical skills from one of the sharpest rhyme-writers to pick up the pen.
79. You Got Me - The Roots/Erykah BaduThe wonderful, Jill Scott-penned hook and ?uestlove’s drum n’ bass breakdown made this one of the Philly crew’s best.
78. All That I Got Is You - Ghostface KillahHeartfelt, childhood ode to poverty and love by the otherwise seemingly Neanderthal Wu-Tang Clansman.
77. Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme - EdanGeeky, fan-boy tribute to his predecessors from hip-hop scholar Edan.
76. Grindin’ - ClipseMinimal production genius from Pharrell underpins his two protégé’s street smart hustle.
75. South Bronx - BDPFierce defence of hip-hop’s geographical origins from the Boogie Down’s most famous team KRS One and Scott La Rock.
74. The Militia - Gangstarr/Big Shug/Freddie FoxxxA powerhouse collaboration, made all the more memorable by Freddie Foxxx’s frankly terrifying final verse.
73. Rappers Delight - Sugarhill GangThe first hip-hop track? A dubious claim perhaps, but one of the most iconic, infectious ditties ever committed to wax.
72. Run The Line - Peanut Butter Wolf/Rasco/Q-BertStones Throw Records’ first breakthrough, initiated by label founder and vinyl junkie PBW, backed by razor-sharp beats and rhymes.
71. Talk Like Sex - Kool G RapMisogynistic to the extreme, G Rap’s filth-fest goes all-out to offend but maintains a sense of humour. Sample lyric: “Time or place don’t matter to me sweetie, I’ll fuck you on a (sic) A-train while I write graffiti”.
70. Award Tour - A Tribe Called QuestOne of Q-Tip and co’s finest, boasting a fabulous intro and hefty beat.
69. My Mind’s Playin’ Tricks On Me - Geto BoysAffecting study of urban paranoia from Houston’s Geto Boys.
68. Resurrection - Common SenseBefore he lost the ‘Sense’, Chicago’s dazzling MC laureate crafted the visionary album ‘ Resurrection’. It’s title track still sounds astonishing.
67. Fix Up Look Sharp - Dizzee RascalA colossal beat and Dizzee’s irrepressible rhyme style combine to create one of the UK scene’s biggest crossover hits.
66. Drop - The PharcydeBoasting one of J Dilla’s greatest beats and a fantastic, boundary-pushing video from Spike Jonze, these LA stoners came up with another winner in ‘95.
65. Over The Counter - Madlib/Talib KweliInsanely talented leftfield pairing with a scorching beat and bassline providing the platform for Kweli to deliver one of his best verses.
64. It Was A Good Day - Ice CubeBefore the dismal film career got in the way, Cube was a great documenter of life in the hood and its ups and downs, as this warm track shows.
63. Sucker MCs - Run DMCOft-quoted first release from hip-hop’s first megastars.
62. Real Estate - Blak TwangFrom the ill-fated holy grail of UK hip-hop, Taipanic’s ‘Dettwork South East’ came this stark depiction of life on the Tanners Hill estate in SE8, filtering Nas’ ghetto narratives through a British lens.
61. Bring The Noise - Public Enemy“Yeeeaaah booooooy”.
60. Bucky Done Gun - MIAA straight lift of Deise Tigrona’s Brazilian baile funk classic ‘Injecao’, supplied by MIA’s producer Diplo.
59. Juicy - Notorious BIGBIG’s rags to riches tale was recently the subject of a Hollywood movie. Here, he tells it in his own words.
58. Shimmy Shimmy Ya - Ol’ Dirty BastardThe late, great ODB, the Wu-Tang’s loose cannon with a crazy, deranged classic.
57. Devil’s Son - Big LDevilish by name and nature, Big L’s first single packed in the punch-lines.
56. Fuck The Police - Jay Dee/J DillaOne of the greatest producers and possibly the most loved and eulogised artist no longer with us.
55. Cell Therapy - Goodie MobBefore Cee-Lo Green became synonymous with Gnarls Barkley he was a founder member of the unique and trail-blazing Goodie Mob, always in Outkast’s shadow but creators of this classic.
54. Eye Know - De La SoulThe archetypal daisy age track. Peace and love hadn’t sounded so good since the ‘60s.
53. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaata & The Soul Sonic ForceIgnoring its featuring in any film scene involving break-dancing, this early electro classic paved the way for a huge amount of subsequent dance-floor fillers.
52. Microphone Fiend - Eric B & RakimWhen I interviewed Blak Twang back in 2003, he told me that it was this track which first inspired him to become a rapper. It’s not hard to see why.
51. Top Billin’ - Audio TwoProbably the most simplistic beat and rhyme scheme of any hip-hop track, but somehow still sounds glorious.
50. Fortified Live - Reflection Eternal/Mos Def/Mr ManThe centre-point of Rawkus’ underground classic ‘Soundbombing’, with Kweli and Mos Def showing why they were heralded as saviours of alternative hip-hop.
49. Sound Of Da Police - KRS OneDamning indictment of New York’s finest from KRS with its iconic “woop woop” chorus and Jamaican-style toasting.
48. Bullet In The Head - Rage Against The MachineTry telling Zach De La Rocha he’s not in a hip-hop band. That dude is angry.
47. Braggin’ Writes - J-LiveBewildering rhyme skills from an unsung maestro of the art-form.
46. What’s My Name - Snoop Doggy DoggIf only for the hilarity of Snoop performing it at Live 8 and getting the broadcasters in all kinds of trouble for his judicious use of ‘fruity’ language.
45. The Seed (2.0) - The Roots/Cody ChestnuttA spruce-up of Cody’s bizarre, funky-as-hell ode to procreation performed by the legendary Roots crew.
44. Dettwork South East - Blak TwangThe London anthem to end them all, edging out London Posse’s ‘How’s Life In London?’.
43. I Know You Got Soul - Eric B & RakimProbably the most-quoted track in hip-hop history, its Bobby Byrd sample creating the canvas for Rakim to create pure verbal art.
42. Welcome To The Terrordome - Public EnemyAn exhausting barrage of samples and ideas courtesy of the Bomb Squad, the co-operative production geniuses behind PE’s ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’.
41. Rock The Bells - LL Cool JIt’s hard to believe now, given the god-awful loverman schtick LL has been dining out on since 1990, but once he was the greatest battle rapper alive. This track is testament to those days.
40. Straight Outta Compton - NWABirthed ‘gangsta rap’ in the public consciousness and showed the breathtaking capabilities of a fired-up Ice Cube.
39. Ego Trippin’ - Ultramagnetic McsFrom the ‘88 classic ‘Critical Beatdown’ came this swaggering, old-school stormer.
38. Unbelievable - Notorious BIGOne of DJ Premier’s best productions and a cheeky R Kelly vocal sample on the hook gave Biggie all the ammo he needed to get busy.
37. The Takeover - Jay-ZFrom Jay-Z’s finest hour ‘The Blueprint’, this Doors-sampling put-down of Nas and Mobb Deep showcased a masterful MC at his most cutting.
36. Scenario - A Tribe Called Quest/Leaders Of The New SchoolIntroduced to the world a young Busta Rhymes, whose brilliant, bonkers verse stole the show and made him the household name he is today.
35. Bang Your Head - GravediggazWu-Tang spin-off project from leader The RZA which featured this astonishing adrenaline shot, characterised by screaming, bowel-shaking bass and OTT performances all round.
34. Liquid Swords - Genius/GZAAn unlikely dalliance with ska, showing the Wu-Tang have a knack for finding great source material, regardless of the genre.
33. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5Took hip-hop out of the clubs and on to the street. Melle Mel’s social commentary engaging the fledgling movement with the problems at the core of its communities. There was no turning back from here.
32. Eric B Is President - Eric B & RakimFrom Eric B & Rakim’s stellar debut ‘Paid In Full’, which is basically the key text for any aspirant MC.
31. End To End Burners - Company FlowFiercely underground crew expressing their love for the train carriage graffiti ‘burners’ which popped up all over New York in the early ‘80s.
30. Shake Your Rump - Beastie BoysFrom the Beastie’s wonderful ‘Paul’s Boutique’ album, which with help from the Dust Brothers, revolutionised the world of sampling.
29. The Light - CommonA love song every bit as beautiful as those of the Motown greats. Reputedly inspired by Erykah Badu, the muse of choice for boho hip-hoppers the world over.
28. Lady Don’t Tek No - LatyrxAn irresistible invitation to indulge dance-floor desires by bay area legends Lyrics Born and Lateef. Along with DJ Shadow and Blackalicious they formed the highly reputable Solesides collective.
27. Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park) - Nas“Sentence begins indented, with formality. Moderations infinite, money-wise or physiology. Poetry, that’s a part of me.”
26. Organ Donor - DJ ShadowThe highest ranking instrumental track, from Shadow’s epoch-making opus ‘Endtroducing’.
25. Witness (One Hope) - Roots ManuvaThe highest-ranking UK track, by the brilliant Rodney Smith. A timely reminder of the capabilities of home-grown talent in a US-dominated industry.
24. Nuthin’ But A G Thang - Dr Dre/Snoop Doggy DoggG-funk’s finest hour, the high-pitched synths and laconic drums of Dre’s early ‘90s creations were showcased brilliantly here while a young MC with a sing-song drawl and laid-back delivery announced his arrival to the world.
23. Hip-Hop - Dead PrezFurious political polemic from MC’s Stic Man and M1, backed up by what could possibly be the heaviest bassline ever committed to wax.
22. Patriotism - Company FlowAnother onslaught of politics, delivered with a sarcastic scowl by El-P and Big Juss and backed by the dense production style which characterised El-P’s beats and made him one of the most challenging producers since the Bomb Squad.
21. Alphabet Aerobics - BlackaliciousA harmless bit of showboating here, as Gift Of Gab pulls out his party piece verbal work-out over a quickening beat. I want to find a karaoke bar who will let me attempt a version.
20. Ms Jackson - OutkastOutkast’s heartfelt apology to a certain “baby momma’s momma” with Andre 3000 showing his wonderful knack for composing choruses which embed themselves in your brain, never to leave.
19. Passin’ Me By - The PharcydeA breath of fresh air in ‘92, these LA oddballs were self-deprecating, funny and shy. This break-through track heralded the arrival of a west coast counter-point to the macho tales of guns and gangs which characterised the city‘s output at the time.
18. Stan - EminemHell, even the Dido sample worked on this truly unique work by one of hip-hop’s all-time biggest stars. The form and structure of this track is where its genius lies, Eminem skewering conventional wisdom with a seven minute epic told from the perspective of a deranged fan. It almost topped the UK Christmas chart, too.
17. ‘93 ‘Til Infinity - Souls Of MischiefSimilarly to J5’s ‘Concrete Schoolyard’, Souls Of Mischief reminisce beautifully on this all-time classic from the year of its title.
16. Come Clean - Jeru Tha DamajaDJ Premier at the height of his powers blessed his protégé with a beat that’s as close to perfect as any on this list.
15. The Headbanger - EPMDThe finest example of the posse cut, with great turns from Erick Sermon, Parrish Smith and K-Solo before Redman turns up with his characteristic zany style and walks away with the plaudits. The beat is like a shot of pure adrenaline, too.
14. Fight The Power - Public EnemyChuck D lays into some holy cows on this 1989 classic from Spike Lee’s seminal ‘Do The Right Thing’. Elvis and John Wayne get it in the neck as Chuck vents his righteous fury over a deluge of samples.
13. Shook Ones Pt 2 - Mobb DeepCold-as-ice self-produced street smarts form Mobb Deep’s Havoc and Prodigy who continued the chronicles of the 41st Side Queensbridge projects started by neighbour Nas, but imbued them with chilling menace and ill-intent.
12. Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J“Don’t call it a comeback!”
11. CREAM (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) - Wu-Tang ClanThe hauntingly beautiful piano sample frames Inspectah Deck and Raekwon’s tales of the hard-knock life. From a damn-near perfect debut LP, this was undeniably one of its most special moments.
10. Work The Angles - Dilated PeoplesTextbook underground hip-hop with dextrous cutting, pounding beats and insightful MCs. Everything about this track is executed so clinically it could have been fashioned by robots.
9. 8 Pt Agenda - The Herbaliser/LatyrxNinja Tune’s Herbaliser may not have been a name you’d expect to see on this list, their usual stock in trade being chilled-out beats for smoking to. However, on this rare nugget, they enlist Latyrx to school all the fakers out there with their inventive manifesto, filled with pearls like “We don’t believe in other people stealing the ideas that our cerebrums cultivate and create. Make no mistake”.
8. Mass Appeal - GangstarrWhile ‘Unbelievable’ may be close and ‘Come Clean’ equally pulls no punches, DJ Premier saved his greatest sonic creation for his day job. The sample is amazingly simple and the scratching akin to a manual for aspirant turntable wizards. Guru, as always, allows his monotone flow to complete the tripartite wonder that is ‘Mass Appeal’.
7. Life’s A Bitch - Nas/AZA stunning evocation of impending manhood and coming of age from arguably the greatest hip-hop album ever recorded, Nas’ ‘Illmatic’. “I work up early on my born day. I’m 20, it’s a blessing, the essence of adolescence leaves my body, now I’m freshened.”
6. Method Man - Wu-Tang ClanGuru once noted that the key to being a great MC is “mostly the voice”. Method Man definitely fits into this category of great MC, he could literally say anything and it would sound amazing. Again, not convinced by the acting career, however.
5. Nature Of The Threat - Ras KassFrom the underground classic ‘Soul On Ice’, ‘Nature Of The Threat’ is that distinctly un-radio friendly concept, the eight minute dissection of the shameful history of western civilization, set to music. Citing Schopenhauer amongst others, Ras Kass’s academic bombardment both shocks and inspires, in equal measures.
4. TROY (They Reminisce Over You) - Pete Rock & CL SmoothA masterfully-placed horn sample dominates this layered, indelible track by the third of ‘90s hip-hop’s acknowleged masters, after Premier and The RZA. The heartfelt lyrics obliquely pay tribute to a deceased friend, Trouble T-Roy of Heavy D & The Boys.
3. My Melody - Eric B & RakimAnother selection from ‘Paid In Full’, elevated to a much-higher placing than ‘I Know You Got Soul’ and ‘Eric B Is President’ by virtue of Rakim’s incredible third verse, which may well be the best ever laid down.
2. Respiration - Blackstar/CommonAlthough Talib Kweli might have something to say about that. His contribution to this conceptual track about the breathing city boasts line after line of poetic majesty, out-stripping excellent contributions from Mos Def and Common. “Look in the skies for God, what you’ll see besides smog is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene”.
1. Rebel Without A Pause - Public EnemyTopping the poll is this tour-de-force from possibly the most important act of the 1980s. A screeching, insistent siren leaps out from the Bomb Squad’s dense, noisy squall of a track, while Chuck D’s righteous fury inspires and hits like a battering ram. There’s been nothing like it before or since. All the other elements which made PE such a vital group - Flava Flav’s comic relief, Terminator X’s signature scratch - are present and correct and play their part to perfection.The Top 100

Rich's 300 Word Reviews

Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea)
Dir: Hayao Miyazaki

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Jap 2008) is the latest animated feature by the revered director Hayao Miyazaki. As with the majority of his films, the auteur took the roles of screenwriter and lead animator, as well as director.
The film is essentially an exploration of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, where a 5 year-old boy discovers a goldfish of royal descent who wants to be a human. But that’s where similarities with Anderson’s fable end: As with many of Miyazaki’s features, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea becomes a parable on modern Japan and the countries isolation from values and customs it upheld in the past. Beginning with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), through to My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and on to Princess Mononoke (1997), the filmmaker has always explored Japan’s disregard for its environment.

Dispite his moral piety, Miyazaki is careful not to alienate his audience and he gives his characters and their surroundings remarkable depth; adding layer after layer of imaginative detail to every cell of animation. Miyazaki creates his films to be accessible to both children and adults and refuses to patronise either.
The soundtrack by the director’s longterm collaborator Joe Hisaishi is a sweeping orchestral piece that never distracts us from the images onscreen.
Although arguably lacking the originality or clear voice of his much cherished My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is a welcome addition to Miyazaki’s sociological catalogue.
Since 2001, when Spirited Away took the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the West has begun to take notice. Even John Lasseter; head of Pixar Studios and dedicated admirer of Miyazaki’s work is beginning to pay homage. One wonders if Wall E (2008) would have been conceived if it were not for Miyazaki.

Trailer @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXI7x6ExPuc