Manchester lyricist Skittles has previewed a track from his forthcoming album Poor with £100 Trainers. The single features remixes from Zed Bias, Joe Kalius and Dub Phizix. Excellent video as well, make sure you watch it full screen and HD. Out on November 7th.

We wanted to know more about this elusive character whose work we’ve been following for a while, and managed to catch up with him to get a few answers…

Who are you and what do you do?

SKITTLES… artist, writer, producer, shadowman

Where did you grow up?

South Manchester

What music was around when you were growing up? What are your influences beyond music?

My dad’s a DJ, loves his soul an’ mowtown, I take great influence from him an’ motown. I always was a big MJ fan… From school got on the urban thing… But I was always a bit different… Tried to keep it proppa relatable.

And who do you listen to now?

You know what… music is work. I aint workin’ on your tune so I aint listenin’ to it! But I’m social so hear whats ‘in’ out an about…I hear my peoples’ music… (DUB PHIZIX, BROKE ‘N’ £NGLISH, CHIMPO, ROLLA, SPARX etc. an this is what i would choose to listen to. I’m a cunt.)

When did you decide to start making music?

Dunno really… It wasn’t something I decided to do one day, my life just kind of took that direction. There were lots of MC’s at my school. I wrote but wasn’t good enough to be confident (at least I didn’t think I was) left school and I was the only rhymer in my close circle of friends. At about 16, I bumbled into an old friend I hadn’t seen in years, he was an mc an’ was pretty good we formed the Mank-Union started puttin’ some stuff down.. .This didn’t work out…. An here I am…ha!

How would you describe your sound?

VOCAL/REAL/PERSONAL/BROAD/VARIED/SHADOW!

Tell us about your upcoming album, ‘Poor with £100 Trainers’ – what is the inspiration behind the album, who have you collaborated with, or is it a solo project?

Features from Fallacy, Fox, Saphire, track with Chimpo, track with Dub Phizix… PROBS FORGETTIN PEEPS AS USUAL.. SOZ

Who came up with the idea for the ‘Dot2Dot’ video – it’s great!

Thank you… Hate to say it but… My idea! But my good friends Pete Walker and Tom Dooran added a lot in production.

What would you be doing if you weren’t making music?

Stealin’ stuff an sellin’ stuff

Describe a day in the life of Skittles…

I do what I want to be honest, but there’s always work to be done… I make tunes when it happens.. .I keep my diary empty but get a lot done!

If you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

OBVIOUSLY MICHAEL JACKSON!

Kelly or Tulisa?

Don’t be daft, Kelly all day.

Takeaway Don or Kitchen King?

Kitchen shadow lord of the darkside

Finally, complete the sentence, ‘Get Some…’

WEED

+++++++

For more info about Skittles including tour dates and releases check Example Media.

Thank god it’s Friday! Phonica Records, Streets of Beige and Nonsense have teamed up to present an unmissable party happening tonight. Bringing North American talent to East London’s Visions Video Bar, this is a rare chance to see Ital who will be making his UK live debut alongside Protect-U, Trevor Jackson and Doldrums. Head here for more info.

Watch the clip below for a taster of Ital’s skewed take on house music:

Brooklyn’s Daniel Lopatin has been gently and carefully constructing his vision of sound since back in 2007 when Betrayed In The Octagon met with critical if not commercial acclaim marking his rite of passage as a fully fledged recording artist and demonstrating all of the flourishes fans have come to know and love; Lopatin has gone on to release four more trademark albums ahead of 2011′s Replica, with 2010′s Returnal marking perhaps the most charged ambition with which to break through the misty arena of fan worship and scorch a path through bigger and broader horizons. Now with the piano drenched melancholic Replica due to drop next month he will surely see that dream bear fruit. Check this video for a taste of what’s to come:

The first track to be taken from DaVinci’s latest EP, Feast or Famine. Available to download for free through Bay Area label SWTBRDS here. Super tight production by Merk S. Villain, those pads are live. Real hip hop, real solid. Support this.

Directed by Johan Thomas & Al Jieh
Shot by Al Jieh
Edited by Tim Jieh

Dope Rule Everything Around Me…

Follow @DaVinci415 and @MerkSVillain on Twitter.

One of our favourite producers Lunice has just premiered this video for the track Glow off his new One Hunned EP which is out now on LuckyMe records.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rap video before where the artists look like they’re having so much fun! Directed by Spike Jonze.

On a different tip, and in my opinion a better tune, Common feat. Nas – Ghetto Dreams. Directed by Matt Alonzo.

New joint from rapper Fam-Lay produced by Chad Hugo of the Neptunes. Check out the fresh video… Summer bounce.

Out to Al and TW for bringing this one to my attention. The perfect marriage of 90s house and hip-hop, and a pretty dope video too. Check it out. Free download here.

Steelo1, Sneakbo, English Frank and DVS team up for this UK rap banger.

Sniper and the crew are back. This time they’re making a music video. If you missed it last time round, check the previous episodes here.

Update! You can download the track via ebay here!

Strange little documentary featuring behind the scenes footage of Jay-Z and Kanye West making Watch The Throne. I like the way it’s cut with old library footage from before Kanye blew up. Watch out for Russell Crowe and Beyonce cameos.

For more videos like this visit Intro-spective.

Kanye West & Jay-Z: Watch The Throne Documentary from introspective on Vimeo.

I have to admit, there’s something about this video that’s so strangely.. right.

Big H’s Wake Ep remixed to Rude Kid’s Electric instrumental
(EDIT: No! Sorry, Rude Kid’s Electric instrumental inspired this beat, but is different, this is indeed produced by Flash G)

I’ve had the chorus going off in my head since the tune came out.. quite a while ago (it has been a problem)

Wake up, wake up, morning time, open the curtain, see sunshine