WONGIE FUTURE SOUL SONG OF THE WEEK: kwabs - pray for love

kwabs - pray for love
produced by plan b (where is he these days?), this is a dramatic sparse number that pushes kwabena's strong vocals front and center. definitely an artist already making 2014 a good music year.

WONGIE INDIE SONG OF THE WEEK: plan b - deepest shame

plan b - deepest shame
the 2nd single off his current #1 soundtrack 'ill manors', plan b releases this theme song about one of the characters from his upcoming gritty directorial debut. played by actress anouska mond, 'deepest shame' sees plan b sound more soulful than his previously retro vibe. the end result is something really dynamic from an equally amazing album!

WONGIE HIP HOP SONG OF THE WEEK: plan b - ill manors

plan b - ill manors
[the first single from his upcoming hip hop musical feature of the same name, ben drew (aka plan b) has been working on the film since 2008 and only got around to funding the feature after the success of defamation of strickland banks album/project. ill manors will be a gritty look at UK youth and will feature a song (all done by plan b) for each character. it sounds like a complex project, (which you can see the pilot short film called 'michelle' here if you want to get a taster) but the first single is KICKING and raw and amazing. i cannot wait to hear more!]

NEW PLAN B!: plan b - writing's on the wall

plan b - writing's on the wall
[6th (!!!) single lifted off the defamation of strickland banks album. awesome!]

LIVE WONGIE: plan b - love goes down / in the bleak midwinter (live @ bbc radio 1 live lounge)

plan b - love goes down (live @ bbc radio 1 live lounge)
[ben drew returns to the live lounge to offer up a version of his latest single. this guy definitely is one of the best acts of the year and i can't wait to hear what he has up his sleeve in the coming year. brilliant!]


plan b - in the bleak midwinter (live @ bbc radio 1 live lounge)
[further proof that plan b's voice is AWESOME live! what a lovely remake of a classic xmas tune!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: plan b - love goes down

plan b - love goes down
[the defamation of strickland banks saga continues with this latest installment of love gone horribly wrong. even though this jumps back to before strickland goes to jail, this non-linear video saga is only made better by the amazing tracks taken off the album. oh and paul young makes a cameo in this!]

if you want to see how the story has unfolded in a linear timeline, check out she said, then prayin and finally with the video below:

plan b - the recluse

WONGIE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: plan b - prayin'

plan b - prayin'
[if you have been following the wonderful music video series of plan b's awesome album 'the defamation of strickland banks', you'll TOTALLY love this extended 6 mins mini movie that shows what happens to strickland when he's ends up in prison (if only all prison riots were dance offs!). plan b is definitely one of the most exciting acts to come out of the UK this year and this continues to showcase his skills as an all around performer. brilliant!]

LIVE WONGIE: plan b - she said / pass out (tinie tempah cover) (live @ bbc live lounge)

plan b - she said (live @ bbc live lounge)
[sweeeeeeet!!! and lush!!!]


plan b - pass out (tinie tempah cover)(live @ bbc live lounge)
[this song never made my blip, but this hot cover really sells it!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: plan b - she said

plan b - she said
[the continuing story of 'the defamation of strickland banks' (aka the name of plan b's album) is a fascinating project that not only incorporates a plotline of a dethroned singer (due to a sex scandal, no less, featuring the current star of skins, kaya scodelario), but also showcases ben's vocals and rapping through a 60's northern soul filter. it's all pretty cool, if you ask me!

PS: if you want to see the 1st part of this ongoing series, check out the awesome video for the single 'gone too long' here]

LIVE WONGIE: plan b - stay too long (live @ bbc live in session)

plan b - stay too long (live @ bbc in session)
[damn, ben (aka plan b) can actually do this song live! i have newfound respect for this rapper/singer now. great song!]

NEW PLAN B!: plan b - stay too long (pendulum remix) / stay to long (original version)

plan b - stay too long (pendulum remix)
[can't say which version i like more, but the pendulum remix definitely hides his everyman vocal talent. this is going to be an underground hit!]


plan b - stay to long
[whoever is directing his videos, they are doing an awesome job at selling his image and music! helps that ben drew is a bit of an actor himself. definitely an interesting act coming out of the UK at the moment!]

AUDIO BUZZ: chase & status feat plan b - end credits

chase & status feat plan b - end credits
[featured in the upcoming michael caine action film harry brown, this is sweet stuff!]