#MusicMonday #ESPspotlight Review: Lily Allen, 'SHEEZUS' Take The Wheel...

Let me first preface this by saying, that at no time in my life have I EVER been a Lily Allen fan. She is back however, and she does want to claim pole position. Stripper or podium? Well I guess that's your decision, based on her last video - though of course that would imply that you entirely missed it's intended context. Score 1 for her, but I maintain - never been a fan.

In fact, I would go so far as to say, that it's always mystified me why anyone would like her as an Artist - period, because as far as I can tell, she's never really 'sung'? That being said; I listened to her latest album, 'Sheezus' - out today - with an open(ish) mind, after catching wind of the controversy surrounding her album preview track 'Hard Out Here' some months ago. Fully expecting that to have been a one-time interest, I pressed play on the iTunes preview, and waited (dreaded) patiently for the title track to begin.

To say 'she talks a good game' is to withhold her dues unfairly. Yes, you really read that right. Lily Allen has all of the wit and sarcasm of a modern day British comedian, with the punchlines to boot (who knew?). Skirting on the border of Religious sacrilege, as much as you want to take an adamant stance against her use of it, the further you get into Sheezus, the greater your recognition of the analogy becomes. In fact, you take greater offence at her use of the 'Diva' term in relation to a list that haven't earned the title (I suppose one of them can just slip through the net, but you'll have to turn a blind eye, and refute all knowledge after the fact, on the grounds of authenticity). Honest and real, the lead song is a BIG opener, with a background vocal that (annoyingly) gets under your skin, there's no denying that 'Sheezus' (the album and the monikered one) came out swinging.

The first of three odes to her hubby, 'L8 CMMR' is a laugh in your face, tongue-poke of a track, over the first of many carnival-ready beats. Greg Kurstin's production is as influential as his co-lyricism that I soon learn, is the real enticement behind Allen’s music. I say this recognising early on, that had the autotune not been so heavily applied, you might be forced to accept that the yummy mum actually had a decent set of chops on her. Alas, the tool that made T-Pain famous is used in drenching abundance and the question of whether she can really sing, or is just a British female equivalent remains unanswered, whilst her lyricism paints amusing caricatures.

'Air Balloon' had a fair-weather effect on me. After the strange set up of the first line (Somebody remind me where I am Miami or Timbuctoo / Did I ever tell you my Uncle's monkey ran away from the zoo?), and the interesting analogies in the first two tracks, I was expecting a twist on the old Alice in Wonderland tale, but didn't get it. What it did do however, was provide an opportunity to examine her vocals – lead and background, up close and personal. Once done, I’m shocked to admit that I liked them! No contender for Mariah, but her simple, sweet melodies are catchy, and absolutely no-one can say that her wordplay isn’t leap years ahead of many of today’s biggest names. It’s rare that any musician today surprises me, so for that, and those harmonies, Ms. Allen earns a C+ on this one.

'Our Time' is a tribute to the after party life. The games don't have to stop just because the club's alcohol licence does; everyone find yourself on her doorstep, under the agreement that you B.Y.O.R. (Bring Your Own Rizla). The difference between Jenny and Lily from the Block, is that you actually believe the latter is Straight Outta Dalston. She looks like a girl from East (I think we used the same hair shop in Ridley market, next door to the shopping centre?) She talks like a girl from East, and as such, I buy her as the demographic that she represents without even trying. Note to Jenny: that’s how it’s done babe.

That time segues into this one with finesse. 'Insincerely Yours' is the standout track of the album for Yours Truly. Throwing that curveball again, there is a seductive element to the track that has you thinking that you know where it's going before she’s even opened her mouth. Fed up with the fake friends at celebrity parties and events, where you'll find an abundance of 'DJs' only slightly more transparent than the silicone cups they're sporting (*ahem* Made In Chelsea 'stars' *ahem*); Allen doesn't need to name check anybody. She does, but she doesn't need to. Setting the scene is more than adequate to voice what gossip rag readers are already thinking, long before she gets to the line about them all just being there because the price was right. Brilliant satirical look at the fluff of famous fabulosity.

You would absolutely have to have no heart if you did not empathise with her in 'Take My Place'.  She does not need to allude to more than what went on behind the scenes, for you to know the track is about the tragic, very public loss that she suffered between her last album and this. You feel her grief as if it were your own, and you're reminded why this woman is a draw for so many. Her candour, and willingness to go there, to the brave well she must've had to draw from, to enable her to put such a horrible experience down on wax, and share it with her listeners. It speaks volumes to her character.

After that engulfing sadness, it's no surprise that Allen takes things back upbeat; but don't let the line-dancing ditty, 'As Long As I Got You', dupe your ears. If you listen to the lyrics, there is a serious survivor's tale being told. It’s a Thank You to her partner for helping her through the tough time she spoke of in the previous track. Clearly a hellish ordeal, it’s obvious to see the appreciation that she has for him, and their relationship.

'Close Your Eyes' is a 'Get Your Freak On' anthem – Lily Allen style. Smooth and sexy, the only disappointment is once again overusing the vocoder in places where to be honest, the melodies are far too simple for even her range not to reach. It really is a shame in an otherwise thumbs up scenario, because she sounds good and comes up trumps lyrically – there are no other faults with it.

'URL Badman' makes me think of a Richard Bacon documentary I saw on BBC3 a few years ago. Hitting back at the cyber trolls with nothing better to do than visit public forums and start inane verbal warfare for attention, they are a filthy breed that Allen takes apart through song – and I for one, say good on her for calling out the sick and pathetic overgrown children with nothing better to do.

'Silver Spoon' doesn't let the other side of the scale wriggle off the hook either. Aimed at the Spencer Matthews' of this world (well if it's not then it should be); this one shines a humorous light on those 'poor', hard done by prep school boys 'living rough' on the pampered side of the street. Though the topic is a good one, and she takes great aim, I’m afraid this won't be one of the tracks that come to mind first, or at all, from this album.

Unlike 'Life For Me', which is another of the album’s best. Funny, and completely relatable, Allen talks of missing the carefree life as a responsible wife and mother, whilst not really missing it at all. Happy and content with the baby sick on her shoulder, it’s an unsure ode about the grass not really being greener on the other side of the street, so much as just a teensy bit shinier for a fleeting second, when the sun hits the blades just 'so'. Brilliant track from start to finish, A+.

The standard album version finishes with Hard Out Here - the track that caused controversial waves earlier in the year, for taking on the long-maligned 'objectifying women in music videos' battle. Satirical and sarcastic; shots are fired not just at men, but also anyone naïve enough to believe that the entertainment game has become any easier for a female in the spotlight in 2014. The comedic approach is enough to make you forgive the too liberal use of autotune that, by this point, you can safely say, has proved three things:

1. That the overuse of the tool in her production is somewhere in the region of a child drowning their chips in ketchup, until all you see is red; 

2. Someone should send her and Greg Kurtin to Autotune Anonymous. If one doesn't exist, it should, and -

3.   That limited as her range may be, Lily Allen can actually sing, but her range is never actually tested, because her music is arranged to encourage, and even flatter, her style of undersinging. And that is a real injustice to her talent.

Parental Advisory - Contains Explicit Content

By the time you wade through the jokes and punchlines, you can be forgiven for forgetting that we never really hear her take her range anywhere, although it unfortunately does nothing for the frustration of waiting an entire album to find out. The deluxe edition also comes with five bonus tracks: 'Wind Your Neck In' for the unsolicited opinions from the likes of, well, moi, I guess! 'Who Do You Love', another painful slice of relationship truth, where Allen actually outdoes herself both lyrically and vocally (but still – ketchup!).  'Miserable Without Your Love' – a slow ballad perfectly suited to her dreamy, soft tone. 'Holding On To Nothing' – a more up-tempo track with an equally serious topic in the forefront, this time, about the fear of accepting a new love, when she’s yet to let go of the pain from losing the old. The last is the Top Ten hit 'Somewhere Only We Know'. Truth be told, it was hearing this track that piqued my interest in her last year. I liked the song and vocalist so much, that I was shocked to learn that it was the same Lily Allen of 'Smile' fame.

Her ability to water down touches of Ska and Dancehall for a Pop palette was also a revelation that I discovered in the course of listening to Allen’s third album. Her sound is blended well, and is one that, once you come to know, even marginally understand, is not one that could easily be mistaken for someone else. Overall, it's a refreshing exercise to meet the grown up lady that’s come back for a third round in the ring, on her own terms. She’s back to fight, and just might solidify herself with a permanent space. Whether she survives the fight for the number one spot or not, one thing is for certain - it will be an interesting watch.

Lily Allen's 'Sheezus' is out now from all Independent retailers.

Regular Readers, you know what time it is, but for you newcomers, this is the part where I ask you to share your thoughts in the Comments Box below; was I too hard / soft on Lily? Why? What are your thoughts on her album? Let me know, the box is Yours!

Until the next...
ES ;)

ESPspotlight Review: Tyler Perry's 'Temptation: Confessions of A Marriage Counselor'

Recently I had a conversation with an extremely intelligent woman, who made me think about Producer, Director, Writer and Actor, Tyler Perry in an entirely different light. I'm not going to lie, of the few films of his that I've actually seen, I will admit (confess) to them being guilty pleasures that I enjoyed. The man makes me laugh and although his messages are always blindingly obvious, overall I think they're of the kind that aren't reinforced enough in this day and age. If you're a person of strong faith and at least striving to be of good character well, you can't not relate, in my humble point of view. When discussing his 2011 adaptation of 'For Colored Girls', with someone who knows the origins of the story a heck of a lot better than Yours Truly though, I could see where the stereotypical problem of Tyler and his Stereotypes emanated from. I still liked the films I've seen though, I'm sorry! Plus he always seems like a nice guy! What can I say, I'm a sucker for those.

Right around the same time as that conversation, I had planned to review his latest film release, as part of the new movie addition to the ESPpotlight range. Unfortunately, the film didn't get it's 'official' UK release and the Interweb was all aflutter again at the reminders that Kim Kardashian had been cast in the role of 'Eva'. Now, it's obvious what conclusions we were expected to draw from this. The title, plus the world's most 'successful' sex tape...'star', playing a character with a name oddly close to the First Woman, who essentially brought about the downfall of Man and all his kind. The coinkydink was colossal...

Tyler Perry's 'Temptation: Confessions of A Marriage Counselor' (Photo courtesy of www.getdvdcovers.com)

After reading all of the protestations by people 1. Refusing to pay for a movie that sounded like a clothed version of what they've already seen courtesy of Vivid Entertainment, YouTube and that gentleman Ray J (I mean how 2003 can one really be); and 2. questioning Perry's sanity (and possible blackmail status) at casting her in the first place - I felt it my professional duty to 'investigate'.

Now in Tyler, Kim and the film's defence, I want to state outright, that if you're avoiding seeing this because you think the 'Kimye' carrier will ruin the whole thing, then I can categorically assure you that you need not worry - the film is terrible irrespective of her! The worst Kardashian does, is bring the only guilty pleasure to the overall production. Courtesy of her, you finally see Kris Jenner's dream of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians - The Movie', realised. And it's no more terrible than when we pretend not to watch it at home - I promise!

This is the tale of a Marriage Counsellor who uses a very poorly acted wife's session, to tell the retrospective story of 'her Sister, Judith' (insert condescending air quotes for adequate delivery), from the age of 5 to present day. 'Her Sister Judith' met, grew up with and married her childhood sweetheart, 'Bryce' in an unheard of town in the South. (Very) long story short, a rich, clever and (not remotely) handsome stranger wanders into the job that tortures 'Sister Judith's' Soul, 3 weeks into the couple's move to the 'big smoke', about the same time that Brandy Norwood's character starts working with Bryce at his Pharmacy. Both 'relationships' progress with a simplicity insulting to my 5-year-old nephew's intelligence, to a point of honest unbelievability. One affair happens, one does not, and the underlying message is that the grass is not always greener. For the first time in a Tyler Perry movie, I didn't laugh once throughout, not even when Vanessa Williams dropped her faux-French accent to deliver what may have seemed like a killer punchline...on paper. I almost smirked when I read one of the taglines on the film's Facebook Page though: 'Betrayal Burns Forever' erm...it's best I leave that one alone until after you see the film for yourself.

To be honest, the most interesting thing about the film was how freakishly alike lead character Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and actress and comedienne Tisha Campbell-Martin, are in appearance. It disturbed me to the point where I actually Googled, and cross-referenced their family trees - during the film.

Go ahead - tell me you don't see it. I know you do! (Photos courtesy of Zimbio.com and Starscolor.com respectively)

Sad to say that this was the worst Tyler Perry film that I have ever seen. But the silver lining? It absolutely, categorically, 1000% was not Kim Kardashian's fault!

Tyler Perry's 'Temptation: Confessions of A Marriage Counselor' stars: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross, Kanye's Baby Mama, Vanessa Williams, Brandy Norwood, Robbie Jones and Ella Joyce.

Don't be stirred by the following screen still, 'Temptation' is Rated PG-13.

The film is not currently scheduled for UK Release (but you're not really missing anything to be fair, so it's fine).

ES ;)

In the #ESPspotlight...DJ ACE!

This is one I've been planning in the back of my mind since I first started this blog almost a year ago...quite possibly before in fact.

If you're a longtime reader, then you know that when it comes to interviewing friends of mine, I love and hate the experience in equal measure. I already know some of the good and bad, but more than anything, I get the chance to be cheeky and get in their business, under the pretence of it being 'for the good of the piece'. That's the good part. The bad, is that no matter how much you want to impress them with your abilities, they are your friends, so they always know your tells! To date however, none of the friends I've interviewed ever do what I do and they certainly don't do it for millions of people more than a few times a week! I was a bit nervous about this one which is why I've held it back for so long and that is what gave my mean mate the opportunity to mess with me a little bit!

Making me squirm is not the (main) reason DJ Ace is in the hotseat this week though. As part of BBC 1Xtra's new September line up, this Sunday will see him break from his 10-year, on-air partnership with fellow DJ Vis and go it alone for the first time. So since he's taking the plunge, what better opportunity to take on a challenge of my own, than by squaring up to a good friend, who just so happens to be an award-winning veteran of our generation, in a field few contemporaries can claim to have broken ground in?

Pull up a seat and enjoy as I talk to my mad mate...

Well, well. Did you ever think you'd see the day? Welcome to the hotseat, Troublemaker of my blog instead of radio! I don't know if you remember this, but last October, I told you that I would be coming for you one day. It has arrived. Your reckoning has arrived, you ready?!

Bring it, let's go...

1. Alright Joker in the Pack! We'll start easy - explain the name, why Ace? I looked everywhere and couldn't find a description...

DJ Ace

Wow...I don't have a clever answer! I've had it my whole life...It's a small name; my birth name begins with the letter 'A'...and I like everything that the word 'Ace' embodies. It has an 'eliteness' tied to being the top of your field, your craft, whatever it is that you do. It's a pretty awesome word and...I'm pretty awesome, so I think it works.

Alright Humble One, but when did you officially become 'Ace'?!

I went to New York when I was 9 years old, my Aunt lives in this complex and I was playing in it like the bum that I was then. I was the only British kid and these neighbourhood kids asked me what my name was; when I told them my real name, they laughed because I have a unisex name - it's unisex here, but it's not over there. I had this coat that had 'Ace' on it and we were playing touch football, which I'd never played before - everyone had to have a nickname for when you pass to each other. So instead of calling me what my name was, they started calling me Ace. I and I was just Ace since that day, I suppose...

2. Being a 'Music Connoisseur' kind of comes with your territory, I'd imagine it helps the job, but being the Champion and Boaster of your collection that you are - Which ONE record have you always been too embarrassed to admit that you own?

Des O'Connor's Greatest Hits. Can you stop messing and answer for real, please?!

I'm serious. He's got this song called 'Dick-A-Dum-Dum'...Have you heard it? He's talking about going to the West End, meeting this girl and stuff in a really old school way. It's kind of what Tinie Tempah would talk about now, but in a Des O'Connor way. It's very London, but not what we would know as London now. The song resonates with me, I like it...

It's literally for that one song though.

3. I would normally ask someone of your calibre what their backup would be, were they not doing the thing that they love most; but I think with you, anyone who's ever listened to your show already knows so; TRUE King of Big Brother - Who would be in your dream Big Brother House?

If I was hosting it, I would wanna see Wiley in there, Prince Harry...Ahhh, this is a very difficult question... Erm, Mel B, Jocelyn from Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Rihanna annnnd, we'd have Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. And Ray J. 


What, no Chris Brown? Nahh...I reckon he'd be a bit boring. 

But he could be your equivalent of the dude that cried all the time from the last one? To be honest, I don't really think anyone wants to see that.

4. You've done a LOT of craziness in your 10 years at 1Xtra. As one of your loyal audience, I would have to say your funniest moment was stripping off to Jodeci, was it? At the last Soundclash. First of all - What possessed you in that moment? Second, what's your standout memory?

The Soundclash thing...I would say what possessed me was Desperation. We were obviously gonna lose to Charlie Sloth and I knew what records we had left. It was the final and I knew that they had better records than us; so I thought we just needed a really off-key publicity stunt. I think I was course to win that round with the strip, but then Vernon Kay was a bit sexier than me, which was unfortunate...So yeah, I really just wanted to go out with at least one point. But it was just pure desperation really and that's what it kind of came down to...Sorry.

I've had crazier moments at 1Xtra...I went to Japan in '04 and did Sumo, but like, real Sumo, with real Sumo wrestlers. You know when you get in the suits? What was funny was they were really impressed with me. For a 'big guy', I had good balance, which I find funny because I fall over all the time. Also as part of that trip, because Japan is such a business Capital, businessmen have to stay in the City overnight. But because all of the hotels are booked up, they basically have 'Micro Hotels', which are basically, if you imagine a washing machine-size hole in the wall that goes all the way down, so you can lie in it? There are basically loads of holes in the wall and these businessmen sleep in them like capsules. I'm bigger than your average Japanese man, so it was quite claustrophobic for me.

We also ate really weird things like raw whale and raw horse meat. Japan was amazing. It was really eye-opening for me, this young black boy from South London to be able to go over there and experience what they experience...it was the furthest I've ever been from home and my first time away as well. It was a really, really good trip that eclipses getting naked on stage.

5. What inspired you to start Frommorning Management?

I've got a lot of talented people around me. Some talents get wasted. Talent is a real attraction for me and I think if you're talents get wasted, then you deserve to be looked after in the correct way and have somebody that's always going to have your back. There's a lot of lone people out there that are talented but have no-one looking out for them and I just really wanted to do that. I started off with a group of young producers called Dumb Beats. At the time, I wasn't even thinking about doing a management company or consulting, they were 15/16 at the time; but they were really good, individually and collectively. I remember having regular meetings with them, saying what they need to do and now, they've killed it. They have a publishing deal, they've worked with a lot of big artists, they've gone on to do some really good things.


During the time I was working with them, I met Bianca. Everyone knows that I'm a Hip Hop head but I'm really an undercover RnB head. I love RnB. I display my Hip Hop side more, but RnB, for me coming up, I listened to equally as much. I grew up on Brandy and Monica, SWV and TLC, Teddy Riley and all of those really great RnB acts. I was always a fan. Bianca, for me, feels like that era. A lot of people say that RnB is dead, it can't come back, but I don't feel like Bianca needs to be a chart artist to be successful. I think she just needs to turn out good music and do what she does. And she's a great live performer...

Lioness...I've been a fan of since I first heard her. I just wish the world would understand how talented she really is. For me, she's untouchable. My three favourite MCs in the UK are Wretch, Kano and Lioness. I think she can stand toe-to-toe with them. 

6. I like to ask a fashion question; with you, the only one I can ask, is what's with the caps trademark, dude?! You have more hats than most women have shoes! Explain how and why that started?

I know, it's embarrassing...I started to like wearing them and then I met somebody at New Era and he hooked me up. Then I just started to feel uncomfortable without them. Now I just have to always have one on.

So Ne-Yo of radio - what's your favourite one and why? I don't think I have a favourite, to be fair. I've got loads so it would be really difficult for me to pick a favourite one. There's different hats that remind me of different things, or different times...like, I'll always remember the hat I wore to the Sony Awards, or that I wore when we presented backstage at the MOBOs; but I wouldn't even say that they were my favourites, I just remember them for the times. But then saying that, I don't even remember the hat that I was wearing yesterday. It's very strange because now I dress from head down; I wear the hat first. I know it sounds strange but I'll get out the shower, moisturise and put a hat on...

That is quite an image to go with your stage strip...there's something wrong with you! How many do you actually have and where do you put them all?

Wow errrrm...honestly, well over 500...I've got a back room with a lot of hats that I don't wear anymore.

7. So since we're on that road anyway; do you remember your first thought on winning your Sony Award?

I'll be honest, my first thought was "Aw, this is nice!" We were told that we were nominated for this award, but it didn't really resonate as to what it was; we were just told: "You guys have been nominated for the awards, come down to this big place, have dinner..." Now, if we were nominated, then obviously we would know what it was but at the time, I think we were a year into our contracts. We won in 2004; we were signed to 1Xtra in late 2002, so a year and a bit. We just thought go down, free dinner - COOL...Then they read our name out. Oh, we have to make a speech now...We know now that it was a big deal, but back then, it was just whatever! It was our first award, the first award for the radio station, I mean we beat Chris Moyles...A lot of things back then, we were very young, very green and very oblivious - we had no guidance.

Even to this day, we don't have a Manager. We've never had management. We've worked with people for a little bit, or we've been signed to some agencies, but we've never had an out and out AceNVis Manager - ever. Everything we've gotten, we got on our own. Whether that's Channel U, MTV Base, Radio 1 for a year, bookings; we've gotten most of the things that you've seen us do, by ourselves. 

The Sony's are like the Grammys of radio but no-one told us that, we had to make those mistakes on our own. It's worked so far, so good and I think now it's kind of too late to have Management. Also, I think a lot of people who were in positions where, they could have managed us, didn't know what to do with these two black boys from South. We were a bit too street or edgy. I think if there was a new, 21-year-old AceNVis now, any management company would snap em up because it's been done and they see what they can do with them. But no-one really saw the vision then. 

But I would imagine that it would be quite hard for you to have a Manager, now that you are one? Especially you of all people!

You know what, I'm always open to working with people, but I'm into doing more things and different things. If there's someone to put me in a position to do that, I would be open to having somebody call themselves my 'Manager'; but they can't be doing things that I can do for myself. They would have to get me things that I can't, or take me to places that I've never been. I will never shut the door on the idea of having a Manager, but they have to have the same vision as well.

8. Speaking of visions - what talent do you wish you had?

I wish I could sing. If I could sing, I would sing every day, every link. If I could sing, the world would know. I'd sing on the street for free. 

9. Which do you prefer, Live radio, or spinning at events?

They go hand in hand. Radio is obviously the foundation where it's all come from, but it's hard. My cousin got me into DJing. I used to help carry record boxes and stuff every Summer when I was young, so I was exposed to real DJing. I've always really enjoyed the art of just being able to make people dance. I find it really amazing that I can move people by playing songs. It's almost like a weird obsession. You know what one of the most amazing things is; have you ever been in a club and you didn't know what was about to happen? What song the DJ was going to play, then you just lose your mind for five seconds, because your favourite song comes on? When I'm able to do that to somebody, or a crowd of people, it's like sex. Just to be able to control a room full of people is an amazing feeling. To be in a position where you could make or break someone's evening...

It's an important job. It's not just standing up there and playing records, it's how you do it. It's about caring about the people in front of you. A lot of DJs will just play for themselves. I'm so far from that. If everybody's having a good time, then that's what I do it for. It's the same with radio - if I get a text saying that was really funny, I really appreciate that. I don't think I'm able to pick which one I like more.

10. How influenced must you really have been by Desmonds and Ice Cube, to create a web show in a Barbershop?!

Cut The Chat TV

Not even, to be fair! The barbershop is somewhere most black boys will go, at least once a week and it's a place where the majority of conversation happens; arguments, jokes, fights...it's a place for the community.

I've been in a barbershop everyday for the last twenty years but it's only really over the last ten that I've started to appreciate it. There have been times when I can sit in there for three hours and not be having my hair cut - but just finding out what's going on in the area, what everyone's saying, getting involved in an argument...it's just the perfect setting, the place where you want to be, so why not put it on TV, put a camera on it? Doing what I do, I don't really get a chance to hang out with the boys as often as I'd like to, so sometimes I even forget the camera's on. There's a lot of stuff that you don't get to see because it's a bit outrageous, it could get us in a lot of trouble. Maybe one day a 'Cut The Chat - Unedited' will come out...

BONUS: Tell me about this new show then...Are you nervous about flying solo? Aside from the obvious, what's the biggest difference we can expect?

I'm blasting off every Sunday from 7 o'clock, the main difference is that it's a lot me. You get more of what you might hear when I'm covering Trevor Nelson's show, or even more of what I do as part of AceNVis, but I'll be showing that I can be a 'Specialist' as well. I'm really homing in on this 'Ace of Clubz' thing that I've been running with for about a year and a half now. I'm all about the clubs, making sure people have a good time in my presence and making sure people are having a good day or enjoying themselves to whatever music we play. So it's going to be a mix of the kind of banter that you usually get, I'll be wrapping up the week, there'll be a lot of listener interaction, but then on top of that, I'll have the 'Specialist' side, where I'll be jumping in the mix and playing a lot of 1Xtra classics. It's gonna be nice! It'll be different! It's like Ace Remixed...

_______________________________________

Thanks Ace for braving the hotseat - I'll be tuning in this Sunday, expecting that homie shout...

As the man said, catch his brand new solo show starting this Sunday evening (9th September) at 7PM on BBC 1Xtra.

Connect with him via his Social Media Catalogue:

Twitter / Facebook

Check out more from the lovely Lioness and Bianca Monet at the FromMorning website.

And don't forget that Sharing is Caring! Leave your thoughts in the box down there!

See you next time...

ES ;o)