A few years back I got passed an album called Asylum Speakers. To this day, this gem is still in my playlist and some of my all time favorite hip hop.

Consisting of MC’s Metropolis and Orifice Vulgatron, Producer Dag Nabbit, Human Beat boxer Shlomo and DJ Nonames, the Foreign Beggars have been referred to as “one of the most prolific and versatile hip hop outfits to emerge from the UK.”

Whilst running one of the most respected Hip Hop record labels in the UK, Dented Records, and organizing events throughout the country, they have also opened for Snoop Dogg, Amy Winehouse, Public Enemy, Talib Kweli, Roni Size, Asian Dub Foundation, Pendulum, K’Naan, Wu Tang Clan, Kano, Masta Ace, Roots Manuva, and many more.

Aside from hip hop, individually the collective have spread their talents to many genre’s including drum & bass, dubstep and electro and have worked on a slew of releases with some of the biggest artists in the game such as Bjork, Gorillaz, UNKLE, Skream and Noisia.

They are some extremely talented artists and if you haven’t heard of this crew then take note and I implore you to check them out.

Here’s a few of my favorite older bits that will get you on the same page.

Foreign Beggars Feat. Skinnyman – Hold On

Foreign Beggars – Frosted Perspeks

Below are two singles from their 2008 compilation album, Asylum Agenda.

Foreign Beggars – Slow Broiled Ilk

Foreign Beggars vs Rouge A Levres – Hit That Gash!!!

A few months after being passed the CD back in 2003, I was heading to London for an awards show and one of my boys back in Toronto tells me that the DJ for this British hip hop crew that I had been raving about is his cousin. After hearing that I made a point to get together with the artist in mention, James Miller aka DJ Nonames. Small world, innit?

Nonames has just released a 22 track mix titled Stricty Grizzness, out now on Dented Records. A tribute to the current underground sounds of the UK, Strictly Grizness includes tracks from the likes of Skream, Virus Syndicate, Loefah, Mala, and many more.

On a lyrical level Grime MCs are killing it, with better and better content and flows, with a constant upping of levels. I wanted to do a solidly put together mix, that in years to come will be seen as a reflection of Dubstep and Grime music in 2009.

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Download DJ Nonames “Strictly Grizzness”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

Nonames has also tracked out the mix, available in the following file. Download the .zip, extract, drag and drop the whole folder into Itunes The entire mix is broken out into its indivudial tracks with all their info. Enjoy!

Right click & Save As to Download

Website: Foreign Beggars, Myspace, Dented Records, DJ Nonames