Adam F: Nu King of Hip Hop, Ministry's Fortunes Continue to Fade, Rick Astley Returns, Oakey Hits the UK (for free)

Adam F's reinvention as a fully-fledged hip-hop star appears to be nearing completion judging by the big-ups accompanying his new album Kaos The Anti. Hailed as 'the bomb producer' by Jamaica's number 1 ragga export Beenie Man, he's also found support from 80s rapster LL Cool J, who last week suggested the former drum &bass contender is 'one of the most blazin' upcoming producers out there on the hip-hop side.' His new found credibility follows earlier difficulties over the alter ego of his pop star farther, Shane Fenton aka Alvin Stardust. Adam also grew up dangerously close to Britain's worst gangsta' ghetto, Berkshire's infamous Staines.

Ministry Of Sound's UK magazine Ministry have lost 20% of their sales figures in the latest ABC circulation statistics, slipping from 95,088 copies to 75,274 (ABC). The dramatic fall comes as their archrival Mix Mag passed the 100,000 sales figure for the first time, with a 4% increase to 100,404. Ministry's decline will be bad news for Media Operations Director Dave Fowler who joined the group from Muzik magazine last year. Muzik themselves experienced a 10% sales increase, though remain relatively weak at 44,219. Sliding rock weekly NME also continued its relentless downwards trajectory, losing 8% to a new low of 70,142.

Dreadfully cheesy 80s pop star Rick Astley (a predecessor to today's karaoke superstar Robbie Williams) is returning to the pop arena, 8 years after his last album Body & Soul vanished into oblivion. Helping the former Stock, Aitken & Waterman superstar is US godfather of house Todd Terry, who's remixed his forthcoming comeback single Sleeping.

Paul Oakenfold plays a rare London gig this Friday (24th August) when he spins at a free party on Clapham Common (South London). Over 20,000 people are expected at the bash which is being put on by Channel 4, in an attempt to revitalise interest in cricket. The TV channel have erected huge screens in the park, and Oakenfold will be spinning around 8pm. Music Week also revealed that guests on Oakenfold's forthcoming 'artist album' (ie his own) include Nelly Furtado, Grant Lee Buffalo and the world's most miserable ex grunge rocker Billy Corgan (from the fantastically overrated Smashing Pumpkins).

http://www.perfecto-fc.com

Jonty Adderley

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