Kaliber 44 is the legendary group that irreversibly shaped the Polish hip-hop stage. Although the opinions regarding their best album are perfectly divided, I decided to start with “W 63 Minuty Dookoła Świata” (“Around the World in 63 Minutes”) since this great album is probably also the least hermetic one.

It’s impossible to find more meritorious and pioneering hip-hop band in Poland. The trio was set up in the beginnings of the 90′s, being one of the first groups representing this genre. Their first album “Księga Tajemnicza. Prolog” was released in 1996 and is considered to be one of the strangest recordings in Polish hip-hop. The debut’s distinctive feature is its mysterious, psychedelic character expressed in the way of rhyming, lo-fi production, countless unidentified screams and moans recorded in the background and lyrics. The Katowice-based trio’s rap focuses mainly on legalization of marijuana which was, undoubtedly, the band’s biggest muse and inspiration in that period. It is worth underlining that in those days hip-hop was something completely new for the Polish audience and getting the wide acclaim was an incredibly difficult task. Kaliber 44 definitely managed to do that.

Two years had passed and Kaliber 44 was about to release their second album. The expectations aroused after the excellent teaser – the first single “Film” – which is still a bit psychedelic, but much closer to the traditional hip-hop stylistics. Finally the “W 63 Minuty Dookoła Świata” hit the shelves and met with very positive reception, even achieving the gold record status. The lyrics deal with a broad range of topics and the rappers present their skills, playing with words in a witty way. From this album on the band was officially joined by DJ Feel-X, whose scratches made Kaliber’s recordings important not only for Polish hip-hop but turntablism also.

“W 63 Minuty Dookoła Świata” is, unfortunately, the last Kaliber 44 album recorded in the original line-up. Just after the album had been recorded, Piotr “Magik” Łuszcz left the band to set up a new group – Paktofonika. The remaining members of Kaliber 44 have recorded only one more album “3:44″, which is definitely worth recommending. Although the group disbanded ten years ago, its albums remain among the most respected recordings of Polish hip-hop. Even though the history of Polish rap is not as long and colourful as American, such bands cause that there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Recommended if you like: Gravediggaz, Wu-Tang Clan, The Pharcyde, De La Soul

An interview with Iwona Frydryszak, who recently spent 5 months in Tanzania. In conversation with Paul Mayevsky, she speaks about the reality of the people living there, our commonly held myths and prejudices as well as about the mission and function she performed during her stay there. Listen to know more.

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Blue Man Group is one of New York’s longest-running shows and one of its hardest to describe! In the show, three enigmatic bald and blue characters take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theater, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment. Listen to Paul Mayevsky to know why this is a must see.

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Apparently the mythical G spot exists for real. It is not only in the mind and it is not a myth. Paul Mayevsky got the nitty gritty of things and found the truth. Listen to know more.

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Saturday’s concert by the Polish singer and composer has been cancelled. Read more

Let’s be honest. It is not the best time for the Polish hip hop in the media. After a boom at the beginning of the decade, now there are mostly cheesy tracks promoted on mainstream radios. However, Waldemar Kasta, one of the most acclaimed representative of this genre in Poland decided to come back after a few years of more or less silence. Having published his new album“13″ towards the end of the year, RadioWroclove.com caught him on the plan of the new video. Listen about the video and Waldemar’s devotion to Martial Arts Confrontations in the interview by Przemek Pozowski

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The new Apple product has finally been unveiled. All the speculations and anticipation could be ended now. Let us admire and criticize. Certain comparisons between IPad and a stone have also been made. Listen to Paul Mayevsky to know more about the features of the new device.

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A fascinating alternative for the traditional, run-of-the-mill touristy way to do the sightseeing of Wrocław. Based on the idea of the so-called urban games, the initiative of turning inventive scenarios into interactive history lessons has recently caught on among the people of Wrocław and visitors alike. In his conversation with Marek Michalak, co-founder of www.exploringwroclaw.pl, Jurek Chyb explores the issue further. How can one take part in the interactive games with the city as your playground? Do things always go according to plan? Can the offer be customized to any needs? Are the games available in English? Do they really resemble Fincher’s film “The Game” with Michael Douglas? Plus a few words about the next project involving the participants of the Tourist Fair in Wrocław’s Centennial Hall in mid-February.

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Jacek Protasiewicz (Civic Platform MEP) says: “Wrocław has been chosen as the host city for the EP office because it gained an enormous support from the young people who live in the city as well as European politicians, including Vaclav Havel.” In his report about the great news from Brussels, Jurek Chyb has more details.

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Namesti Republiky has it all. A beautiful mediaeval city wall tower, an Art-Nouveau municipal house, a historic building-turned-theatre, but also – two shopping places from two different eras. The department store Kotva, with its Communist-time charm and a near-cult status on the one hand, and the ultra-modern Palladium mall that has recently changed the Republic Square so much on the other. But has the largest shopping centre in the Czech Republic changed the historic place for the better? Listen to Jurek Chyb (not much of a shopper himself) revealing why he likes the square and delving back to the good old eighties in a rather commercial sentimental journey.

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Football curiosities and trivia by Jurek Chyb. Listen and be surprised. Including crucial issues, e.g: Is there a stadium that has a higher seat capacity than the total population of the town it’s based in? Have any professional footballers ever played two matches on the same day? Who is the youngest ever professional footballer to play in a league match? Has a football referee ever been sent off?

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Wind-power turbines. We’ve seen them. But have we, really? Recently unveiled in Milan, those micro-generators look like modern sculptures and seem to be the future of eco-energy. The aptly named “RevolutionAir” turbines, designed by none other than the world-renowned creator of modern-style furniture and high-tech lamps – Monsieur Philippe Starck - are meant to be put in your yards and gardens. Wind energy harnessed for private use? Jurek Chyb reporting.

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“Let’s do something real” – sing this English band, but their music tends to be more unreal and ephemeral than down-to-earth.

Delphic is a band from Manchester which has just released its debut album, “Acolyte”. Although their previous work was released by by the acclaimed French label, Kitsune, this is their first record to have Polydor’s logo on the cover. By signing to this label, they’ve followed such artists as La Roux, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Weezer and even Gwen Stephani and Lady GaGa. But their music is far removed from nauseous pop. They compare themselves to New Order, even playing “Bizarre Love Triangle” occaisionally at concerts, but – according to the critics – they sound more like a slightly different version of Friendly Fires.

“This Momentary“, along with the whole album, is more a hot prospect for the future than a sensation, but it’s still worth listening to.

Liam Phelan (not related to the famous 90′s footballer Terry Phelan) has been living in Wrocław for three and a half years now, and working as a director in the PM Group. In his conversation with Przemek Pozowski, he shares his view of Wrocław and Poland, admiring – rather surprisingly – Wrocław’s public transport but regretting he has not learnt enough Polish…

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Our Scottish host, James Nesfield in conversation with Paul Mayevsky asserts that ambient and dub does not have to be boring; by no means. It is this kind of music that could be approached with seriousness and appropriate silence over a ciggy and a glass of good whisky. They also talk about James’ tonight’s (Wednesday, January 27th) concert in Firlej.

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Collecting the cast for a feature movie is a challenge. The director of the movie “My Flesh, My Blood”, Marcin Wrona met with Eryk Lubos, who is playing the main role of Igor, the boxer, in sauna after boxing practice. In order to convince a former World Champion in Kick – Boxing, Marek Piotrowski, to appear in the movie, he had to ask him few times. For the main woman’s role, the Wietnamese girl, he flew for castings to Paris and Hanoi. Finally, the audience can see all those people on the big screen. However, before the movie is in cinemas around Wrocław this weekend, you have a chance to listen to a coversation with Marcin conducted by Przemek Pozowski

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Watch the trailer below:

For more about “My Flesh, My Blood” click www.mojakrew.hagi.pl (Polish only)

Even if you are a man, you can still give birth to a beautiful baby. However, you will not be the first one on this planet. Listen to Paul Mayevsky talking about sex equality. Men can also give births. Period.

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Sometimes the multiplicity of things can be bewildering; sometimes a bit intimidating. If you wish to detaboo the topic of death or have some fun with a vampire show, get into your car and buckle up with Paul Mayvsky, who has some suggestions.

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Apple is just about to unveil a new product. There is a swirl of speculation regarding the nature of it, but Apple keeps everything under wraps. One thing seems to be certain – it will change our computer reality again. Listen to Paul Mayevsky anticipating the new device.

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Playing live instruments, spontaneous rhyming and having performing – these features make hip-hop organic. They can also make your day.  Read more