Not one to do things conventionally Chima Anya has dropped a whole collection of his particular brand of amped-up rhymes and hyped-up, so-far-left-they-just-don't-care beats. 'Higher Ground' kicks off with the Hudson Mohawke produced 'I Am' which comes across like a schizophrenic jazz cat colliding with one of the most confident rappers in the UK - keep up if you can.
Things continue with the glitchy 'C' which produced by Samiyam. This track explores the varying reactions this album is bound to get - not everyone is going to like it, but if you're a real Hip Hop fan, says Chima, you will. So say I.
Things continue with a radio appearance rips, the more trad Hip Hop 'Let's Talk It Over' and 'Laid Them All', the hard-as-no-more-nails, bouncy-as-an inflatible-castle 'Ill Street Blues' which features AK09 and the jerky vibes of the Astrosnare produced 'Got That Soul'.
Chima picks up where Roots Manuva and Asaviour and DJ IQ left off with the future-rap styles and you need to get this, even if it's just so you're that next step or two ahead.
Don't usually do this but here's his own promotional garble:
"This time of year most of us have a heightened sense of awareness with regards to time and deadlines we set ourselves to achieve what we want in life.
This offering from London-based Oxford-derived lyricist Chima Anya, produced by DIZZ1, serves as a chilling reminder to all of us to get on that grind. A striking blend of grime's reckless frenzied mental state and Detroit's Dilla esque monstrous swagger, this track is one of many gems on Chima's upcoming mixtape."
GTA, the unlikely duo from Oxford, after a carefully paved path through 2008 have unleashed their first album proper: ‘The Way’. The work of Chima Anya and Ineffable (AKA “Least Hip Hop Rapper”) has certainly paid off; an album with an overall upbeat aura, quality production and playfully serious lyrics is their product.
Shears, the main man behind the production, produces 10 of the 12 tracks and his sound is the harmony to the lyrics of the GTA MCs. Having said this, Stabbaman (‘Breakthrough ‘08’ – latest single) and DJ Tactick (‘Wanna Be Myself’ – first single) both contribute congruent productions ensuring the album is tight and that GTA have ‘a sound’.
Both MCs have solo tracks on the album – a really nice touch, proving that both rappers are artists in their own right away from the group. ‘Fly’, ‘The Inbetween’ and ‘Message’ are Chima’s unaccompanied efforts and ‘What Can I Do’ is Inef’s. These four make up the album’s quota for contemplative tunes as we are allowed a little further into the individual minds of each MC.
The collaborative work is rocking-the-party orientated, can-do-attitude fuelled music that erases the need for complaining – GTA lead by example, follow their way.
Hotness from GTA, the two man Oxford crew who are joined here by the multi skilled Kid Fury on hosting duties.
Ineffable (one of my favourite words ever) is nice with the lyrics and Chima has that superstar presence making listening to this mixtape a pleasing way to accompany an hour spent.
The 'Understanding the Way Mixtape' serves as a sampler for the forthcoming album 'The Way' and although some material is a few years old and not recorded so well (and the boys have obviously come on since then) it certainly makes me look forward to the album proper. These boys have skills to match their grind.
"The Way" has been picked up by Sky digital 370 (ahem *Channel U* ahem) and I know we all gunning for some positive vibes and substance to be introduced for the children. The opportunity is finally here.
They will be showing the vid every day for a couple of weeks starting today. The vid with the most votes gets added to the official playlist. BRITAIN needs your help to bring substance back to society and present a different positive image for the youngsters to latch onto.
Text WAY to 81700 to vote for our video. Texts cost £1 and thats it, think of it as a donation to SAVE THE WORLD. haha
GTA, of Oxford, are soon to release their second single, the title track from their pending album, 'The Way'. At the moment, you can hear a snippet at their myspace page or if you are lucky enough to be a student at Birmingham University (where Chima Anya studied), you can catch them live tomorrow (10.6.08) at Valefest (as well as The Anomalies).
Back to the lecture at hand: 'The Way' is a powerfully built juggernaut that many a MC would kill to spit over. The bass pounds, the horns riff, the lady sings with all her might and Ineff and Chima fully enjoy riding the production with some triumphant, 'We're the bomb!', type of raps. 'The Way' will leave you feeling up for it (whatever it may be); it's got a real motivational feel to it. If they do a video it should have a training for victory theme a la any film where the underdog works hard and comes out on top (see Rocky 4).
'The Way' will be out digitally later this month, watch this spot for news on where you can get your digital paws on that. And whilst your waiting, feast your lug holes on these:
Once you scratch beneath the surface of what the media calls Hip Hop and Rap you begin to realise that the Soulja Boys and the Flo Ridas are only the tip of the iceberg. Scrap that, they aren’t even part of the same lump of frozen water. There’s a rap iceberg that floats into warmer climes, steadily melting and diminishing as it leaves the colder temperatures. These are today’s ‘hot’ rappers who after their five minutes of fame are in the bargain bin. Then there’s the iceberg that stays at its pole, it doesn’t leave its place of origin and as a result, it’s still an iceberg. These are rappers and crews who stay true to the roots. Unless we see a global warming effect in the Hip Hop world, a sudden mass interest in the real Hip Hop, then things will stay this way, and for the better.
Leaving behind our chilly metaphor now, one way rappers stay cool is by keeping busy. The D.I.Y ethic that was there at the beginning (the block parties, the luminary moves of Sylvia Robinson etc) is present more than ever in local Hip Hop scenes. Every true fan in any given place will be somehow involved in the music their area is making, it’s the real heads that make things happen against all odds. 3 projects have recently come to my attention that I would like to use as evidence for my case.
GTA are a two man crew from Oxford. I don’t know much about the scene there but I keep hearing snippets of information regarding it and it’s beginning to make me curious. Chima Anya of GTA contacted me himself to promote their latest track ‘Wanna Be Myself’. This independent release is accompanied by an independently made video that is entertaining despite it’s simplicity. With it’s sing-a-long hook and carefully crafted but jocular lyrics about individuality, this will go in my itunes playlist called ‘Favourite music of 2008’. Check the part of the video where Chima is rapping to the traffic off a motorway bridge; brilliant!
Beit Nun is a rapper from Macclesfield, who, with a D.I.Y attitude, has produced a very fine end product. He, like Chima, contacted me himself (putting in work, utilising the internet as a promotional tool) and offered to send me a copy of his latest CD which chronicles his best work from 2006 and 2007. The first thing that struck me was the excellent cover art; contemporary and professional. The production and recording is expertly done and Beit Nun and his myriad of guests are competent on the mic, both in delivery and content. This CD is a very polished creation and at only £5, you’d be silly to miss out on an opportunity to hear Hip Hop done North West style (check the accents). Go to his myspace and purchase.
My last piece of proof comes in the form of a many man crew from Dewsbury; Don’t Talk To Strangers. You’ll have heard mention of them before if you’re a regular here and that proves that they are not just one hit wonders when it comes to making an impression. At the latest instalment of Brutal Artistry’s ‘Get Cained (check them for more of that ‘want something doing right, do it yourself’ attitude) I got myself a copy of DTTS’s West Yorkshire mix CD AND their blue 10” vinyl release of their track ‘Disabled Blue’. The most impressive thing is that this independent release is on blue 10” vinyl; it instantly gives it that special something, it makes you want to own it. If this crew had been signed to a label this would never be the case, it would have been a 12” in a generic sleeve, or, just an mp3 download. It’s all about the presentation and the pleasure of ownership of something so beautiful and seemingly unique. The music is good too; excellent wordplay and clear delivery over soulful beats is the order of the day here.
I expected the mix CD to be slightly lacklustre; in my opinion it takes an exceptional artist to make a mix CD listenable. Thankfully, DTTS are a collective who know how not to overdo things and the CD is just excellent, I really mean it, it’s truly proof that the local scene with a D.I.Y. attitude can truly stand up to any big label music. Another positive is that it isn’t actually a mix CD, it’s just a compliation; track after track, no whack interludes and shout outs. With music from Eliphino (Leeds finest beat maestro), Spida Lee, J-Simple, Northern Property (Max from Dirty Diggers and another Yorkshireman) as well as various members and associates of the strong crew that is Don’t Talk To Strangers. Some of the tracks are slightly amateurish but the main dissapointment here is Asaviour's 'This Planet remix'; it's very badly mixed and for a rapper with a foot firmly in the door of UKHH it just doesn't have that quality aspect that most of the other tracks on the CD have. Despite that, wherever you represent, wherever your local scene is, check how we do. This is music to the ears of any rap fan.
So, if you are involved in Hip Hop, keep doing it for yourself sisters, if you aren't involved, get involved! Even being a fan is involvement!
Not one to do things conventionally Chima Anya has dropped a whole collection of his particular brand of amped-up rhymes and hyped-up, so-far-left-they-just-don't-care beats. 'Higher Ground' kicks off with the Hudson Mohawke produced 'I Am' which comes across like a schizophrenic jazz cat colliding with one of the most confident rappers in the UK - keep up if you can.
I expected the mix CD to be slightly lacklustre; in my opinion it takes an exceptional artist to make a mix CD listenable. Thankfully, DTTS are a collective who know how not to overdo things and the CD is just excellent, I really mean it, it’s truly proof that the local scene with a D.I.Y. attitude can truly stand up to any big label music. Another positive is that it isn’t actually a mix CD, it’s just a compliation; track after track, no whack interludes and shout outs. With music from Eliphino (Leeds finest beat maestro), Spida Lee, J-Simple, Northern Property (Max from Dirty Diggers and another Yorkshireman) as well as various members and associates of the strong crew that is Don’t Talk To Strangers. Some of the tracks are slightly amateurish but the main dissapointment here is Asaviour's 'This Planet remix'; it's very badly mixed and for a rapper with a foot firmly in the door of UKHH it just doesn't have that quality aspect that most of the other tracks on the CD have. Despite that, wherever you represent, wherever your local scene is, check how we do. This is music to the ears of any rap fan.
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