'Harry EP' ft. Skrein & Verb T - Medison (review)

Skrein might just be one of this country's best on-track story tellers. Producer Medison has cooked up a haunting and live sounding background for Skrein to tell his macabre tale over on 'Harry'. The plucked guitar and the real drums combine perfectly with the ghostly female vocal making Medison a producer I'll be looking out for in the future.

Remixes come courtesy of Bare Noize (with some filthy, filthy, frenzied dubstep), Plan B (an acoustic version) and Ruckspin (Drum n Bass).

Also included in the 'Harry EP' is 'The Thrill Is Gone' with also features Skrein alongside Verb T. This time, stories about two young men are interwoven over another eerie harp-laden beat.

This is a great little package featuring a heap of talent over the 5 tracks. The 'Harry EP' is available now from Dented Records.

'Scene Stealers'/'Last Dayz' ft. Plan B - Skreintax (single review)

Skreintax, the hook-up between Skrein and Dr. Syntax, released their album ‘Scene Stealers’ in December, an album which despite being excellent, sounded like it should have arrived during the summer months.

Now a few months and a whole load of snow deep into winter, title track ‘Scene Stealers’ still needs some sun however its combination of limber putdowns, Dag Nabbit’s heavy drums and DJ IQ’s cuts is welcome.

Flipside ‘Last Dayz’ is what’s going to attract attention here, not least because it isn’t available elsewhere. It’s a neck snapping, British type Hip Hop club banger that features Plan B, who leaves the guitar aside and spits harder than he’s ever done before. The three MCs rail against all aspects of social evils whilst giving real UK Hip Hop fans what they want and need.

‘Scene Stealers’/’Last Dayz’ featuring Plan B is out on Dented Records on 23rd February. Their album ‘Scene Stealers’ (pictured) is also available now.

'Scene Stealers' - Skreintax (album review)

Skreintax may not have been the most obvious collaboration. Dr Syntax and Skrein each have quite a unique take on Hip Hop but in no way is ‘Scene Stealers’ a mash-up of the two. Synners and Skrizzle have cooperated to create a joint stage for their skills.

Dr. Syntax and Skrein retain their identifiable timbres; you know when one MC stops and the other start – more than can be said for some collaborative efforts. The other MC’s complement this; Stig of the Dump, Farma G, Verb T, Sir Smurf Lil’ and Dubbledge all show up to rap. ‘Mine for the Taking’ showcases yet another Farma G style – that man is really experimenting right now. ‘Express Train’ and ‘T.E.T.M.D’ (The Evil That Men Do) both feature Stig, who seems to have all but lost the Geordie twang but still raps ferociously.

Lyrically there are many messages to be had here. On an overall positive vibe, words of advice and encouragement flow thoughtfully, especially on tracks like ‘Mothers’ and ‘Reach’. Other tracks follow concepts; ‘Express Train’ discusses getting away for a day, ‘Back Down’, a night on the pull with disappointing consequences. ‘Venus’ examines a woman who, despite her name, revolves around material things. Other tracks, like ‘6 Bitters’ (Sick Spitters….get it?), are all about the ill lyrics. As usual Dr. Syntax shines as he displays his awesome propensity to write amazing rhymes.

The production is perfect, not a bad beat in sight. Boom bap, a splash of jazz, a hint of reggae, all stirred in the sunshine is the order of the day here. The beats are courtesy of Nutty P, Kelakovski, Chemo, DJ Snips, Dag Nabbit and Tom Caruana among others. Graziella also provides her golden tones on some deliciously sung hooks.

If you’re already a fan of Dr. Syntax or Skrein then I can guarantee you will want this LP in your collection. It’s out on Dented Records on December 1st; one for your stocking then.

'Rapsploitation Sessions' - VA - Jimmy Green & Truth (compilation review)

Do not sleep on this release. One of a few compilation/mix CDs around this moment, this one won’t disappoint. Featuring tracks from artists who have performed at Ipswich’s only Hip Hop night Rapsploitation Sessions it’s clear that Truth and Jimmy Green have good taste in music.

The artist album tracks here are the cream of the crop: Mr. Drastick’s Chemo produced ‘Give it Up’, Def Tex’s ‘Bomber’, SonnyJim’s ‘Next Generation’, Reain’s ‘Rap Game’…the list goes on. It’s great to hear a load of good familiar tracks in sequence as chosen by someone else - saves me ripping and burning my own CD. From an album I’ve not yet heard; Precise Da Analyzer and Dubbledge get hilariously mean on ‘Neverland’ (“You’ll never be friends like Joey’s new sitcom”).

The non-album tracks stand up to the already released tunes and there are a couple of proper stand outs. Kosyne’s ‘A Tale of a Tenner’ proves that he’s one to watch as he spins a sordid yarn of crime concerning one ten pound note. Ghost, Verb T and Kashmere debut as Invisible Inc on the lovely end-of-night chill-out vibes of ‘Invisible Inc Theme’. Even host Truth steps up with ‘Body of Work’, produced by Jimmy Green, the CD’s DJ. The new Vinyl Dialect cut ‘Spray’ proves they’ve truly refined their sound whilst preserving the curveball rhymes.

I could go on describing the merits of each of the track on here, I’ve not even mentioned the tunes by Sir Smurf Lil’, Verb T, Stylah, Conspicuous and all the other heads on this release. ‘Rapsploitation Sessions’ is a varied but perfectly sequenced collection of some of the newer stars of UK rap. This one I really will bump repeatedly.

It’s out now on P.Found Music and can be gotten over at their myspace for a barge-in £5 plus p&p. I’d buy it so you should too man.

'Breathe/Reach' - Skreintax (single review)

Cool artwork eh? Cool track too is ‘Breathe’. When this is released in October it’ll remind you of the summer that never was.

Skreintax is the collective name of Skrein and Dr. Syntax (see what they did there?) and is a project I’ve really been looking forward to. As two of most lauded MC’s in today’s UK scene it was pretty much a dead-cert that their efforts would be well above average. Their album ‘Scene Stealers’ is due to drop in November on Dented, ‘Breathe’ is its first single.

‘Breathe’ is a sunlounger, second to lowest setting, by a pool, mid 30’s with a cool breeze blowing. Skrein begins with a complementary laid back, softly voiced flow. Graziella, the featured guest, soothes the listener, gently imploring them to ‘slow down’. Syntax takes over with his trademark bassy voice and on a less vertical vibe that, thankfully, doesn’t detract from the overall feeling. Take a day off work, get yourself a copy of this, stick it in a playlist with your other favourite summer tracks and relax.

‘Reach’ is a solo effort from Skrein. It’s from the Adulthood soundtrack, features Graziella and is accompanied by Plan B’s band. I LOVE this track. It’s such a fresh direction for UK Hip Hop; lyrically it’s a ‘conscious narrative of London’s ills’ but musically it’s a combination of cutting edge, double time drum patterns and the rock music that you were brought up on. The guitar riffs and solos are soulful mirror images of Skrein’s lyrics; this is music of high quality.

Whilst you wait for this to drop get yourself acquainted with the work of these two artists. Skrein’s ‘The Eat Up’ is a great collection of tracks and guest verses and ‘Self Taught’ by Dr. Syntax is his debut solo album. Both are available on Dented Records.

UK Exposure #1 - Skrein, Young Kof, Yungun, Verb T

>>Mission: To make people aware of some current UK Hip Hop artists through words and audio downloads<<

>>Commence Mission<<

Name: Skrein
From: North London
Record Label: Dented
Worked with: Foreign Beggars, DJ IQ, Shamless, Plan B, Verb T, Dubbledge & Stig of the Dump...
Other info: Has a mixtape out called 'The Eat Up' and is currently touring with Verb T & The Last Skeptik.
Sample Track: Where It All Started

Name: Young Kof
From: Liverpool
Record Label: URBeatz
Worked with: Nutty P, Logic, Lowkey, Alex Blood, Instinct, Karizma...
Other info: You can go to his myspace and download a whole mixtape for free.
Sample Track: 80's Baby (Calvin Harris Remix)

Name: Yungun

From: North London

Record Label: Silent Soundz

Worked with: Mr. Thing, Harry Love, LG & Lopez, Doc Brown, Tommy Evans, Jehst, Asaviour, Kyza...

Other info: Has an smooth relaxed voice, is very funny, also goes by the name of 'Essa' and is bringing out a new album called 'The Middle Man'.

Sample Track: Jacking 4 Breaks (With Mr. Thing)

Name: Verb T

From: South London

Record Label: Silent Soundz

Worked with: The Last Skeptik, Harry Love, ED O.G, Sway, Kyza, Jehst, Syanide, Kashmere, Karizma, Yungun, Ramson Badbonez...

Other info: Currently going by the name of Verb T100 (alongside Kashmere who called himself Kashmachine) and has a whole album with Harry Love and another with The Last Skeptik

Sample Track: March ft. Sway & Kyza (From 'The Broken Window' with The Last Skeptik)

To be continued...