'Saga of a Peaceful Man' - Reps (album review)

For every Triple Darkness album you need a Reps album. ‘The Saga of a Peaceful Man’ sits on the brighter side of Hip Hop, a position that believe me, makes it no less credible. Reps has a created an incredibly listenable album that at 45 minutes long doesn’t bore you to death. The sound is typical of much of the Hip Hop coming out of Brighton – tinged with the friendly aroma of the cultural melting pot that greets even the most casual of day trippers.

Backed by a range of different production sounds – reggae, country, boom-bap and break orientated Hip Hop – Reps displays his lyrical disposition. The majority of the content is musings on life and just straight up rhymes. Comparisons could be drawn between Reps and Braintax, in vocal timbre, delivery style and illness of rhymes. Reps says things that make you think ‘Nice! I’d have never thought of saying it like that!’. Reps raps clearly and in a relaxed manner making for ear pleasing music.

‘The Saga of a Peaceful Man’ is largely original. ‘Lion King’ is an innovative take on the personal, life story track and ‘Park Ranger’ ponders the nature of freedom and the freedom of nature. ‘Out in the Field’ and ‘Hee Haw’ cover more familiar ground – weed and sex respectively – and seem a little out of place here although both subjects have been tackled creatively. All of the tracks have individuality and identity, this isn’t just a collection of similar sounding songs but neither do the tracks sound disparate. Reps applies himself to each track and as a result the songs all come across as essential parts of the whole product.

‘The Saga of a Peaceful Man’, on Flash Fry Records, is available now at Suspect Packages for just £7.99. If I hadn’t already got a copy I would not mind paying that price for this CD!

*'Lion King', 'We Have All the Love' and 'Park Ranger' have been added to the flash player to the right.*

'Even Out' - Lazy Habits (single review)

'Even Out' is like nothing else you'll have heard so far this year, if ever, that is. Look at the picture. Lazy Habits, despite resembling an irish folk band with a basketball player, are more Hip Hop than a Flavor Flav clock.

Lazy Habits are a live band who count amongst their ranks a beatboxer, DJ, 2 MC's and a brass section. Now most heads right now will be thinking 'I know, they must be like The Roots'. Not so. Well, they are a live Hip Hop band but the comparisons begin and end there.

'Even Out' is a breezy, jaunty brass soaked jazz hand inducing trip inside the real story behind the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme. MC Skin Horse weaves a sordid tale of infidelity, drug peddling and general waywardness that culminates in Jack's murder at the hands of Jill - but all in the lightest possible manner you must understand. Imagine, if you will, a more british Slick Rick rhyming over the Daptones and you'll have some idea of what to expect from 'Even Out'.

'Please People', their last single is worth a mention too. The horns are working on Mexican time here and most of the band take a back seat here whilst percussion carves a samba groove and DJ Itchi scratches. Lazy and Skin Horse rap in tune to the horn stabs and let loose with some wordplay type rhymes.

These two tracks are available to you from the usual places like itunes and Tunetribe and can be heard in my new player to the right.

'The Way' - GTA video on Channel U

From Chima of GTA:

"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

New Player

Let me know what you think of the new player next door to this post. I'll try and add all the tracks I review to it. They wont be downloadable, just listenable - after all, you can't tell if you like a song just from what I write about it!

'Judgement Day' - The Thunderclaps (single review)

Oh my word! Banger of the year? It could well be, nothing else this heavy springs to mind. The Thunderclaps have chosen their name with such precision that one of the only ways you can describe 'Judgement Day' is thunderous, that's if you can pick your jaw up from the floor and form words.

The Thunderclaps are a British production outfit and their new track 'Judgement Day' features Orifice Vulgatron (of the legendary Foreign Beggars), Shameless and Ghetto. This is the UK version of a collaboration (imaginary of course) between M.O.P., Busta Rhymes and DMX at their most ferocious. Musically The Thunderclaps give Carl Orff a marathon for his money. This is epic, cinematic, screw-your-face-up, full scale drama on wax.

The combination of these three MC's couldn't get any better - it transcends UK genre and produces something more powerful than either side could create on their own. Ghetto is THE best, nay, the ONLY MC worth listening to in the new wave of British MC's with Grime roots. Orifice has fully paid his dues and has always done things differently to others. Shameless has recently brought the rock and live influence into UK Rap. They are all hungry, vicious rappers and together they make this track blisteringly terrifying (in the nicest possible way!).

If this track needed any more endorsement, here it is: DJ Yoda introduced his Fabriclive mix CD with the instrumental to this track. Can't say better than that. 'Judgement Day' is out now on All City and Ejectorseat Records and can be gotten for a fiver on 12". Do it. The track can be heard on their myspace page.

'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.

'Champagne Lifestyle' - Blak Twang (single review)

‘Champagne Lifestyle’ would probably not be my choice of single if ‘Speaking From Xperience’ was my forthcoming album. But I’m not Blak Twang and Twangalanga is a business man who has been in this UK Rap thing for bare time. Since his last album, ‘The Rotton Club’, Tony has obviously been keeping his ear to the ground.

‘Champagne Lifestyle’ is what the Channel U generation need; as well as being a sonically mature version of the trash on said TV channel it also preaches a new message to its viewers. This track sees the rotton one (sic) take on the persona of someone who finds himself needing to impress a lady by buying expensive bubbly that he can’t afford. The track rallies against all those guys who front with the image of a wealthy man when really they can’t afford it. Twang continues to use his position as an elder statesman as someone in his position should; he teaches the youth and for this he should be applauded.

‘The B-side is ‘For the Summa’, a track that is unsurprisingly, summery. It’s laid back and is the usual fare of short skirt, drop top, picnic type rhymes – it’s nothing new but it’s done well. It still makes me wish it actually was sunny this summer!

Despite not being my choice of single from the 24 tracks on his album (I’ll be reviewing that very soon) it’s still well produced and very catchy – I sing along to the chorus – and Blak Twang’s lyrics are skilfully woven. The result? A great single that should appeal to Hip Hop heads, grime fans and radio listeners alike.

‘Champagne Lifestyle’ is out on Monday (Aug 25th) and is available already for download on itunes.

'Two Cities' - Modulok & Bare Beats (album review)

With a good mix of dusty jazz, 50’s film suspense music and punchy drums Bare Beats creates a concrete foundation for Canadian MC Modulok (no not the two headed red freak from Masters of the Universe!) to build upon. Modulok constructs a solid structure; think if you will, of a factory or mill from the industrial revolution. This is no shiny girders-and-glass, yuppie flat project although the instrumentals would also suit an MC who was that way inclined. Modulok, of Toronto’s Red Ants, has perhaps interpreted these beats in a way that no other MC would; twisting them to his own purposes.

Each of the 10 tracks (11 if you count the ‘hidden’ one) has a clear manifesto. ‘Intro’ actually introduces the artists and the collaboration, ‘Happiness’ is really about unhappiness, ‘City’ symbolically describes urban life and so on. You wont be left wondering what Modulok is on about. That’s not to say these are nursery rhymes, it’s just that Modulok and his guests are communicators. Lyrics like “One day you wont be able to tell where Modulok stops and the city begins to swell” are replete with imagery yet they convey exactly how the MC feels – it’s poetic.

Story telling is also strength. ‘Grimy’ tells a tale of rejection as a result of a woman’s desire for wealth. ‘Stories’ is in a classic mould; 3 accounts of different people’s life changes. ‘Assassin’ is a first person shoot-em-up that I’m sure must be a metaphor for something.

Guests come in the form of old Bare Beats collaborators (Perry Scaramanga, Kal Sereousz and Smokey on ‘Trouble’), fellow Torontoans (Apollo Creed and Baracuda), UK scratchmaster Jabba Tha Kut and beatboxer Wireless.

This album is on Bare Records, is available now from (and can be listened to at) the Modulok and Bare Beats myspace for only £6.99 and that pays for it to get right to your crib too. If you’re a fan of indie Hip Hop, good production and poetic but understandable lyrics then grab yourself a copy of ‘Two Cities’. If you fancy a free taster of what these boys are capable of you can have one from here.

'Trading Standards Mix-CD' - SonnyJim

"Despite the growing pressure from these coporate clowns//My music never got diluted I just wont water it down//I keep it as true as I can, if that means I lose a few fans//Real recognise real, my people root for their champ"

So says SonnyJim on 'Next Generation', the opening track of his latest offering, the 'Trading Standards Mix-CD'. Feel foolish all ye who hate - if you do, you aint real! Whether he's scared me or convinced me into thinking this mix-CD (finally someone called it what it is) is great is a moot point; is it actually any good?

Well, once I'd perfected the art of ignoring all the stupid anti-pre-release-date-piracy robot voiced messages (seriously, like 3 or more per track - Dented, please don't do that again) I began to discover what this Birmingham MC is all about. SonnyJim is about vicious staccato delivery. SonnyJim is about working with already well respected artists. SonnyJim is about spitting over brilliant beats. SonnyJim is NOT about the 'bastardized image of Hip Hop music portrayed and traded by popular culture' and this much is clear.

The guests on this release fall into two categories: Already well known (Kashmere, IRS, Jehst, Cappo, Orifice Vulgatron, Verb T, Stig of the Dump, Dr Syntax and Skrein) and not so well known yet (Logan, Kosyne, Metropolis, English, Taharka and more). These two sets of guests work really well; they keep things interesting for sure and they show that SonnyJim, despite his confidence, is humble and willing to share his stage. They prove that SonnyJim is committed to proving to the people what real Hip Hop is (check that guestlist again). Also they prove that SonnyJim has deserved strong backing in the UK Rap community.

This is a really hammering selection of tracks; SonnyJim is a force to be reckoned with and if this Mix-CD is translated into a really focussed LP it'll be a sure fire classic. SonnyJim is certainly anti-rap establishment, it'll be refreshing for those of you who have heard too much Lil Wayne and Solja Boy recently. Get yourself a copy of this and get to know SonnyJim.

SonnyJim 'Trading Standards' out on Dented Records, September 2008.

'Strange Fruit/Paintbrush' - M9 (single review)

This October, M9 (aka Melanin 9) will drop his biblically titled solo album '144,000'. In the meantime he's giving us a sample of what we can expect with the single 'Strange Fruit'.

'Strange Fruit' is a sombre Jon Phonics produced slab of street philosophy. If you heard the Triple Darkness album earlier this year then expect more of the same from M9. The lyrics are insightful and full of grey tone imagery focused on the current state of urban thought.

'Paintbrush' features Cyrus Malachi (of Triple Darkness) and Masikah and is produced by Chemo. Sonically it's a theme tune for a Hip Hop Arabian Nights. Lyrically it name checks many ancient religious systems and civilizations, painting a metaphorical picture of M9 and his allies.

Despite its darkness it's a fascinating listen as they open up a whole vault of terminology never before heard in Hip Hop. Triple Darkness have done with early beliefs, cultures and empires what the Wu-Tang Clan did with Kung-Fu references. It remains to be seen as to whether M9 and pals will spawn the same kind of following.

'Smell the Tea' - Kuelz (single review)

Right from the title of this track you get an inkling that this isn't just another London kid rapping about guns and ends. You also guess it's not just another London kid rapping against rapping about guns and ends. The title makes clear that the song is going to be at least mildly interesting and that the MC has some idea about wordplay.

'Smell the Tea' is essentially a break up song. OK, so we've had a few of those in UK Hip Hop and about 7 million in other genres but this one is quite fresh. Firstly, it's evident that Kulez has some battle experience; the way he flings metaphorical insults is amusing. 'Smell the Tea' is a pragmatic view on a relationship that everyone can relate to (unless you've never had a girlfriend that is).

The homebrewed production comes courtesy of Nutty P who is no amateur in this game. Having produced for the likes of Sway, Shola Ama, Big Brovaz and many more he's fully experienced at making great tunes. The live sounding drums and the interweaving piano and strings on 'Smell the Tea' evoke the sad but good feeling of breaking up with someone who's not right for you.

This track is available now on itunes. Go get it for a few meagre pence.

'Again and Again' remixes - Roots Manuva

Here are two remixes of Roots Manuva's next single, out on the 25th of this very month. Now Disorda's already had a mini rave about these remixes and they're pretty pretty pretty good.

One of them comes courtesy one of those Northern lads from the Arctic Monkeys, Matt Helders and it is fuzzy fantastic with lots of handclaps.

The other is a Moody Boys remix, it's a bit longer and is on a dub ting. The double-timed bass beat makes Manuva's already laid back delivery positively lethargic; a true remix.

Check out the myspace page for a live dates list as long as your arm. No Leeds gig though. If you know you can't make it to a show this year then click here and download a live set from itunes. There are quite a few of these live recordings from different artists including Sway so they might be worth your investment.

'Candlelight' - Sir Smurf Lil'

The only reason why I haven't shared this with y'all yet is that I've been way too selfish to share. Sometimes when you get a good thing you just keep it to yourself, like a kid with a secret sweetie stash. Sir Smurf's 'Candlelight' has been in my unknown bag of bon bons for a few weeks now and its still as sweet. But don't get me wrong, it aint sickly.

'Candlelight' features Huddersfield's finest beatmaker, Apa-Tight of Groundwurq (see also Jack Flash's latest LP) and it's a reflective yet not-down-in-the-doldrums slice of classic Hip Hop. For something with lyrics this realistically gritty, it's very lighthearted - more artists should strive for this combination. The partnership of Apa-Tight's breezy production and Sir Smurf's how-it-is lyrics is a relief to my ears - there's only so much happy Hip Hop with nothing to say and sad depressing rap that one can handle!

The flipside (not that CD's or mp3's have flipsides) features T Bear and Big Cakes and is based around an argument as to who has the silliest rap moniker. No not really. It's actually about the sound of the police/beast and once again, production credits go to Apa-Tight. This pairing seems to be a winner as this track is entirely different yet equally as good.

This is only the beginning of what YNR have got coming to ya this year so watch this space for some more excellent Hip Hop from some of the biggest names in UK Rap. It seems there are quite a few albums in the pipelines from Kashmere (yes, another one!), Jehst, sir Smurf Lil' and others.

Both of these tracks can be heard on Suspect Packages July show.

'I'm a Saint, I'm a Sinner' - Late

Late's latest track 'I'm a Saint, I'm a Sinner' is a half grime, half dirty south Tricksta produced street heater. It features Houston MC's K-Rino and KB Da Kidnappa and has been licensed to appear on a Hip Hop Connection compilation CD to be released later this year. The video can be seen, well you know where...

For those who don't know, Late and Tricksta are the Godfathers of Wolverhampton Hip Hop, the main men behind Wolftown Recordings, repsonsible for the rise of next-to-blow MC 10Shott amongst many other UK underground rap stars.

'I'm a Saint, I'm a Sinner' is taken from Late's forthcoming long player 'Below Street Level' which will actually be his debut solo album. For his previous work check out his albums with Villains and Wolftown Committee and pretty much any Wolftown release ever! Go to Datpiff, type in 'Late' and check out some of the mixtapes he's been involved in, there are quite a few!

'Heaven' - Dap-C

If 'Heaven' is anything to go by, 'Street Karma' by North-East spitter Dap-C is a great CD. Heaven features Mr. Drastick and Stylah and is produced by Dirty Sweet, as is the rest of the album. This is on some straight up, head nod vibes and Dap-C actually raps last, an unusual move but one which works.

He's also been busy with other stuff too. Check out this video with Geejay for his track 'Fresh' and whilst you're there you can click some more links for more Dap-C vids.

Dap-C has also made last years 'The Richest Misfit' mixtape available for absolutely nowt. That means its free so download it, ya can't go wrong!

'Street Karma' features big names like Blak Twang, Fallacy, Skinnyman, Lewis Parker (and the list goes on) so you know with support like that it can't be bad. Stay tuned here if you need more convincing, I may review it if I get a copy!