Infinite Sounds UK: Album Review: Grown Up Too by Legs MC

Grown Up Too

Legs MC

Grown Up Too is the latest album from Legs MC (aka Daddy Legs), originally from Brighton, he started rapping at age 17 in pubs and clubs until he met Graff artist and producer, Req1, at a Slip Jam B open mic night. Req1 taught him the art of making beats and recording his own material. Legs went on to record a string of self-made albums, these went worldwide and earned him collaborations with artists from Japan and Australia. His own songs also featured on German record label, Moon Circle Project. 2008 saw his first professional record, Cheyne Stokes, released after he signed to Latest Records. The project featured an impressive cast list including the likes of Professor Elemental, Wordsmiff and Dizraeli. When things went ‘pear-shaped’ at the label Legs withdrew from the scene altogether, choosing to become a mature student and earn a BA Hons in Film and Screen Studies.

It was during the pandemic lockdowns that Legs returned to recording, releasing ‘7 Year Itch’ in 2022, and he kept the momentum going releasing ‘Grown Up’ early in 2023, his most important project to date, featuring Mic Righteous and Frukwan of the Gravegiggaz. He even featured in the top 100 of the Wu-Tang Clan’s Saga Continues competition. Now, five months on from ‘Grown Up’ comes Grown Up Too and without further ado, join me on trip through the album, and with features from the likes of Remark, Verbz MC (Bristol MC, not Verbs from High Focus) and Krash Slaughta, you can bet this one’s gonna be a treat…

Guitar notes and horns bring us into Wicker Manned, before the beat kicks in and gets your head nodding. In not much more than two minutes, Legs says more than some say in an entire album. He begins by looking at the control used by, and lack of respect given by the UK government and what that really says about what’s going on around us, before moving on to open up about the rap scene and those who chose not to support even though he offered the hand of friendship. There is a hint of coming together and standing as one here or to risk being ones burned in sacrifice, or could it be that Legs MC will be the one to do the burning, with a no-nonsense approach to bringing the facts and lyrics of fury? Drums and strings and the main elements of the sound of The Wizard, which has a slightly dark element to the sound but, it keeps you moving. Using a spin on the tale of The Wizard of OZ, Legs MC gives us three tales of different types of emcees, the strawman who makes a lot of money from rap without using any intellect to say anything of worth, the tinman who copies those who came before him because he doesn’t have the heart for what needs to be said and then the cowardly emcee who has all the talent to go far but, lacks the strength to put himself out there in any way be it physical content or live. Legs MC is one who leads by example using his mind, his heart and soul to bring reality and truth to his work. Bass, strings, and horns are the intro for Night Life, which features Sir Mozart on production, the beat drops in and creates this infectious upbeat sound. The focus of this one is stories from nights on the streets in Brighton but, these are taken from experience too, nothing made up here, just the stark reality of life on the streets once the sun goes down on seaside city that has a huge drug culture.

Business keeps it upbeat with a beat that thumps with drums and guitar notes. Here Legs MC details his love of Hip Hop music and keeping it real to the sound and while most of the time its all about business and working hard to produce good music, there are times when you just gotta have some fun, and this is what this track is all about, balancing the business and the just-for-fun time. Keys and strings form the backdrop the drums on Imposter Syndrome, featuring Remark, Mike Dennis and Krash Slaughta on the cuts; this one has a deep dark edge to the sound. The message here is all about the fact that no one is who they seem, or they just want to be like someone else because the media and record labels hype up the likes of Drake or the Kardashians, implying that real rappers are this or you have to look like these people and act like that person. It is thrust in our faces so much that, especially the young people, feel the peer pressure to look a certain way, and if they don’t, they will not fit in or be accepted. All this does is cause damage to their mental health, leading to so many young people seeking a way out rather than not to fit in. It is a sad state of affairs that being yourself is no longer looked on as authentic but, by being your true authentic self is the one way you can be you and not an imposter. We step over the tipping point of the album with Boss, featuring Undadwella and Verbz MC, this one has a classic breakbeat mixed with keys and bass, giving a banging boom bap, head nod sound. This one speaks to me in different ways as really shows the contrast between working the daily grind as an employee or one where you are your own boss. I have been on both sides of this; being an employee most of my life until ill health made me my own boss a couple of years ago. Being your own boss is, for me, a better situation to be in, I might not make any money right now but, at least I am not being pushed beyond my physical or mental capabilities. Now I am able to nurture the parts of me that can bring out my best abilities, something no boss has ever tried to do for me. I’m not saying all jobs are like this but, sometimes we have to decide what is best for ourselves. Sadly, the society we live in means that a job is very often the only way to make ends meet.

Next, the Rhyme Advocates, The Epochs, join Legs MC on Five Oceans. Strings and keys give this one an almost orchestral feel before the beat drops in with some horns, that give this a deeper vibe, that seems to touch your very soul. The more you listen to this track the more you pick up, the more it seems to say to you and the more it makes you think; and that is key here you need to think with this one as it really seems to be about the art of being creative and authentic at the same time. It’s about being individual and true to yourself that makes you stand out from the other around you. Do what you do but, do it in a way that is unequivocally you. What is also of note here is that Legs son’s join him on the track, they do a little bit on each album now, and Zackary (who is 4) provides the little sung intro, with Raphael (who is 3) providing the little outro. A head nod beat mixed with some electronic sounds gives Woke a kind of nerve tingling edge, making focus on the words a little more. Legs MC looks at the fine line between being awake and woke; in a culture where everyone has an opinion on everything, and the so-called cancel culture has the power to destroy a career or the hard work that has been done by someone. Are things really going too far these days, what really is the point of all this, and do you really know if you are truly awake or just think you’re woke! Think about it, I mean really think about it, only by looking deep inside yourself can you know if you are coming from yourself or just following a trend and the views of others, think for yourself, don’t let other do the thinking for you.

Angry Tune has a thumping beat with strings and John Carpenter style electronic vibes, all of which ramps up the adrenaline, getting you fired up. There are times when we all need to rant on what we see and experience around us, and this is exactly what Legs MC does here is to have a rant, not at anyone in particular but, just letting off a bit of steam, and there is nothing wrong with that. The final track is a bonus, it’s the Back to Burgess Remake, the original being from the ‘Grown Up’ album. The sound mixes drums, organ notes and electric guitar with sonic sounds, giving this a nerve shedding, mind numbing sound. Here Legs MC takes us back to being sixteen, just out of school and getting a job as a labourer, trying to make a bit of money but, all the while his mates are out having fun and getting messed up on the sherbet. It’s a tough position for a youngster to be in, you want to be out with your mates but, there is pressure on you to go get a job as soon as you can.

So, lets get real here, there is a lot to like about this album. Musically, the production is all on point here and carries the album along at a nice pace, bringing a cracking audible canvas of mixed vibes that perfectly match the vibe of the vocals. Legs MC produced, mixed, and mastered the entire album, except ‘Night Life’ which is produced, as noted, by Sir Mozart. This shows and incredible creative strength that makes the album really stand out, not just that but lyrically he is very strong too. He has a great style that mixes up the flows and has an engaging quality to it. It is kind of like you are sat listening to a lecture as someone is speaking of the real-life stories they experienced during their life. It’s hard to exactly explain it but, for lack of a better word, it is the authenticity it coveys in a lyrical sense. Top to bottom Grown Up Too is packed with authentic stories from Leg MC’s life. There are no fake stories here that have been made up just to get people listening, in fact that very thing is something that he dislikes, and which you hear mentioned.

Something that I really liked about the album was that each track gave great food for thought and its relatability gave me plenty of scope to bring my own experiences into play, alongside what he was relating from his own experiences. Grown Up Too, like a good many UK underground albums I’ve heard recently, could easily generate some healthy debates as you listen to each track, which for me shows the depth of what is going into the UK Hip Hop music right now. It also displays just how much heart is going into music from Legs MC and others, plus the love of the music and that desire to create good music.

Bringing in some cracking guests into the fold always helps and Legs MC brings in names you easily know like Remark (Glastonbury) and Krash Slaughta (Glasgow), alongside the likes of Verbz MC (Bristol), Sir Mozart, Mike Dennis, Undadwella (Australia), Rhyme Advocates (Brighton), The Epochs (Las Vegas, USA), who you might not instantly recognise but, all of whom bring that individual energy and depth to the project. It also gives that universal Hip Hop aspect to the project, once more showing how Hip Hop crosses borders and unites us through music. I also liked the fact that Legs has his sons on the album, giving them a little credit and giving that track a proper family affair kinda vibe, which brings a whole new depth and heart to things, I loved that.

Overall, Grown Up Too is a solid album which oozes authenticity, relatability and reflects the ups and downs of our current reality. This is one of those albums that will never lose its appeal as the subject matter will always be relatable in some way, shape, and form.

Most definitely one you need to give a good listen to.

Grown Up Too is released on 28th August, Pre-orders are live now.

My thanks to Legs MC and to Remark for putting my name forward.

On that note,

I’m out.

Steve

LINKS

Get Grown Up Too from Bandcamp:

https://daddylegsmc.bandcamp.com/album/grown-up-too

Legs MC Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/legsmc

https://www.instagram.com/daddylegsmc/