Verbal
Mentality
By
Emarvellous
Verbal mentality is the latest release from Emarvellous on
the Veteran Records label. Born and raised in East London, he moved to Wales
over fifteen years ago. Influenced by a multitude of musical genres from funk,
Motown, and pop, all the way to Classical, Emarvellous chose Hip Hop and Rap as
a way to tackle complex subjects and to draw on his life experiences as a
conscious storyteller. Working with both local and international artists, he
continues to write new music and experiment with new ideas and sounds. As part
of the Veteran Records camp, he recently featured on the 4Dee album, Shots
Fired.
Verbal Mentallity features production from the Veteran
Records Production Team, cuts by DJ Jaffa and guest appearances from Sik
Swagga, 4Dee and Anton the Bum.
Time to let the music speak for itself so, join me on the
journey into Verbal Mentality…
Setting the stage is the Intro which has this music
box melody playing through most of the track. This gives it an almost eerie
quality that makes you focus on the words, and the words are key here, which is
exactly the point being made, before the music drops in and we get a true sense
that our minds are about to be opened. Heavy drums, bass, xylophone notes are
the core of the boom bap banger that is Sandringham Rd. As much as this
one has the energy and vibe to get you moving, there is a deep message behind
this one as Emarvellous details the violence, and its effects, on the
community. The sad thing here is that this is not just confined to any big
city, as we see this level of pain and suffer across the world every day. Next
up is Back2Back, another banger with pounding drums, keys, bass and cuts,
featuring Sik Swagga alongside Emarvellous. This one is literally two emcees
standing back-to-back and spitting venomous rhymes in a rough, rugged, and raw
style. This is a display of lyrical prowess for you to enjoy.
Heavy drums and elements of soundtrack from TVs Hill Street
Blues, Real Street Blues finds Emarvellous detailing true stories from
the streets. Drawing on the truth and his own experience brings that emotive
element to the track, and as much as you enjoy grooving to this, the harsh
reality of street life is not lost on your awareness. A short skit follows
from Emarvellous as he talks about being back on the hot streets of Hackney,
before a short news report detailing a night a unrest on the streets in the
recent past. Pounding drums, electronic vibes and a recognisable sample form
the basis of Dem No Like Me. This one really seems to detail how the
powers that be don’t like those who stand up and speak up on subjects that they
would rather supress. This is the reason the real street music, the real Hip
Hop, remains in the underground. When you talk about how people are kept down, controlled,
and used, your fan base will only be with those how truly understand or have
lived it.
Jamboree has banging drums alongside a Mexican band
sound on the bridge, giving this a real body moving vibe. Here we find
Emarvellous celebrating all the good things in life, getting out there and
having fun with family and friends, enjoying good music and taking time away
from the daily grind. Drums, bass, and bells combine to bring another uplifting
vibe on Shine. That uplifting sound is matched by Emarvellous as he
brings the kind of lyrics that speak on the things that make you shine in your day-to-day
life, leaving the darkness behind. A heavy drum sound gets your head nodding
ready for Workrate, which features 4Dee. Emavellous and 4Dee go hard on
this one kicking the work rate up dropping incredible bars across 2 verses to
get you proper hyped.
Sik Swagga joins Emarvellous again on Deceptoinz
where vocal samples form the backdrop to drums and bass, this brings a beat
that almost appears deceptively chilled but, is far from it and that air of
deception is exactly what this track is all about. In a world where deception
is the main weapon of the powers that be, we need to remember that is the case.
Nothing is what it appears these days and so much of what we see in the media
is put there to take our focus from what is really going on. Another short skit
follows, taken from a movie, where violence is used as a warning to main
the fear and the control. Think on that as it leads into Acts of Violence.
Cuts, drums, and bass are the main elements of the sound, creating this heavy
funk vibe. Here Emarvelous speaks on stories of those who use violence against
others. It’s a sobering thought that there are those out there who think
nothing of using violence, the same way most of us may use our phones, it’s
just second nature to them.
Back to Front see’s Anton the Bum join Emarvellous
over a pounding beat, with cuts, that vibrates you to the core. This one is not
just taking a shot at former clown-minister Boris Johnson but, it is exposing
the fact that the whole system is flawed, it’s all back to front; the people
don’t really vote in who they want, it’s all a set-up, showing just how messed
up and corrupt things truly are. Drums and a rock guitar sound which plays with
your nerves on Magic Man. This track looks at men’s mental health and
how their emotional state of mind is so often overlooked. This is often the
case in relationship break ups where the support of the justice system is
lacking for many men. Men also have to remember that it is OK, not to be OK,
and that asking for help is such a huge step forward. This is an important
subject that is so often overlooked because of the issues created by a
patriarchal system. The album’s final skit follows, which sees
Emarvellous speak on the yin and yang aspects of Hackney.
PunchPower is a banging track with some classic
samples thrown in to spice things up. You can probably guess, from the title of
the track, that this one is all about the sport of boxing. So, sit back and
enjoy as Emarvellous drops a celebration of all he enjoys about it. The
penultimate track is Blatant Discrimination, where the drums pound
alongside an etheric vocal sample. Here Emarvellous goes hard on the subject of
racism and home blatant some people still are in their use of the ‘N’ word;
even in this day and age where the issue of racism has been given such focus.
It is an outdated view that needs to be stamped out. Hip Hop has always
promoted a culture that is devoid of race issues and has always sought to bring
attention to all cultures who are affected by this issue and to stand up
against it. The albums final track, Sick With It, once again features
Sik Swagga alongside Emarvellous. Drums and maniacal laughter fill your ears as
this one drops with a horrorcore vibe. This track is like watching the
late-night horror movies, where no punches are pulled with, he depth of gore
and fear, and nightmares are your only companion…
Verbal Mentality is a hell of a ride, to be honest.
Emarvellous gives us a really good blend of tracks that are full of emotion and
a deep desire to display the harsh realities of life on the street and the
inability of the government to do anything to bring help and support; the album
also has a good selection of tracks that display that just for fun vibe, where
its all about dropping slick verses that are packed of similes and metaphors,
just for the shear enjoyment of doing it. It really does bring an overall sense
of balance to the whole project. He also shows how adept he is with his craft,
switching between flows and styles with a deep respect and desire to be
original, never sticking to just one style but, mixing it up and showing that
he is a force to be reckoned with on the underground scene.
There is also a rawness to this release, a gritty edge that
comes only from lived experience. This is evident in the production as well,
with the sound often bringing a very gritty, rough vibe that seems to easily
put you in touch with that raw truth of the street vibe. The same of which can
be said of the guest artist who bring that underground rawness that fits so
perfectly here. It might be to everyone’s taste but, when you are dealing with
lived experience, there will be a deep tough edge that it is hard to deal with
unless you’ve been there. So, for some, there will need to be an understanding
that real life often means hearing and facing things you’re not comfortable
with but, it is live and you have to understand the truth and reality of where
others come from.
Overall, Verbal Mentality creates a balance that does
not shy away from being brutally honest when needs be, and shows that life has
a brighter side too. Emarvellous brings us an album that displays everything
that he is about right now but also has this hint that, he still has a few
cards up his sleave too. This is a solid release that can be enjoyed but, also
respected providing you listen with an open mind.
Verbal Mentality is available now from Veteran Records.
My thanks to 4Dee for sending this one my way.
I’m outta here,
Steve
LINKS
Stream the album on Spotify Here:
Emarvellous on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/emarvellous9/
Emarvellous on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Emarvellousoh
Emarvellous YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEzESierOpjMxSWRZgEgpRg
Veteran Records Website:
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