Album Review: Who We Are by Peter Sparker and STS

 

Who We Are

By

Peter Sparker & STS

 

Released today is the debut album from Peter Sparker and STS which is being released through Hidden Hobby Records. Now, before we go any further, it seems only appropriate here that I give you a little more info on the duo.

Peter Sparker is an emcee out of Atlanta in the U.S. who has been in the game since the eighties and, aside from his own material, has also worked with the likes of Mr Roka (Can’t Be Copied), Prevmarco, Masta Conga, Twisted Pete, Threepeeoh and more. Producer STS (aka Skyrock 72) hails from Paisley, Scotland and also produces his own material while working alongside the likes of Remark, One OZ and Prevmarco, he also likes dabbling in a bit of remixing along the way.

I actually first got my ears round this album just prior to it being picked up by Montener The Menace and Hidden Hobby Records. I was enjoying what I heard and so was toying with the idea of reviewing it when I saw the post from Hidden Hobby and that kind of decided things for me. The album is sixteen tracks deep with features from Hellz Yeah, DJ TAG and Prevmarco.

The best thing to do here is let the guy’s music speak for itself, so join me on a trip through Who We Are…

What better way is there to kick things off, than with a greeting and HI kicks things off with a horn and guitar heavy sound which has an infectious beat that serves as the perfect intro for the album and setting the stage for what’s about come and that is simply dope Hip Hop with boom bap beats and slick lyricism, no mumble rap here. Now you have an idea of what to expect, it’s time to Stop & Look as the bass and guitars, mixed with some funky percussion, grabs your attention fully. Once the music of STS has you hooked and Peter Sparker (PS) begins to drop his bars, you realise that this one is about attention and not just paying attention to the music but, paying attention to everything that goes on around you; don’t let life pass you by but, focus on yourself and your dreams, cultivate your strengths and be who you are. Don’t try to be someone else or what you think other might want, just stop, and look at who you truly are and be that person. The sound of dripping water mixes with drums and a heavy electronic vibe that vibrates through your entire awareness on Speak To Me. Here the influences of Hip Hop pioneers shine through here as PS gives us the lowdown on how rhyme, the tool of the street poet, runs in his veins. It’s not just about where it comes from and where its at but, its about what you do what that talent once you realise it. PS is the poet and his commitment to that is what he shows here. Drums and double bass form the basis of the sound for Mister Winter giving this one a heavy feel that sends a shiver up your spine.  Everyone knows that Hip Hop has always had a way of flipping the meaning of words and here we get the definition of that as PS give us a display of lyricism that’s so damn good its cold as ice, and when you constantly hone your craft, the one thing it does is speak to people…

Sharks features HellzYeah alongide PS and STS, there is a proper funky vibe to this one which will have your head bobbin’ from start to finish. Here we get a crackin’ display of lyricism as the guys go all in with a delivery that is as sharp as a sharks tooth, and these guys will circle and attack with the force of a megalodon and a bite to match. Heavy strings, keys, flute and a wicked drum beat form the boom bap background of Bars Over Bullshit. PS impresses the importance of the quality of bars on this one. Everything you say has to be on point and delivered with laser like precision, not only that, but it has to be entertaining or be relatable and have purpose. You might have the flows but, if you’re not saying anything and people can’t relate, it’s just bullshit. DJ TAG rounds off the track by slicing up the competition with razor-sharp cuts. Next up, jazzy horns and a funky beat bring an energy infused, up lifting sound that will get you moving. PS becomes the Bone Collector, in this case collecting the bones of those who mumble along the way. Funk bass and drums merge to create the perfect stage for PS to play with words, moulding them into form that suits his needs. There is dash of fun and a sprinkling of braggadocio here too, but when the rhymes are this good does it always matter what they say? Maybe not but, what does matter is that there are some that are gonna get hit by the Shapnel…

Pathological Rhymer hits with an almost soundtrack like vibe coming from guitars, horns, and a solid beat but, before we know it the beat switches to a more chilled sound of strings of a heavy drumbeat. In a second you flip from bouncing to a lyric focused vibe as PS switches up his flows and demonstrates the kind of rap braggadocio that Hip Hop music is based on, something that takes me back to the days when rappers would show how ‘bad’ they were just by bigging themselves up with cleaver lines of intricate verbal mastery. Time Bandits finds Prevmarco joining PS, with STS providing a beat that pounds every part of your awareness, making every cell in your body vibrate with those heavy drums. Here PS and Prev spin tales around the very concept of time and what it means to us as we navigate life journey. Not just that you also get a sense that its not all just the concept of time but, what you can do with the time you have. Both of these concepts can give you much to think over but, don’t spend to much time on that right now as its time to move on. Something We Do is up next and finds STS hitting us with an intro of horns before dropping a solid boom bap beat with keys in the background. This sounds gets you bouncing around like you were at a block party in the eighties. PS drops the kind of words that resonate so deeply, especially with us older heads who grew up with this sound. He gives us his take on what it is to live that in the real Hip Hop vibe and noting what the teacha said, that rap is something you do. As I sit here with my mind cast back to the 1980’s, STS drops the beat for Backspin which has that authentic breakin’ vibe; PS also drops in with a few lines dedicated to all the B-Boys and B-Girls worldwide. It reinforces those memories taking you back but also makes you think of the more recent conversations around Breakin’ and the Olympics, and made me think of one thing, as hard as they might try; they will never take the Hip Hop out of Breakin’ or the Breakin’ out of Hip Hop…

Moving into the final quarter of the album STS gets funky for The Brakes, another phrase that keeps my mind back in the days, the drums and funky guitars get your head nodding along. Not to be confused with the Breaks, which is something completely different in Hip Hop, no here it’s not about putting the brakes on, far from it in fact, PS keeps it going because there isn’t the time right here to stop, this is Hip Hop music and its gotta keep going, and the guys do that with This Is The Way, where the drumbeat takes the forefront with some faint guitar vibes floating in the periphery. It’s the RUN DMC sample on this one that gives you the focus for this one, PS literally expands on the notion of what it is to be an emcee and what they do, which is to just ‘rock the house.’ There is not much more you can say except that alongside the emcee, rocking the house is always completed with the DeeJay, nuff said. Into the album’s penultimate track and it’s time for a Revolution. This is really the albums outro of sorts as STS provides a chilled beat with guitars and keys. PS reminds us he can also drop lyrics that speak the truth and educate so, listen to what he has to say here, in just a few words, which is no less poignant than a verse or two. The album ends with a remix of the track Cotton Ball that PS and Prevmarco originally did with Mr Roka back last year. The Cotton Balls Remix finds STS providing a pounding beat backed by bass and sounds that could a Guzheng harp and even a chavichord, which mixes together giving this one a deep mafioso gangster feel. This one is aimed fairly and squarely at those who make themselves out as something they are not. When you think about it, it’s not just those kinda wanna be gangsters or those talking the talk when they are not walking the walk, this could be aimed at anyone who choses to be fake or a fraud.

 

I sum up so many albums, EP’s and the like by going deeply into the messages behind them and the effects the music can have on people but, it was nice to have an album where there was not so much of that. Who We Are is one of those Hip Hop albums that sounds so great today but, has its heart back in the dawn of Hip Hop.

Together Peter Sparker and STS have crafted an album that encapsulates the feel and energy of the 1980’s Hip Hop and Rap sound, and they have planted it in the now, and in doing that they are opening up a whole new era to that real Hip Hop vibe but, they are also speaking to those of us who grew up with Hip Hop and enjoyed those early days of Hip Hop, electro and rap braggadocio, it truly takes you back and sends shivers up your spine. Peter Sparker has a great voice and his flows and wordplay really grab you and hold you throughout every track and from top to bottom of the album. There is no dipping into more modern rap flows and styles as he uses straight up rap bars for the real Hip Hop heads. The production from STS just pounds boom bap into your mind all the way but, with little nods to some other genres along the way but, he gives us a sound that is rooted in that real Hip Hop vibe.

I could spend hours and more paragraphs on just how much I loved this album and go into far more detail about the vocals and the production and the solid guest appearances, but, the best way for you get that feeling is not from me writing page after page, it’s by getting this on your speakers and really enjoying everything it is. The features from HellzYeah, Prevmarco and DJ TAG all complement this album by adding just the right added essence to each track of what is an essential party vibe Hip Hop album. This in one you simply just have to enjoy and feel to the fullest. It is a statement that real Hip Hop music is far from dead, it might have retreated to the underground but, there it is free to be what it is supposed to be, and that is a sound for the people by the people.

 

Who We Are is out today on Hidden Hobby Records and keep watch for a possible limited-edition vinyl run…

My huge thanks to STS for the initial contact and bringing this to my attention. An additional shout out to Montener The Menace for giving me the chance to review this for his label too.

Time for me to be out,

See ya,

Steve.

LINKS

Get your copy of the album here:

https://hiddenhobbyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/peter-sparker-sts-who-we-are

Peter Sparker on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/therealpetersparker/

STS on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/skyrock_sts_/

Hidden Hobby Records on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/hidden_hobby_records/

 

Album Review: Overview Effect by FR4NKIE

 

Overview Effect

By

FR4NKIE

 

Overview Effect is the latest release from Manchester, UK Grime artist FR4NKIE. This album is his sophomore release and will mark the first time I have reviewed a full album from the grime genre. The album includes features from underground artists including LPNoID, Illy From Da NW Side, Cosmo Laurie, Trapson, Dizmack, Masovelli, and Manchester Hypes. Production comes from Trolley Snatcha and promises to blend Road Rap and Grime influences with such elements as Folk and Guitar music as a backdrop to showcase FR4NKIE’s versatility.

Now before I get into the album it seems only right that I detail some background on FR4NKIE for you. The Manchester based artist was formerly know by the name XP Burstgang, and over the years he has achieved international recognition for his contributions to the Grime scene. Alongside collaborations with the likes of Mike Skinner and President T, his career has also seen victories in Lord of the Mics and Red Bull’s Grime-A-Side. Although his roots are in the Grime scene, he has also built a diverse discography that spans the likes of Trap, Drill, and some genre-defying ballads. This latest release draws on the experience gained throughout his career to bring a release that has a well-rounded and mature approach to street music.

So, with that said, let’s get into Overview Effect…

The album kicks off with To Be Frank, featuring LPNoID, the organ notes ease you into this one but, soon the heavy bass hits, ramping up the energy but, retaining those organ notes which bring an eerie and almost dark quality. This one see’s FR4NKIE taking us into the realities of street life in the UK, hence the dark tone of the track, because there are so many aspects of the street life in the UK cites that bring pain and violence, all in the name of making money. With those visions of the stark reality imprinted on your awareness, Brick In The Wall brings a sound that merges that street beat mixed with the folk guitar vibe that has a reflective edge to it. There is a touching element to this track which looks deeply at the struggles of living in a society that is set-up to keep most of us down. In our desire to be all we can be and to rebel against those who judge us, we often lose friends and loved ones along the way but, it is their memories that often keep us striving for more, rather than giving in and choosing to take that one step that will make us fall. Next up is Simon Says which features Illy from da NWside. Here the sound is back to that more classic grime sound with heavy bass, but with a mix of guitar and electronic vibes that tweak your nerves, just a little. The lyrics are delivered with more than a drop of venom and seem to be a demonstration of lyrical prowess of both artists. There is also a heavy dose of that street mentality and vibe here reflecting the reality of what many refuse to see.

Another Day In Britain keeps that grime vibe but, there are elements to the sound that really give this one a reflective air to it. It’s the kind of focused sound that helps you pay attention to what is being said, and here FR4NKIE has a lot to say; it’s a track that really mirrors the voice of so many of us these days. It might just seem like this is just a shot across the bow of the establishment but, more than that, it is the voice of the youth, the voice of those who are unheard in society. This is the voice that needs to be heard by those who refuse and chose not to listen. Janis Joplin merges the heavy bass grime sound with some melodic organ notes, which has the strange effect of making you almost just want to sit back, close your eyes, and listen. There are elements here that make this one seem like a homage to the late great blues singer. However, as you listen there is much about FR4NKIE’s own musical journey here too and that could well link to the inspiration of Janis. Guitars take the forefront on Benzema producing this melodic and atmospheric sound that you can easily lose yourself in. This one seems to flip the idea of the classic ballad as FR4NKIE brings us a track which is seemingly focused on being the best, which is mirrored, metaphorically speaking, by Real Madrid’s Karim Banzema and his achievement of winning the Ballon D’or in football.

Walk Through Fire features Cosmo Laurie and Trapson alongside FR4NKIE over a beat that has a more LoFi Hip Hop vibe with head nod drums, bass guitar and a multi-layered sound that has a chilled quality. This one really seems to take a look at the key experiences we have in growing up, the kind of situations that shape and mould us into who we are, these situations are not always easy but, we remember them and the strength they gave us to get to where we are. With that retrospective vibe still present the sound of rain enters our awareness with easy going keys, when the drum beat hits, the sound still retains a chilled element for One Of Them. This one has that ballad feel to it as FR4NKIE take us on a self-reflective journey that looks at mental health and how we can be too hard on ourselves, which is very much a result of our life experiences in growing up. The message here is really to lighten up and be easy on ourselves, this way we can be more our true selves. Is That You Yeah features Dizmack and Masovelli and has a more heavy bass sound to it which is underpinned by synth and strings to provide a more energetic vibe. This one was far more difficult to read as there was a lot of reflective thoughts and visions of how people are treated but, there is also a lot about striving to be better and believing in yourself.

We move into the final two tracks of the album with the penultimate track Mess, featuring Manchester Hypes, this one has a heavy bassline backed by electronic notes that play with your awareness, which works well with the titles of the track. Living in an urban environment seems to be getting worse and this track speaks on that by noting you see around you or experience day-to-day in the cities. There is violence on the rise, rubbish, pain and suffering all around, it’s a mess but, there is a yin and yang to everything and its not doom and gloom but, it us that has the power to change it. Moving into the final track, On My Own has guitar that takes the to the forefront alongside the drumbeat. Once more there is a reflective vibe to this one, which fits perfectly here with the deeply personal nature of the track. FR4NKIE looks back over some of his toughest struggles and shows how he work through these on his own by drawing on his internal strength to get him through.

 

Firstly, I have to backtrack a bit here. Earlier, in my intro, I noted this was the first grime album I would have reviewed But, after listening to the full album it is clear that this is not just a grime album, there are influences here from many genres including grime, Hip Hop, drill, trap and even EDM, making this a cross-genre album that may very well appeal to many different ears.

This was also a great challenge for me and was definitely not the easiest album I have ever reviewed. There are some musical influences here that are not genres that I ordinarily listen to, and I have never really gelled with the likes of EDM, for example, it was just a challenge to immerse myself in something different and find my own way to interpret what I was hearing. It is clear from the many influences that FR4NKIE is an accomplished artist who is more than able to mix up his rap styles and flows, using his chosen wordplay style to great effect to convey his messages. The use of his own personal experiences, some of which are deeply personal, gives this one an authentic and relatable edge, something that will appeal to many people even if the sound is not immediately to their liking.

There are some great features here and although none of the names are familiar to me, everyone of them works well on the individual tracks and alongside FR4NKIE. There are no points where anyone feels out of place, and they all display their own individual and unique rap talent.

The production is solid and provides the perfect musical backdrop. The wealth of influences really comes through here and shows an adept quality by Trolley Snatcha that reflects someone who has collaborated with the likes of Chase & Status and Flux Pavillion but, is willing to go beyond the type of music that he would normally be associated with and produce some more experimental work.

The title of the album, Overview Effect, comes from an experience that is described by astronauts, while in space and looking back at earth. Described as “a cognitive shift” and “a state of awe with self-transcendent qualities”, you can see why this was chosen as the title as FR4NKIE has put his experiences across life and the challenges of the working class in the UK today into and musical trip that touches on such themes as drug abuse and falling into a life of crime, alongside his musical journey and the cross genre sounds; something which, to me, is as much a cognitive shift as you can get in the underground music scene.

I definitely recommend you give this a listen, because I know there are people who are gonna love this but, also, as much as it was a challenge to me to step outside my normal box and listen to something completely different, I would say give it a listen before you judge it based solely on you own musical tastes, because you might be surprised.

The Overview Effect is released independently and is out now on all streaming platforms.

My thanks to William from the BH.WAV brand for bringing this one to my attention.

 

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve

LINKS

Grab the album on Bandcamp Here:

https://fr4nkie.bandcamp.com/album/the-overview-effect

Link for streaming sites, socials and more:

https://linktr.ee/fr4nkie365

VIDEOS

Another Day In Britain