(What You
Acting So) Grown Up For?
By
LEGS MC
(What You Acting So) Grown Up For? is the latest
release in the Grown Up series from emcee/producer Legs MC (aka Daddy Legs).
I’m reasonably familiar with this series having reviewed both the second and
third releases of the series, Grown Up Too and Grown Up Free. As
with the previous two releases in the series, this one also has a title that is
a play on words but, what is different here is that there is only a couple of
features this time around in the form of one of his sons, Raphael, and Shotty
Horroh alongside the guest producers Solar Soundz and Murmur Beats. This
suggests that we will be treated to a much more personal vibe on this album,
even more so than the previous ones.
The only way to find out for sure is to join me as I take
you through the album…
Now, the album is ten tracks long but also features a bonus
track too, and it all kicks off with RAPHTMNT which features Legs MC’s
son Raphael. The beat has more Lo-Fi feel to it for the first couple of minutes
before we are treated a more head nod drum beat adding some adrenaline. This is
like an extended intro that see’s Legs give a simple warning that focuses on
the huge amount of lies and detrimental information that that is constantly
thrust in our faces through our smart phones. In fact, it is true what he says
here that there is a war going on inside our phones where the positive
interactions we are all seeking are at odds with the stream of negativity that
invades our awareness as we scroll through our daily social feeds. With such a
powerful intro to the album, it gives you a real sense of what to expect and Web
of Lies continues this with a proper heavy head nod vibe from drums, horns
and organ notes, this gives us deep edge as we listen to the words of Legs MC.
The message continues the focus of the previous track as Legs MC focuses more
intently on what we see being projected to us through our phones every day.
There is so much information that gives a false impression of the world around
us and also of the lives of others. It appears that everyone is getting by and
doing OK, when in reality it is far from that. So, many people struggle with
just providing their basic needs but, they just hide the stress while at every
turn it appears that their privacy is at constant threat from the apps, they use
daily. It’s a wonder we even know what the real truth is anymore…
The beat on Psycho CIS gets your head nodding while
the keys bring this vibe that has this John Carpenter soundtrack feel to it,
giving you this dark infectious vibe. Here we initially feel that this one
could be deep track focused on mental health but, there seems to be more going
on here as Legs MC gives us another play on words as he describes his own
talent with wordplay by bringing in the kind of punchy one liners that make you
sit up and take notice, questioning exactly what the focus is and then coming
away wondering if you truly got that or did Leg MC bend your mind a little too
far. With your mind now in a state of flux, beat drops with a little edge to it
that suggests something a little more light-hearted on Rappin’ Ain’t Easy.
This short little number does exactly what it says and sees Legs MC drop a
single verse that says, if you think its easy to do this rap stuff, then think
again, because it takes a lot to do this while entertaining people and being
able to say stuff that they can relate to, over and over again. Solar Soundz
makes his first appearance with production on Digital Flowers, the
sparce beat and electronic vibe carry you along while allowing you to focus
more on the lyrics. This one sees Legs MC take a look at the digital music
world where so many artists are focused on getting their flowers, those digital
clicks, likes, thumbs ups and so on, that help push their music that bit
further. But is it really all about that? Do you miss why you love doing what
you do by constantly placing so much value on the digital fanbase. Sadly, the
digital world is becoming more and more influential in what we do, including
the music we love. It’s a sobering thought…
Hazey Purple is produced by Murmer Beats and features
Shotty Horroh. The drums and guitars give this one a Hip Hop mariachi feel.
It’s that mariachi story vibe that permeates this one as Legs MC and Shotty
Horroh drop some emotive lyrics around smoking, being a stoner, why you do it
and how it affects your life. There is definitely aspects of this one that
really have that deep edge to them, taking you into the life of those seeking
to escape reality for different reasons and leaves you thinking after the track
is done. Organ notes and strings combine with head nod beat to bring another
sound that gets you moving for Diamond in my Belly. This one is really
about following your gut feeling when it comes to making those important
decisions in life; those times where it’s make or break and you need to
following that feeling that points you in the right direction. Now, your gut
feeling might not always be the best decision but, by knowing you did it for
the right reasons means that someone will benefit from it, even if that someone
is not you directly. The drum beat for Take Me as I Am, keeps your head
moving while the piano seems to envelop you in an emotional vibe. Here we find
Legs MC opening up about who he is and the fact that he is not a person you can
place neatly in a little box; you have take him at face value as an individual
who does not prescribe to your personal ideas of how a person should, or
shouldn’t, be. It really is that simple, so don’t be judgemental…
Murmer Beats provides production on Come Into My Life
with an uplifting soulful vibe of organ notes, bass and drums. Legs MC mixes it
up with rap and sung elements on this one as he brings us a beautiful ode to
his wife and everything that she brings to his world. This is the kind of track
that many of us guys can associate with and probably wish we had written too.
This one obviously draws inspiration from the Joyce Sims track but, mixes it up
nicely and ends with a snippet of a conversation between Legs MC and his wife.
The final track of the album, before the bonus, is 80’s Kid, which is
produced by Solar Soundz and has a chilled vibe that carries you along while
this clicking keeps you rooted in the moment. There is a deep edge to this one
that speaks to the older heads out there as Legs MC looks at the state of the
country in the modern day, from the point of view of someone who grew up in the
80’s. Society in the here and now is far different from those times, I can
vouch for that as a 70’s kid, as we now experience the kind of ups and downs
our parents had but, on a whole new level, which makes you wonder what our kids
will experience thirty or forty years from now. With those sobering thoughts
still raw in our mind, it’s time for the final and bonus track, Stompin’,
which all but wipes those thoughts from our mind by giving us a head nod vibe
mixed with a heavy dose of orchestral sounds, which gives us a lift to round
things off. Legs seems to take everything he has said in this album and
literally stomps it into our awareness here by summing up the album for you…
I had to sit back for a minute or two and consider just what
this album said to me overall, and there is a very real sense that (What You
Acting So) Grown Up For is purposefully giving us a look at the ups and
downs of life so that we can see just how serious and troubling it has become;
and by doing that it is showing us that we need to feed that inner child inside
all of us. Too much of life nowadays fills us with negativity and a sense of
melancholy, to the point where there is little enjoyment left for us. But, if
you listen a little more deeply to the words and pick up on the subtle hints,
there is a lot to take away from this; all of which is pointing you towards
lifting yourself up and finding enjoyment and love in your life once again. You
can be grown up, without being so grown up…
Legs MC does bring a deeper more personal edge to this one
and you really get the sense that this is one of those albums where the message
was best delivered yourself and that takes nothing away from the appearance of
Shotty Horroh, who does a cracking job here and perfectly adds to the message
Legs is putting across.
I think that what really spoke to me on this one is the
sense of all the things that mean so much to him, the very same values that
mean so much to all of us, Beit family, love or our passion for something, it
is all there and makes something that might appear so deep and dark, become the
exact opposite. Sometimes you can only see the light by being put into the
darkness.
Once again Legs MC shows the depth of his talent and how he
uses his adept wordplay to create a highly enjoyable album that speaks to you
on many levels, and it is the relatability of the albums content that makes it
enjoyable and a great addition to the Grown Up series.
There really is so much to like here, the production from
Legs, Murmer Beats and Solar Soundz, mixes Hip Hop beats with lo-fi, cinematic
and orchestral sounds, all of which come together to bring some emotive vibes,
which seem to really enhance and support the vocals. Legs vocals, once more,
show that he is a talented emcee who draws on personal experience to bring
extra depth to his work. He also delivers his lyrics in a way the makes you
feel he is speaking to you on the same level and not trying to down to you or
tell you what you do. It’s just directing you to look at things differently.
(What You Acting So) Grown Up For? is another cracking
album from Legs MC that you need to check out for yourself. It is released
tomorrow, 22nd, and is a great listen for the weekend.
Now, this was to be the end of the review But, following an
email chat with Legs MC I decided to include some valuable insights around this
album that will give you a little more to ponder over. So, I thought would add
these as if it were a mini-interview type of thing:
You have the name Legs MC aka Daddy Legs, can you tell me
a bit more about that?
Legs MC - Well when I came back to rap I
kind of went with Daddy Legs MC as I didn’t really feel like I was the same
person as I was before having children. My priorities, my attitudes, everything
changed and a lot of what I record I imagine them listening to when they are
older. For ease its still Legs MC but for anyone that knows me now Daddy Legs
is prob more fitting!
My interpretation of the intro RAPHTMNT, is slightly
different to how you wrote it, which kinda leads into some insights about how
you approached the vocals on the album?
Legs MC - The intro has the
chorus from faker breaker, a track I made in 2005ish and was my first music
video. I was kind of saying it was a return to how I was when I first
started which was basically not really giving a fuck what anyone thinks about
it - like danny devito said I am getting old so I felt like getting weird with
it - in most places in the album I am rapping my arse off but I also had quite
a few moments when I was like I'm gonna sing and I'm not really bothered if
anyone likes it. You could call it diminished responsibility. Be a bit more who
gives a fuck.
Can you tell me a bit more about the track Diamond In
My Belly?
Legs MC - The
actual line "diamond in my belly" came from Zack while I was making
the beat - he had put a gem on his stomach and kept saying it, then I repeated
it to the beat and recorded it straight away. It also kind of meant that even
if you don't like all of my content, there are gems in there if you are up for
digging deep and know what to look for - like you are digging through my shit
to find the diamonds - my shit may not be all bling but there is an unpolished
diamond or two in there.
There is a lot of reflection on this album…
Legs MC - You're right, a lot of the
album is a reflection of my past to try and work out who I am today.
Could you elaborate on the title of the album?
Legs MC - The title of the
album comes from the fact my old friends would say that my music is way more
serious than I am in real life, hence they would often not relate to my tunes
because it was "too angry or depressing" - I think they meant
moralistic lol!
Who did the artwork for the album cover?
Legs MC - My 5-year-old Zack
did the drawings on the front cover.
My thanks to Legs MC for sending this one my way and for giving
me those amazing insights into the album and more.
If you head over to Legs MC Bandcamp tonight at 7pm (UK Time), there is a special listening party for the the album, which is well worth your time.
The Album is released tomorrow 22nd.
So, I'm out,
I’ll see you next time,
Steve.
LINKS
Here is the one link you need, includes the Bandcamp Link:
Legs MC on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/daddylegsmc/
VIDEOS
Hazey Purple ft Shotty Horroh Prod. by Murmur Beats
Premiers at 19:00 on 21st June (GMT)
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