Ed Koch EP
By
Cut Beetlez
& King Dion
It is always good to have new music from my good friends the
Cut Beetlez from Finland, and this time they are back with a new EP
collaboration with King Dion, an emcee/DJ and producer out of Atlanta Georgia
in the US.
The ED Kock EP is not the first time they have worked
together as King Dion featured on the 2022 release by Cut Beetlez and The Food
Lord ‘God Keep Me Safe In This Shity Place’. In fact, The Food Lord
repays the fact by featuring on the final track of the EP. It was following
this initial collaboration that they decided to keep working together on more
projects.
You can bet that this one is going to be packed with some of
the Cut Beetlez slick experimental production, which always keeps you wondering
whats coming, so the best thing we can do here is to see exactly what Cut
Beetlez and King Dion have in store for us on the Ed Kock EP.
The EP kicks off with the title track Ed Kock, which
sees the Cut Beetlez on fine form bringing a fresh sound which seems to reflect
the feeling of the warm summer weather. It might take you a few listens to
really get a feel for what King Dion is putting across here but, for me, I got
that there was this sense that it was all about being you own person, walking
solo and not letting others get a hold of or control your own creativity and
path in life. It might seem like a lot to pack into less than two minutes but,
he really does say a lot here and you just need time to feel it.
Next up is Mommasum which has this big boom bap
sound, full of horns, cuts and a pounding beat, which gets the adrenaline
levels pushing up as you listen. What you are gonna get out of this one is a
huge sense of respect, it really is just that simple here. You can feel that
respect that King Dion has for his mom and those around him who are the
closest, like family and friends, himself included. Wherever you are in life,
whatever you’re doing, you gotta maintain that lever of respect for those who
have always been there for you and that is where this one takes you.
Topshelfer has this laid-back sound that has a sparse
drum beat with keys, while the bridge switches the vibe just enough to keep you
guessing. What we get from King Dion here is that rap bragadochio vibe as he
makes it plain and simple where he sits in the game. Here its all about
claiming that top spot, right there on the top shelf and staying there.
The final track of the EP is Mr Overall which
features The Food Lord and sees the Cut Beetlez strip the sound back even
further here. The sparce beat has some flute elements and creates this almost
far eastern meditative vibe, this brings the focus to the lyrics. There could
be a number of things that this one is saying as you listen but, what I got
from this is really making sure your involved in something, being a part of
something and not just standing by and letting things slide. Whether you are
standing up for yourself or for another person, stand up and make a difference.
The appearance of The Food Lord here gives the track an extra dimension as his
delivery and vocals have a more gritty and raw edge to them.
Once more we find that the Cut Beetlez production gives us
something different on every track here. The first two tracks, although having
differing sounds both have this vibe that is upbeat and energetic, giving you
something to move to. The second two tracks have more of a thoughtful or
reflective vibe. But, at times, the lyrics are almost at odds with the sound,
like walking a mountain trail where there is a drop of several hundred feet to
one side, you have foundation of the path and are enjoying it but, there is
also that sense you are almost on a knife edge, it just works when you think
that it won’t. It’s all about the Cut Beetlez consistently giving the emcee a
challenge with which to rap to, which always brings elements that are making
the emcee challenge themselves as well.
King Dion does a great job here with vocals that laid-back
but, also have an intensity and complexity that hit you just as much as if you
were listening to high paced rap style, it makes you want to go back and listen
again to see what you missed, even though you have not missed a word. But he
does a great job of making his words and flows fit with what the Cut Beetlez
have places before him, which makes him worthy of that place on the top shelf
and there is more to come from him, so he is one to watch.
Overall, the Ed Kock EP continues the quality production of
the Cut Beetlez and their way of creating a platform for both legendary and
those lesser-known names in the rap game and giving them all a challenge to
further push their names forward. The EP also will give many their first
introduction to King Dion, who gives a solid performance and places his name
fairly and squarely on list of ones to watch.
The Ed Koch EP is out now so, check it out and make your own
mind up.
Huge thanks to DJ J-Man of the Cut Beetlez for giving me the
chance to review this one.
I’ll see ya next time.
Steve
LINKS
Grab your copy of Ed Kock on Bandcamp Here:
https://cutbeetlez.bandcamp.com/album/ed-koch
Streaming links for Ed Koch Here:
Cut Beetlez Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/cutbeetlez/
https://www.facebook.com/cutbeetlez
King Dion on Instagram:
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