Album Review: 3 Days, 8 Beats, 1 Take by Jonie D

 

Three Days Eight Beats One Take

By

Jonie D

 

Jonie D has featured on the blog before with Kaos Crew and most recently with his single Journey, back in July 2025. It is good to have him back with his latest solo project Three Days, Eight Beats, One Take, which was originally released back in October 2025 and is produced by LSK.

The Derbyshire based emcee also has some Italian roots and descries this album as follows:

This one is personal and built on the sounds and the movies we grew up with. Each track reflects where I’ve been, what I’ve seen, and what I’m still figuring out after more than 30 years in music and 50 years on our planet. The lyrics are for anyone who’s ever had to stop and take a look at where they came from and where they’re headed. This project means a lot to me, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. 381 is known as the Angel Number and is a combination of the energies and vibrations of 3 (creativity, & self-expression), 8 (achievement), and 1 (new beginnings).

From those few words, you really get the feeling that this is going to be an album that hits some deep notes, especially with the very personal and spiritual aspects.

So, lets get straight into it…

Our journey with Jonie D begins with Call Me and an Intro that gives a brief look at that Italian heritage. The sound of this one has a chilled edge to the beat, this is backed by bass and organ notes that hold that chilled edge, also bringing a sound that has this thoughtful vibe. Plus, I’m fairly sure the chorus comes from Peter Gabriels Sledghammer. The vibe of the sound works so well here as the track is very much a dedication to his children and his love for them. As a father myself, I can feel everyone of these words and being there for your children, just at the end of the phone, mirrors my own sentiments when it comes to my own children. This is such a great way to kick off the album with a hugely personal track that gives the listener a deep look at what to expect, while also touching you deeply. It also leaves you wondering where Jonie will take us next with Apollo. This one has a heavier beat which is backed by horns and keys that give this one a ragga vibe, getting you moving. This one has a broader feel to it, as it looks at the world around us now but also sees Jonie taking a look back over live and some of the key things that have moulded who he is. The reference to Apollo here shows how he remains focused, precise and controlled in how he approaches life and what is important to him. Those ideals of focus, precision and control were all key aspects for the NASA Apollo missions.

Next up is No Strings Attached, which hits with a laid-back sound made up of bass and a solid drum beat. There is also no reference to growing up watching the likes of Thunderbirds and other Gerry Anderson produced TV Series. This one is all about relationships that have no strings attached. However, living that way can have an impact on the other person in the relationship who might see things as more that they are. There is also another aspect to this one, which is about not being a puppet to anyone and having your own autonomy when living your life. I also liked the addition of the sample from Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Tracks of My Tears, which adds a nice little, almost light-hearted edge to things. Loose Cannon comes with a nice soulful edge over the heavy drum beat, getting your head nodding as you listen. That soulful vibe lends itself nicely here as Jonie looks at how we change over time, from someone who might have been a bit of a loose cannon at one time, to someone who has truly found themselves through education, self-exploration and perhaps a dash of spiritual enlightenment along the way. This one reminds us of how time and aging, with all that brings with it, does change the essence of who we are, as does the knowledge and lived experience we carry along the way.

As we cross the halfway point of the album our focus is brought to Time, where the sound mixes a solid Hip Hop beat with a sixty’s guitar riff loop, giving this one a vibe that switches up the adrenaline levels just a little, encouraging the head nodding to get a little more heavy along with it. Here Jonie takes us on a ride that looks at the things that we often find difficult to explain or come to terms with as we navigate the journey of like. From the funs and games we had in the past to wading through the pressures of modern day living, there will always be times we wonder how we got here or how we will through the present and into the future. Roses brings another upbeat sound with a beat and keys that bring that ragga sound once more. The light feeling of this one really fuels some good vibes within as you listen. This is one of those tracks, that for me, might mean something different to different people. It says a lot about how we move through life dealing with the struggles from the past and the present, but ultimately, we are aware that within all this, there is somethings beautiful. Like, holding on to roses we see the beauty that they bring, but there is also that awareness that holding onto them brings pain from the thorns that cut our hands. It is that understanding that there is always pleasure and pain through life, we just have to choose the weather the storm in order to see the blue skies that will come.

We move into the final two tracks of the album with Tell It, which brings a heavy beat with keys that has a sound that keeps that upbeat sound going, getting you moving, but maybe in a more mellow way. Here Jonie does exactly what the title suggests, telling it like it is. This is like sitting with a good friend or perhaps with your children, giving them an unfiltered and honest view of life. We pick up so much knowledge as we move through life that there comes a time when we can only speak on where we have been and what we see that comes forth in a way that has no rose tinted glasses but, just how we see it from our hearts. Because, as we grow, we understand that the truth is the only way forward. The album ends with Higher Plane, The sound mixes a laid-back beat with guitar vibes that give this one a more thoughtful and reflective edge, a sound that seems to touch and vibrate through all seven chakras. Now, I might not be on point with this one but, it really made me think about all those people that touch or lives as we walk life’s path. There are times when we meet someone who touches us deeply and we feel that person will always be with us, but they only stay for as long as it takes for them to teach what we need to know. We might not even realise what the lesson is, it might make us feel like life has kicked us in the teeth or deserted us. But there is a level, a higher plane if you will, where we understand what happened and why, and on a level that stays with us forever.

 

Now, I do love it when you listen to music that just allows the words to flow out of you and Three Days, Eight Beats, One Take is definitely one of those. It is probably because of the deeply personal nature of the entire album that allows that to happen. Every track here has a vibe that touches you, from LSK’s emotive production to Jonie D’s wordplay and deeply personal aspects that are locked into each track. It just allows to listen to each and every word, every bar, every beat, and then to allow that to draw out something from within your own lived experiences that allows you to perfectly associate with what is being said.

There is such a wealth of knowledge and personal experience here from Jonie D that makes you understand just how much this album must mean to him. At the same time, it helps you realise how much your own experiences mean to you.

This album has been crafted in such a way that it is not just another Hip Hop album. Yes, as you listen to it, you feel that the roots of the sound are well and truly in that Hip Hop vibe, but there is also more to it. Jonie’s vocals are clear and spoken in a way that allows to hear everything, so as to let the emotive elements sink in, regardless of the flow he uses. LSK’s production, in its sounds, mirrors the emotive nature of what Jonie is putting across, in such a way as to perfectly open up your mind to allow the messages to seep into the very core of your being.

There is a spiritual aspect to the album, which is unavoidable in way, because when you put so much deeply personal information and feeling into a project like this, the music and words become more than just a source of enjoyment, the sound and vibration touch you on a level you might not even realise. But it any track on this album brings up some deeply personal feelings then, you already understand on a deep level.

Three Days, Eight Beats, One Take is one of those albums that you might not put high on your list of classic albums but, it is definitely one you need to listen to and let it sink in and speak to you.

The album is out now on streaming and with some limited vinyl copies available too, so don’t sleep on it.

My huge thanks to Jonie D for allowing me to bring you my humble take on this album.

 

I’ll see you next time.

Steve.

 

Footnote: There is something I want to add here. Now, I always forward my reviews for fact checking before I drop them online, and part of the response I got from Jonie D, is worthy of note here.

There is also some additional information regarding the album title, which is this; The album was recorded over three days, with eight beats and using one take. Jonie D had the following to say about the process:

You hit it on the head with the 'the roots of the sound are well and truly in that Hip Hop vibe, but there is also more’. We kept the 1 take idea to keep it as honest as possible and when we finished it (in 3 quite emotional days) we felt much of what you’ve written. 

When I get feedback like this it really helps me in knowing my reviewing process is spot on. But more than that, that little line about the process of recording the album gives a huge insight in what it is like for the artist, producer, engineer etc in bringing a project like this to the listener.

I hope that gives you a little more of an insight into things from this side.

Steve.

 

LINKS

Here is One link for Jonie D, Inc Bandcamp for the Album:

https://linktr.ee/JonieD

Get the album on elasticStage Here:

https://elasticstage.com/jonied/releases/3-days-8-beats-1-take-album

Jonie D YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@JonieDChannel/videos

 

 

EP Review: Unapologetically Myself by Niques

 

Unapologetically Myself

By

Niques

 

I first featured Welsh multi-genre artist Niques, back in April of 2024 with her single Mate (check the review for more on Niques). Now she is back with her Debut EP Unapologetically Myself, which was originally release back at the end of November 2025.

The EP focuses on some of the challenges that Niques has faced in her life, which is likely to give this one a deep and personal edge. The production comes from Lupole, Beats By The Boy, DJ Zippy and is noted as having a more R&B vibe.

Let’s get straight into the EP which is six tracks and kicks off with Crazy. This one is produced by Lupole and has pulsing beat with electronic sounds and vocal samples with give this one a sound that you can’t help but, nod your head too as you listen. There is a definite uplifting vibe around this one, something which comes from this being an introduction, if you like, to what Niques has had to deal with in her life. It looks at a life dealing with CRPS (Complex regional Pain Syndrome), an illness with no cure and originates in her having to have a club foot fully reconstructed at the age of only six months old. What you get the feel for here is that someone who has spent their whole life dealing with chronic pain, builds a certain strength which comes from that. This is something that few can truly understand unless you have lived it yourself, something that, I guess you could say is the true definition of not judging on appearances alone, because you don’t truly know that person’s story. There is a power in this track, in the lyrics that gives you that understanding, to a point, if you chose to stop and really listen.

We now move on to Filtered Image, Again produced by Lupole, this has one has a heavy sound that brings keys to the forefront that brings a deep sound that seems to touch you deeply inside as you listen. That deep sound is elevated by the pure emotion which comes through as you listen to the lyrics. What is clear is that this one may mean something different to each one of us that listen but, here Niques speaks on the struggles faced growing up. There is much here about trust issues and presenting yourself to world with a mask on, something that doesn’t show who you truly are, it protects you from getting hurt or giving away too much of your true self but, that mask can present its own challenges, both to yourself and those around you. The title says a lot to as you consider how so many chose to present a filtered image of themselves through social media, forgetting that their true self is their authentic self. It might seem hard to present that to the world but, keeping that mask on is a lot harder that simply taking it off.

Lupole produces So Wild and this time brings us a sound that has a heavy sound but, there are a wealth of sounds over this which bring a more upbeat sound, one that also tweaks at your nerves a little, keeping your focus honed on what you are hearing. As you listen to this one there seems to be a juxtaposition between the title and the sound, as the title and sound seem at odds with each other. Getting into the lyrics is where everything becomes clearer, there seems to be a focus on mental health here. The person that everyone sees on the outside, is not always who that person is on the inside, especially when you have the kept the mask on for so long, and it begins to slip. These can be some of the darkest times in your life but, when you finally come through it and see the light on the other side, your true self comes out and look back on where you have been and where you are going and new, different version of wild you can come forth and help left you up to the place where you truly see yourself.

Baby Steps is produced by Beats By The Boy and brings a more chilled sound, there is still a deep bass sound but, the keys and other percussion bring this sound that seems to soften the edge and makes you open to feel more. That emotive edge brings more impact as you listen and understand that once you come out the other side of all the darkness and the hard times, it takes those little steps forwards that define your recovery. The more time you take to walk slowly forward with help you get far stronger that trying too hard by taking leaps forward. It takes help too, something you should never be afraid to ask for as you take those tentative steps to a new you, a more authentic you.

Don’t Do Me Wrong is produced by DJ Zippy, with some additional production from Lupole. This one has a more soulful edge to it with the beat being more chilled and with synths that bring the atmospheric vibe to the track. You get the feeling that this one is a powerful statement of the just how complex love can be, especially when entering into a new relationship. This is something most of us can easily relate to, in a number of ways, either because we have experienced it ourselves or seen others, close to us, go through similar situations. The track comes from the viewpoint of a woman looking at a new relationship and issues of trust and, ultimately, commitment, that come with something new. But there is also the chorus that hits a nerve as it shows the struggle of someone struggling to be fully open and commit, due to past hurt and broken trust. Anyone who has been in this situation, on either side, will know the emotions that come with this and it is likely to hit you hard if you’re not expecting it.

The EP ends with the Outerlude / Philosophy, once more produced by Lupole, bringing us a more stripped down sound that is heavy on synths and keys, before the beat kicks in with a little more strength. This soulful sound, with its stripped down vibe, brings far more focus to the vocals, while still giving you enough to move your body to. This is one of those tracks that you can draw different things from, depending on how you feel at the time. That philosophy of honesty is one of the things that speaks so deeply as you listen. Honesty in any part of a relationship with anyone is something that shows your true character. There is a depth to this track that puts you in mind of being in a place where two people are being most intimate, perhaps just lying together and being at one, these are the times when some of your strongest and most heartfelt things can be said and being honest means that never a truer words can be said.

 

One thing is perfectly clear here from the start of this EP, and that is the fact that when an artist is being so open and honest in presenting their own personal story, it opens the listener up to connecting and feeling the emotive content by way of their own emotive feelings, through shared lived experiences, and that is what makes this EP what it is, an open and honest portrayal of lived experiences that allows the listener to associate with, and feel the nature of what is being expressed through the music. Music is capable of so much and Unapologetically Myself expresses that perfectly.

Niques shows that she has true talent that spans not just R&B, soul or Rap, she is capable of cross genre expression that will not keep her focused in just one arena of music. Here she uses both rap and sung elements to fully express the true emotion of what she has experienced through life. At times her expression has a raw depth when a specific point is needed to be shown, while at other times her flow and vocals bring an expression of her soul that could so easily calm the savage beast. She has such a fantastic range that you feel there is nothing she could not excel at, should she choose to focus her talents on that direction. She has everything that makes her excel as an independent artist in her own right but, she also has the strength to blow up too, should she decide to go in that direction. It is the strength gained from a life built on pushing past hurdle after hurdle that has given her such strength of character and expression.

Let us not forget that the production pays a huge part in helping to deliver the emotions that are contained in any vocals, and here Lupole, Zippy and Beats By The Boy do a standout job of bringing sounds that carry and equal amount of the deep emotive edge, as do the vocals. They deliver vibes and sounds that keep you moving and enjoying every beat, while bringing you deeply touching music that you can enjoy as much as can feel.

As Niques debut EP, Unapologetically Myself is a belter that delivers a solid performance all-round, getting you out your seat and getting in touch with the true essence of who you are inside. This is one you can listen to on your own but wouldn’t be out of place in a party or club setting too.

Unapologetically Myself is out now on all streaming Platforms.

Huge thanks to Niques and the team for letting me bring this one to you.

Be seeing you,

Steve.

LINKS

Check this link for all the Streaming links you need:

https://linktr.ee/Niques_speaks

Niques Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/niquesspeaks/

https://www.facebook.com/Niquesspeaks

https://niquesspeaks.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@niquesspeaks/featured

VIDEOS

Don't Do Me Wrong (Official Video)

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Vincent//Deconstructed by Uncle Mic Nitro

 

Vincent//Deconstructed

By

Uncle Mic Nitro

 

It was way back in 2021 when I kicked off that year’s reviews with the original Vincent On Horseback from the talented emcee Uncle Mic Nitro, who just happens to hail from my home city of Southampton, here in the UK. I never thought then that the best part of five years later would see me reviewing a remixed version of the album Vincent//Deconstructed.

Well, this is not strictly a remixed version of the original album as the original has been deconstructed and then six of the original tracks heave been remixed, alongside two brand new tracks and, if you grab the digital, there is also a remix of one of those new tracks as well.

Alongside the changes with this album, which is being released through Empty Hand Records, a hot new label located on Australia’s Gold Coast run by Speaks, and whose debut release was Highrize Jamz by Speaks himself (One I don’t currently have sadly), the tracks remixed from the original still feature the likes of Greg Blackman, Joe Burn, Ced Gee (Ultramagnetic MCs), Ramson Badbonez, Micall Parknsun, and Klashnekoff. There are cuts from DJ Tones, Jabbathakut, Krash Slaughta and Outbreak, with production coming from Speaks, Djar One, Krash Slaughta, Ollie Cheebo, Ollie Knight (who also handles mixing and mastering), the legendary DJ Supreme (Hijack), and Uncle Mic Nitro himself. It is all rounded off, once more, with artwork from the one and only John Dyer.

With all that said, let’s not hang around and just dive straight in…

 

First up is Write, which features Greg Blackman and is here in the form of the Speaks Remix. Here the sound is an infectious upbeat vibe, with a soulful edge which is extenuated by Greg’s vocals, that makes you want to move every ounce of your body. The message within this one is still the same as the original, with its reflective edge, looking back on life and the many moments that ignite the passion within UMN to put pen to paper, because the time is right to just write. The deeply personal edge to this one means that, even while you are enjoying the music, you can still relate to every word, something that may well ignite your own personal passion to do something to express that. Such an upbeat start to the album seems to wipe the slate clean of any expectations, and you don’t have to wait more than a second or two before UMN keeps it going with Snap Your Neck (Speaks Remix). This time Speaks gives us pounding beat that is backed by synth vibes giving this that kind of heavy bounce and pound the air vibe. DJ Tones brings the doubled-barrelled cuts with Joe Burn joining UMN on the mic. This one is a blistering display of vocal ferocity, one that hits you with such force that it threatens to snap your neck while you are bouncing and enjoying every second. Before you can take a breath and recover its time for Bod Gets Slapped Up (Djar One Remix) featuring Ced Gee and Ramson Badbonez. Flowing the Ced Gee intro, Djar One gives us a heavy rock guitar infused sound that is sure to see Bod get pounded rather than slapped. Our three emcees take turns to deliver the type of lyrical devastation that comes when you unleash this calibre of emcees. This one takes bod slapping to a whole new level hitting your ears with the kind of wordplay and delivery that has your adrenaline levels soaring, and every verbal hit that is delivered is matched by the razor sharp delivery from Djar One, who is also on the cut here.

As you try to recover from that onslaught, Speaks returns with the Fuck You (Speaks Remix) which also features cuts from Outbreak. Keeping that Coming to America sample, Speaks brings a solid boom bap sound with a funk fuelled edge from the guitars and keys, making sure to keep the adrenaline levels amped up. The original had this almost Hip Hop opera vibe to it, and while this one retains and echo of that, the sound brings a far rawer edge. UMN delivers his own homage to Hip Hop and being a rapper. That line ‘Two Turntables and a Mic’s like all I Need’ seems to say it all with that rapper’s braggadocio mixed in with explicit wordplay gives you all you need to know right here. As you pick yourself up off the floor, its time to get transported to a whole to world for the New Planet Goons (DJ Supreme Remix), featuring Micall Parknsun, Klashnekoff and Jabbathakut, this one brings a heavy beat with bass and some jazzy elements that all merge together at the hands of DJ Supreme to bring a sound that vibrates through your whole body, separating you soul from your earthly being. You drift off as the vocals take you off to the etheric realms where memories, thoughts and dreams all fuse together making you wonder exactly where you are but, you just allow yourself to go with it, flow with it, because this is a far better place to be than the three dimensional world you just left. You come back from this waking dream to the first of the brand new tracks from Uncle Mic Nitro. Heavy Tusk (Krash Slaughta Original Mix) brings a solid and heavy banging sound that has vibe that draws you in, uncapping the levels of adrenaline you can experience, getting you back up and bouncing with reckless abandon. UMN delivers another devastating display  of his lyrical dexterity. This one has a battle rap edge to it too as it hits you with blistering pace and some heavy nature infused wordplay that leaves you impaled by a ton of ivory.

We finally reach the last of our remixes from the original album with Keep Drinking (Eyes Like Dolls Remix) which has a heavy house vibe to it, giving you the kind of sound that you can really see being a proper club sound that gets everyone moving. Here UMN unleashes a no holes barred look at the effects of the use of alcohol and illicit substances to shut out the darkness and bring some level of momentary enjoyment to a tough life. The sound here completely changes my view of this track from the original. There are elements that reflect from that initial interpretation, but here we see how so many use substances, in many forms, to escape what life brings but, ultimately reality catches up with you. Up next, if you have the physical version of the album, is final album track and the second of the new tracks. Cake or Death (Cheebo Original Mix) sees Ollie Cheebo give us a sound that has a heavy pounding beat with this eerie backdrop of strings and keys that gives this one a dark edge, making you want to listen and understand what this one is all about. UMN weaponizes the mic here as he mixes battle rap and rap braggadocio into a raw and explosive display of wordplay, flows and lyricism that shows just how good of an emcee he is. This is one to enjoy and punch the air too as the shear level of vocal mastery is a pleasure to behold. Now, just to round things off, with the digital version of the album comes the Cake or Death (Nappa Remix) what this one does is take a number of instantly recognisable samples, mix them up and give us an upbeat sound that completely changes the air of the track. This remix takes the heavy battle rap edge and flips it to this upbeat sound that has you nodding your head, grinning from ear to ear as you bounce around having a great time just enjoying every line…

 

After listening to this album, top to bottom, there are two things that become clear to the listener, well, if you choose to listen intently, and if you know the original Vincent album…

Firstly, The album is a rock solid display of just how much of a talented emcee Uncle Mic Nitro truly is. As I noted with the original Vincent review, UMN is one of those UK emcee’s who has cemented his place within the scene and possesses a lyrical prowess that is second to very few on the scene. What is also apparent here is that he does not try and saturate to scene with releases that push who he is, settling for quality over quantity, which is something for me that works so well. There is no need to drop release after release to prove your expertise, when a release or two per year, or in UMN’s case, every few years, can demonstrate how good you are, if gives a lot more anticipation of the quality than when you release something every month. Uncle Mic Nitro is definitely one of those emcees who has the quality of wordplay and delivery that puts a rubber stamp on all they do.

The second thing that is immediately apparent here is that remixing tracks can so often revitalise and almost reinvent them. We see here how those tracks from the original that have been remixed for the project, have their vibes changed quite vividly, allowing the listener to listen again, gaining further insights into each. We also see just how much vibes can be changed when you look at the original and the remix of Cake or Death.

Giving us two brand new tracks also adds a little extra to the album, giving you something new to look forward to for the maestro on the mic, UMN. This breaths new life into Vincent and gives him a new world to explore, therefore giving his listeners new music to enjoy along the way. All the production fits so well with the vocals and those cracking feature verses, that it leaves us nothing, we can’t enjoy.

Everything here is top notch. The producers bring old tracks into the present with some solid reinterpretations that give us a new look, and a new wat enjoy these tracks. The new tracks add another dimension to things, giving us something new to enjoy and leaving us with an air of anticipation that perhaps Uncle Mic Nitro is not done yet.  

This is a cracking second release for the fledgeling label Empty Hand Records, and one that shows that they are well on the way to making themselves a force in releasing good music, regardless of whether it is Hip Hop or another genre entirely.

 

Vincent//Deconstructed, due some delays, is released on 18th January 2026 with some limited vinyl copies available, so don’t sleep on these, Pre-Orders are now live.

Huge thanks to James at Empty Hand Records and Uncle Mic Nitro for giving me the chance to bring you my take on this.

 

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.   

LINKS

Pre-Orders open now here:

https://emptyhandrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vincent-deconstructed

Uncle Mic Nitro Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/unclemicnitro/

https://www.facebook.com/unclemicnitro

Empty Hand Records Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/emptyhandrecords

https://www.instagram.com/emptyhandrecords/

VIDEOS

Write (Speaks Remix)

 

 

 

 

EP Review: Kemz The Astral Being by Kemetstry X Micall Parknsun

 

Kemz The Astral Being

By

Kemetstry X Micall Parknsun

 

It’s been around twelve months since Kemetstry was last featured on the blog. His latest release is Kemz The Astral Being, an EP that is four tracks deep and fully produced by the legendary figure of Micall Parknsun, who also features on the EP, alongside a feature from Anyway Tha God.

Now this one was released back at the end of September and is the third in the Kemz series of releases. The previous being Kemez The Atlantean (2022) and Kemz The Alchemist (2024), both of which have been reviewed here, so check the hyperlinks.

Being as I have featured Kemetstry a few times on the blog, I won’t make you wait with a long intro. So, lets get straight into it…

 

We begin our journey beyond this mortal realm with Astral Beings (spray out) featuring Anyway Tha God. Parky brings us a sound that fits with the etheric energy as the heavy beat is backed by keys and percussion that has you floating out of body. Kemz and Anyway Tha God bring us some cerebral wordplay that seems to speak to you beyond this three dimensional existence, directly to your soul. The narrative appears to speak with a viewpoint that looks back at lives past, giving you pointers on how to live a better life before progressing to the life beyond. With that thought in mind, Micall Parknsun joins Kemz on vocals for Lighten Up Ya Soul. Here the beat is backed by synth sounds that keep us floating through that etheric realm. This one brings a soulful edge to the lyrics, and one speaks directly to your mind, here in the 3-D world by inviting you to step away from darkness that exists around you and connect with your soul, your energetic or light-being self, which comes from a place of unconditional love. This is where you can find your true self in a place where darkness takes a back seat.

Once you have found your true self the trick is then to Stay In The Light. Parky brings a powerful beat that is backed by keys and a vocal sample that has an angelic feel, lifting you up and bringing a truly euphoric air. This one really seems to look at the eternal battle between light and dark and how our lives, so often move between experiences that keep us in the light or see us in shadow. Those shadow times can be unexpected or even of our own doing, and what is important is to know when the shadows fall upon us and to make that conscious decision to move back to and stay in the light. The EP ends with Road and Postcode (R&P), here piano notes back a proper head nod beat, giving you a reason to move and listen to the lyrics. There is proper reason to listen close to the lyrics here as Kemz brings an important message, one that is as pertinent right now but, is something you could have said forty years ago, and it would still hit the same. The road and the postcode say where you are from, and so often that could well make you a target. When I was growing up in Southampton, that meant going to Portsmouth was a risk but, also just walking half a mile down the road put you in a postcode that meant you were in the Weston area, and if you were from Sholing, might become a target. These days you won’t just get chased, now we live in a society where knives and guns are a very real risk, but the message here is to think before you act and don’t do anything that could come back on you or those closest to you. It is a very real message to stop the violence, and not just here in the UK, but the world over too.

With an EP, it can often be hard to pack so much into a few tracks, but here Kemestry shows that if you have the right vison, you can do just that. Here he shows that intelligent wordplay is the keys to helping the listener to be open minded as to what they can hear within the music they are listening to. His deep cerebral lyricism brings a spiritual edge goes beyond just telling someone a message. Here he takes you beyond your current understanding, speaking not just to your mind but, to your soul. There just seems to be this unconscious aspect to the words you hear and their delivery that makes them touch you on a whole different level, one you are not immediately aware of. That is enhanced by the etheric nature of sound that Parky brings with deep soulful sounds that appear to move your awareness to a whole different plane, fitting so well with what Kemz is delivering with his lyrics.

I am all for promoting Hip Hop that hits on different levels, while still delivering a positive message in away that speaks to you on a truly deep level and I found that Kemz and Parky have really seemed to have nailed that vibe. Everything about this one, from Kemetstry’s lyrics to Parky’s production, and the guest artists, all just exudes that sense of deep positive alignment with the true nature of the universe.

The Kemz series has taken us to some exotic places and some that have a very occult nature but, they have always had a very positive outlook, especially one in lifting you up and evolving your awareness of the true nature of things; and Kemz The Astral Being is no different. I mean, you can’t go wrong in aligning yourself with legendary Micall Parknsun, and alongside Kemetstry, they have brought to live another chapter in the Kemz series that focuses that positive, uplifting vibe, to a finer point, and one that makes you wonder if this is last in that series or if Kemz still has more to say in pointing you towards a more elevated vison of the self…

Kemz The Astral Being is out on digital and strictly limited physical copies, so don’t sleep on this one.

I’ll be seeing ya…

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://spidalee.bandcamp.com/album/kemz-the-astral-being

Kemetstry Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/kemetstryOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/kemetstry_official/

https://www.youtube.com/@Kemetstryofficial

Micall Parknsun Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/memyselfandakai

https://www.instagram.com/parkypix/

VIDEOS

Stay In The Light

Road & Postcode

 

 

 

Album Review: Still Natured by Ill Natured

 

Still Natured

By

Ill Natured

 

Now, it was way back in July of 2022 that the Ill Natured crew first graced the Infinite Sounds UK blog with their debut self-titled Ill Natured EP. At that time, I was impressed with what I considered to be one of the hottest debuts I had heard, and not only that, but these guys gave us a sound that was deeply rooted in the soul of real Hip Hop music.

The guys are now back with a long player, the Still Natured LP which was released back in June of this year. This time the core members of the crew Cosmic Rayne (South Africa), Abstract Soundz (UK), DJ Stav (UK), and Sativa (Germany), are joined by DJ Slowz and Yung High (Both from Vietnam), alongside a host of artists from across the globe, which includes: MC Karlito (France), Micall Parknsun (UK), Brotherman (UK), Eavesdrop (South Africa), and Pain aka Dai Ca P (Vietnam).

Before I get into the album, I would like the final words of this intro to go to Ill Natured, as they give you some insightful words to ponder at the back of your mind as you listen:

Taking inspiration from the era when the forefathers of Hip Hop set the bar for anybody who calls themself a ‘rapper’…‘The Still Natured LP’ provides insight into the true nature and essence of what has been lost in today’s commercial rap music.

At a time when its purpose is all but forgotten, clouded by the need to be instantly validated through likes and views, pure lyricism is still practiced by the few who understand that Hip Hop is forever. For as long as we stay true to the artform - and ourselves - the meaning of being a rapper, producer, DJ, Bboy and writer will never be lost.

Like the ancient knowledge and wisdom passed down through generations, through hidden messages in texts and art, the Still Natured LP is reserved for truth seekers. Those unfazed by the demands of modern society to believe that numbers are the goal. While it may be for most, it isn’t for us.

Transcending conventional ideas of modern Hip Hop, reminding the listener that being authentic is the goal, necessary for growth and progression, infiltrating the mind and body as if it were a disease, yet taking us back to the roots and planting the seeds for the future, this is ILL Natured.

Now let’s immerse ourselves into being Still Natured…

 

Our journey begins with Abstract Soundz (Production) and DJ Stav on The Intro where a thumping beat, piano, and strings, all combine to bring us a proper head nod intro that has a myriad of vocal samples to give you a little insight into what’s about to come. Plus, plenty of cutting shit up from Stav makes this intro do one thing, which is to let you know that this is real Hip Hop and that’s where its at. With the scene now set, its time to really get busy with Fall Back which features Micall Parknsun alongside Cosmic Rayne, who also produces this one. This one has funky vibe about it with a heavy beat, bass sound that keeps you moving. This seems to focus on the fact that there are a lot of rappers out there right now, just because you can rap does not mean your Hip Hop, and even if you are Hip Hop, you need to be relevant and speak from the heart. So, this one takes a shot at those rappers who are not all they make themselves out to be, they need to fall back, because this is Hip Hop where the real rappers live. Next, it is time for MC Karlito to join Sativa, with DJ Stav on the cut for Lament. Produced by Abstract Soundz, this one has a nice, chilled vibe provided by jazzy keys and horns, as the beat kicks. Now I’m not going to even make a guess at what is being said here, as sadly I speak neither French or German, but a lament is piece of music that is an expression of grief or sorrow, and alongside the fact is that the flows and tone of the lyrics match that chilled vibe, it draws you in regardless and allows you to speculate on the vocals, taking you wherever you need to go.

Riff Raff has production from Cosmic Rayne as he drops this one alongside Pain aka Dai Ca P. Double Bass is prominent in this one alongside guitars, xylophone notes and more, giving this one a deep sound that’s almost vibrates through your whole body with every note from the double bass. I had to think long and hard on this one, because as I listened, it didn’t feel like it was a derogatory reference, even though it reminded me of how, there was a time where if you were into Hip Hop music you might well have been considered as Riff Raff. But the more I listened the more it felt like this one had an air that more closely fit with one of the older definitions of the phrase, from around the mid 1300’s, in that it was all about leaving little of value behind. Perhaps this one has multiple means, depending on how you see it. Has a rapper you might be considered riff raff but, when you are that good at your craft, you will leave little, in the way of spoils, behind. After that mammoth thought process, its time to move on to A Funky Interlude which is produced and cut up by DJ Stav. This one is like a quick little audible pallet cleanser that funks things up and gives you time to just enjoy things before getting back into things in-depth with Live From Saigon, produced by Abstract Soundz, it features Sativa alongside MC Karlito once again. Drums and double bass take the forefront here with guitars and more softened into the background, bringing an overall sound that has this infectious funked up edge to it. Again, I’m going to pretend that I know what is being said here but, you can feel that this one has this air about it where you can imagine these two just getting up on stage and dropping an incredible show for everyone, nuff said.

Word War brings Sativa and Cosmic Rayne together with MC Karlito and production from Cosmic Rayne. This one has a sound where the drums are at the forefront while keys, in the background, give this a slightly dark edge, but one that is softened to the point where the vocals stand above all else. This one sees all three emcees using their words as weapons in a war where the content and shear impact of your wordplay has to be on point, taking out all opponents to leave you as the last one’s standing. The Skit is produced by Abstract Soundz, Cosmic Rayne, and DJ Stav, and is the first three of these on the album. This quick little interlude takes the form of Ill Natured in the lab, working on a proper head nod beat with cuts from Stav. Before you know it, you’re back into things with the Ill Natured crew on Naturally Ill. Abstract Soundz provides the production here with a laid-back sound with keys and bass that is softened into the background, except on the bridge. It really puts you in  mind of the likes of ATCQ etc. This laid-back vibe allows the vocals to take the forefront, allowing them to sink into your awareness. This one really puts you in mind of that Hip Hop braggadocio style of bigging yourself up, knowing how good you are and that every thought you have can be turned into a dope rhyme. However, there is one difference here, being that the delivery comes with no air self-centred delivery, but more of a statement of facts, delivered with a quiet air of a deep personal knowing.

8 Bars is another little interlude that sees Abstract Soundz, Cosmic Rayne, and DJ Stav collaborate. Back in Lab again we find Cosmic Rayne delivering the bars over a proper boom bap beat with plenty of razor sharp scratching. Timelapse brings us back from the lab with Abstract Soundz on production and joined by MC Karlito and Brotherman on mic, alongside DJ Slowz on the cut. There is a definite jazzhop vibe about this one with the jazzy piano vibes and chilled drumbeat giving you a tune to move to. At first listen this one seems like a straight up demonstration of lyrical prowess, but the more you listen you get the sense of something else alongside that; which might be that what you say does not have to be said in any particular timeframe, sometimes its good just to say what you need to in your own time, delivered in a way that allows everyone to understand the deeper meaning within. With that concept of listening and understanding now rooted in your mind, Dusted sees Sativa joined by Yung High with Abstract Soundz on production. The chilled drums and jazzy piano vibes see this one continue that jazzhop sound, making you feel like your sat in some smoke filled speak easy. Once more I find myself in the position of not knowing what the lyrics are speaking on, and so I go with my gut again. That laid-back sound and the chilled tone of the lyrical delivery really puts you in a place where you just want to sit back and allow it all to sink in, not thinking too hard but, letting the lyrics float through your awareness as you slowly nod to the beat.

As we head into the final few tracks of the album, The Fifth Kind sees Cosmic Rayne on production, joined by Eavesdrop. The futuristic sound here toys with your mind, expanding your senses and taking you beyond the confines of the planet. Here we are taken on journey that explores the idea of alien contact with humans as both emcees drop some complex wordplay that would be an interesting concept, were an extraterrestrial race to hear this as its first contact with humans. All this is backed by samples from an interview with researcher Steven Greer, who I met some years ago, who has been very outspoken on the subject of Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind. The penultimate track is our final interlude from Abstract Soundz, Cosmic Rayne, and DJ Stav, which is the Cosmic Abstract Interlude. This one is a chilled number that mixes a drum loop with piano notes and some electronic elements, all together this track allows you to kick back one last time before the album ends with the albums title track, Still Natured. This one is all Cosmic Rayne, including production and has him dropping a beat that is backed by this sound which has an almost eerie quality to it which gives the whole track an air that rounds off the album but, still has you feeling, it’s not the end. Time is a huge factor in the lyrics too, giving you this feeling that you need to make the most of the time you have, so you need to fill that time by being authentic and the greatest expression of who you truly are.

 

The first thing that is apparent from listening to this album is that Ill Natured have stuck firmly to the ethics they forged with the Ill Natured EP, and that is that their music is firmly rooted in the golden era of Hip Hop. Their sound retains that vibe that takes you back to that time and puts you in mind of some of the legendary figures such as ATCQ, Gang Starr, and many more. You also feel that they have this desire to keep their sound firmly rooted where Hip Hop should be, on the streets and in the underground clubs, never straying from that path and never wandering into the watered down sound of the mainstream, where music is controlled and not allowed to speak real truths. Because that is a place where money is king and speaking from the heart rarely brings any real returns.

There is also such a deep feeling of unity within Still Natured as an album and Ill Natured as a crew. Something that embodies what Hip Hop has always been about, at it core. Ill Natured are a crew that spans the globe, and as a result, the album also does that. It brings together artist from many corners of the globe and proving that by uniting under the banner of real Hip Hop means that even if you do not know the language of the artist, you can still enjoy their display of their craft and feel the energy and the message they are putting across.

Every aspect of this album embodies the true Hip Hop sound, from the solid production values of the crew to the impressive wordplay and lyricism displayed by all the emcees involved, be they from Ill Natured or as guest artists. It kind of makes you not want to single anyone out, and you don’t have to because what you realise is that, within the confines of the album, everyone is Hip Hop and everyone is Ill Natured, they become one, because that is what Hip Hop does, it brings us together as one, and that is something that I find really gets to you as you listen and you realise just how deeply this album and nature of Ill Natured brings that unity vision to the listener.

When I listened to debut a few years back, I really felt that these guys were gonna go a long way and after hearing Still Natured, I’m as sure as I can be that future for Ill Natured is going to keep raising that bar and keep promoting unity through the sound of real Hip Hop music.

Still Natured is available digitally now and, if your lucky, available on limited edition cassette too, through the Low Definition label.

My huge thanks to Abstract Soundz for the chance to bring this one to you and for the awesome cassette too, you can’t beat taking it back to the days of old.

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab Your copy on Bandcamp Here:

https://illnatured.bandcamp.com/album/still-natured-lp

Stream on Spotify Here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/05mZsufZgOtK645M1Pd2iq

Ill Natured Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/abstractsoundz/

https://www.instagram.com/cosmicrayne/

https://www.instagram.com/low_definition_records/

https://www.instagram.com/dj_stav/

https://www.youtube.com/@illnatured5804/featured

VIDEOS

Riff Raff

Album Review: MicTronics by Mic Mountain X TronBeatz

 

MicTronics

By

Mic Mountain X Tronbeatz

 

MicTronics is the latest album from Washington D.C. emcee Mic Mountain, it marks his third album to be reviewed on the blog this year and his 9^th Solo album. So, for a bit more background on Mic Mountain, please check my previous reviews for Triple Piragua and Mountain Dreams.

This time around Mic Mountain teams with Tronbeatz, out of Connecticut, on production and Cuts from Mr Scratch Hook (who also provides mixing and mastering). The album is not overloaded with features either, giving Mic Mountain plenty of room to shine. Those who do feature here are CrDnlSn, The Bad Seed, and Thirstin Howl the 3^rd. As we have seen with the previous reviews from Mic Mountain, expect a sound that is rooted deeply in the traditional boom bap sound but, with maybe a surprise or two along the way.

So, don’t let me keep you hanging right now, let’s get straight into it…

 

It all kicks off here with Chill You Got It with Tronbeatz bringing a heavy sound of guitar notes over a drum loop that gets your head nodding from the get-go. The mixed in vocal samples also add some depth that serves to get you fired up. Mic Mountain lights up the mic with a blistering display of wordplay where metaphors and similes abound, with just a dash or two of Hip Hop braggadocio to boot too. You really get the feeling here that this one is gonna be some journey. If you thought there might be time to chill here, then think again as Back In The Day Pt. 2 brings a follow up to a track from Mic Mountains 2018 album The Avalanche. Here razor sharp cuts and a heavy sonic sound merge with a pounding drum beat to get you bouncing and pumping the air. Mic Mountain takes us back to his teenage years, schooling us to some of his inspirations with mentions for the likes of KRS ONE and BDP, Redman, Black Sheep, Cypress Hill and more. But more than that we also get an insight into what it was like for him growing up, learning the latest rap verses before heading home to write his own. This is a true look into how you push yourself to rise from the early days, constantly evolving and practicing, never resting but always having that faith in yourself that you can be someone. The focus now switches from those early days as DMV MC takes us into the metropolitan area of Washington D.C. and for anyone not familiar with the term, it stands for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Tronbeatz gives us a solid head nod beat that is backed by a multi-layered sound that chills you out a little while Mr Scratch Hook cuts up some classic Hip Hop samples. Mic Mountain reps it for the hometown here as he takes us back to the streets of DC, showing us what it was to be an emcee growing up there, constantly honing his craft on the mic as well as dabbling in graffiti.

Conan Swords brings a heavy sound with horns that keeps your head moving while vibrating through your whole body, giving this one a sound that seems to grab you and hold you in a vice-like grip. Lyrically, this one has a battle rap edge to it where each bar hits like a bullet or the razor-sharp edge of a heavy metal sword, where everything cuts deep but, rather than leaving you bleeding, this one gets you hyped for what’s coming next; and coming next is the first feature as CrDnlSn joins us for Got That Motion. Here the sound has an edge that seems to take you to the streets after dark with a drumbeat is backed by chilled synth sound. There are also a couple moments the sound switches up but still keeping that bright lights big city feel to it. Mic Mountain and CrDnlSn keep it rooted in the streets of the DMV while displaying the desire to take it from those very streets to conquer the globe with their vocals, always moving forward and never looking back and with plenty to encounter along the way.

Mystery Weed takes the original Scooby Doo theme, flipping it into a banger of a sound that brings a smile with it. You switch that smile into a proper grin as Mic Mountain has fun by flipping the classic narrative of a Scooby Doo episode into a smoke filled comedic romp where the culprit would have got away with it too, if it wasn’t for that meddling Hip Hop MoFo. We keep that idea of flipping the Scooby Doo vibes with the Scoob Scrap Raps. Here Thirstin Howl 3^rd joins Mic Mountain to drop some just for fun mic mockery as wordplay meets the world of mystery Inc. flipping it all on its head and leaving all sucka rappers dead. TronBeatz provides the stage for all these fun and games with an eerie synth sound underpinning a heavy drum loop that beats the strange sound into your bones and has you looking over your shoulder at every turn…

Broken Glass features The Bad Seed alongside Mic Mountain as TronBeatz brings a sound that thumps hard, threatening to make your ears bleed. There is a couple of switches along the way that have a sound that is freakier that a sixties horror movie soundtrack vibe. Lyrically this one hits you like pieces of broken glass falling on your ears. Wordplay that slices deep into your mind and eliciting thoughts that intrude like broken nightmares into your awareness. All to soon we are at the albums penultimate track Nautical Flow, with a sound that pounding beat with organ notes and vocal samples that make you feel like you could be floating, ebbing and flowing with the tide. Mic Mountain takes us on a journey of subsurface vocals where lyricism meets the oceans, mythical creatures, pirates and more. This one takes you into a dream world where water, an emotive symbolism, surrounds you, holding you just long enough to take you away from the trials and tribulations of life. The album concludes with It’s A Wave, where TronBeatz brings a sound that has a beat that makes you move almost unconsciously, but the synth sounds have a vibe that once more gives you that feeling of ebbing and flowing, although the waters may feel a bit choppier this time around. Mic Mountain takes us to the crest of the wave, riding that energy there is a feeling that the message here is that you need to make waves so that people will take notice of what you have to offer. Once you have their attention, they will see the strength and the reality of what you bring and that you speak from a place of knowledge and understanding.

 

Mictronics is a little under twenty five minutes in length, but what it might lack in length, it more than makes up for in shear content. Now, I have never been a fan of track lengths under three minutes, I find it hard to see how you can put enough into anything shorter. But I have to say that I am becoming more used to it now and on Mictronics, Mic Mountain and TronBeatz really do make the best use of every second, giving you a hell of a lot of bang for your bucks.

The album is a full on boom bap rooted album, there is no question, but along the way TronBeatz gives us just enough tweaks to give it a fresh sound. He also brings a good number of vibes that have just the right amount of emotive edge to mirror what Mic Mountain is trying to elicit from the listener, something that he does with aplomb.

Mic Mountain keeps it straight Hip Hop here with lyrics, flows and wordplay that allow you to hear every rhyme, thus allowing you to be able to get right into each track, if you so choose to. There is also a great mix of styles here that bring you the kind of tracks you can enjoy listening to for fun but, at the same time there is a balance of tracks that also have some deep massages, some of which can be quite subtle, you just have to take the time to listen.

It would be amiss of me if I were not to mention how the Hip Hop vibe is accentuated by the cuts of Mr Scratch Hook. There is always that little voice inside me that says how Hip Hop are you being without the inclusion of a DeeJay cutting it up. For me it is, pretty much, a must as an aspect of that real Hip Hop vibe.

It is also great to see that as a solo album, Mic Mountain has kept the features to minimum, highlighting his own lyricism. That is not to take anything away from those who do feature. Thirstin Howl the 3^rd, The Bad Seed and CrDnlSn, are all a credit to the scene and add depth and feeling to those tracks they appear on, this complementing Mic Mountain and the overall sound of the album.

For me, this was a highly enjoyable album from start to finish where solid emotive beats meet intellectual wordplay, and where it all comes together to make smile, bounce and ultimately think. Hip Hop music has always been a sound which can encompass so much, from just having fun with lyrics and wordplay, to deeper conscious explorations and understanding the origins of the artist bringing you such deeply relatable subject matter, and with Mictronics, Mic Mountain and TronBeatz have done a superb job of doing just that. You just have to truly listen, but you can also just listen and enjoy it, because that is what music is all about too.

Mictronics is released on 5^th December everywhere so don’t sleep on this one.

There is also an album listening party via Bandcamp on 3rd December at 7pm ET in the US or 00:00 4th December GMT.

 

My huge and humble thanks to Mic Mountain for giving me the chance to bring you my take on this one.

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

 Grab your copy here:

https://micmountain.bandcamp.com/album/mictronics

or

https://micmountain.com/ 

 

Mic Mountain Socials

https://www.facebook.com/micmountainmusic

https://www.facebook.com/michael.mountain.34432

https://www.instagram.com/therealmicmountain/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaQhDfbvbpWHPOUHkKESfg

TronBeatz Socials

https://www.instagram.com/tronbeatz88/

https://www.facebook.com/tron.beats

VIDEOS

Mystery Weed

Scooba Scrap Raps

 

Album Review: ITO by Cappo

 

ITO

By

Cappo

 

It has to be, for me, an honour and a pleasure to be able to give my thoughts on the final album in Cappo’s CAPStone trilogy, ITO.

The trilogy began in September 2024 with S.T.A.R.V.E. a deep, relatable and impactful story of one person’s decent into mental health decline due to the collapse of a long-term relationship, alongside the trials and tribulations on everyday life. Then in April of this year came Houses, set some twenty years after the first album, it took us on a day-in-the-life journey as one man looks to come to terms with his own morality and the true meaning of being a father.

With ITO rounding off the trilogy, we find that the promo gives us a little insight into what to expect from the album. ITO encompasses aspects of both the previous albums in the trilogy; it juxtaposes elements of S.T.A.R.V.E.’s thematic abstraction with the temporary linear narrative of Houses. ITO can be read as a ‘key’ of sorts, acting as the conceptual thread that links together each piece of the trilogy. As such, ITO can be listened to as an introduction to the trilogy and/or as a conclusion. This kind of puts me in mind of some movies that I have watched, such as Pulp Fiction and others. So, I expect this one to be everything the other albums were and more.

Released through Plague, the album is written and produced by Cappo, with additional production from Sam Zircon on Pequod, Greene, Frost, X, and Glaze, King Kashmere on Red, and Zygote on Gold. Recorded by 1stBlood, mixed and mastered by Irn Mnky, with Design and layout coming from Rich Brown (Bee Graphics).

Now we have all that said, let’s get into it…

 

The album begins with he title track Ito, which is produced by Cappo and has this deep sounding vibe that is thick with bass, drums and guitar, and organ notes, immediately bringing your focus to the vocals.  As you listen to this one you are drawn in by the quality of the intricate lyrics, teasing you, giving you just a glimpse of what is to come, which is the trick here, it is giving you just enough to pique your interest, but never giving away what is behind it all. That is for you to deduce as the album goes on, you know what has gone before, so can you feel what is the truth? Now the metaphorical carrot has been dangled, White sees Cappo’s production keep that deep sound, but this time the percussion takes the forefront with keys providing a background vibe that softens the edge, making you want to nod your head, but almost unconsciously as the words speak to you. I get the feeling here that what those words say will depend very much on your experiences through life thus far. There is a reflective edge to this one that puts you in mind of a middle-aged man looking at where he is now in his life, the past being almost a distant memory. Could this be a reflection of the protagonist P from Houses, now further down his path in life and considering life on that very path. Next up is Pequod which might be the name of the whaling ship from Moby Dick, but does that have any relatability here? Sam Zircon gives us a solid beat which backed by an eerie sound that spins your mind into a fog bound space. The words breakthrough the fog allowing you to see that here the focus is on drawing positive energy from the poor decisions of the past, casting aside their weight that presses on your chest, rising to climb from the fog filled valley to the peak of mountain where the air is clear and you can finally see the your dreams with clarity, knowing they are there for the taking.

Red brings production from King Kashmere where bells bring a ringing in your mind as heavy beats seem to pound a different ringing that almost causes your entire body to vibrate. As the lyrics seep into your conscious awareness, Cappo’s words feel like they embody the many meanings of the Red Dragon symbolism. Western culture sees the Red Dragon as bringing chaos and destruction, while in Eastern cultures it symbolises good fortune, prosperity and imperial power, however its spiritual symbolism is one of a transformative force, and we see all those things here where the ashes of chaos and destruction ignite to bring good fortune and prosperity as the phoenix rises, showing the overall transformative power. This mirrors how our own paths in live can ultimately lead to a positive transformation from a troubled past. As those thoughts still remain clear in our minds, Sam Zircon once more provides production for Greene, where the sound is led by piano notes as the drums are sparse, giving a vibe that tweaks your mind back into this reality, just long enough to allow Cappo’s words into your mind. Here, it seems, Cappo is focusing on personal convictions, defining the very beliefs and opinions that made you the person you are, and have got you to where you are now, in this very moment. Opinions and beliefs can change over time but, if you had to define the very convictions that you live by, how would you do that; then consider the events of the past two albums in the series and how this fits with what you have heard. Sam Zircon’s production continues on Frost, as we flip from Side A to Side B of the album, with a lo-fi sound where all sounds appear to be synth based and there is no drum beat to get you nodding and so the words fill your mind with even greater effect, something that is important here as this one appears to be the most personal track we have heard. Cappo lays all his cards on the table, his thoughts and feels for his crafted body of work, his wishes for his children and much more. There is much food for thought here as you begin to consider just how much of the CAPStone trilogy is personal truths from Cappo’s own lived experience? Then, perhaps that was the whole point of this one, to have you think and ponder what is the truth here, how personal is this, which then has you thinking the same about your own life.

Gold sees Zygote on production, bringing a heavier bass sound with some electronic vibes that seems to cause your brain to vibrate on some weird level. This one seems to continue on from the previous track and has Cappo speaking more on his craft, the inspirations, and how he is viewed with the UK Hip Hop culture. Cappo is viewed as one of the leading rap artists of the current era and what he does here is to not only solidify that but, expand it and define what he does as being at forefront of new developments and new ideas on a lyrical level. Sam Zircon is back on production for X, Where the sound has a more head nod vibe, but one that seems to come from a random selection of sounds that just seem to work. In fact, there is almost a John Carpenter vibe about this one on a level. Here, it feels like we have shifted focus once more, to a narrative that could easily be back to the character of P. Here there is very much an air reflective thoughts, a collection of them in fact, like we are witness to a thoughts of someone thinking back on life and many of the crucial moments that have shaped him, brought him to this point, and finally allow him to look at, identify, and lay the final piece of the puzzle into place. Z returns Cappo to production who brings us a solid banger of a track which has some vocal samples and more in the background that gives this one a slightly dark air. The complex nature of this one takes a few listens to really get into but, as you listen things do begin to clarify in your mind. The focus appears to be one that is all about speaking the truth and not using your platform to preach false truths to those who will listen. What spoke to me here, as I listened to the words a number of times, was that you can speak anything to an audience whose only reference is a base of lies and false narratives, but when you speak the truth, your truth, one that is built on a firm foundation of knowledge and understanding, you might only reach the ears of the few but, eventually those few will reach others, and so on, making people think and search for the truths that are buried by the lies. There was one thing in Z that had me thinking and diving into some research at 8am on a chilly Thursday morning; and that was Cappo’s reference to “November Golf, The city of legends”, now this one troubled me for a bit. I know he hails from Nottingham and I thought, is it that simple, But I looked into it and found that Bournemouth is referred to as that due to its golf courses and apparent mild winter weather. However, after musing over this I felt that Nottingham was what this cryptic phrase referred to, hope my thinking is right here…

Time to delve into the final two tracks of the album, and the penultimate track here is Berry, produced by Cappo, this one has a more chilled sound with a laid-back drumbeat, and some synth sounds that create an air of calm, to a point. What strikes you about this one is the fact that this one brings your mind to a place where you think about the things you do, or have done, that will leave a lasting impression on those around you and the world, long after you are gone. We all build things over the course of our lives that directly, or indirectly, touch others; for Cappo, it is his music and the messages that it carries with it, for me, it is these very words that you are reading. But no matter where your life has taken you, there will be something is yours and speaks your name. We now come to the final track of the album Glaze, also the final track produced by Sam Zircon, brings a beat that makes you nod your head in a subtle way. The synth sounds bring a sound that has a reflective edge but, also has you casting an eye to the future. Listening to these last few minutes is like sat listening to the response to a deeply personal question. Cappo seems to be opening up on his own personal commitment to music he produces. You get a real sense that he focuses on bringing years of knowledge and academic study to bear on his lyrical prowess, giving rise to a form of Hip Hop expression that is taking wordplay to the next level with complex realism that invites the listener to think, giving them a desire to truly understand what is being heard, and at the same time considering their own place, their own mortality, and their own desire to give something back…

 

It is not often that I get to the point of giving my overall impression on what I have just heard, only to realise that what I have already written down can easily sum up the whole project on its own. I honestly feel I could end it right here and you would still get a huge amount from my words.

However, ITO has a lot more to say than just what my interpretation brings forth. Because the shear wealth of what Cappo has just given you makes you think intently and deeply on the content, before considering what it is in relation to the other two parts of the CAPStone trilogy. For me, I found the overall message within the album to be one of a positive outlook on life. It gives you a point at which you can either start or finish listening to all three albums and still get the same feeling. There are tracks or Chapters here that you feel link directly to either S.T.A.R.V.E. or Houses, there are also tracks that provide an insight into unsaid elements and those that bring clarity to what comes in the now, the reasons for the whole trilogy and how, perhaps, you can apply that in your own life. There may well be an aspect of all three albums that are autobiographical, but considering how deep this all is, it is so relatable that there are times you feel you are listening to aspects of your own life.

ITO is an incredible journey in itself, giving much food for thought and bringing you a realisation that Cappo may well have tapped into a new form of Hip Hop music that is not just a packed with deeply cerebral storytelling, performed in a way that I feel has not been done before. Cappo packs his intelligent wordplay with knowledge on a whole new level, one that appears to come from intense academic study of philosophical works and an understanding of life’s journey, in a way that many of us fail to grasp or even chose to look at. It just goes to show that Cappo is someone who could be given the GOAT status, not just because of lyrical prowess or production values, but because he is bringing a whole new level of intelligent wordplay and storytelling to a wider audience. Now it might not be for everyone; as some will just enjoy it for what it is but, there are those who will seek to find the deeper aspects of the albums, discover how all three album mesh together, and perhaps find other hidden aspects along the way, who knows, that is for you to find out.

The last thing for me to do here is just to comment on the production and couple of other bits along the way. Musically, ITO has some interesting and deep sounds that give you that Hip Hop vibe but, also that work in tandem with Cappo’s vocals to bring you a deep experience with each track, and Cappo, Sam Zircon, King Kashmere, and Zygote, should all be commended for just what they bring to the table here. Yes, the album has that foundation of a Hip Hop album but, it takes that foundation and builds something truly unique on it, something that sets the bar high on a whole new era/genre for Hip Hop music and the application of knowledge into that medium.

ITO and its companion albums in the CAPStone Trilogy are, by far, something Hip Hop and perhaps music in general has nor seen before. Albums that work perfectly as a standalone listening experience or together as the trilogy, regardless of you listening to ITO as the introduction or as the conclusion. ITO and the CAPStone trilogy will be talked about in the annals of Hip Hop history for a long time, perhaps even setting a new benchmark…

I’ll leave it there, but I could go on talking about this. You definitely have to listen to ITO and find which context it sets for you.

 

My humble thanks to once again to Dan at Plague for the chance to bring you my take on ITO, and in fact to be able to review the whole trilogy. It has been a true honour and a pleasure, opening my mind along the way.

ITO is out today, 21^st November on both limited edition vinyl and cassette, as well as digital too.

Keep watch for CAPStone the book and Box Sets, coming on 12th December 2025.

 

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://plague11.bandcamp.com/album/ito

Cappo on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/kafka_poe_murakami/

Plague Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/plague_11/

https://www.facebook.com/plague11

VIDEOS

ITO: A Sonic-mosaic Journey