Album Review: Recetas by Mic Mountain

 

Recetas

By

Mic Mountain

 

The Upcoming Album from Washington DC’s Mic Mountain is based around the food that comes from his Puerto Rican heritage and promises to be a proper dining experience for our audible delight.

With Mic Mountain serving up these Recetas (Recipes) at the front of house, he has hired some top musical chefs to cook everything up, Mr Scratch Hook (Who also provides the cuts), Goliath Kong, and DNA Beats. There are also some top-notch additional ingredients that Mic Mountain has added to the menu to add his own spin to things. So, be on the lookout for these additional spices: Krook Rock, Jay David, La’Bori Dee, Duendy, The Microphone Prince, DJ Exes, CrDnlSn, Powerule, Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Cynical Minded, Sacx One, and Paco Loco (RIP).

With that said, I don’t want to keep you in anticipation too long. So, feel free to join me as I take my seat at the table to sample these delights and bring you take on the menu…

 

With sun streaming through the window and a slight chill coming from the AC, I take my seat at the table, ready for the first of thirteen courses. I begin with the Recetas (Intro), Heavy drums and horns bring an upbeat sound that fits so well with the hot weather and gets you bouncing. Mic Mountain mixes his vocals between English and Spanish as he greets me and sets out what I’m about to experience, how he approaches flavours, and how it’s all about each dish complementing the other and more. Now I’m salivating at the thought of the flavours I’m about to indulge in, and It’s time for my first dish, which is Pastelitos. Now Pastelitos are like little Empanadas, and it features Krook Rock and Jay David. The sound is heavy on the horns with congas that create a lively taste for your ears to digest with a smile. These three little starters have some subtle differences in taste, but all have that Spanish essence running through them. They do not fill you up but leave you knowing that these ingredients can bring flavour to a great many meals. Next up is a palate cleanser of Dulce De Leche (Candy Milk), which is infused with La’Bori Dee for an extra kick. The sound has a heavy beat which has bass guitar and flute flavours running through it, creating a refreshing energy dancing on your tongue. As you pause for a short time, Mic Mountain and La’Bori Dee cast your mind to what is going on beyond the glass windows. As the flavours come alive, the world does its thing, passing by as you watch.

Café con Leche brings Coffee with Milk to the table; now I’m not a coffee drinker, so this was an experience for me. Duendy and The Microphone Prince joined Mic Mountain here for a heavy shot of flavour. The sound and heavy horns with keys and more bring a sound that dispersed the bitterness with an energy that makes you want to bounce. The flavours here bring a constant mix of sweetness and bitterness that complement each other in your ears with each tasting, setting you up perfectly for the next course, which is Pineapple Pique, which sees DJ Exes join Mic Mountain on this one. The sound is upbeat, with the piano getting your whole body moving. Pineapple Pique is a Puerto Rican hot sauce, and the mix of flavours that go into making it are reflected in the lyrics and the vocal tones here, which mix things up and hit you from different angles just when you least expect it. After that heat, it’s time to change things a little with some Mofongo, a dish that is made with fried mashed plantains. Horns take the forefront here with a pounding beat, which gives you time for a little pause while still moving in your seat. Mofongo seems to be one of those dishes that can go with many things, such as rice and beans. Here, my Mofongo came with a heavy dose of Mic Mountain giving me the lowdown on what he is about on a daily basis. Just like we were having a laid-back chat over this part of the meal.

CrDnlSn is a part of Sancocho, a stew that is a comfort food in Puerto Rico. The sound has moving piano, horns, and an infectious beat. You really get the feel of how Sancocho is a feel-good food as you listen along; here it gives you the feeling that no matter what is happening around you, this dish will brighten and lighten any day. Next up, it’s time for a fried chicken dish, Pollo Frito, which has a burst of flavours including an appearance from Powerule. Cuts and a head nod beat make this one the kinda dish that heads will want to bounce to. As you sample the dish, it takes you back to the nineties hip hop era, giving you a huge dose of nostalgia along the way. As much as you might wanna stay in that reflective mind state, you have to bring yourself back for the next course, which is Bacalaito. A deep-fried salted cod fish dish that looks like a pancake, and this version of the dish features the flavours of Thirstin Howl the 3rd alongside Mic Mountain. Organ notes, horns, and a pounding beat give this one the kind of taste that will get your head nodding big time. The flavours in this one elevate it beyond a simple pancake-looking fish dish; this one will have you wanting seconds every time, even when the razor-sharp cuts slice through your awareness. I was enjoying this so much that I was only vaguely aware of the radio being on in the background and strangely introducing the next course, like the announcer was in the building; perhaps he was. That just heightened my anticipation for Morrir Sonando, which is a traditional drink of milk, orange juice, and sugar. This recipe also had a hint of Cynical Mind blended in for added flavour. The horns and piano brought a laid-back air over the beat, giving you pause to sit back and enjoy every mouthful. The lyrics and the vibe give this a reflective feel that has you casting your mind back alongside Mic Mountain and Cynical Mind as the taste refreshes your palate.

Sangria in Puerto Rico is a twist on the traditional Spanish drink and features rum, tropical and citrus fruits. The recipe I was presented with also featured a dash of Sacx One. That hit of Mic Mountain and Sacx One only drops after the initial beat flavour kicks in with percussion, piano and xylophone, to get you hyped up. This one goes down so easily that you realise pretty quickly that too much of this one will have you floating off in more ways than one; trust me, as I suddenly realised I was approaching the penultimate track. That track is the quick Hill Billy Skit which features Paco Loco. This one is a comedic answerphone message that was left for Mic Mountain at the restaurant, just a quick little giggle before your final plate is delivered. That final plate is a classic Puerto Rican dish of chicken and rice, called Arroz con pollo. Today that dish comes seasoned with Paco Loco for something a little extra. The initial flavour is one of heavy drums, horns and keys which literally gets you up and dancing from the get-go. As you consume this one, the addition of the vocal flavours gives you the impression that the taste of this dish brings a party vibe, not just to your mouth but to the entire restaurant as the whole place is buzzing by the time the meal is over.

 

It’s great to have fun with a review, and Recetas has the kind of vibe that allows me to do just that. Now, I might be from the UK and not speak Spanish, but that didn’t seem to matter here as sound, lyrics, and the entire feel of the album just seemed to fill you with a sense of good food, good company, and enjoying those things in a cultural sense and beyond.

Being from the UK, my knowledge of Puerto Rico has been mainly gained from my interest in subjects such as the Chupacabra; that’s another story, but Recetas and Mic Mountain have helped to give me another look at the culture and, in this case, the food that is a big part of that culture. The celebration of the food, and the drinks which complement it, allows you to drift off into your own mind and get a small feeling of what it is to be and experience a different culture, and that is invaluable.

The other thing here is that the album fuses Hip Hop and classic Puerto Rican musical vibes, musically and lyrically as well. What I felt was amazing here was not the fact that I was not aware of what was being said in Spanish but, the fact that everything flowed regardless of my understanding, which made me cast my mind to the likes of Cypress Hill and Hip Hop in other native tongues, you don’t always have to understand the words to feel the energy and the vibe of what is being said. Sometimes just feeling something is just as valuable as you understand it on a whole different level.

Recetas is a great, themed album that sees Mic Mountain displaying some solid lyricism and flows across both English and Spanish, showing that he is not about to slow down. You also get the sense that bringing his cultural heritage to the forefront is only a good thing, as it gives the listener a great insight into that culture and the energy it brings. The featured artists also have that bilingual rap delivery, merged with their own individual energy that just complements the album in all ways.

The production also merges that Hip Hop sound with the Puerto Rican sound, and it brings a feel-good energy from start to finish that elicits an energy throughout your body that is infectious and just wants to make you move. Recetas is a concept album that brings a focus to the Puerto Rican culture in a way that makes you not just enjoy what you hear, but also makes you want to try the food, sample flavours, and meet the people. This is what real Hip Hop does; it brings everyone closer together, reminding us that we are all one, in some way, shape, and form.

You will not want to miss this one as it has feel-good party vibes running through it. So, pull up a chair, order your plate and enjoy…

Recetas releases on 15th September, but check the Bandcamp link below for details of the Album listening party.

My humble thanks to Mic Mountain for giving me the chance to bring you my inspired thoughts on Recetas.

See you next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Pre-order the album here and check for Album listen party:

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

Mic Mountain Website:

https://micmountain.com/

Mic Mountain Socials:

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

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

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

VIDEOS

Recetas at La Farmosa - Commercial

Pineapple Pique ft DJ Exes

Bacalaito ft Thirstin' Howl the 3rd

Album Review: Forever Smoking by Joe Blow

 

Forever Smoking

By

Joe Blow

Produced by DJ Jaffa

 

When your own world is being turned upside down, you just have mix things up a little bit and pick and chose what you can do in any given moment. That is how I am approaching this week’s review. I’m still picking up and catching up on past reviews and this one I felt I didn’t want to put off any longer.

Last year I was honoured to be able to review the Smoke On The Water EP by Joe Blow. Only a short while after a few short chats with Rob and the review going live, I would learn that he had passed away. So, this review is dedicated to his memory and the music that he brought to the world.

Reviewing a posthumous album, such as Forever Smoking, is a tough job, especially when it has been out for some time and many of you will have heard it and know what it means to you. As a reviewer I do what I do, but there is always a little voice at the back of your mind saying ‘I hope I can do this one proud. So, what I am going to do here is give you some background from the promo for the album and then do my usual deep dive.

 

Occasionally, an album arrives that transcends music. This one has been carried over the line by love, loyalty and grief. Rob was on the brink of wrapping up the recording of a new album ‘Forever Smoking’, recorded in close collaboration with legendary Cardiff DJ Jason 'DJ Jaffa' Farrell. Thanks to his closest friends rallying around to carry the torch on Rob’s behalf.

Forever Smoking is a gimmick free two-man collaboration. No features, just DJ Jaffa's warm, immaculately crafted production and Joe Blow's unmistakable South Wales flow. The album grew organically from a casual creative exchange:

“I’d sent Rob a few beats to check out. Then all of a sudden I get an email with vocals for one of the tracks, and then another one. So I just kept sending beats and Rob would keep recording." - DJ Jaffa

In addition to the energy and personality captured on the album, a handful of Joe Blow's own excited voice notes make an appearance, further capturing that enthusiasm and boundless energy for the music he loved.

Forever Smoking is the final, definitive entry in that lineage, and its name has taken on a meaning none of them could have anticipated.

 

 

Join me now on a trip through Forever Smoking…

 

The album is ten tracks deep and begins with The Word. Joe’s voice can be heard as he is getting ready to record the track and our minds are immediately brought to the memory of man Rob was. DJ Jaffa brings us a heavy beat that is backed by keys that give this one a chilled aspect where the drums take the forefront alongside a nice bass vibe. There are kinda two things about this one that strike you, first is that its all about the words, which are what make Rap what it is and this one showcase’s Joe’s wordplay skills. However, there is more to it than that as this one also gives an insight into what makes him tick what it comes to his craft. It’s not just the word; it’s the mentality behind it as well. Next up is Just Be (Original Version) it is the original as we are treated to a remix a bit later. The sound on this back’s the pounding beat with a nerve-jangling sound before switching it to heavy bass vibe, then switching back. DJ Jaffa also drops some slick cuts along the way too. Here Joe drops the kinda track that doesn’t just shoe off his lyricism but, also looks at the fact he is human, like the rest of us, trying to make money for his family and occasionally have a cheeky smoke too. There is also a deeper aspect to, one that hits you deeply, the fact that he says about staying true to who he is, being himself and being authentic. This is something that says a lot about who he was as Rob, and what he brought to the mic as Joe…

Double OG’s electronic vibes bring us into this one before cuts and a banging beat thud into your ears, getting your head nodding. Joe takes us off into a parallel universe where no fucks are given. He seems to take on an alter ego with a street slang, more smoking and an uncompromising vibe as the hardcore man on the street, showing that he is more than able to switch from lived experience to story telling in a heartbeat. If You Don’t Like Me begins with another of Rob’s voice notes as he gives Jaffa some idea of what he is looking for. The heavy beat is backed by horns and guitars that give this one a cracking vibe you can’t help but move too. There is also some rapid-fire cuts from Jaffa that Joe alluded to in the intro. Joe’s vocals, like the beat, have a little ragga twang to them at times. This one shows us what happens when Joe replies to the haters out there, he is basically saying that this is me right here, this is who I am and what I do. If you don’t like it, that’s fine because I don’t have to like you either, but I’m not changing who I am for anyone. From there we move on to Each One Teach One where the beat is a proper head nod infectious vibe that also brings a smile to your face as you listen. There is an element of that rap braggadocio here as Joe unloads about what he does and his uncompromising style. This is one of those tracks you can just sit back and enjoy.

Halfway done with the album and there is no let up in sight as Vision hits your ears. The sound has a lighter tone to it. The beat might still be pounding but, there is a laid-back vibe with guitars, tambourines and more. That lighter tone hides a deeper vibe to this as Joe speaks on the injustices in the world around us. That hits home hard as we still live in a world where just holding up a flag and standing up for the oppressed can mean you are vilified while governments can engage in wars where the killing of people is hailed as lawful. Which those deep thoughts still weighing on our minds, You Ain’t a Bad Man brings keys, guitars and more to back a banging beat, all combining to getting you jumping. Here Joe calls out all those who make themselves out to be more than they are. Those who act touch, but really aren’t that and just do it all for show and not being their authentic self. There is a dark side to this to as it looks at the gangland life and the violence that comes with it, but the message is to be who you truly are, because making yourself out to be something else is not a good look and will only end in tears. Rewind The Tape drops with razor sharp cuts, a solid head nod beat, backed by a laid-back sound that has a soulful edge to it. This one has an upbeat feel to it as Joe takes us back in the day, reflecting on the days of old and how those experiences shaped who he became. This is one of those tracks that always brings a smile as it reminds us to look back on our own experiences with love in our hearts at where we have been and where we are now.

The penultimate track of the album is the Just Be (Remix). This one takes the essence of what the original said, and See’s DJ Jaffa put it to a more funk infused vibe that gets you moving. This sound brings more focus to the lyrics, and in doing so, it brings more of a spotlight to that vibe of just being yourself. It takes nothing from the original version, just allows you to really focus in on Joe’s words. The album is rounded off with Going Mad, where the sound has a more chilled vibe that backs the solid beat. This one is a far more personal that see’s Joe wrestling with who we is, life in general and loss. This one really has you thinking deeply about your own life as the words sink into your awareness. There is also one last voice note from Rob that is mixed in here, and that does have an impact as you listen, touching your soul, because we all have those moments that have us questioning who we truly are.

 

I’m going to admit that I had to pause a minute after writing that before I attempted to sum up the album. In fact, there was a moment when I even considered not even doing that as the album speaks for itself. But there is always more to say and so, I decided to round it off as best I can.

The main thing to take away from listening to this album is that it had to be released. You can’t have a better way to remember the memory of someone than an album like this. It gives you a deep insight into Joe/Rob and shows you that he was not only an incredible lyricist but, he was constantly moving forward, always honing his craft and putting his very heart and soul into everything he did. Those voice notes add a very personal edge to things, hearing his voice just musing over tracks and having a laugh at his approach to things, do touch you deeply and leave a lasting impression on you long after the album ends.

You also get this sense of the working relationship that Rob and DJ Jaffa had. You really feel they were able to vibe of each other and had a knack for understanding exactly what the other was looking for in a track.

DJ Jaffa brings us sounds that not only perfectly compliment Joe Blow and his delivery, but they are also infused with different sounds that have been inspired across years of making beats and crate digging, understanding exactly what sound you want and how to get it.

Lastly, this album is infused with the love, grief and appreciation that his friends had for who Rob was and what he was doing as Joe Blow. They have brought us a posthumous album that is not an audible clip art of verses sandwiched between guest artists. This album is the sum of two artists working alongside each other to produce a top tier album that was the next rung on the latter for both. This is about as fitting a tribute to a friend and colleague as you can get.

Forever Smoking is packed full of the finest lyricism, lived experiences, no holes barred storytelling, alongside some banging beats and razor-sharp cuts. It now stands as a testament to two of the best from Wales to ever do it.

Forever Smoking is released through Veteran Records.

Rest In Beats Rob/Joe and thank you for the music and the memories.

My huge and humble thanks to 4DEE for sending this over and the promo material that I have used in the opening to the review.

 

Enjoy and I’ll see you next time.

Steve

 LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://joeblow1977.bandcamp.com/album/forever-smoking

All proceeds from the sale of the album go to Rob's Children.

 

 

EP Review: 3.2 by Cheebo

 

3.2

By

Cheebo

 

It was only about a month a go that I brought you the first in a trilogy of releases by UK producer Cheebo on Empty Hand Records. The second EP in that trilogy is now dropping today and aptly named 3.2.

This release sees Cheebo aka Ollie Cheebo, continuing where he left of with 3.1, using those raw, sample driven beats and the Akai MPC to take you back to the nineties Hip Hop sound with five more instrumental beats to get you reminiscing.

Let’s get straight into it…

 

All No More kicks things off with a proper head nob beat blended with horns and vocal samples to get you moving. As you listen to this one that faint jazzy horns take you back to the summers of the past, with the setting sun illuminating the bubbles in you glass as they rise to the top and then seem to pop in time to the beat. With you head still nodding and your toe’s tapping in time to the beat, Listen Closely Now Switches up the beat. Electronic vibes and 8bit sounds seem to drag you back beyond the 90’s to 80’s with a sound that smacks of those early computer games. This one invades your mind, spinning you into somewhere between a digital computer world and bursting beyond our atmosphere into deep space. It almost puts on a tipping point where the old 8bit computer games where about to be overtaken by 16-bit and then 32-bit games of the mid 90’s.

911 drops with a deep chilled out beat over which is this guitar sample that has a hint of the mariachi sound to it. The deep sound has you moving as you listen to vocal sample. Here we find a man calling a series of numbers to try and talk to someone to report a murder. There is this kinda dark humour to this as he ends up by mentioning he is using a stolen credit card to call, after repeated attempts appear to get him nowhere. He then, finally gets connected…

Spy The Formula brings a chilled sound that has a more funk edge to it with keys and bass vibes get you moving in a lazy kinda way. As you listen to this one there is this air about it that feels all about trying to find out what the formula is to create the perfect sound, the kinda sound that not only gets you moving but, has a sound that seems to make you quiver as it hits all the right notes in all the right ways. The EP closes with Here You Are, the sound on this one has a pounding beat mixed with keys and horns giving it jazz funk vibe with an almost mystic sounding edge. It really puts you in mind of just kicking back and listening to all your favourite tunes till the sun comes up, illuminating the world for a new day and setting the stage for the final chapter in the trilogy.

 

Now, I know I have said it before, but I’m just gonna say it again, there is something about listening to instrumental vibes like this. You get a little tease that it is taking you back to the Nineties and so you have a little expectation, but when it all kicks in, the music takes you off back to those days. Not only that, but the sounds then feed off your memories of the entire decade, bringing back some amazing memories of where you were, who you were with and what you were listening to at any particular time, and that is what I love about instrumental music like this. It takes you off down a rabbit hole letting your imagination and memories run wild.

Cheebo creates another cracking release here which crafts five short soundscapes that have you cracking a smile as you cast you mind back. It takes me back to hopping on a train to London to check out the Oxford Street or Carnaby Street, tagging the trains and buses as you went, finding it hard to wait till you got home to split the wrappers on the vinyl’s, just enough to get the wax out. Then swapping tapes with your mates and so on. These and so much more come to mind as I listen, so I have to give huge props to Cheebo for eliciting those memories with his incredible sounds. I think that if I had the skills to make beats, these are the kinda sounds I’d be making.

Respect has to go out to Empty Hand Records too for providing the platform for Cheebo to get this out there. It really gets you hyped for what 3.3 will bring to the table.

This one might only take twelve, or so, minutes of your weekend to listen to, but it will have you bringing up memories for years along the way and way beyond too.

3.2 is out today so don’t sleep on this one.

My huge thanks to Speaks, the man behind Empty Hand Records for dropping this one my way.

 

I’ll See you next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy Here:

https://emptyhandrecords.bandcamp.com/album/32

Cheebo Socials:

https://cheebo.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.instagram.com/ch33bo3/

Empty Hand Records:

https://emptyhandrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/emptyhandrecords

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

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

Album Review: Antarctica 2: Hollow Earth

 

Antarctica 2 – Hollow Earth

By

Sicarii & Wolf T. Calzone’

 

It was a few months back that Wolf T. Calzone’ and Sicarii first came to my attention on the album Iron Curtain by Myalansky, which was produced by Wolf T. Calzone’ and featured Sicarii. That album also had features from CISE and Haylo Da G.O.D, who also feature here as well.

Now I am always intrigued by music that references subject matter that I have an interest in. Having an interest in subjects such as Ufology, you invariably come upon things like, the Hollow Earth theory and more, so this one definitely captured my attention. Antarctica 2 – Hollow Earth, Released in March 2026, is a follow up to 2022’s Antarctica which Sicarii released alongside producer Danny Caiazzo.

Even reading some of the track titles, from both albums, there is a definite esoteric theme running through and it will be interesting to see what this all brings up.

So, let’s get straight into it…

We begin our journey with the Intro, this sets up the tone of the album with hints of the ancient cultures who have stories of a world within the earth where an advanced race flourished. The sound is laid-back and carries you into the album with a hint of mysticism. From there we advance forward to Speaking Rhetorically, here piano notes hit as heavy as the beat while occasional vocal sounds keep you from going too deep by screaming you back to reality. The title of this one is not lost on me as the cleaver wordplay seems to invite you to look beyond superficial and to dig deeper. It has this air about it that says there is more to life, you just need to look in the right place and educate yourself. With that thought in mind we progress to the High Evolutionary. Here heavy drums and guitar notes get your body moving and your head nodding. This one seems to explore the darker side of human nature, which feels juxtaposed to title of the track. There is also another thought this brings to mind, which is the idea that being exposed to things of a higher evolutionary nature can cause those who are not ready to understand, to spiral one way or the other.

VantaBlack 2 brings a heavy sound that mixes with vocal samples and sounds that have a middle eastern vibe, giving this one a sound that invites the whole body to move. This one appears to continue the theme of the darker side of things, but here it more focused on the darker side of what goes on around us, from wars to how clandestine agencies operate. VantaBlack is the darkest material know to exist. A coating of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes that absorb 99.965% of visible light. Strategems drops with banging beat backed by a nerve-jangling electronic sound and some classic vocal samples that get you bouncing. This one is a mind-bending display of complex wordplay and lyricism that has you questioning exactly where this one is taking you. Just when you think you have is worked out, Sicarii spins you off in another direction once more, making you rethink things over and over again. The sound of Basuco has a more reggae vibe to it giving you a moment to sit back and let the words float by. This one takes you off into the world of drugs and what they can destroy within you, while giving you that uplifting feel you crave. For anyone not aware Basuco is the name for a low-grade of cocaine, especially when it is mixed with tobacco and cannabis.

Parliament of Trees mixes piano notes with a heavy drumbeat. This one gets your head nodding while the lyrics hit you full on. What struck me about this one was what it said to me as I listened. There was this distinct feeling that the parliament of trees are those with fixed opinions and fixed ideas, never willing to look beyond what is right in front of them or question the very nature of the reality they live in. Here its about being fluid, filling yourself with knowledge. Those who stay fixed will be the ones who lead us towards a fate that could reset life. Cise features on Rot in Purgatory alongside Sicarii. The sound here has horns, cuts, and the type of drumbeat that is strangely infectious, making you grin and nod you head along. This one is a solid display of lyricism from both emcees that gives you a moment just to enjoy things. There are still elements that touch on the metaphysical, giving you the occasional pause for thought as you catch them. From purgatory we escape to Mega City 2 where the sound has a jazzy edge to it with horns and guitars over a more chilled drumbeat. Here Sicarii spins words that have the effect of making question the reality of what you’re hearing and looking somewhat differently at the reality you are living in, in the moment…

Humanoids Interlude brings a sound that spins a heavy drumbeat with guitar notes and vocal samples to brings a vibe that has an eerie edge to it. The sampled vocals here are of an interview where the woman involved describes humanoids who are based under the Antarctic ice. I have come across these stories before and they are the things let you open your mind, just a little, to what is actually going on in Antarctica. A place where around 30 countries govern under the 1959 Antarctica Treaty System which prohibits military activity, mining, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. Haylo Da G.O.D joins Sicarii for Ouroboros where bass guitar draws us in before beat hits with an eerie mix of keys, horns and vocal samples giving this one a thoughtful tone. This one might take a few listens, but the more you listen, the more you realise that this one is all about cycles and unity. When you fully unite with something, the whole becomes stronger. Such as the cycle of life and this is where the title comes in as Ouroboros (Uroboros) is an ancient symbol depicting a snake or dragon eating its own tail, symbolising life, death and rebirth. Vespas hits with a heavy beat and big horns that give this one a vibe that has that soundtrack feel running through it but still hits hard. Try as I might I could not track down the movie sample used here, but that is not going to take away from this. This one hits with more than a hint of that rap braggadocio as Sicarii drops bar after bat that demonstrates why he is at the top of his game right now.

Khonshu has a pounding beat with keys and guitar elements that hits your ears with the force of an explosive soundwave. There is a sense of duality within this one, someone wrestling with a conscience or higher guiding power. This experience causes you to go from one extreme to the next as look to understand, control, or work with what is happening. Khonshu is based on the Egyptian god of the moon, time, and vengeance, Khonsu. Khonshu is the name used with in Marvel comics as the guiding force behind the character Moon Knight. The album’s penultimate track is Maelstrom; the sound is heavy with strings that give this one a lighter tone and slightly more upbeat. The essence of this one is the turmoil that exists within our own societies and even within the circles that examine conspiracies and so one. The turmoil exists as there will always be beliefs that counter each other, even in spite of the evidence that exists one way or the other. The album ends with Apostrophe with features Brian Butler on guitar. The beat, flute and guitar give this one a vibe that provokes a sense of reflectiveness. This one really made me think and what it really spoke to me was the use of Apostrophe. The origin of the word comes from the French for elision or suppression, and that really sticks out here. The suppression of the truth both in the present and the suppression of historical truths too. So much of the truth has been suppressed over time that most look on those truths as myth or legend rather that what they really represent, and that may well relate to the truth of what is going on in Antarctica and why it is kept protected.

What strikes you immediately is the depth and complex nature of Sicarii’s wordplay and lyricism. What he does with his words leads the listener on a search for the truth, the truth of what you are hearing. So, many will listen and think that every track is fire and hits hard, but they will not truly understand exactly what is being said. Fewer will here this and want to listen deeper so that they can grasp the essence of what is said, while still fewer will listen and immediately realise that there is more to those words and want to understand.

It is the shear complex nature of Sicarii’s words also reflect the complex nature of stories and conspiracy theories that surround subject matter such as Antarctica and the whole Hollow Earth theory. I could deep dive here into the stories of Admiral Byrd, Nazi Bases, UFOs and more but, we would be here for ever. Sicarii has taken those stories and merged them with his craft to bring you an album that does not just look at Antarctica, but also looks at human nature, society and how truth and lies are so intertwined in everyday life that we need to be careful what we take as truth and be open to anything that might reflect the real truth behind what we see and hear. The fact that Sicarii does not shy away from looking at the more esoteric subjects is all power to him for shining a light on what most people immediately dismiss.

Wolf T. Calzone does such a great job of mixing banging Hip Hop beats with a wealth of sounds that create some intense sound scapes that perfectly reflect the intricate nature of what Sicarii is putting across and how that mirrors what happens in the world around us. This deep-rooted sound helps bring the enjoyment from the album but, also gives us the depth needed to open our minds to the nature of what the words bring.

CISE and Haylo Da G.O.D. bring their own lyrical prowess to proceedings, and this just compliments the album and does not over complicate things with too many feature verses.

My advice here is for you to go have a listen and see where the story telling takes you.

I have to give huge thanks, once again, to the man John Dugen, JD Hip Hop Reviews for sending this one my way. Big up my man.

Antarctica 2: Hollow Earth is available now through Bella Ciao Records.

 

Be seeing you again,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://sicariiarafat.bandcamp.com/album/a2-hollow-earth

Sicarii on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/sicariilastarchon/

Wolf T. Calzone' on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/wolf_calzone/

Bella Ciao Records:

https://www.instagram.com/bella_ciao_records/

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

VIDEOS

Vespas

Album Review: An Embarrassment Of Riches by Dan Brown

 

An Embarrassment of Riches

By

Dan Brown

 

This week I have the pleasure of bringing you the latest album from Dan Brown. Dan is a Hip Hop lyricist and content creator from Brighton UK.

Although he grew up in the 90’s ‘Boom Bap’ era, he also found inspiration in the likes of Motown, Soul, 90’s RnB, Grime, Reggae, Afro House, and of course the UK Hip Hop scene. Dan was part of the Elite Squad alongside DJ Skully (UK Battle for Supremacy Champion), he honed his craft on stage with techniques he learned from watching the likes of Big Daddy Kane, KRS One and Redman. With a history that is steeped in live performance, Dan has supported the likes of Foreign Beggars, Klashnekof, Skinny Man, Whirlwind D and Specifik, KRS One, The Pharcyde, Jungle Brothers, Mobb Deep and many more besides. He is one third of the South Coast Connection alongside MikeyDubz and Cuban Jon, and is focused on crafting his art to be the best representation of himself, his lifestyle and his beliefs with an honest, unpretentious Funk Based style.  

Now, with all that said, An Embarrassment of Riches has a top line-up of producers and guest artists to get your interest peeked, and these include production from Speaks (Empty Hand Records), DJ Severe (Habitat 617), STS, Beat Avengers (Germany), MikeyDubz, 6^th Floor, Rasheed Thomas (Detroit), Aroe (who also did the album artwork), Shupi Pie (who worked on Dan’s previous album) and Murmur. Featured artists are DJ Severe, 7he Perza, Areli, Mac Perry, Cuban Jon (DJ from Worthing), Whirlwind D, Retro, Remark, Pastor JP (City 4 Christ Church), and the legendary DJ Format.

There is nothing left for me to say here, except, let’s get into this…

 

The album is seventeen tracks deep and kicks off with Infinite Potential which is produced by Speaks and features DJ Severe. The sound hits with a vibe that merges a funky beat with elements that have a far eastern edge to them, which all comes together with the cuts to get you nodding and bouncing from the moment the beat drops. This one sets up the album perfectly by not just being a solid display of Dan’s wordplay and lyricism but, also a message to all the other rappers out there that Dan is constantly honing his craft, never resting and always perfecting who he is and what he does. After all the potential here is infinite, just like the sounds. Next up is New Day which is produced by and features DJ Severe. The beat is heavy while the background sound brings more of that funk vibe to get you moving. This one has an uplifting air to it, there is this sense that life is all about constantly moving and improving in all that you do. People might try to discourage you and bring you down, but you have the power to look beyond that and recreate yourself with every sunrise. You just have to stand firm in all you believe about yourself and the dreams that you hold on to. Façade is produced by STS and features 7he Perza, Areli and Mac Perry. The sound here has this mix of guitar sounds over a heavy but chilled beat. The guitars have one with a reggae vibe and the other being a more funk fuelled sound, giving this a sound that keeps the energy flowing through you. There is a deeply religious aspect to this one as it looks at the eternal battle of good against evil. However, the subjects that it brings up are also rooted in what we see around us every day, where many place this façade of doing the best for society, when really their main motive is their own ends. Always go with your intuition and what feels right, don’t be swayed by false promises and the lure of the carrot being dangled in front of you…

Languid Love is produced by Murmur who brings this us this jazzy vibe that mixes bass notes with keys and more to brings an overall sound that feels quite refreshing and even put me in mind of tracks by Prince. This track is an ode to that special someone in Dan’s life, it has a very matter of fact style that you can really feel comes from the heart. The kind of track that many of us would dedicate to the one we love. I Remain Blessed is produced by the Best Avengers and features Cuban Jon on the cut.  The cuts merge with strings and a pounding beat to set this one off, the strings and beat continue on to give this one a heavy, thought-provoking vibe. The religious aspect of this one goes beyond just a belief in a higher power; it brings a focus to what that belief can bring to how you see yourself and how you walk forward in life. For me, this talks to me in a way that really looks at what your beliefs can bring to your life, how they inspire you and the strength it can provide, especially in the darkest of moments. MC Mentality is produced and features DJ Severe, it also features Whirlwind D. The beat is heavy with double bass notes and these eerie keys, the cuts on the bridge bring you back to reality as the overall sound seems to take you away. This one sees Dan and D explore their thoughts behind the mentality of being an MC. What does it mean to be an MC, and how do you conduct yourself when on the mic and writing rhymes. Its all here, you just have to listen and just let it filter into your awareness.

Garland of Breath is produced by MikeyDubz who brings this heavy beat that is mixed with guitar nates and some middle eastern vibes on the bridge, giving this one a sound that seems to touch you deeply as you listen. There is very much an air about this one which seems to be all about living in the moment and approaching every day with a clean slate. Dealing with the frustrations of daily life and those who seek to bring you down can be hard too, but it is often best not to give these situations a second breath, just find the teaching in the situation and walk on. 6^th Floor produces Living Water and brings a more LoFi sound where the keys seem to carry you along, floating alongside Dan’s words. This is a deeply religious track which focuses on faith and how that faith touches every aspect of life. Now, whether you agree with how religion sees things or not, there is always something can gain from the words and the passion someone has for what they believe, and that is no different here, but what you take away from it will be different to what I do. With that thought still running deep we move on to Bring It On which has production from Rasheed Thomas and features Cuban Jon on the cut once more. The beat is proper boom bap style with strings and keys that add a little calm to proceedings, letting you nod your head with your eyes closed, just letting everything wash through you. This one has that feel of it being a straight up demonstration of Dan’s lyricism, which it is, but there is a deeper side to it too that shows that his passion for his craft takes him to the kind of highs that others need a little herbal help to reach.

Timeless brings production from STS and Aroe, also featuring DJ Severe and Retro. Heavy drums, flute notes and guitar vibes all come together with razor sharp cuts to bring a sound that really gets you moving. This one has a solid message that looks at the timeless aspect of Hip Hop and rap, at its purest level. Here its not just about showing the quality of your wordplay, but focusing on the fact that rap, as a vocal artform is something that never changes. Many will play with delivery, flows and so on but, rap will always stay rap, as long as Hip Hop lives. All The Time has production from Shupi Pie and brings a sound that blends that Hip Hop sound with horns and guitars to give you a fresh uplifting vibe. Here Dan takes us on a trip to look at some of those who inspired him along the way. From Slick Rick to Wu-Tang and on to Modd Deep, these artists had a huge impact on how Dan developed as an artist, and you can really feel that here. Solitude sees Murmur on the beat once more, bringing a sound that sees a solid beat intertwined with keys, other percussion and more, including the words of Alan Watts, to bring a vibe that just allows you to sit back and enjoy what you hear. This idea of solitude here is all about self-development, constantly using your strengths to keep moving forward being all you can be. The idea solitude is perfectly reflected in Alan Watt’s words where it not about loneliness but, about the beginning of true freedom.

Move is produced by the Beat Avengers and mixes multi-layered sounds with a head nod beat that gives this one a really infectious sound that gets you moving and grinning. Now, I’m going to say I always nail the message in a track. Here this really made me think about always moving forward and never letting yourself get too comfortable in one place for any period of time. Keeping moving, keeps you always in the moment, always relevant, but stagnating keeps you fixed in one place, losing touch with life and the things that can really matter. Next up is Exit Stratagy which is produced by STS and features the legendary DJ Format. The pounding beat and etheric vocal sample gives this one a sound that really seems to raise you up. As you listen to this one, it first gives you the sense of being a straight up verbal display of wordplay but read between the lines and you get the feeling there is a little more here, and perhaps that is all about having a back-up plan in everything you do. The idea of having an exit strategy, should things change in the moment is always a good plan and shows that that you are always thinking forward and considering all options. Restoration is produced by DJ Severe and features Remark and Pastor JP. The beat has a solid head nod sound which is backed by guitars and keys which bring a deep reflective vibe. That deep reflective vibe works so well here as the message is all about looking deep within and seeing where you need to restore yourself to that truest expression of who you are. Achieving that restoration might come your belief in God or Christ, it might also come from self-reflection and an understanding that we are all a part of the universe, either way we are all one and connected by a higher power, no matter your personal beliefs and that higher power can guide you to be who you truly are.

Praise is produced by the Beat Avengers and hits with a heavy pounding sound, that sound is backed by organ notes and other electronic vibes that all come together to bring a vibe that makes you want to close your eyes and listen intently. This one is a humble expression of what the belief in God and Christ brings to you. There is also another message here, not everyone holds that same belief and if you listen to this you will find that giving thanks for the people and the things that happen in your life, can help you to elevate yourself about troubles of everyday life. The album ends with Late Hours which features Retro and is produced by STS. Here the piano takes the forefront with the chilled beat sitting in the background. The overall sound has a more soulful edge to it, especially with the sung chorus. Listening to this one really give you a sense of reflection on your craft, the hours you put in and the fact that not everyone gets the real message you put into it. You get the feeling of emcee’s musing over everything, relating the passion and depth they put into their craft and how that extends to life in general. This is a great way to round off the album giving the listener the opportunity to feel the foundation of what the music is all about.

Now, I just said that was the last track of the album, however I do have a bonus remix here as well, so I am going to give you my thoughts on this one too. The Praise Remix comes from Irn Mnky. This one takes the message from Praise and puts it to a far jazzier gospel inspired beat. It transposes the heavy emotive sound of the original and raises it up with a different energy that you can feel invites you to stand up and move to the sound. A great way to see how two beats can deliver the same message in different ways, eliciting differing emotional states along the way.

 

I think that first off, after listening to the album as one, you need to just step away a minute and let it sink in. By today’s standard’s this is a long album, over an hour, including the remix and it has a lot to say across those seventy plus minutes.

Dan gives you so much to think about from straight up lyricism to the deeper aspects of life today, and then on to some deeply personal insights on how his belief in God touches him and helps him navigate life, and the joy it brings him. What stands out here is his lyricism, wordplay, and delivery. His words bring rhymes that are deep and at times, complex but, not too much so that you find it hard to follow what he is saying. He is adept at switch between flows in a way that maximises the impact of the words. Dan has to be one of the standout rap artists in the UK right now, and you have to check his work and really listen to understand that. Because, only by really listening can you get the messages and feel the passion that he has for his craft and bringing the listener a true Hip Hop experience.

Dan has done a great job of bringing together some great producers and artists from across the UK and even one producer from the US. Production is solid here and creates the perfect backdrop for each track that Dan paints with his words. The guest artist all brings their own style and passion to the project, adding deeper dimensions along the way. It would also be remiss of me not to mention the one thing, for me, that completes the Hip Hop aspect of this album, the DJs. I always love it when a Hip Hop project has cuts because that is what cements it as Hip Hop.

I could happily go on for ages about the album and everything it says to me But, I do have to let you go and check it out.

Overall, An Embarrassment of Riches is one of my standout albums of the year. The lyricism from Dan and the guests is all top notch. The musical backdrops from the producers bring deep emotive vibes and boom bap sounds to get you bouncing and the DJ’s add cuts that have you smiling. The album brings deep subject matter that will have you thinking long after the album is over, and might even have you spinning it again, just in case you think you’ve missed something, which you might well do.

I will leave it there and invite you to go have a listen for yourself.

An Embarrassment of Riches is released on 13^th July on Dan's own independent label Me, Myself and I, so be sure to check it out.

 

My humble thanks to Dan Brown for giving me the chance to bring you thoughts on this inspirational album.

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Album Pre-save link here:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/danbrown1/an-embarrassment-of-riches/

Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/dan.browndan/

https://www.youtube.com/@dan.browndan

VIDEOS

New Day

Praise

Exit Strategy

Album Review: Firework Factory by Kemastry X Harvs Le Toad

 

Firework Factory

By

Kemastry X Harvs Le Toad

 

It is a pleasure to have Kemastry back on the blog with his recent album release Firework Factory alongside London based Harvs Le Toad. This was released back at the end of February and one I have to apologise for taking the time to get to.

Now, with everything that is going on personally, I have not had the time to pull together the usual research I do, so apologies to Harvs Le Toad for not dropping a bit more about him here. Kemastry has featured on the blog before with the powerful Revolutionary which was alongside producer King Boyden, so you can read a bit more about Kemastry there. As for this album I thought I would let Kemastry’s own words about the album give you a little sneek peek before I deep dive myself. So, he notes the following:

“Firework Factory is a story of destruction. We started creating it in Brighton before the project had a name or purpose but after I had beat a psychological and emotional retreat from the seaside town over 5 years ago. Most of it was written in London to a backdrop of self-inflicted chaos that I consistently found myself so immersed in. As with most of my music it's a story of addiction, heartbreak and dreams but I think the difference this time is I was really trying to understand the cycles of carnage as a means to find ways to escape them. Whether I achieved that or not you’ll have to listen and decide for yourselves. I'm immensely proud of this project and it's really special to me so all your support is greatly appreciated. Ladies and Gentleman coming to a digital mind control device near you....

Firework Factory”

If that didn’t give you enough to think about, join me as I bring you my insights into Firework Factory…

 

It begins with Lovesick which features sax from BNMO. This one has a sound that has a LoFi edge to it, but the sax adds this jazzy undertone, at points. The sounds just makes you focus on Kemastry’s vocals which are almost spoken word. As we sit beside him, we find a man in reflection, thinking of a life of struggles, hard choices, anger, self-destruction, and how he treated those around him. He sits in this space as love has finally found him but, walked away and he finally realises what love means and how it makes him question everything in pursuit of its return. With those thoughts hitting home, we move on to Freak Show, which features Young 40 and bass from Chris Richards, and production comes from Harvs Le Toad and Pitch 92. The sound on this one has chilled beat with guitar elements and keys giving a vibe that is emotive, making you want to close your eyes and just soak it up. There is a feeling here that this one speaks on way we so often repeat the same mistakes over and over, not truly understanding what we are doing until the day we finally see the truth and step out of that freak show. Already with so much to think about, Autopsy brings an appearance from Jazz T, the beat has this head nod edge to it and the acoustic guitar gives it a subtle mariachi vibe. Kemastry’s vocals have harder edge, picking up the pace too. There is a feeling inside, as you listen, that this one is speaking on how easy it is to just conform and be ‘normal’ and do what is expected, the minute you step away from that, they try to pick you apart and wonder why you are doing what is expected. It is a struggle to step outside of what is seen as normal, and this is what many of us face as we seem to be our true selves, for our true selves do not conform to everyday normality.

All Breaks No Gas has production from Harvs Le Toad and Allen Keys, plus bass from Chris Richards, alongside keys and drums that all come together to give this one a sound has a funk soul vibe and more, drawing you in and getting you moving, almost unconsciously. The way this one spoke to me was feeling like you have no energy left, everything is forcing you to stop and yet you keep going somehow. You realise you need to get away, recharge and remember who you truly are, but the daily grind keeps you in this constant state of purgatory, neither one place nor the next, like a battery that won’t charge above 20 percent. Next up is the albums title track Firework Factory. This one features sax by BNMO and harp from Szofia Rosza. This one has a soulful LoFi sound that brings an emotive vibe with it. Mixing rapped vocals and spoken word, Kemastry brings us a deeply touching track which looks at the explosive moments of light and colour which are created amidst the dark days, as we walk the path of life. These are the moments that can change our direction as we understand the outcomes of difficult decisions and wrong doings. These moments of clarity, understanding and learning ultimately shine a light on new directions for our paths. Wasp Hurricane features King Kashmere alongside Kemastry while Harvs Le Toad brings us a sound that hits harder with a proper boom bap vibe. This one makes you think, am I sitting here in the eye of the storm or am I the storm looking around me at where I’ve been and where I’m going? Perhaps we have elements of both here or maybe it’s more than that as the storm is all in the mind, and everything else is just a reflection of what is seen through that filter. We are complex beings and our experiences are all individual and how our lived experience affects our lives colours our perception of life around us, at times it is a storm but, one we ultimately control.

Flood Gates brings the sound back to a more laid-back vibe with elements that seem to tweak the nerves just a little. This one spoke to me on many levels as I know how overwhelming thoughts can be, and there are times when you just have to let it out, write it down, get it out in some way. If you don’t and you hold onto it, these thoughts will consume you and take you down a dark path. Especially when the world you see is such a tumultuous place, where you constantly seem to be beaten down and nothing seems real. From those deep thoughts, Still brings a sound that seems to lighten the mood somewhat. A solid drumbeat is backed with xylophone notes, bass and more that has a vibe that promotes a more optimistic outlook. That optimistic vibe is reflected in the lyrics, which have a reflective air to them. You get this feeling that the hardships and struggles might still be going on but actually, there are reasons to look on the Brightside and there are glimpses of blue skies beyond grey clouds and rain. Lavenders Interlude has a nice head nod vibe with keys and bass elements that give this one an infectious sound that gets the adrenaline flowing slightly. At first you might wonder exactly where this one is going but, keep listening and you realise that this one is all about shattered relationships. Those relationships could be with a significant other or perhaps a relationship with an addiction of a different type. These addictive and destructive relationships constantly cause to go round in the same circle, making the same mistakes, before that one day when we finally break the loop and let go…

Shrapnel features Jack Danz and DatKid alongside Kemastry as Harvs Le Toad drops a heavy beat with organ and flute notes that brings a sound that has you sitting back like you just inhaled something potent, while samples from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas drift into your awareness. At first, you might be mistaken for thinking this one is an explosion of lyricism with words as the shrapnel, but it is so much more than that and seems to continue the focus on addiction, particularly the effects of drug addiction, and not just the effects on addicted, but also how those who supply are addicted to supplying it and making money. I might be wrong, but that seemed to be what I saw within this. Indigo Man has sax from BNMO and features Verbz and additional vocals from Olympia Vitalis. The organ notes and laid-back beat give this one a LoFi edge, although there are harder sections and sax elements which each bring different vibes along the way. There is a reflective side to this one too, which becomes apparent when the lyrics hit. It reflects on experiences that brought you to this point but, also personal thoughts and feelings on how the world around plays a part in the point where you currently find yourself. There is good and bad along the way all contributing to your thoughts about the self, who you truly are, and where that might take you. It’s Not My Fault has a sound where keys take the forefront giving this a thoughtful air. More of a spoken word vibe this one speaks on a difficult relationship break-up. This is like one man sitting down, speaking candidly of the situation, from the deeply cutting harsh words to understanding that it was never always this way. The ultimate message here seems to be that no one is willing to take any responsibility for their own actions and so there is no hope of reconciliation because there is no understanding of what changed and what caused the breakdown in communication. It is also worth noting that there is a heavy sound in the background, and if you are listening on headphones, might make you pause because its sounds like it came from the environment around you and not the track. This could even be an unconscious reflection of the message in the track, something that makes you second guess, think again on what is happening and what the causes might be…

We find ourselves at the penultimate track of the album Jezebels and Jellybeans, which is produced by Harvs Le Toad and Illiterate, and features Mazey June. The organ notes and heavy beat gives this one a soulful edge, especially with Mazey’s soulful vocals. You can’t help but, subtly move to as you listen. Listening to this one almost feels like a reflection on what has gone before, and in a way it is. Kemastry invites us to look at the perceived flaws we see around us in society, and to look for the perfection in those flaws. The things we see as hurting us, damaging us and so on, always have something to teach us, and learning from these things is the perfection we need to understand. You just have to listen to the lyrics to truly understand and feel what is contained within. I would also echo something else he says, “music saved my life”, this is a statement that I feel is so important. Music has the power to many things, most importantly it can change our mood and energy, use it in the right way and it can change your life. I have felt this many times myself and can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today without the impact music has had. Finally, we reach the final track of the album, Everything Baegyal which features sax by BNMO and additional keys from Allen Keys. The sound on this one is one that will make you want to kick back, close your eyes and just drift off. As you listen the soulful sound merge with the lyrics to create images in your mind, images that elicit thoughts of why we do the things we do. Life gives us so many opportunities and different paths to follow, and so many times our impulsive decisions cause us to think again. Maybe the message here is not to question why, but just accept it, let go of the second guessing as it brings to much with it and we spend more time in those thoughts…

Let’s not beat around the bush with this one because the impact and deep nature of Firework Factory is huge. This is not one of those albums you can just bung on and enjoy, this one will make you think, regardless. It almost demands your undivided attention because it speaks on so many levels.

You could say that Kemastry and Harvs Le Toad have created a detailed audible map on what it is to create those moments of explosive light in the moments of darkness. However, it is more than just that through lived experience, skilled lyricism and skilled production, they have created an album that both shows you the darkness in society and within and then teases how to go about looking for cracks in that darkness. Inviting you to look deeper inside because most of the answers are there. Just have to be prepared to look.

What I especially like here is that Harvs Le Toad has created a sound scape across the album, that appears to be juxtaposed to the lyrics. Kemastry delivers some deeply thought-provoking lyricism that is often hard hitting and at other times almost caring and emotive. You might think the lyrics and the messages they carry demand a harder rawer sound to carry them, but that is not the case here as Harvs Le Toad brings a softer more emotive sound that works just as well, allowing the words to carry more impact. Something which works so well here.

There is no denying that Kemastry puts a lot into the wordplay he uses. The bars often catch you off guard and elicit an impact on your awareness that you were not expecting. Every track here has a deep insightful edge to it that you really have to listen to, and even if you just put it on, not thinking, it won’t take long before you find yourself immersed into each track, and thinking far beyond just enjoying the sound.

The guest artists all do a solid job of complimenting the vibe of the album and individual tracks. Nowhere do they seem out of place and add another dimension to the proceedings. Likewise, the use of guest musicians is masterful as the sound of live instruments adds a deeper dimension to the sound that you can’t get in any other way.

Overall, Firework Factory will entertain, captivate, and give you pause for thought. It is one of the most insightful and impactful albums I have heard this year and will definitely be one of the standout albums of the year on many levels.

My huge thanks to Kemastry for putting this one my way.

Firework Factory is out now and well worth your time to check out.

 

Be seeing ya.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://kemastry.bandcamp.com/album/firework-factory

Firework Factory Streaming:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kemastryharvsletoad/firework-factory?ref=release

Socials:

Kemastry:

https://www.instagram.com/donald_surfaces/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/kemastry

Harvs Le Toad:

https://www.instagram.com/harvsletoad/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/captainharvs

VIDEOS

All Breaks No Gas

Firework Factory

 

 

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Righteous and Rich by Saint Jude and Mark L

 

Righteous and Rich

By

Saint Jude & Mark L

 

A little while back I was contacted by UK producer Mark L regarding reviewing his recent EP Saints Without A Church with London based lyricist Saint Jude. This EP was a cracking listen but, sadly I did not get around to reviewing it due to the tumultuous storm that is life right now. So, when he sent me their forthcoming album Righteous and Rich, I knew I had to get this one on the blog.

Mark L is originally from Cwmbran Wales, but now calls Southampton his home, and you all know I like to get Southampton based Hip Hop on the blog when I can as it was my birthplace and it’s always good to connect with your home.

The album is centred on a core philosophy of "Can you live with two masters, the gospel and the grind?" It explores the friction between spiritual alignment and the hustle of daily survival. The sound promises to be a modern gospel inspired vibe, so it will be interesting to see how this one speaks to me.

Without further ado, let’s get into it…

  

The ten-track album kicks off with the title track Righteous and Rich, which features Southampton legend Jonathan Fashole-luke on the keys. The sound brings that gospel vibe from the start with soft etheric vocals underpinning the beat which is backed by keys and organ notes which give this one a thoughtful edge. As you listen, you realise there is a conflict of emotions here, even a conflict of the spirit as the question is posed that can you both righteous and rich? In a world where most of the rich seem to have their fingers in dark pies or made their money from the exploitation of others; while the righteous among us always seem to struggle to make ends meet, as it seems that being right and focusing on a spiritual outlook does not make you rich, in a monetary sense. Perhaps the question is answered here already as being rich in your spirit takes you to a level that money never can. With that thought rooted in our awareness, Move This Pack drops with a sound that mixes a drumbeat with piano, organ and more to bring a vibe that takes you a place that brings the daily grind into focus. This one looks at struggles of a working life mixed with trying to keep yourself focused on giving your family a good life while doing your best to be who you are not crumple in a heap while doing it. Life throws so much at us, in terms of the food we eat and help we receive, or don’t, that just living is a job in itself and keeping a work/life balance is tough. Filthy Rich has a sound that mixes organ vibes and a sharper drum sound, alongside some cut up horn sections. The overall sound is light but, the lyrics have an edge that seems to speak on the light-hearted nature of someone speaking on making their money in ways that makes that money as filthy as ways in which it was made. This is the sad truth that some treat making money and getting rich like a game, where even murder is treated as just one of those things, a stepping stone on the way to becoming rich.

The Break Up has a darker edge to both the sound and lyrics. The sound plays with your mind while the lyrics seem to speak from one mans thoughts of life and the things that he has to do. This goes beyond just that to his thoughts on how his relationship breaks up and how the events around that situation hit hard and cause him to question everything. The thing is, by the end of the track you are left with just his thoughts and what he said about everything, with just one version of events it is hard to find a balance wonder about all the things that triggered this, who was right and who was wrong. Ja Blood has a sound that brings in a more relaxed beat, but with this sung element that puts you in mind of part of your soul screaming out. There is a sense of turmoil within this one as it looks at the fabric of society, questioning everything as if someone is having a sudden awakening and looking at the everything, suddenly unable to understand who is right and who is wrong, and their own status within this. MSB, which stands for Mind Soul Body, comes with a heavy beat mixed with piano and strings, giving this a sound that has a head nod vibe, getting you moving as the lyrics seem to float into your awareness. This one has an air that suggests that it all about being yourself, free from what anyone expects, free to be who you are and free to think and speak on what comes from within, event if that goes against the societal norm. The mind, soul and body are yours and you should not let anyone take them from you.

Testify has a far more chilled jazzy vibe to it, something that gives it a more uplifting sound. This is a short track but, says a lot in that time as it says that life as an ordinary person should not be so tough, something that we can all agree with. No matter your spiritual outlook on life, the daily grind is hard, as there is no balance in our work/life. Everything is a struggle just to survive and somehow, we do our best to stay positive and look to a brighter future. The Bullet brings a sound that almost softens the beat to the background as xylophone notes and sung vocal elements take to the forefront giving this an air of reflection. Here we are back to the daily grind of life and the struggles that ensue with each step we take. But there is also an element here that looks toward creating balance and finding a brighter way to navigate the gritty aspects of everyday life.

We come to the penultimate track of the album with The Sitcom, where bass notes, flute, strings and more back a more chilled beat, giving this thoughtful air. This one seems to be all about making the best of a difficult situation. There are always times in life where you think, with everything going on, you couldn’t write this! Life never seems to reflect the fun times we see on the TV screens in those popular sitcoms, but we still do our best to bring some light-heartedness into our lives, even though there are times when it seems like nothing will take away the pain or clear the clouds from the sky. The album ends with Father Time where the piano notes and sung elements, bring a sound that lightens our thoughts and gives the sense of a light at the end of the tunnel. The lyrics reflect this outlook too, with uplifting vibes that put you in mind of brighter days, summer times vibes and enjoying life once more. Time might pass us by as we walk the path of daily life, but as we walk that path, father time eventually brings us sunshine and clear skies, where we can breathe again and smile…

 

What you notice about this album is that it looks at a number of aspects of daily life, such as the daily grind or hustle, inner turmoil, and then how it affects us and our relationships, but deeper than that it looks at whether you can function in this way but, still have a spiritual aspect. The interesting thing is, as I pointed out above, that the overall question this album poses, is almost fully answered in the first track. Now, I might have got that impression from the fact that life is not being particularly kind to me and my family right now, but as low as these situations make us, there is always these little reminders that pop up to remind us that clearer skies are coming. Now, your own religious or spiritual beliefs might change how you see the messages but, they are there, and that is why I think, if you read between the lines, that answer is there for you.

Once you have the answer, the album then choses to show you everything that can impact your life, almost reinforcing that through all the hardships and struggles, there is one thing that will never change, and that is the fact that you can always tip the balance by belief in a higher power, be that God, The Universe, or whatever you belief system shows you.

Saint Jude and Mark L do not shy away from mixing gritty visions of daily life and personal struggles with inspirational and uplifting quotes that give you a sense that brighter days are ahead. There is also this feeling that its not always easy and at times you will feel like there is no end to things but, ultimately, the skies will clear once more.

Saint Jude brings tight wordplay and differing flows and his own lived experience to give you auditory visions that allow you to draw on your own experiences by triggering your mind to look at what you are hearing and then, almost instantly, flicking to what personal experiences closely match that. Which is something that helps the listener when going deep into an album such as this. That wordplay is helped by the skilled production from Mark L who mixes Hip Hop and other vibes with that Gospel sound to bring a sound that has a fresh air to it but also speaks to a deeper spiritual side of you as well.

Righteous and Rich is one of those albums that will speak to so many. It will show you that having a belief in a higher power can not only bring you that sense of righteousness but also make you rich far beyond what money can bring. That is not to say that you don’t need money, but it has its place and coming from a place of being rich on the inside will help you see the place of external richness.

Righteous and Rich is released on 29^th June.

My humble thanks to Mark L for sending this one my way and giving me the chance to bring you my personal take on it.

 

I’ll be seeing ya.

Steve.

LINKS

Saint Jude and Mark L Bandcamp (Check here for the drop on 29th):

https://saintjudemarkl.bandcamp.com/music

Saint Jude and Mark L on Instagram:

https://saintjudemarkl.bandcamp.com/music

Saint Jude and Mark L YouTube Channel:

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

VIDEOS

Righteous and Rich Promo