Album Review: That Soul I Know by Speaks

 

That Soul I Know

By

SPEAKS

I was first introduced to Empty Hand Records back in December of 2025 when I reviewed Vincent Deconstructed by Uncle Mic Nitro, courtesy of the label’s owner and producer, Speaks. Now, by that time Speaks had already released his debut producer’s album titled Highrize Jamz. That highly acclaimed album featured the likes of Uncle Mic Nitro, Krash Slaughta, Wordsworth, Phill Most Chill and more. Now I have yet to hear that album, so when Speaks asked if I would like to hear his new album, with a view to a potential review, I jumped at the chance.

Now, life being what it is, I thought I would be unable to review That Soul I Know when it dropped in September as an eviction forced me to suspend things until now. However, due to a delay in distributors, the album is now due to see its release on October 09^th, just one short week away, so now seems like the perfect time to bring you my take on what is already being hailed as one of the year’s top albums.

That Soul I Know is a producer’s album, which means all production is handled by Speaks. As with Highrize Jamz Speaks has assembled a top line up of emcees to drop the goods over his beats. That line up consists of Ced Gee (Ultramagnetic MCs), Outbreak, Phill Most Chill, Uncle Mic Nitro, Different Damien, Simmer Soul (Rhyme Advocates - AUS), Supastition, 4-Ize, Fly Filty (AUS), Wordsworth, Habitat 617 (Heavy Links - UK), and Planet Asia.

Now, with a line up like this and Speaks love of the classic Boom Bap sound, this one has all the hallmarks of a contender of album of the year. So, join me as I take you on a journey through That Soul I Know.

The opening to the first track, Second Album Syndrome, grabs your attention as it how second albums can often fail to reach the hights of the debut album and artist/producers have to constantly adapt to new hights to keep things sounding fresh. This seeds a thought in your head as you listen. Speaks and Outbreak then let the horns and voice of Ced Gee drop in before the beat kicks off with some ferocious cuts. This sound gives you chills as you immediately feel that this little intro is likely gonna be a prelude to something banging; and so, the intention and expectation is set…

There is no time to second gues yourself here either before Make It Good drops in with a feature from the legendary Phill Most Chill. The intro to the track is all about the taking the music and getting a record deal. The beat drops in with chilled funk vibe has the kinda sound that is infectious and gets your body moving. PMC drops some slick lyricism that brings the icing to the cake here.Its all about making things good, lifting you up and making you feel good and this one does that with aplomb. Next up is Disco Scenes which features Uncle Mic Nitro, Different Damien and Simmer Soul alongside Speaks. The beat is heavy but with a dope soulful vibe keeping things laid back and mellow. Mic Nitro keeps it laid back on vocals as he takes us all back to the times we would all hit the discoes having a fun time while waiting for that final song to kick in to see if we would be the lucky one to share that moment with a special someone. This one is so mellow that you almost have to pause things, just for a moment to let those memories float by, before returning to the music…

Supastition and 4-Ize join Speaks for Raw Rap. Horns and piano vibes take us into a heavy banging beat, that backs by those horns, piano and bass notes, creates a Jazz Hop vibe that gets you bouncing. There are more than a few name drops on this one as we get rewound and then fast forwarded through some of the most notable artists and acts that have put their stamp on the Hip Hop game. This is all about putting your own mark on things and hitting it with the raw unflinching vocal styles that make the listener stunned for just a second. Uncle Mic Nitro is back alongside Australia’s Fly Filthy for Two Left Feet. Horns and organ notes back a proper banging beat, getting you moving once again with a sound that has an uplifting feel to it. This one is all about letting yourself feel the music, then allowing that vibe to take over your body and dance. Its not about how you dance, or maybe it is. Part of you feels its all about letting your body move to the music however you see fit, but there is also another part of you, if you’re a true head maybe, that can’t help but visualise the breakers moving to the beat and showing of those incredible acrobatic moves, or maybe just poppin’ and lockin’. I guess you just go where the beat takes you. Soul Goodz is a little interlude from Speaks and drops with this incredible sound of drums, piano, organ notes, bass and vocals. The result is this incredible soulful sound with some almost etheric singing that just makes you stop for a couple of minutes. This little instrumental moment just takes you wherever you want to go. Then, you come back with that little spoken word outro to the track, still chilled, still floating, but the album is now midway through and it time dip into the second half…

If you have the vinyl, then you are probably flipping it over right now and dropping the needle, and if you are listening to the digital, then you are probably still floating. The Pivot sees the return of Supastition and Speaks brings a heavy beat that is backed by this organ sound that has you continuing to float while nodding you head and closing your eyes. Supastition brings us lyrics that speak directly to the soul, so good that your eyes are closed. The message in this one is that there are times you just have to let go of things from your past. You might not want to let go, but it will be for the best as you might realise these things can hold you back and letting go will set you free. In the Summer sees Wordsworth joining Speaks to drop vocals over a dope beat that has a laid-back feel with organ notes that put you in mind of lazy summer days. That musical vibe mixes perfectly with Wordsworth, whose words take over your mind, letting you visualise every scene that her describes to you, helping you cast you mind back to your own summer experiences along the way. This one will make you wish summer would never end and the sun would always shine you, every day. With those thoughts of summer still floating in your mind, the UK’s Habitat 617 step up on Keep Your Distance. The summer vibes switch now as heavy piano vibes, backed by a heavy drumbeat, guitars and cuts, take you to the surprisingly sunny skies of the British skies. The heavy sound gets your head nodding while Habitat’s lyricism hits hard, giving you a demonstration of what he capable of should you give him the perfect beat to go off to. No particular message here except to listen and enjoy a solid display of lyrical dexterity.

Uncle Mic Nitro returns for one last appearance on Kick In The Door and here, he is on fine form as Speaks provides a boom bap style beat for you and Mic Nitro to crazy on. Banging beats, heavy horns and razor-sharp cuts get everyone hyped up and Mic Nitro lets his vocals unload like a one-man army. Here every word and beat hits with the force of 500 Magnum. There is not getting away from the fact that no matter how much you barricade it, Speaks and Mic Nitro are simply gonna kick the fucking door down. At this stage you might be thinking, how do you follow that one? Well, you bring in Planet Asia with the Middle Finger Flow, that’s how! Piano vibes, heavy drums, cuts and more give you a sound that cools the energy and gets your head nodding once more. In fact, you whole body gets moving as Planet Asia takes the reigns and rocks the mic with the kind of lyrics that gets you raising a middle finger to the sky with a broad smile on your face, enjoying every finger flippin’ moment. Before you even realise it, we find ourselves at the last track of the album. Outbreak features one last time alongside Speaks for New Possibilities. The funk vibe really goes off big time on this one as we are treated to one of those producer/DJ tracks that perfectly mixes funky vibes with cuts galore. I love these kinda tracks as it mixes things up and takes you back to the essence of the hip hop sound where the DJ would cut up classic tracks, making it into one engaging track that kept you bouncing from start finish, and it seems like the perfect way to round this one off by reminding you that this is Hip Hop, and as much as you love everything that has gone before, the seed that this all grew from was often just the DJ and two turntables; and a microphone…

 

I gotta say, that was something. After a few weeks away, I was not sure I could do this justice right now, and I’m not saying I have, but this album grabbed my attention, opened my mind and allowed the words to flow. I’m pretty sure that if I did this whole thing again tomorrow, I could write a whole different review because everything here is the kind of music, that real Hip Hop music that I have come to love. It makes me think that if Speaks Debut is anything like this, I gotta hear it.

Now, I could leave it there really, that short paragraph does seem to sum up this album perfectly. However, I’m not going to just sign off like that. Not a chance, and please forgive me because I might say a few things that might be a bit controversial in a moment…

There is something I really like about Producer Albums, these are albums that are brought into being by one or two people, creating beats and bringing in rapper or another artist to feature. Sometimes the beat comes first and its all about finding the right artist and sometimes the producer might have a particular artist in mind before creating the beat. I guess that for me, it is the closest thing to real Hip Hop aside from a crew that is made up of emcees and a DJ or DJs.

Now for the controversial bit. When I listen to an album like That Soul I Know, I think about some albums I have heard where an artist will bring in multiple producers, DJs, and guest emcees. Now while these are still good Hip Hop albums, they almost feel like a compilation album or a kind of showcase album, they do not always allow the individual to shine through. I would like to see the individual to bring their talents to the forefront and simplify things a little with less producers and features. I say that will all the respect to those emcees. Here Speaks does just that, he keeps blueprint simple across the album and that is the key thing that allows this to shine so much.

Every track here is pure Hip Hop, the beats shine through and you can feel the heart and soul in everyone. Speaks brings in just the right emcees to compliment every beat he produces, allowing every track you here to be individual in its own right, whilst also fitting so well as part of the album. Everything flows so well with highs and more chilled moments that keep you engaged through out in a way that does not leave you thinking that any particular track shined brighter than another.

That Soul I Know does not suffer from any type of second album syndrome, in fact, I think I builds on the hype of the debut album. Speaks takes his love of Hip Hop Boom Bap music and gives it his own spin. He adds a dash of this genre and that genre along the way and allows those sounds and the Hip Hop vibes to compliment each other, in the same way as the Emcees and Beats complement each other.

That Soul I Know is the perfect album to return to Infinite Sounds UK after my little hiatus, it is a solid listen that not only shows the quality of Speaks as a producer, but it shows that he is able to create tracks that speak to the listener as well as just give them something hot to listen too. Is this one of the albums of the year? Should you believe the hype? Yes, it is, and yes, you should.

Before I go there is one last person I need to mention. As always Album's are a unique package and that includes the artwork and design that is the first thing you'll see when handling the vinyl and when you drop your pre-order. For That Soul I Know those props go to Camila Carmody.

My thanks to Speaks for allowing me to bring you my take on this album, for what it said to me and helped me to express. Go pre-order your copy now and get ready to go to the soul of that real Hip Hop sound.

See ya Next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Pre-Order Here:

https://emptyhandrecords.bandcamp.com/album/that-soul-i-know

Empty Hand Records Website:

https://emptyhandrecords.com/

Empty Hand Records Socials:

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

https://www.facebook.com/emptyhandrecords

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

VIDEOS

Kick The Door Down ft Uncle Mic Nitro

In The Summer ft Wordsworth

 

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