Dark Friends / Make it Connect
Blade
The Review
It always creates a huge amount of anticipation when an
artist releases something from their back catalogue that has been revisited and
deemed worthy of bringing to the fans.
It was no different when it was announced that UK Hip Hop
legend, Blade, was to release two unreleased demos as a limited sdition 7”
single thorough Boot Recordings with the help of his good friend, another
legendary figure in the scene, DJ Jazz T.
The excitement within the UK Hip Hop community and anyone
around the world, who knows the UK scene, was intense.
I had been lucky enough to have been listening to these
tracks for months before their release. It was only some unforeseen circumstances in my own life
that have delayed the review until now.
It was the early 90’s, between 92 and 93, that I met Blade
following a show at the legendary Southampton music venue, the Joiners. He was
touring with the recently released Mini LP ‘Survival of the Hardest Working’.
We kept in touch over the years and became more than just friends. So, when he
told me this release was on the cards, I was excited to say the least.
So, I contacted Jazz T and asked if I could review the
single and the rest is history.
So, let’s get into this:
The singles A-Side is Dark
Friends, a track originally recorded back in 2003 and is written by Blade
with production coming from his good friends The Manoz, who would also produce the
track Soldiers which was the B-Side to Reflection in 2004. As can happen,
life’s unpredictable journey would see this track shelved at the time as an
uncompleted demo.
Six years later and the track, in a slightly different mix,
would see an underground release on Jazz T and Miracles – Who Got the Beats
from 2009. It was this release where I first heard the track when given a copy
of the CD by Mr Miracle himself at Rope-a-Dope 4 in Bristol in 2018 (How did I
miss this one?).
So, ten years on from that original release and Jazz T has
added some cuts and finally given this track the release it deserves.
A deep brooding track see’s Blade in fine form taking the
fight to those with huge egos who think they are more than they really are.
Lyrically Blade is on that other level intellectually with a verbal arsenal
others only dream about. Many can rhyme, it’s true. But, to really say
something you have to deliver from the soul and that is where Blade delivers
from I’m sure.
The production from the Manoz is heavy and dark the perfect
platform for Blade’s delivery and with Jazz T’s Def cuts bringing all the elements
together, Dark Friends is a brutal cerebral attack.
Filliping to the B-Side is Make it Connect. Taking us back to 1997, shortly after the release
of the ‘Planned and Executed’ EP, this track was recorded when times were rough
for Blade. But, his dedication to music and getting the bills paid, saw him
back in the Lion’s Den producing, writing and just ‘Throwing it all together in
about an hour, Just to pass the time’. Although being a personal favourite,
this track look destined to stay hidden away and sat on an old cassette tape.
22 years later this track, now tired and the quality eroded
from years of being played over and over, was taken by Blade’s good friend Jazz
T and given a new lease of life. Revived and given some fresh new cuts, this upbeat
track, with its funky horn, is just what you need to give you injection of a
feel good factor.
Huge respect has to go to Jazz T for making this track sound
as amazing as it does.
Overall and after listening to these tracks for many months,
more times than I can remember, what I can honestly say is
that they give you a huge insight into Blade and a sense of the dedication he
had for his music.
But, not just that you can really feel the energy, the
emotion and the Blood, Sweat and tears of his life experiences coming through,
something that could be said for everything he has put out over the years.
This release is definitely one not to be missed. The digital
download comes with an instrumental of Make it connect and the whole thing is all
finished off by some awesome artwork from Stilts.
But one Question remains...
Is Blade truly done? Retired for good?
Who knows? But, with
his management of new urban group 05:21 and a new visibility, through social
media, perhaps there is more to come. Could there be more from the vault of the
Lion’s Den or something new?
I can’t say for sure but, there are two things I
can say...
If you have his respect and you can deliver something that
moves him in new and exciting ways, then perhaps, just perhaps, the Lion Will
roar again.
Till next time,
I’m out, One Love,
Steve
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