Food for Thought
By
TRUCK
Album Review
Food for Thought is the debut solo album by Bristol Emcee,
former Journeyman and co-founder of AE Productions Truck. Despite being a
former member of Bristol Crew The Journeymen and often featuring on guest
vocals for the likes of Mr Fantastic, S.O.E and Beat Route 38, among others,
Truck’s only solo projects to date are a couple of self produced CD only
projects and the AE Production released singles Able to Stable and 3,665
(ft Phill Most Chill).
Often using his unique vocal skills to talk about food, it
is not before time that Truck finally gets the opportunity to drop an album and
to fully display his talent. The eagerly awaited album also features a host of
guest artists and an international line up of producers.
Also unique to this album is the artwork by Mr Krum:
Taking the album title ‘Food For Thought’
quite literally the sleeve is made up from alphabet spaghetti which is actually
a word search including Artist, Title and Label on the front and then guest
features on the reverse panel. All track information is supplied on an insert
to keep the sleeve design clean.
I
have been privileged to see Truck perform live in Bristol, both solo and with
the Journeymen, at the Rope-a-Dope events staged by B-Line Recordings at the
Rope Walk. I have to say I was excited to review this one.
So,
with all that said, let’s get into the track by track look at this album:
Kicking off Side A is Right or Wrong?, which sees Truck on production along with Mr
Fantastic, who also provides his turntable skills to the track. This is one of
those tracks that has you moving along to the beat from the word go. It’s just
one of those tracks with plenty of dope cuts all polished off with Truck
displaying his verbal skills and showing exactly what he is all about and why
he is where he is. This track, in a slightly different version, appeared as the
B side to the 3,665 single. Kicking up the BPM is Manic Anti-Mannequin. Produced by Truck and featuring the legendary
Rola, who also mixed the album, this is a frantic boom bap track with plenty,
as you’d expect, food related references and a nice side dish of Mr Fantastic’s
cut’s. Up next is the main version of 3,665
(the single release featured a radio version). The track has production from,
another legend, Sir Beans OBE and features Phill Most Chill with Mr Fantastic
providing the cuts. A proper banger of a track and you can’t go wrong with
these two emcee’s rocking the mic. Side A of the album rounds off with Elevator, a funky dope track with Truck’s
observations on modern life. This one again is produced by Truck and Mr
Fantastic (who is back on the cuts as well).
Flipping
to the B Side, first up is a track of truly epic proportions, Serve a Sukka. Truck is joined on the
mic by fellow Journeyman, Gee Swift and the late Paten Locke (R.I.P.). Not only
that but, Mr Fantastic provides the cut’s with Paten Locke providing the cut’s
for his verse, production comes from the legendary Kutmasta Kurt (this is the
first time Kurt has worked with a UK emcee on a track). That said, this is a
proper golden era style boom bap track that will have the crowd rocking and the
speakers bumping for as long as you want it to. Hitting the beat heavy with
deep guitar is Cook ‘em, where we
find Truck and Mr Fantastic on production duties on a proper heavy track which
has Truck explaining exactly what he is capable of doing to all those suckers
out there, yeah, Cook ‘em. Mr Fantastic is back on the solo turntable duties.
So, we at the penultimate track of the album, Solice, here Truck is joined by another Journeyman, Coherent, and
Whirlwind D. Production comes Sir Beans OBE and there is a funky bass from Guy
Fowler. A real funk laden track where we find the fact there is a lot of fakes
and puppets out there and the only way to be honest, be yourself and don’t be
taken in by outside influences, there is a deep message here take note. So, on
to the final track of the album and this one is another international vibe with
Tha Cheese, Canadian born now living in Japan, and Japan’s own Taka Highsnow
joining Truck on Morph. This one is
wicked funky track with each emcee displaying their individual skills. I was
not familiar with the other two artists prior to this track but, I have to say I’m
impressed for sure. The track is produced by Truck with Tha Cheese also
providing the cuts.
All
told this album is not only a stunning debut but, it displays the talent and
respect the UK has within the international Hip Hop community. Bristol itself
has a long Hip Hop history in the UK and Truck, Mr Fantastic, Rola and others
have all been a huge part of that scene. Not just that but, AE Productions is
among the best independent record labels in the UK, in my opinion, providing an
outlet for some amazing home-grown talent as well as international artists as
well.
Food
for Thought is one of those albums that shows what you can achieve when you
take a talented emcee, superb production and all the other elements from
artwork to guest appearances and so on and package it all up into something
that is pretty much a masterclass of an album. Truck has one of those instantly
recognisable voices and styles, he also has a good ear considering the
production work he has put in on this album. Working with Mr Fantastic at AE
Productions they have pretty much got it all right on this album. I can’t think
of anything I don’t like about it, Production, cuts, lyrically it’s all damn
near Hip Hop perfection but, I do have one little gripe, I wanted more. Yep, I
would have loved ten tracks but, then you have to consider the quality here and
when you have the quality do you need the Quantity? Perhaps sometimes less is definitely
more.
This
is definitely one for your collection, no doubts at all. If you are not
familiar with Truck or AE Productions, head over the link below and check out
the other Truck and AE releases. You most certainly will not be disappointed.
©S.Rider 2018
If
you want the chance to see Truck keep an eye out for the next Rope-a-Dope in
Bristol, you never know you might just be able to catch him performing live...
On
that note, I’m outta here,
Steve
Thanks for the review Steve! Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure
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