Infinite Sounds UK: Stubborn Vectis by Joe Public

Stubborn Vectis

Joe Public

Album Review

There is so much good Hip Hop music coming out of the UK at this time and one of those areas that has a wealth of talent is the south coast.

Now being born and raised in Southampton it is always nice to be able to listen to and review artists from my local area and that includes the Isle of Wight, being connected to Southampton via a ferry link.

So, when I was contacted by Lee from Played Out Records and asked if would be willing to review the new album by Joe Publik, a native of the Isle of Wight, I was like “Yeah, I’m up for that”.

Stubborn Vectis, a play on the name of the local bus company, might be the debut album for Joe but, he is by no means new to the scene and has built up somewhat of a reputation as a solid live performer at the likes of the Boomtown and Beat-Hearder festivals. To introduce a larger audience to just who Joe Publik is, he has brought some local talent and a couple of UK Heavy Hitters along to demonstrate just how much of an affinity and passion he has for the culture.

So, it now gives me great pleasure to take you on trip with Joe Publik on the Stubborn Vectis:

It is always good when you open an album with a solid track that gives the listener an instant vibe for who you are and that is just what Joe does here. Old Time Sake is a jazzy style vibe that will have ya head nodding as Joe demonstrates his ability for storytelling, lyrical dexterity and production. The track also features Bass and Piano provided by Clippa Sound and Mind Simulations. Now that you have a proper benchmark for who Joe is and his talents, then it’s time to kick it up a few notches with the albums lead single, Military Minded. This track features two UK heavy weights in Scorzayzee and Res One accompanying Joe on a politically charged track that pulls no punches as it hits out at the powers that be. Production is heavy hitting boom bap and shows that Joe can easily hold his own alongside those more established artists from the UK scene. Switching up styles on Come Correct, Joe takes us on a tale of life and the fact that if you are going get out there, you need to it right and always make sure you got your own back. This might be a slightly more laid back track but, the production is banging and still has on less impact and still keeps those heads nodding.

Up next is the album’s second single, Head Nod Hip Hop. This track features Chillman and Goose of Verbal Highz who are fellow south coast residents. Keeping it real with a light-hearted jazzy vibe, this one will keep bouncing along as you are transported to a place where these guys are all about the music they love and what it means to keep you nodding your head and when it comes to keeping your head moving, For The Team, will definitely do that. This track takes you through the ups and downs of being a Hip Hop artist and how others see you. The beat is a deep funky vibe that almost feels like it came straight outta New Orleans. The funky vibe continues with Follow my lead with its horn driven, funky piano vibe. Bouncing off each other with some wicked verbal word play, Joe is joined by Coosie of Verbal Highz and Concept of Thought/Yogocop affiliate Awfer.

Halfway through and there is no sign of this album even sniffing at an album filler and we continue on with Talk with Substance, featuring Sax by Thalasic, which has a deep atmospheric feel to it with some almost ethereal vocals leading the vibe of the track. The track really speaks of how you need to have some substance to the things you say. Not just that but, also make sure you have knowledge and understanding of the subjects on which you speak, don’t speak from hollow space. From that deep space you were in, it’s now straight into the real boom bap with Rise Above. The track also has a deeper meaning, speaking of the need to stand tall, pick yourself up and rise above the hard times, which is particularly appropriate in the current climate. The track also features Isle of Wight crew Clippa Sound, Lazy Habits and is the second feature for Thalasic on the Sax.

Irate Mindstate is a banger of a track with heavy bass and more funky piano vibes running thorough it. Focusing on being an Emcee/Producer, this one is all about how you get your knowledge from the mind to the paper and then to audio, the whole progression of creating music. The Isle of Wight connection drops again as Clippa Sound again join Joe for the Heavy vibe of As You Are. Outside influences impact us all, the lies and spinning of the truth from media that is more prevalent these days as smart phones allow us constantly to be bombarded by fake news and negative stories. The deeper message here is just to be you and not what others what you to be and for me this track spoke on many levels. The final track of the album, C’est La Vie, ends the album on a high with a reggae tinged banger. This is the third single from the album and really has the message that Life is what it is and what will be, will be and sometimes it’s better just to roll with it.

You should now not have any doubts that the southern UK has some of the top up and coming artists of the Hip Hop scene and Joe Publik has, with this album, cemented his place on the scene. With dexterous word play, seamless production and more too boot this debut is right up there with some of the best out there.

For me the way the album flows from track to track really is a huge part of just how good it sounds. The Production is all on point and really does fit perfectly with the lyrical content and add to that the added spice of Willz of Steel on the cuts; it all works so well as a straight up Hip Hop album. Not just that but, There is not one track here you could call an album filler and Joe really does draw on many of life’s experiences that so many of us can relate to, it just makes the album so relevant at this time and that is something which is so huge, if you can produce tracks which everyone can easily relate to every time they listen.

This one is a definite recommendation from me to have in your collection. So go check it out and grab a copy.

There is a crow fund on Qrates for a vinyl copy of the album. If this is successful, pre-orders must hit 100, the vinyl version will not feature Irate Mindstate and Rise up will be a slightly edited version for vinyl time constraints.