Freedom of Speech
By
Haynesy and JD
Album Review
In the first six months of 2020 we have seen more upheaval
in such a short space of time and from many different sources it has caused so
many of us to exercise our right to Freedom of Speech. So, with this album
being titled Freedom of Speech it gives us just a glimpse as to what we might
expect.
I for one have found the recent releases from both Haynesy
and JD to be the sort of music that truly excites and is also insightful and
for me that makes the anticipation of be all the more stronger than others. On
the one hand you have the legendary Haynesy bringing the sort of production
that makes instant classics and on the other hand you have JD who brings such a
deep knowledge and power to the mic.
This album promises to be something special but, can you
really have any idea of what to expect when two such talented artists bring
their own brand of exciting Hip Hop visions to the table and when you add to
that, more than a sprinkling of, the turntable prowess of one Jabbathakut
things get even more interesting.
So, I am going to give you my thoughts and do my upmost to
create a vision of what’s coming...
From the sound of the alarm and hearing JD say its ‘time to
wake up’ you get a sense that it is indeed time to wake up on so many levels.
Then as the soulful lyrics drop and the beat kicks in you are immediately drawn
into On Your Feet, an upbeat track,
musically, that will definitely get you moving but, at the same time will get
you thinking as JD skilfully gives you an overview of the society we currently live
in. More than that there is a message here that says you can either stay closed
minded, on your knees believing everything you are told or you can get up on
your feet, make a stand and be the change. The almost 80’s electronic feel and
frantic cuts that are the intro for Bass
& the Treble are juxtaposition
to what comes after, a funky beat with some jazzy flute which again gives way
to a chorus with that electronic vibe. This one really has a feel that is not
the norm JD’s lyrics here have that vibe too, all about not conforming to what
is expected and doing things your own way. A soulful voice floats you into Freight Train as you are reminded that
the earth is there for all to enjoy and not be owned. Jazzy horns, bass guitar,
an infectious beat, funky flute and some razor sharp cuts give this one that
feel good factor that we all need a bit of right now and the unstoppable
freight train of the title is JD, Nuff Said...
Production on No
Matter What took me back to the rare groove funk that is behind so many Hip
Hop classics but, at the same time it has been tweaked by Haynesy to a proper
head nod beat and Jabbas cuts are slick. The message here really is that some
things are inevitable, they will always be and will continue to be but, you
have one shot to make your time here something special, make it matter because
too much out there is all wrong and it needs to be made right. Hip Hop and rap,
that’s where my hearts at, is how Mullets
kicks off But, when the beat hits it switches up the adrenaline levels big
time, the heavy beat, strings and dope cuts give it that big beat feel you
wanna have up loud and then some while JD takes the mic, switches it up and
drops so much on ya with such slick delivery that by the end of the track it’s
given all you mullets a crew cut. A big orchestral intro followed by a banging
beat and some heavy horns and this one’s got ya bouncing out ya seat, if you
we’re sitting that is. Tell Em is JD
giving it to ya straight, this guy can emcee and boy can’t he emcee damn...
If PE were from the UK and did Public Enemy No 1 in this
moment it would sound something like Scream
and Shout. Guitars, drums, eerie electric sounds and the freshest of scratches
create the perfect platform for a raw look at the modern day life of work,
work, fake news, crooked politicians and little light at the end of the tunnel
but, there is a way out and its fuck the system. Pedigree is a slick funky synth fuelled track that sees JD
displaying his competence as an emcee while hitting hard with a look at Paedophiles and
sex crime. Melody takes an excursion
to more modern vibe that mixes up the BPM and produces that rollercoaster feel,
while not everyone’s vibe this one has an extra dimension that works so well
and JD shows how well he can adapt his lyrical skills and switch up the styles.
I’m tempted to say this is one for the younger audience but, I’m sure old and
new heads will feel this one.
The penultimate track has a very upbeat party track feel
with its funky horns and guitar heavy vibe. Real rap has always been about
having Something To Say and this
track has JD perfectly demonstrating that for all to hear. The final track is
the single that Haynesy and JD put out early in the lockdown, Changes. A proper
feel good vibe with a bass guitar lead beat this one is all about the crazy
shit we see around us day in, day out and about the fact that it can’t continue
something has got to change. In fact, since this track was first released much
has changed but, there is still so much more that has to change lest the planet
take back control, think about it, we take care of the planet or it takes care
of us...
Let me just take a breath here... That was some ride! From
the word go it just seems to grab you at a deep almost soul level. You feel the
energy, the passion and the emotion. It is hard to fully explain the feeling of
the depth of knowledge here and the desire to educate though this universal
medium of music.
Haynesy has produced a masterpiece that not only perfectly
encapsulates what Hip Hop is at its essence but, it also touches on the more
modern vibes that have grown from it. There is so much here for everyone and it
is all underpinned by an almost unconscious upbeat feel good vibe that seems to
permeate the whole album regardless of the subject matter being explored.
JD brings a mature lyrical flow and understanding that
paints the perfect picture, track to track, from the canvas provided by
Haynesy. The knowledge that he displays across the album when speaking on
subjects from Racism to work life and Paedophiles to the failure of government
show a deep connection with the subjects that affect us all in our daily lives
and for me all this and the competence of his overall delivery makes him one of
the UK’s most top emcees at this time.
I can’t go any further without mentioning Jabbathakut, who
has crafted just what is needed for this album. In fact you could go so far as
to say that it so good he seems to have an almost telepathic when it comes to
producing exactly what is needed for each track and no Hip Hop album would be
complete without a good measure of turntable trickery.
This album has so much to offer and it was such a pleasure
to listen to. Just how well this has come together is a credit to all
involved. There were times I was feeling
it so much it was hard to pull what I needed from it and at other times what I
was getting on a deep level was so intense, I simply had to be careful not to
allow my feelings to run away with themselves and that is definitely a credit
to the quality of the album. You put this on in the car and bang it while you
are driving and enjoy the sound or you can it back with your headphones on and
really feel every aspect of every track.
Did I mention the artwork! No, well you gotta check that cos the man Digital Dyer has done a fine job here and, following some good advice, you have to look real close at it, that's all i'm gonna say.
Due for release very soon there is a Quates crowd fund
coming out to get this on vinyl. I highly recommend you support getting this on
vinyl because if you are an old skool vinyl head, like me, the extra dimension
of having your needle drop on this one is gonna be the ultimate experience. So, keep watch for links and so on coming real soon...
I’m gonna leave it there as I’m not even sure I’ve done the
album justice, phew...
Peace out,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment