Album Review - Collective Thoughts by Kryptik

 

Collective Thoughts

By

Kryptik

Album Review

 

Collective thoughts was originally released back in May this year and was one of those occasions where I saw the album promo online from friend and the artwork kinda pulled me in so I went over to Bandcamp, listened, grabbed a copy and connected with the man himself and I’m glad to be finally able to get my thoughts out on it.

Collective Thoughts marks Paisley based emcee Kryptik’s return following 2015’s Necessary Evil. During that time, he was building his own studio, dropping production for a host of other artists, and starting Dental Rekords. With this return Collective Thought’s was detailed as a front seat into his life experiences and revolutionary moments in a well-balanced and easily digestible, story-telling format. Combined with a diverse and somewhat left-field soundscape, ‘Collective Thoughts’ goes against what’s currently trending and challenges otherwise taboo topics such as addiction, ego, self-doubt, conflicts of a creative mind as well as tackling turbulence, trauma and other testing times from his own personal life, and it was reading though this on the Bandcamp page that really drew me in. Plus, the proceeds from this release go to help the ‘Sunny Govan Community Radio’ a local radio show which regularly tackles addiction and mental health, which really makes this worth supporting.

 

OK, so as this album is 14 tracks deep, let’s get into it…

First up is Let It Breathe which has production from Physiks, The organ intro eases you into the album but, as the beat hits with the huge horns running through it, you are automatically nodding your head as Kryptik explores his frustration with the fakes in Hip Hop and the fact that he was born to spit. Keeping it boombap is Crink’s production on Tell Me Something a track that see’s Kryptik taking us through surviving the stresses and strains many of us experience as we walk the path of life. You might even want to dig out the air guitar as the track ends on wicked guitar riff. The guitar heavy vibe of Oh Why puts you in mind of the musical vibe of Tarantino movies. This one also features Sonny Green and delves into alcohol addiction and the issues that come with that.

Ayahuasca has an electronic etheric vibe to it that merges with wicked and almost tribal drum. Here Kryptik explores the effects of the traditional South American drink used in shamanic ceremonies to aid individuals in their spiritual journeys. Heavenly vocals and a simplistic beat are core for the short almost poetic Lonely Tear. Although short this track hits as deep as any track as you are drawn into looking deeply into your soul and some of the realizations that come from that. The tear of thoughts not realised and looking toward the path to redemption and freedom. Time to expand your mind with DMT, the banging beat and almost dreamy guitar helps you switch up your perception of reality as Kryptik takes you on a mind bending verbal journey to the outer reaches of alternate realities and beyond.

Boaby Hit-the-Deck features some funky dope production from Tha Vilest. The beat keeps you nodding along while the funk piano has you swaying and Lu Angels stunning vocals have you sat in some seedy smoke filled bar listening intently to stories drifting from the speakers and here that story is the sad tale of one persons decent to their lowest point. The instantly recognisable Clubbed to Death by Rob Dougan is the base for Shattered Dreams, a hard-hitting view of personal experiences of life and the light at the end of the tunnel that is holding on belief when everything else appears lost. Laid back keys and Jazzy production from Sik Sense are the platform for Kryptik on Burnout, as he looks at what it takes to bring yourself back from the dark times. 

 

Going Under is a chilled vibe from DJ Riseone that sees Kryptik take us through the things we do and the regrets we can have as we do our best stay standing whilst all around us seem to be falling. Time to take it more upbeat with Found the Love, which has a nice soulful feel to it with production from Crink. Sometimes the one thing we need is closer that we think, we just don’t always see it for what it truly is until our heart opens, and we truly see what is in front of us. Taking the sample from the track of the same name by rock group Boston, More Than a Feeling is a personal look at Kryptik and how he see’s his journey through his own music and life in general.

Into the penultimate track You Want It, produced by Crink with truly soulful vibe. This one is a deeper look at life and the fact that life is just what we make it and if you truly want it, it’s yours to manifest and make it happen. Into the final track Perched which is produced by Sterling. A nice head nod beat with some dreamy harp sounds carrying you along. Kryptik looks at how we often see life from the stand point of being perched on a knife edge, constantly swinging one way then the next, and the way we swing is ultimately down to how we see life around us and how we react or don’t react that is key to our experiences.

 

Overall, I found this album to be a great balance of vibes and subject matter that flows from start to finish perfectly. There is nothing here that screams filler as you listen which means you won’t put this one on and feel you need to skip the odd track or two. The energy and emotion you get from each track flows effortlessly from those deeply personal moments to the more light-hearted ones and this just adds that extra dimension to the listenability of the album.

The production is all top notch be it Kryptik himself or one of the guest producers and this would sound equally interesting as an instrumental album. Musically the album takes you on its own trip alongside that of Kryptik’s storytelling, speaking of Kryptik’s lyrical ability, as an emcee he is one of those who has put a deep connection to the words he writes and the visons those words create in the mind of the listener. From those more personal memoirs to the more light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek tales you can feel that love of his chosen craft and of Hip Hop.

This most definitely one you do not want to miss if you have not heard it already. This is, from start to finish, a well crafted and highly listenable album that explores the areas of life that most of us have been or will go at some point, be that personally or with someone close to us. It is how we relate to what Kryptik is saying that makes this album essential listening in my view.

What is also worthy of mentioning here is the stunning artwork from CWORDS. It really does a proper good job of setting off the deep aspect of the album and is another thing that drew me to this album. Just goes to show that getting the presentation of the release just right can make it speak volumes in other ways.

So, grab Collective Thoughts now and check out Kryptik’s other work including that under the guise of MC Sexion of Delivery Room. I’ll post the links below.

On that note, Peace, I’m Out.

Steve   

LINKS

Grab the album on Bandcamp Here: https://kryptikriddimz.bandcamp.com/album/collective-thoughts   

Kryptik on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kryptikriddimz   

Spotify link Here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0dwSUP6MqNbir29eIHfOYM?si=eXm_t0wbS9285T-YUXRZgQ

Dental Rekords on Bandcamp (Delivery Room, DJ Rise One, Crink and Crimzon Ink): https://dentalrekords.bandcamp.com/