Infinite Sounds UK: Album Review: Dead Man Walking: Deluxe Edition by Tylr C

Dead Man Walkin’ - Deluxe Edition

Tylr C

Dead Man Walkin’ is the debut solo album from Tylr C who is one half of the Cult Encounters Co out of Michigan USA. I was impressed by the single Another Planet which featured A-F-R-O and so was interested to see what Tylr C would offer on this solo excursion.

The first thing of note was that this was titled as a deluxe edition and, initially, I was not sure what made it deluxe as there does not seem to be any other editions available at the moment. However, after having a brief chat with Tylr C he explained that he had already released four previous editions of Dead Man Walkin’ and he went on to explain “this was like the last edition a compilation of all the best songs from the series put together as a cohesive project and I just liked how the name clicked”.

Tylr C has enlisted some decent features that include Cult Encounters label mates $adflcko, Tommy Darko, DMTree (from Illinois on Production) and AllButtonsIn (from Canada on Production) plus appearances from A-F-R-O, Big Sharp and Warna Beats.

Let me take you through the album and then give my thoughts…

First up Tylr C gives us the Dead Man Walkin’ Intro over a pounding beat which is loaded with cuts. This short intro gives you a feeling of rawness that sets tone as the idea of a dead man walkin’ creates a quite dark and heavy atmosphere. That heavy atmosphere eases somewhat as we enter the Dungeons Of Rap. The beat is still heavy but, takes a back seat to the acoustic guitar vibe and horns. Here we find Tylr C focusing on that raw rap style to seek to lock the game down. One thing you might find in a deep dark dungeon is A Murderous Weapon and in this case that would be your vocal rap style. The beat is more head nod here with some horns and organ nates that bring an almost church music vibe. Tylr C pays respect to some legendary figures who have walked before and are no longer here. He also shows the need to bring a harder edge to your craft in order to stand next to those you revere.

A more simplistic beat with multiple elements combines for a more mind-bending vibe that opens a portal to the 47^th Dimension which allows $adflcko and Big Sharp to join Tylr C for a twisted look at Street culture, drugs and the things people have to do just to get by and also how they view themselves and their reps. A dark heavy beat with some piano notes drops and three emcees gather for what is an almost freestyle flow vibe as Tylr C, Tommy Darko and $adflcko step up to display their own individual style that could well give you Back Spasms. It’s time to get a bit funkier with a mix of bells and synths over a boom bap beat. Here we find Tylr C speaking on those who style is Braggadocios speaking about what they do and how go they are, he counters this by simply showing his style and where he is coming from in a humbler vibe. The tracks ends with a chilled out piano heavy instrumental which is the intro to Piece Of The Pie (Murderously Curious) which retains a chilled vibe with the piano over a head nob beat. $adflcko joins Tylr C for a track that looks at getting out there and doing what you love and working hard just to get a piece of the pie.

Some nerve tingling electronic notes over a heavy beat finds Tylr C looking at what it is to be an Equaliser in Hip Hop music and by that, I mean getting all the elements of your music right. From the beat to the story and your own style and being able to create something that will stand the test of time. $adflcko again joins Tylr C as a heavy beat drops with some synth notes intertwined. They each take on the role of the Murderous Storyteller as they drop those deep, graphic street tales, the kind that come from the mind of a streetwise Stephen King and all stories of this nature, especially violent ones, will have an ending of some sort and The Aftermath (skit) is just that as details what happens after the previous story.

Synth, organ and a head nod beat provides the back drop for Tommy Darko and Tylr C to take a Night Stroll and take us along for the ride. This is a ride through the dark nights and dark days of the mind where anything can happen, seemingly on a dice roll. If you needed a bit of time-out from the street vibe then this is it as A-F-R-O and $adflcko join Tylr C. The beat is straight-up head nod but, with a spaced-out jazz atmosphere where its all about the bars and the wordplay taking you on trip through Constellations, just like the places you might go amid a purple haze.

We come back down to earth to a simplistic beat over which is a mind tingling piano and slide guitar. $adflcko again joins Tylr C to examine the Problematic ups and downs of day-to-day life. We drift into the final track of the album to a dark laid-back vibe of the Cult Clan (outro) which makes it plain and simple that you gotta be part of the clan to associate with the clan.

Sometimes it is easy to get into the vibe of an album and other times it takes a few listens. Being from the UK I have to make it plain that I know nothing about life in Michigan. So, there are certain aspects of this album that are more difficult for me to comment on as I often draw on personal experience and knowledge in my writing and so not being familiar with life in Michigan means I am not able to be so detailed and so, will get a deeper feel for some things as you listen. Having said that, overall, I found it to be an enjoyable listen. Production wise the album flows well and takes that boom bap Hip-Hop and gives it some nice twists along the way.

At times the album has an almost gritty and raw edge to it sounding not as polished as it could do but, then if you are reflecting that street life vibe it will have that raw unpolished note to it because there are experiences out there where the streets are tougher that are not easy to reflect without leaving it with an undiluted edge to it. I did feel that at times musically and vocally. Now some might feel this detracts from the album and shows a level of unprofessionalism, for me this shows a hunger to get out there and to show your potential. This is especially so as Tylr C fully engineered, mixed and mastered the album and shows that there is limitless potential to continue to grow and evolve. What I do note is that working with A-F-R-O does seem to bring out a different side to him and allows him to raise it up a few notches.

I do feel this one will appeal more to the US Hip Hop heads but, that said, this still an enjoyable Hip-Hop album that is produced by those who have a genuine love for the music and to reflect the trials and tribulations of everyday life through that musical medium.

For me Tylr C and the whole Cult Encounter Co are definitely ones to watch as I am sure that the experience of getting their music out to the Hip-Hop community worldwide will only serve to further their careers and widen their fan base.

Huge thanks to Tylr C for sending this over for review.

Dead Man Walkin’: Deluxe Edition is available now.

Time for me to be out,

Peace.

Steve.

LINKS

Buy Dead Man Walkin': Deluxe Edition from Cult Encounters Co Bandcamp Here:

https://cultencountersco.bandcamp.com/album/deadmanwalkin-deluxe-edition-2

Tylr C on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/tylrc

Tylr C on Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/tylr-c/1418248637