Lead By Example
By
Ramson Badbonez
There will be few of you out there who do not know the name
Ramson Badbonez. One of UK Hip Hop’s most prolific emcees has returned but this
time he puts down the mic in favour of production duties.
Lead By Example has a stunning line-up of emcees from the
UK, USA, and Canada to handle the vocal duties, whilst also featuring turntable
trickery from DJ Miracle, Kompoze and DJ Jazz T. With such a wealth of talent
being brought to bear on this album, it promises to be as good a debut
production for Ransom as it is a departure from his norm.
I’m not gonna make you wait here but, get straight into it…
Straight out the gate, with On Your Mark, you get an
immediate sense as to what this album is gonna be about. A perfect head nod
beat with keyboards is the background provided by Ramson over which we are
introduced to the album over the course of a couple of minutes and the
outstanding cuttin’ and scratching of DJ Miracle. It has your pulse racing from
the get-go which is just as well because there is no letting up as heavy drums
and jazzed up horns hit for Stay True. If you were wondering where the
bar was after the intro then there is no doubt left that it’s been knocked into
the atmosphere as Reks, Ruste Juxx and Blacastan drop some incredible bars of
lyrical fire to get you even more fired up. The mood chills a little as the
piano heavy beat of Rap To The Future hits like a cool breeze to your
grill and sees Dizzy Dustin, Mr Hooper and Moka Only take us back over some of
raps early days, with cuts from Kompoze, before returning us to the present.
Nonchalant is up next with some heavy drums, bass and
guitar vibes that mix together to provide the fuel for Mark Fear and Ramson
himself to each drop a verse in sparring fashion. Just to remind you that Ramson
Badbonez can easily drop a verse when needed. Strings, piano, and a slightly
more laid-back drum vibe are the backdrop for Justo the MC, Johaz of Dag Savage
and Sleep Sinatra to drop some deeper more thoughtful words on Bismillah,
which is Arabic for ‘In the name of God.’ Drums, piano and a mariachi guitar
vibe create the prefect soundscape for spinning tales of the cities underworld
and the Wolves who walk those streets. Those street stories are spun by Ramson
alongside Cyclonious and Phoenix da Icefire.
Equality for Every is like a breath of fresh air,
almost an aural cleanser, with and upbeat drum and guitar vibe over which is a
lively brass flavour that drives the track as Ramson and Chima Anya look at the
subjects of equal opportunities and racial justice, just as if they are sat at
a table musing over current affairs together. Pounding drums and sonic sounds
herald the arrival of Tru Trilla, Fly Kwa and Prince AK to the ring. There is
nothing pretty here as these guys are here to deliver a flurry of lyrical
punches with only one aim, to knockout all those Lame Ducks. Time for Ramson
Badbonez to go it alone on Chinchillas. The drums pound over a melodic
eastern style vibe and Ramson is clinical here in taking out those fakes. His
lyrics are as sharp as a scalpel and as precise as a brain surgeon.
The drums continue to pound alongside flutes and guitars as
Az Izz of The Outsidaz, Cymarshall Law, Speed Walton and Quip break out the
heavy verbal artillery. This one is high octane and as deadly as any stand off
from Reservoir Dogs. The penultimate track here is a posse style cut of
epic proportions and one which reads like a ‘who’s who’ of top UK emcees as Ramson
is joined by Kashmere, Truemendous, Mysdiggi, Micall Parknsun, Joker Starr, Gee
Bag, Confucius, Jehst and Phoenix da Icefire for the Black Hole Cypher.
The drums are heavy with a sonic vibe alongside and the lyrics are cerebral,
with each bar drawing you further and further into the black hole but, what’s
next? Where does it lead? It leads to our final track. A great spoken word
intro leads on to solid boom bap beat with cuts by DJ Jazz T. Recognize Ali,
Skyzoo and Juxx Diamondz step up to drop breathless flows and straight up
knowledge with one main theme, if you wanna be an inspiration, a leader in this
game then you have to one thing and that’s Lead By Example…
So, what have learnt from this album? What has the last 39
minutes shown us?
We started of by ticking a lot of boxes. We had Ramson
Badbonez sidestepping from his usual trademark position as an emcee into the
role of producer. We had a whole host of truly talented guest artists who
joined Ramson from both sides of the pond, and we also had Ramson Badbonez
displaying his mic prowess as well so, expectation was high, but did it
deliver?
Did it deliver? The answer is easy, you’re damn right it
did…
The album delivered on all levels. Ramson’s production is
spot on throughout this album. It creates this perfect flow from start to
finish that raises you up and keeps you there, ebbing and flowing, before
taking you up a few more notches towards the end and wrapping up the whole
thing on a new level of high points. The masterful use of talented guest
artists is breath-taking. From legendary figures such as Dizzy Dustin, Moka
Only, Micall Parknsun and Jehst to names that might be less well-known in the
UK such as Fly Kwa, Justo the MC and Speed Walton, every one of these emcees
drop performances worthy of those who are at the top of their game, this shows
the sort of respect that Ramson Badbonez has in Hip Hop, that all these emcees
and DJ’s are prepared to step up and to work with him at such a high level. It
also demonstrates how Hip Hop is one and all those within it are one, breaking
down borders to stand together as one.
Lead By Example truly is ‘The Real Deal’ and I have no doubt
this album will be loved by Hip Hop fans the world over. This is not a UK Hip
Hop album this is a straight up Hip Hop album, showing that hip hop is
universal. I can also see this album as one of those that will stand the test
of time and receive heavy rotation on playlists and radio shows wherever good
music is played.
Can I overstate how good this album is? Nope…
Lead By Example is out today on New Dawn Records so, I
suggest you find out how good it is yourself.
On that note,
I’m Out, See ya Soon,
Peace.
Steve
LINKS
Get Lead By Example on Bandcamp Here:
https://ramsonbadbones.bandcamp.com/
Check New Dawn Records on Bandcamp Here:
https://newdawnrecords.bandcamp.com/music
New Dawn Records Website:
Check Ramson Badbonez on Facebook Here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063495610805
Ramson Badbonez on Instagram Here:
https://www.instagram.com/oscarslouch/
Ramson Badbonez on Twitter Here:
https://twitter.com/ramson_badbonez?lang=en
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