Thursday, 26 August 2021

EP Review: Chalk Alley by Briti$h

 

Chalk Alley

By

Briti$h


 

Following on from the release of his debut EP ‘Stuck In A Bunker’, Ipswich MC Briti$h is back with a brand new release, the Chalk Alley EP.

The Chalk Alley EP is billed as a concept EP looking at the contrast of daytime and night-time life in the back alleys. With a diverse range of beats this one is sure to demonstrate the lyrical abilities of Briti$h. The EP features appearances from Sloth of Indigo Frequency and Kyle Parrish (KP) while production comes from label mate Bunker Beats among others.

So, join me as we take a walk-through Chalk Alley with our guide Briti$h…

We first step foot in Chalk Alley under the light of day and to a jazzy vibe created by the laid-back beat and a mix of keyboards and horns. Here Briti$h gives us a little introduction to where we are, while letting us know just what to expect as we experience the goings-on in both the day and night. The further we venture into the alley; the mood shifts to a mix of sharp drums and nerve tingling electronic organ notes. This darkens our vison allowing it to take on an almost post-apocalyptic feeling. This hard-hitting vibe is apt as it reflects the current state of reality and the fact that you gotta stay Woke to all the lies and false truths. Our minds are under constant pressure of fear-based media that it clouds our thoughts but, don’t close your eyes to this or get lost in a smog that hides the truth.

As the skies darken over the alley a new reality begins to emerge. A grime infused beat and a mix of twisted banjo and tambourine notes carry us to the Red Hammock. This is a place where a new smoke haze feels the air, a place where realities are less defined and where the questioning of the state of society and what is happening around us floats around in hazy clouds of coloured smoke drifting from one mind to the next. Our trip continues but, now in more ways than one, as the smoky haze accompanies us as does a boombap beat and some etheric sonic sounds. Sloth joins Briti$h at this point and it’s time to Watch Out as they treat us to a straight up bars’ session of lyrical freedom. It’s all about saying what you want, how you want, mixing it up with the music and the smoke to take us of to another dimension. It’s been some night in the alley and as the faintest hint of light begins to colour the sky once more Briti$h takes us to meet KP and together they take us through a wealth of different strains, each one blended to help us to Elevate our minds to different places as we relax in what comes, drifting off…

With the sun now high in the sky above Chalk Alley an upbeat piano driven boombap vibe fills the air. With everything we have experienced in the alley it’s time to bring our thoughts back to Who we are and finding your life’s purpose, once you know what that purpose is then you have to pursue that dream with all your heart and make it yours. We end this trip with a mix of keyboards over a grime beat. Keeping our energy up Briti$h gives us something to take away from our trip to the alley. He drops his Thoughts on a whole host of different things, musing on life, the current state of reality and what we do or don’t do as a species in respecting the place we live.

 


So, we have accompanied Briti$h down Chalk Alley through the day and the night, the good and the bad and at times, with some help, and in an envelope of purple smoke we have drifted beyond the material confines of the alley in new realities. We have learnt that Chalk Alley is place you may, or may not want to frequent but, it is well worth checking it out for yourself.

The EP is a highly enjoyable listen and the differing vibes from Hip Hop to grime show just how far Briti$h can stretch his style and he does so with aplomb. The production and lyrical content fits perfectly together creating vibrant visions for the listener to immerse themselves in. Those visions work so well as they twist reality with some smoked filled dreamscapes and on to more thoughtful spaces for you to create your own.

Everything here balances very well and the narrative flows so well reflecting what could easily be 24 hours in the life of a location that could be based almost anywhere in the world today, depending on where you are listening to this.

Once more we find a talented MC emerging from the UK. One who is not afraid take what he does and push himself mixing up his wordplay and style to bring us some top-notch underground rap. What more do I need to say…?

Chalk Alley is released through DJGT entertainment and is available on Vinyl, CD and also digitally on all major platforms on 26th August.

I’m off for a lie down,

Peace,

Steve


LINKS

Get Chalk Alley from Bandcamp Here:

https://djgtentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/briti-h-chalk-alley

Get Chalk Alley and more from the DJGT Entertainment Webshop:

https://djgtentertainment.co.uk/shop

DJGT Entertainment on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC83e357s0v31_ZVbQUlamcw


VIDEOS

Chalk Alley



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