Album Review: Inner Peace by Big Haz

 

Inner Peace

By

Big Haz

 

Inner Peace is the latest album from emcee Big Haz who resides in Melbourne Australia. As an emcee he has already had an interesting career. His first single ‘Chopper The Musical’ featured the notorious underworld figure Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read in 2009. He followed this with his debut album ‘Larger Than Life’ in 2010 which featured a host of heavy features including Canibus, Masta Ace, King Tee and Chino XL to name a few.

With Inner Peace being his sophomore album, it also features a number of big name features in Canibus, Kool G Rap, Daz Dillinger, King Magnetic, Nysom and Kozme. The album originally dropped in November of 2020, so with that said the best thing for me to do is to take you through all sixteen tracks and give you my insight…

Straight out of the starting blocks you get the sense that this is all about the Hip Hop for this guy. The sound is this kinda laid-back beat with some synth notes that carry you along as Big Haz drops some intelligent and slick vocals that serves as deep introduction to just who he is and perfectly sets the standard for what is to come by detailing his journey to inner peace, which is something that will ultimately, as he says, Set Me Free…

With the stage set Canibus joins us to drop the Inner Peace Prologue over a nice head nod drum beat with some piano notes. In this short intro we get the full force of Canibus and his complex verbal arsenal as he brings the focus to his wingman, Big Haz. From there, the beat stays proper head nod with some string notes forming the backdrop to Verbal Murder 2020. Here Biz Haz and Canibus treat us to more than five minutes of straight bars. There is no let up as both emcees unload clip after clip of lyrical hollow points that deliver hit after hit of technical and intelligent verbal mastery.

Hip Hop Stand Up is a boom bap style track with keyboards and a soulful chorus, that sees the first appearance of Kozme joining Big Haz. This one has that anthem sound as the emcees drop bars all about what it is to be Hip Hop and to rep for the music. Definitely one of those tracks that has energy you feel through you whole body. So, stand up, put your fist in the air and bounce to this. Next up, the beat gets heavier and the synth sounds bring this darker edge to proceedings. That sound is perfect as Hip Hop’s own mob boss, Kool G Rap faces off with Big Haz on The Mobster and The Scholar. As these two trade off, you first get the feeling of which is mightier, the Scholar’s pen or the Mobsters bullet but, as the track goes on you feel more and more that the strength is in their unity. The vibe switches to an upbeat mix of drums, violins, synths and cuts which gives you this uplifting feeling. Kozme and Big Haz bring focus the person you are and how good it feels when other believe in you but, ultimately the message here is that when you Believe In Yourself, you are unstoppable.

A soulful chorus and a mix of guitars, keyboards and a chilled out beat, brings a thoughtful and reflective vibe to Glad To Be Home. Here Big Haz and Kozme take a look at the tough times we’ve all had and the journeys that have led us to where we are now, looking to a brighter future. Something that always brings a lighter edge to things and makes even the darker days seem bright, is being thankful to have someone to come home to. Time to get into that funk vibe with mix of bass, guitars and drums that creates this upbeat block party, celebration kinda feel. Daz Dillinger and Big Haz look back at those who have paved the way in Hip Hop and have influenced generation after generation of artists and fans alike. This is Hip Hop, We Live Hip Hop and Ya Don’t Stop. Kozme is back on the next track which has a more laid-back beat, piano and soulful chorus. You get a deep personal vibe from the sound and that feeling is enhanced as the words detail the kinda things you like to say to those who are closest to you, your loved ones, children, and closest friends. The words that say to them I will Never Let You Down…

Facing You, Facing Me has a deeper feeling. The piano, guitars and choral vocals mix with the lyrics of Big Haz to create this depth and strength that touches on something we all find hard to admit or to face up to. That is the fact that often what we see in others reflects a part of us we might not like. It is not until we stop and think, that we realise we are more similar than we would like to admit and perhaps then we can heal a certain part of us and take another step toward inner peace. That deep reflective vibe remains on Dark Room. The beat still has that head nod vibe with some guitars and soulful vocals mixed in. Kozme joins Big Haz once more for a look at the personal struggles we often go through, the type of struggles we keep to ourselves and don’t often show to others. To keep things bottled up can be self-destructive and the only way to break out of this cycle is to look deep within, only here can we find the true strength to push on and find our true selves.

Kingz Of The Grind hits with more modern trap kinda edge to it but, the keyboards and soulful chorus serves to soften that. Here we have King Magnetic and Nysom joining Big Haz on a track thar seems to focus on the daily work you have to put in to get by and to make ends meet. At times it is not always easy but, you keep going because there are those who rely on you and sometimes you just have to do it for you. The mood switches once more as the sound is more head nob but, on a laid-back vibe with piano and strings. It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul but, here Big Haz has something different for us. For Big Haz states that it is his lyrics that are the Windows To My Soul, mainly because of the depth of feeling that can be put into those words. The head nob vibe continues with some guitars and an echo sound that puts you in mind of being in a closed space, somewhere your thoughts and words are constantly thrown back at you. It is just like you are trapped in a nightmare, not knowing what is real and what is not. When you realise, I Can’t Sleep are you desperate for the solace of the light or the bliss of true sleep?

The album’s penultimate track is also it’s title track and the calming mix of drums, strings and keyboards still has that Hip Hop sound but, one that allows your mind to drift away. It’s all about that Inner Peace, a state of mind where ego no longer controls you and you find a blessing in every day. After a rollercoaster ride of an album what is the best way to end this album? Simple, with a head nod beat and Big Haz dropping the Soul Scriptures (142 Bars) of pure Hip-Hop lyrical fire. This is something like a freestyle where Big Haz demonstrates his technical lyricism and ability to switch between flows and styles with relative ease. Drawing on many aspects of his own personal journey, this one comes straight from the heart and shows the soul of Big Haz.

 

Inner Peace is almost like a personal life story put into rap with a Hip-Hop soundtrack. There is a lot here from the ups and downs of life to the enjoyment of dropping bars just for the sake of it. You can feel all the elements that Big Haz has put into this from the fun and the good times to the tough periods. You get a sense for the people who have touched his life long the way and have inspired him to be the person he is. The journey may not have been easy but, by the end you get this glimpse at where he is now and what his Inner Peace looks and sounds like.

There is little doubt that this albums sound is rooted in Hip Hop. There is a good mix of styles that are all rooted in the true sound of Hip Hop but, along the way we are also treated to other influences from some more soulful moods to other more modern styles. The production is all solid here and more that ably allows the sound and vibe of the album to flow from start to finish through all its ups, downs, twists and turns. Lyrically you feel that Big Haz has crafted a style all his own. He has a sound knowledge and a technical ability that would allow him to stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone. His use of deeply personal themes that don’t fail to touch you on a deep level are perfectly balanced by the use of tracks that detail his love for Hip Hop music and tracks that serve as a stage to display his lyrical prowess.

The high calibre of features take nothing away from Big Haz himself and simply serve as the icing on the cake of what is already an impressive free standing album in its own right. Check out the album artwork too from Kebo, which is incredible and sets the album off perfectly. With more in the works from Big Haz, including an album with Canibus, 2022 looks to be a good year for him and I’ll certainly be keeping tabs on him for sure.

Inner Peace is available now…

On that note,

See Ya…

Steve

LINKS

Inner Peace streaming links Here:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bighaz/inner-peace-2

Big Haz on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8JjcwFlTdWulOT1Z3W89mQ/featured

VIDEOS

Verbal Murder 2020 ft Canibus

The Mobster and The Scholar ft Kool G Rap

We Live Hip Hop ft Daz Dillinger