From Beyond
By
T.H.E.M.
From Beyond is the latest EP from UK Hip Hop crew T.H.E.M.
which is comprised of Seek The Northerner, Karlow, Lomax and Bruva Smokes and
signed to Northentic Records. The tracks that make up this EP were originally
slated to be on the upcoming album from the group, which was originally going
to be a two LP release but, due to costs etc, the crew decided to switch the
album to a single disc release and drop the tracks that did not make the album
on this digital release.
Out of Burnley the history of this crew goes back a long way
and if you want to know more about the crew and their background, I suggest you
check out their chat with Blade over on the 05:21 YouTube channel, where you
can hear everything you need to know because these guys are all about real Hip
Hop and connecting with others to keep the scene alive so, that interview is
essential listening.
That said, it’s time to get deep into this EP and get a
taste of what T.H.E.M. will be bringing to the table with their debut album…
The EP kicks of in style with Chessboard Dynamics
which brings a real head nod vibe of drums and percussion vibes alongside this
background of strings and flute notes that not only grabs your attention but,
has you closing your eyes while your head nods, allowing the vocals to seep
into your awareness. What T.H.E.M. does here is to deliver wordplay, knowledge
and the kind of dexterous delivery that could be compared to the play of a
chess grandmaster. At times you fully understand what’s going on, it all seems
kinda raw and hardcore but, just as you think you’ve got it sussed out, the
guys hit you with a new gambit, hitting your mind from multiple angles and
leaving you in awe, and if that wasn’t enough the cut-up samples and
razor-sharp scratches have hyped up and breathless. There is no let up as a
funky guitar and more cuts galore lead us into Think Twice, before the
beat drops and it all merges to form this funked up vibe that has this reggae
piano twist to it, and all you can do vibe to it. Once more the verbal skills
displayed here have you second guessing everything you hear, proving that Think
Twice is not just a title but, also another talent these guys display as every
verse and every bar has you questioning what you heard the more you listen.
Represent hits with this mind-numbing sound scape of
cuts, heavy drums and what sounds like a ukulele or banjo, all combining with
some sonic vibes to keep the energy levels high and the frequency vibrating
your entire body. At first listen you might be for wondering exactly what this
one is saying and it almost appears like there is a juxtaposition here with
T.H.E.M. demonstrating how they are representing the UK scene but, you also get
this vibe that they are taking a shot at those who say they are representing
but, in truth, are out for nothing but, themselves and maybe that is a shot at
the politicians and rich elitists who claim to be looking out for everyone’s
best interests but, are only out for how much they can line their pockets. So,
is it one or the other here? Perhaps it’s a bit of everything, you decide. Drums,
guitars, and bass form backdrop to the EP’s title track, From Beyond and
the vibe is once more on keeping those energy levels up with a boom bap style
feel. Here the guys take us on a tongue-in-cheek look at real life in Burnley
while, at the same time, expertly twisting and stretching our minds with their
words to blur our concept of what the true reality is. We are left wondering
what the truth is here and what has been taken from some weird view that is
beyond reality and rooted firmly in the mind of the beholder…
The vibe of Games All Love is a more upbeat feel with
drums, piano, and strings alongside the cuts keeping you moving. Here we find
T.H.E.M. dropping verses on why they do what they do, the inspirations and the
love for the game. This really shows that you don’t always have to be rhyming
over dark heavy beats to deliver some solid bars that still reflect the reality
of live and your love of good Hip Hop. Heading into the final track of the EP, T.H.E.M,
we almost float into it on an orchestral soundscape before the beat drops and
the cuts slice deeply into our awareness creating this banging boom bap vibe
with that orchestral sound bringing an almost soundtrack feel. The guys take us
on a journey into all that is and makes up T.H.E.M. but, this journey is more
like an audible trip where the truths are a part of a dream like escapade that
is drawn directly from their own minds to keep you entertained whist wondering
what is real and what is simply T.H.E.M.
After listening to this, the first thing that came to mind
was, if From Beyond is formed of tracks that didn’t make it to the album then
just how good is the album? Because, From Beyond is a stunning EP and, quite
honestly, one of the best I’ve heard this year.
The production is solid and has your adrenaline levels at
their peak throughout the whole album and providing the perfect backdrop for
what is a lyrical masterpiece. The wordplay skills demonstrated by T.H.E.M. is
second to none. These guys know how to pack their verses full of intellectual
and complex lyrics that flow like water through your awareness but, the more
you listen, the more you realise that these guys really have proper rhyming
skills, end of. Alongside that solid production and verbal mastery, there is
this love of real Hip Hop in its purest form, the kind of Hip Hop that was
seeded in the UK in the eighties and has flourished on the underground scene,
T.H.E.M. completely embody the essence of that true Hip Hop sound.
I don’t think I can say much more. But here are six tracks
of pure underground Hip Hop that has the energy to span the ages creating a
sound that would be at home in the 80’s and 90’s as it is here and now. These
guys have enough experience between them to take themselves to the pinnacle of
the UK Underground scene and beyond. Are T.H.E.M. one to watch? Well, that’s a
no brainer for sure.
From Beyond is available from T.H.E.M. on Bandcamp etc, now.
On that note,
I’m out, see ya…
Steve.
LINKS
Get From Beyond on Bandcamp Here:
https://themcrew.bandcamp.com/album/t-h-e-m-from-beyond-ep
VIDEOS
T.H.E.M. Live Performance - EP50 05:21 Official
Official 05:21 Sofa Chat EP38 - T.H.E.M.
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