Audio Narcotics
EP
By
Hate Being
Sober
The Audio Narcotics EP is the hot new debut release from the
UK Hip Hop duo Hate Being Sober, originally released in December of 2023, it
recently found its way onto my radar and so I decided to give you all my take
on it.
Hate Being Sober was formed by the creative minds of
Brinkworth and Kenny Cadence. With a passion for storytelling and a love of
intricate wordplay, this duo brings a refreshing and thought-provoking
perspective to the world of Hip Hop. Their music is a fusion of raw emotion, clever
lyricism, and infectious flows that will resonate with the listener. Through
their sharp wit and powerful performances, Brinkworth and Kenny Cadence aim to
leave an indelible mark on the world of Hip Hop.
That little intro to the guys, taken from their official
bio, gives us just the right amount of insight and dangles an intriguing
musical carrot in front of our noses too, so why don’t you join me on a journey
through this seven track EP, featuring a wealth of production talent and appearances
from Abi Nyxx, Sha Stimuli and Breana Marin…
The kicks off with Gorilla Position which is produced
by AraabMuzik. Sparse drums and an almost eerie piano forms the basis of the musical
backdrop, while there is another sound that floats into your awareness during
the verses that has an essence of horns to it. All this together brings a deep
vibe that seems to reflect looking out on the harsh realities of life. Lyrically
we find Brinkworth and Kenny Cadence dropping some intelligent words and slick
flows around how it is to work at your craft, constantly re-evaluating and reinventing
your style until you find yourself in a commanding position and comfortable
with where you are at in that moment. Next up is Bonnie Parker which
features Abi Nyxx and is produced by Dream Life and DJ Pain 1. This one hits
with a grime style vibe; the beat pounds hard while there is mix of keys and
flute, alongside high-speed ticking, that creates a slightly eerie quality to
the sound. There seems to be a slightly darker and more raw edge to the lyrics
on this one. You get the sense that there is a venom to the delivery as each MC
lays down these short punchy bars that are aimed at detailing the hardships of
getting to the top of your rap game. There are times you feel like its not
worth it but, you keep pushing and surging forward because you have the faith
in yourself and when you have that, its only a matter of time before you reach
the top…
The Plug, produced by Young Bangas, drops with drums,
keys, and some sonic sounds mixed in. The keys bring another eerie vibe, the
kinda sound that has you feeling like someone is watching you as you listen. That
air that someone is watching is apparent in the words because when you are a
rapper, producer waking music, people are always watching you hanging on your
words and waiting see what comes next. So, you are always checking yourself,
your craft and wondering what more you could learn and pass on to the fans and
those who are close to you. This one definitely has that sense of being
individual and not like all the others and keeping going no matter what,
because there is always something to say. We now find our selves at the
mid-point of the album with Falling Down, produced by Justin Case and
Kenny Cadence, the music box melody and pounding drumbeat is mixed with that
ticking, which finds us back on that grime vibe. There is a more reflective air
to this one as the track focuses on the struggles an upcoming artist faces in a
world full of digital streaming and AI bots; its hard to get a decent foothold
in a way that gets you properly noticed. Physical media is making a comeback
and the days of selling CDs out of car boots, does not seem like a fruitless
endeavour anymore. Especially when you look at those who are still out there
doing, those who have built themselves up from nothing, and to reinforce that
point there are a number of shouts to some of the legends in the game here too.
Into the second half of the EP and Storm is next up,
produced by Dream Life and Love Pulse Music and featuring Sha Stimuli and
Breana Marin, Keys and drums are the foundation for this one and bring a more
soulful sound with a deep vibe. Sometimes it takes many words to describe the
heart of a track but, here the message is quite simple, it’s all about
believing in, and having faith in yourself and your ability, no matter what
storms life brings; just believe in who you are and your ability to succeed,
and you will get through anything. The penultimate track is Confession Tape
and is produced by Kenneth English who brings a chilled, almost LoFi sound
which brings a reflective vibe, once more. That reflective vibe takes on a far
deeper aspect as the vocals drop in; there is a deep focus here on the effect
that the struggles of an artist can have on your mental health. Tough subject
matter that is handles perfectly here in a way that brings the lived experience
of both Brinkworth and Kenny Cadence to the forefront, and it takes a lot to
open up in this way and put it out there in a way that shows both strength and
to be a beacon of light to others. The final track of the EP is Hopeless
which is produced by 8 Bars and a more uplifting vibe to the sound with drums
and keys. That uplifting musical sound is reflected in the vocals which are all
about knowing you worth in whatever you’re doing. There are plenty of people
out there who can never see who you truly are and just what you are putting
into something, they will always push you to do more based on what they think
is a suitable baseline but, only you know your true worth and you should always
remember that at the times things look their darkest.
First things first, there is a lot to like about Audio
Narcotics and Hate Being Sober, the guys have brought in some great producers
to bring some solid production to the EP, all of which works in tandem with the
lyrics and provides superb musical backdrops to all the tracks. There is a mix
of sounds here with most having that Hip Hop sound and couple just merging with
a more grime sounding vibe, which might not be to everyone’s takes but, it does
show the calibre of what HBS are capable of.
Now, speaking of HBS, you will remember from the excerpt of
their bio that I included at the start, that it described their music as a
fusion of raw emotion, clever lyricism, and infectious flows and having sharp
wit and powerful performances, well after listing to this there is no way I
can say any different. Regardless of the flow and focus of each track the guys
do what they do in a way that not only resonates with the listener but, also
keeps them engaged throughout. There is also this feeling that, although much
of what you hear seems to be focused on the music industry and rap particularly
but, it is easy to transpose what is said and put into your own life and what
you do day to day, the elements are that easily relatable.
You can feel the energy and the real-life experiences that
the guys infuse into their lyrics which, not only gives that relatability but
also brings authenticity, engaging the listener in a world that brings a
deep-rooted passion about the music and a desire to truly connect with the
listeners as well. There are some great features here too that really add to
the depth of the musical journey and guys chose well in bringing in just the
right balance of features here too.
So, if, like me, this is your introduction to Hate Being
Sober, then you will not be disappointed as this release is one that is solid
in every way and will leave you being fully impressed with what you just heard.
The EP really is intoxicating in its own way and might well leave you wanting
just a little bit more.
Audio Narcotics by Hate Being Sober is out now.
My huge thanks to Kenny Cadence for the chance to bring this
one to you.
See you next time,
I’m Out…
Steve
LINKS
Get the EP from Bandcamp Here:
https://hatebeingsober.bandcamp.com/album/audio-narcotics
Stream the EP on Spotify Here:
Hate Being Sober Social Links:
https://www.instagram.com/officialhatebeingsober/
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