Feat. KRS-One,
A-F-R-O, Sweet Juices, J Bolts, The Nicewun JM, A Gent Orange & Solar
Flight
When you’re asked if you would like to review a posse cut
track with the likes of KRS-One andA-F-R-O on it, you kind of jump at the
chance. Now, this one has been out for a bit but, things have been busy at
Infinite Sounds UK so, I’ve only just got to this one.
The track is posse cut version of the track Boom Bap 3:16
by Tucson emcee Ciphurphace feat, KRS-One and A-F-R-O. This track, the Boom Bap
8:16 Posse Cut features KRS-One, A-F-R-O, Sweet Juices (Chicago), J Bolts (St
Petersburg, Florida), The Nicewun JM (UK), A Gent Orange (Wales) and Solar
Flight (UK), alongside Ciphurphace, and it is produced by German producer Alias
Molombo.
Before I get into it, I just wanna give a huge shout out to
The Nicewun JM for dropping this one my way. I reviewed his debut album Celebratin’
Hip Hop… Over Here way back in 2021 and so it is good have him feature on
the blog once again.
Let’s get straight into it…
Here we have eight emcees with sixteen being the focus,
hence 8:16, dropping bars in a classic boom bap style. The production from
Alias Molombo has a beat that is boom bap all the way, hitting hard and
accompanied by what possibly sounds like, ukulele notes. This gives you
something you can nod your head to or go all out and bounce to with an
adrenaline rush.What we are then
treated to is six minutes of some incredible displays of lyricism from some
talented emcees. The track mixes the legendary figure of KRS-One and lyrical
force that is A-F-R-O, with a host of emcees you may or may not be aware of, in
what is a truly international display of Hip Hop music.
Now, I’m sure this came about as the result of a competition,
the Boom Bap 3:16 competition, which gave us the original 3:16 track where
Ciphurphace jumped on with KRS and A-F-R-O. This was expanded to the 5:16 when
Sweet Juices and J Bolt jumped on, then it was expanded one last time to
feature The Nicewun JM, A Gent Orange and Solar Flight. Every verse here is
just a solid display of what each is capable of, in terms of lyricism and
wordplay, but beyond that you get a sense of how each weave in a little of
there own life’s experience to add some depth to their individual verses.
Everyone loves a good posse cut and this one is a cracking
display of Hip Hop in its rawest form. However, it is also a display of how Hip
Hop spans the globe and the years. This one will get your adrenaline levels
ramped up and get you bouncing. Not one to sleep one for sure.
Awesome cover artwork comes from Scum Doodlez aka Amir J. Sadeghi.
It is always a pleasure to have these guys submit something
to the blog and this will be the third release in a row that I have brought to
you. Initially, I was not sure what to think when Mr Roka said that this one had
a different vibe from the previous two albums that he has put out with partner
KAO$ Da Rowdy MC. However, following an initial listen, I knew that this was
one I had to really wrap my ears around.
So, grab yourself an ice-cold beverage or something similar
and join me for the Summer Vibes EP…
It all kicks off with Mr Roka on a jazzy Hip Hop vibe of
keys, alongside a solid drum beat, on Stay Fly. Here we find KAO$ taking
us back to the 90’s and giving the lowdown on Hip Hop fashion and what it was
to be Fly. It you are not familiar with the term Fly, it was all about looking
your best, with best threads and freshest trainers, sneakers or kicks. KAO$
drops a ton of names here, which will take a lot of us back in the day, and
there is not much more to say. Enjoy Life sees Mr Roka giving us a fresh
beat with jazzy keys and Sax that puts you in mind of ATCQ and the like, as you
nod ya head along. KAO$ gets busy on the track, giving us words that speak
openly on enjoying what you have in life. It might take you a while and there
will be challenges but, always do your best to enjoy every moment that you get
the chance to, as it will help uplift your life. Energy levels ramp up a bit on
Just Does, where Mr Roka gives us drums, horns and keys that he spins
into the kinda feel good vibe that is highly infectious and gets you bouncing.
KAO$ brings us wealth of lyrics that are infused with more feel-good vibes that
are aimed at lifting you up, just because it feels so good.
Like Who has Mr Roka giving us a more bassy sound
that is mixed with horns but, still keeps you moving. KAO$ brings that classic
Hip Hop braggadocio air to things as he asks who can do it like he can. Emcees
bigging themselves up has been a stapple of the Hip Hop sound for years and
goes all the way back to the early days and beyond. An emcee had to prove they
were worthy, by battling others and throwing down, showing that they had the
skills. You don’t see so much of this these days but, it still happens but,
more on the underground scene. Mr Roka continues to ramp up the bass vibes on Who
Else, where he mixes a pounding beat with an electronic bass sound, which
gets your head moving in a different way. KAOS brings us more of those
uplifting words by showing that none of us are alone in what we are going
through But, more importantly, you will never be alone once you take the stress
away, and what better way to do that than by getting down to CBC. Before you
know it, you’re already at the last track, wondering where the last quarter
hour just went? But this last track has the Vibe Coming and that sees Mr
Roka switching things to a more mellow grove. The chilled drumbeat is backed
with keys, bass and more as you get the chance to kick back while still nodding
your head along. KAO$ takes us on a reflective journey though his life, looking
back at his life and family, the kind of experiences that shape you as you walk
the path of life. It can be very therapeutic to look back as see how far you
have come, it gives you a sense of purpose and makes you proud of the person
you have become.
It really seems that CBC have this kind of Midas touch with
what they do, and the Summer Vibes EP goes along way to proving that point.
Now, it might not be full of those classic boom bap Hip Hop beats but, what it
is jammed full of is a fresher, uplifting sound that is so perfect for the
summer months and beyond, because this one will definitely help to bring light
and warmth to those dark winter days.
Mr Roka’s production brings us this lighter more uplifting
sound that mixes jazzy vibes with Hip Hop and more. It shows that he has the
talent to mix it up a bit while still keeping his sound rooted in the classic
Hip Hop sound. KAO$ Da Rowdy MC shows his prowess as an emcee as he brings us
some classic lyricism, mixing up the wordplay and giving us tracks that have a
solid entertainment level; still keeping us engaged with a mix of lived
experience and classic rap vibes that keep you rocking while still being
relatable.
This is definitely one of those releases where I don’t have
to be so in-depth because the Summer Vibes EP is there to be enjoyed and
sometimes, I can just as much by saying less. This one can be enjoyed anywhere
but, it does give you the feeling of warm summer evenings and BBQs, whether
that is sat at home, in the park or on the beach. Put the Summer Vibes EP on
and let the good times roll.
My thanks to Mr Roka and KAO$ Da Rowdy MC for giving me the
opportunity to do my stuff with this one.
The Summer Vibes EP is out now, so what you waiting for?
I’ll see ya next time,
Steve.
LINKS
The EP is available exclusively from the CBC Website:
(What You Acting So) Grown Up For? is the latest
release in the Grown Up series from emcee/producer Legs MC (aka Daddy Legs).
I’m reasonably familiar with this series having reviewed both the second and
third releases of the series, Grown Up Too and Grown Up Free. As
with the previous two releases in the series, this one also has a title that is
a play on words but, what is different here is that there is only a couple of
features this time around in the form of one of his sons, Raphael, and Shotty
Horroh alongside the guest producers Solar Soundz and Murmur Beats. This
suggests that we will be treated to a much more personal vibe on this album,
even more so than the previous ones.
The only way to find out for sure is to join me as I take
you through the album…
Now, the album is ten tracks long but also features a bonus
track too, and it all kicks off with RAPHTMNT which features Legs MC’s
son Raphael. The beat has more Lo-Fi feel to it for the first couple of minutes
before we are treated a more head nod drum beat adding some adrenaline. This is
like an extended intro that see’s Legs give a simple warning that focuses on
the huge amount of lies and detrimental information that that is constantly
thrust in our faces through our smart phones. In fact, it is true what he says
here that there is a war going on inside our phones where the positive
interactions we are all seeking are at odds with the stream of negativity that
invades our awareness as we scroll through our daily social feeds. With such a
powerful intro to the album, it gives you a real sense of what to expect and Web
of Lies continues this with a proper heavy head nod vibe from drums, horns
and organ notes, this gives us deep edge as we listen to the words of Legs MC.
The message continues the focus of the previous track as Legs MC focuses more
intently on what we see being projected to us through our phones every day.
There is so much information that gives a false impression of the world around
us and also of the lives of others. It appears that everyone is getting by and
doing OK, when in reality it is far from that. So, many people struggle with
just providing their basic needs but, they just hide the stress while at every
turn it appears that their privacy is at constant threat from the apps, they use
daily. It’s a wonder we even know what the real truth is anymore…
The beat on Psycho CIS gets your head nodding while
the keys bring this vibe that has this John Carpenter soundtrack feel to it,
giving you this dark infectious vibe. Here we initially feel that this one
could be deep track focused on mental health but, there seems to be more going
on here as Legs MC gives us another play on words as he describes his own
talent with wordplay by bringing in the kind of punchy one liners that make you
sit up and take notice, questioning exactly what the focus is and then coming
away wondering if you truly got that or did Leg MC bend your mind a little too
far. With your mind now in a state of flux, beat drops with a little edge to it
that suggests something a little more light-hearted on Rappin’ Ain’t Easy.
This short little number does exactly what it says and sees Legs MC drop a
single verse that says, if you think its easy to do this rap stuff, then think
again, because it takes a lot to do this while entertaining people and being
able to say stuff that they can relate to, over and over again. Solar Soundz
makes his first appearance with production on Digital Flowers, the
sparce beat and electronic vibe carry you along while allowing you to focus
more on the lyrics. This one sees Legs MC take a look at the digital music
world where so many artists are focused on getting their flowers, those digital
clicks, likes, thumbs ups and so on, that help push their music that bit
further. But is it really all about that? Do you miss why you love doing what
you do by constantly placing so much value on the digital fanbase. Sadly, the
digital world is becoming more and more influential in what we do, including
the music we love. It’s a sobering thought…
Hazey Purple is produced by Murmer Beats and features
Shotty Horroh. The drums and guitars give this one a Hip Hop mariachi feel.
It’s that mariachi story vibe that permeates this one as Legs MC and Shotty
Horroh drop some emotive lyrics around smoking, being a stoner, why you do it
and how it affects your life. There is definitely aspects of this one that
really have that deep edge to them, taking you into the life of those seeking
to escape reality for different reasons and leaves you thinking after the track
is done. Organ notes and strings combine with head nod beat to bring another
sound that gets you moving for Diamond in my Belly. This one is really
about following your gut feeling when it comes to making those important
decisions in life; those times where it’s make or break and you need to
following that feeling that points you in the right direction. Now, your gut
feeling might not always be the best decision but, by knowing you did it for
the right reasons means that someone will benefit from it, even if that someone
is not you directly. The drum beat for Take Me as I Am, keeps your head
moving while the piano seems to envelop you in an emotional vibe. Here we find
Legs MC opening up about who he is and the fact that he is not a person you can
place neatly in a little box; you have take him at face value as an individual
who does not prescribe to your personal ideas of how a person should, or
shouldn’t, be. It really is that simple, so don’t be judgemental…
Murmer Beats provides production on Come Into My Life
with an uplifting soulful vibe of organ notes, bass and drums. Legs MC mixes it
up with rap and sung elements on this one as he brings us a beautiful ode to
his wife and everything that she brings to his world. This is the kind of track
that many of us guys can associate with and probably wish we had written too.
This one obviously draws inspiration from the Joyce Sims track but, mixes it up
nicely and ends with a snippet of a conversation between Legs MC and his wife.
The final track of the album, before the bonus, is 80’s Kid, which is
produced by Solar Soundz and has a chilled vibe that carries you along while
this clicking keeps you rooted in the moment. There is a deep edge to this one
that speaks to the older heads out there as Legs MC looks at the state of the
country in the modern day, from the point of view of someone who grew up in the
80’s. Society in the here and now is far different from those times, I can
vouch for that as a 70’s kid, as we now experience the kind of ups and downs
our parents had but, on a whole new level, which makes you wonder what our kids
will experience thirty or forty years from now. With those sobering thoughts
still raw in our mind, it’s time for the final and bonus track, Stompin’,
which all but wipes those thoughts from our mind by giving us a head nod vibe
mixed with a heavy dose of orchestral sounds, which gives us a lift to round
things off. Legs seems to take everything he has said in this album and
literally stomps it into our awareness here by summing up the album for you…
I had to sit back for a minute or two and consider just what
this album said to me overall, and there is a very real sense that (What You
Acting So) Grown Up For is purposefully giving us a look at the ups and
downs of life so that we can see just how serious and troubling it has become;
and by doing that it is showing us that we need to feed that inner child inside
all of us. Too much of life nowadays fills us with negativity and a sense of
melancholy, to the point where there is little enjoyment left for us. But, if
you listen a little more deeply to the words and pick up on the subtle hints,
there is a lot to take away from this; all of which is pointing you towards
lifting yourself up and finding enjoyment and love in your life once again. You
can be grown up, without being so grown up…
Legs MC does bring a deeper more personal edge to this one
and you really get the sense that this is one of those albums where the message
was best delivered yourself and that takes nothing away from the appearance of
Shotty Horroh, who does a cracking job here and perfectly adds to the message
Legs is putting across.
I think that what really spoke to me on this one is the
sense of all the things that mean so much to him, the very same values that
mean so much to all of us, Beit family, love or our passion for something, it
is all there and makes something that might appear so deep and dark, become the
exact opposite. Sometimes you can only see the light by being put into the
darkness.
Once again Legs MC shows the depth of his talent and how he
uses his adept wordplay to create a highly enjoyable album that speaks to you
on many levels, and it is the relatability of the albums content that makes it
enjoyable and a great addition to the Grown Up series.
There really is so much to like here, the production from
Legs, Murmer Beats and Solar Soundz, mixes Hip Hop beats with lo-fi, cinematic
and orchestral sounds, all of which come together to bring some emotive vibes,
which seem to really enhance and support the vocals. Legs vocals, once more,
show that he is a talented emcee who draws on personal experience to bring
extra depth to his work. He also delivers his lyrics in a way the makes you
feel he is speaking to you on the same level and not trying to down to you or
tell you what you do. It’s just directing you to look at things differently.
(What You Acting So) Grown Up For? is another cracking
album from Legs MC that you need to check out for yourself. It is released
tomorrow, 22nd, and is a great listen for the weekend.
Now, this was to be the end of the review But, following an
email chat with Legs MC I decided to include some valuable insights around this
album that will give you a little more to ponder over. So, I thought would add
these as if it were a mini-interview type of thing:
You have the name Legs MC aka Daddy Legs, can you tell me
a bit more about that?
Legs MC - Well when I came back to rap I
kind of went with Daddy Legs MC as I didn’t really feel like I was the same
person as I was before having children. My priorities, my attitudes, everything
changed and a lot of what I record I imagine them listening to when they are
older. For ease its still Legs MC but for anyone that knows me now Daddy Legs
is prob more fitting!
My interpretation of the intro RAPHTMNT, is slightly
different to how you wrote it, which kinda leads into some insights about how
you approached the vocals on the album?
Legs MC - The intro has the
chorus from faker breaker, a track I made in 2005ish and was my first music
video. I was kind of saying it was a return to how I was when I first
started which was basically not really giving a fuck what anyone thinks about
it - like danny devito said I am getting old so I felt like getting weird with
it - in most places in the album I am rapping my arse off but I also had quite
a few moments when I was like I'm gonna sing and I'm not really bothered if
anyone likes it. You could call it diminished responsibility. Be a bit more who
gives a fuck.
Can you tell me a bit more about the track Diamond In
My Belly?
Legs MC - The
actual line "diamond in my belly" came from Zack while I was making
the beat - he had put a gem on his stomach and kept saying it, then I repeated
it to the beat and recorded it straight away. It also kind of meant that even
if you don't like all of my content, there are gems in there if you are up for
digging deep and know what to look for - like you are digging through my shit
to find the diamonds - my shit may not be all bling but there is an unpolished
diamond or two in there.
There is a lot of reflection on this album…
Legs MC - You're right, a lot of the
album is a reflection of my past to try and work out who I am today.
Could you elaborate on the title of the album?
Legs MC - The title of the
album comes from the fact my old friends would say that my music is way more
serious than I am in real life, hence they would often not relate to my tunes
because it was "too angry or depressing" - I think they meant
moralistic lol!
Who did the artwork for the album cover?
Legs MC - My 5-year-old Zack
did the drawings on the front cover.
My thanks to Legs MC for sending this one my way and for giving
me those amazing insights into the album and more.
If you head over to Legs MC Bandcamp tonight at 7pm (UK Time), there is a special listening party for the the album, which is well worth your time.
The Album is released tomorrow 22nd.
So, I'm out,
I’ll see you next time,
Steve.
LINKS
Here is the one link you need, includes the Bandcamp Link:
Its always good to review something a little different and Taxi
Ride by KJ from Barry in Wales, promises to be just that with a more Lo-Fi
Hip Hop vibe. In fact this one has been out for a bit now so, its good to be able to bring it to you.
Before I go any further, let me give you a bit of background
on KJ; He was born in Burnley, Lancashire and moved to the Vale of Glamorgan at
the age of two. His fascination with rap began at age 6 when he heard Eminem’s
‘My Name Is…’ on a tape his mother gave him. It was from age fourteen that he
began writing his own lyrics, freestyling and battling, while having fun
expressing himself. His father gave him CD’s by the likes of Dr Dre, Snoop,
Tupac, RUN DMC and MC Eiht, further inspiration came from Gang Starr, Notorious
B.I.G and many others. At age eighteen he applied to college but, owing to a
late submission and an on the spot interview, including a freestyle for the
tutor, he was successful and studied Music Technology for two years before
leaving early to make his own music from home. Over the next few years he
gained experience by busking in London, Birmingham and Swansea. In July 2019,
his love of Battle Rap took him to his first rap battle on Don’t Flop at
Cardiff’s Moon Club, quickly followed by another in Bristol in November 2019. Although
his main influence is Hip Hop, KJ has also delved into other genre’s including
Garage and House music.
Now you know a bit more about KJ, the album is seventeen
tracks deep and fully written, produced and mixed by the man himself which
promises something that has a far more personal vibe to it. Now, KJ was kind
enough to send me a physical copy of the album for this review and flicking to
the inside cover and reading the notes there, you get the sense that Taxi
Ride is not something that is all about a ride from one place to the next
but, more a of a ride along the journey of life and the choices you make and
the destination that each one of those choices takes you too, an interesting
thought in itself…
So, feel free to take a seat next to me in the back of the
cab and see where the ride takes us…
Our Taxi Ride begins with the short Injector Deck
(skit) which is the sound of a cassette being placed into the tape deck and
pressing play. Now wondering what kind of a ride this is gonna be we get
straight into the title track Taxi Ride, where guitar notes and keys
produce a chilled air while the drum beat gives you just enough to slowly nod
your head and move to, just like sitting in the back of a cab as it slowly
bounces down the road. This one reminds me of my own days as a cabbie, taking
people from one place to another, maybe home or maybe on to another bar or
club, sometimes talking and other times not. It perfectly encapsulates the
place of the passenger, with nothing particular on their mind just wanting to
get where they are going, wherever that might be, watching the world go by. Next
up Whispers brings organ notes as the foundation for the sound, which seems
to vibrate slowly through your mind as you listen, leaving you just floating.
Here we seem to be paused, stationary in a space where a wealth of thoughts
suddenly invades the serenity of the ride. The stresses and strains of the
world around us are all to real leaving us wondering which way to go but, those
thoughts are whispers in the mind, and the ride continues. Bass and keys
combine with more upbeat drums to get your head nodding once more. However,
there is a deep edge to this as our journey now touches on fear with Ghost.
The roads, and life, are a place where we experience many things and fear,
alongside death, is a part of that. What if you were on the other side of the
veil, what would that look like, perhaps something like this…
Failing mixes another head nod beat with bass, keys
and electronic elements that get you moving but, once again gets you focused on
another part of life as fear once more hits us but, here it’s the fear of
failure and the fear of actually reaching out for help, something many of us
can associate with on some level. Organ notes and drums bring a more upbeat
vibe on Imperfections, helping to bring an uplifting feel to
proceedings. With so much fear coming through, here we see that there is always
someone out there who can see all that we are and will still accept us, listen
and help us through those dark times. Guitar and organ notes lead us into Broke
Happiness, which has this sound that keeps the uplifting vibes going. This
one takes a light-hearted look at a life where money comes hard, where you’re
living from week to week on whatever you can. Not working, for whatever reason,
is a tough place to be but, if you can face it with a smile then it helps keep
the dark clouds at bay. Don’t Care drops with a heavier sound of drums
and organ notes that bring a slightly darker edge to things. This is one of
those tracks that you take a few ways, is this just someone who does not care
about anything or is this taking a shot at the social media generation where so
many people publish their lives on line in words or videos just to get likes, maybe
its even deeper than that, in a world where social media brings so many things
into our awareness every day, perhaps this is how it feels sometimes when it
all gets too much…
False Idols mixes some chilled guitar and piano notes
with drums, which gives this one a more reflective vibe. There is a deeply
personal edge to this one as it focuses on those we looked up to when we were
young. Those we thought it was cool to be a round, even though they really lead
us astray. As we grow, we see the things about them we never saw before, a
darkness that leads them down a dark path. We understand what it was that them
that so attracted us to them and wonder how they got to this place, and perhaps
they could change if they just had the right help. Piano and an excerpt from
‘After Life’ leads us into Ask Me If I’m OK, as the beat drops in, you
realise there is more to this one than you thought. There is a definite emotive
edge to this one as it looks at something that we all need to do, check it with
someone. So, many of us have gone through times where we were struggling on the
inside, wondering why life is treating us this way and whether it’s really all
worthwhile; deep inside we just wish someone would ask us if we are ok. We have
all been there and we all know someone who is in that place, they might not
look it but, just check in with them, it’s a life saver. Okaaayyy has a
vibe you can shut your eyes to and drift away to as the drums, bass and organ
notes merge together and float through your mind. It really speaks to you, if
you’ll let it, and it seems to be all about looking at things differently,
looking at yourself differently and seeing what is not needed and discarding
that in exchange for what helps bring more light and positivity your way…
Music has this big synth sound, alongside the drum
beat, which has this infectious quality and brings this upbeat vibe that almost
has this neo soul, electronic sound to it. This track is another that seems to
have dual meanings; on one side it is all about the love in your life and just
what that person means to you but, on the flip side, this could also be an ode
to exactly what music itself means to you and how it helps you be who you truly
are. Cuts and a proper head nod beat merge with strings and other elements to
bring a far more solid Hip Hop sound on God Tier. This one is just a
platform for KJ to drop a track that is all about having fun on the mic, no
need to think too much about this one because, just like life, we all need
those just for fun moments, and this one is one of those tongue-in-cheek
moments for sure. Drums and strings form
the backdrop for Do Anything For You, which brings a more emotive vibe;
something that fits perfectly with the lyrics. This one is a truly heartfelt
ode to his daughter, and tracks like this never fail to bring a warm feeling
inside and a lump to the throat…
As we begin to come close to the end of our journey
together, there is still time to take in a little more of life and guitar notes
herald the arrival of Your Friend. The drums pound on this one, a little
like the message contained within. This one looks at the one friend you rarely,
if ever, think of and talk to, the one friend who will never leave you; and
that’s you. Again, you could take this one two ways as it could be the words of
someone who struggles with their mental health and tries to escape the voices
in their head but, perhaps its more simple this time, maybe it’s just about
understanding and being one with who you truly are inside because, you are the
one person you can always count on to be there for you and it’s never to late
to take some time just be you, at peace with yourself. We finally take the
penultimate turn to our destination and begin to Unwind with piano
notes, strings and drums, creating chilled but uplifting sound. Here we find KJ
speaking on all the things you could do to take some time away from the
struggles and strains of modern-day life. It is always important to take time
to look after number one, and number one is you, so take those moments for you
and do whatever that brings calm and peace to you. Just as we thought we had
reached our destination, the driver takes one last turn bringing us home with
the bonus, Not Going Anywhere. Keys create this electronic soundscape
that is a platform for KJ to open up about what it means to him creating music,
in a spoken word intro. The beat drops in with heavy drums and strings,
alongside electronic elements to bring some energy; energy which is needed as
KJ speaks candidly on himself, his life and what he sees around him. He drops a
great verse namedropping all those artists that have inspired him along the
way. This track is not just about KJ though, this is an inspiring message to
everyone to never give up and always strive, never give up and make your dreams
come true…
The first thing to note about this album is that Taxi
Ride does just that, it takes you on a ride and one that covers the kind of
subjects that you could easily see yourself pondering over while you were sat
in the back of a cab as it heads toward your ultimate destination. Just as life
is also a journey, one that you are in control of, making decision after
decision as you head toward your own ultimate destination. It does not matter
where you are from, this Taxi Ride could very easily be your own.
There is a lot here to like for those who enjoy good Hip
Hop, as well as those who enjoy Trip Hop or other sub-genres. KJ shows that he
is just as adept as a producer as he is lyrically. He is adept at painting a
picture in your mind Beit with words or music, which is so important when you
are doing this solo. Vocally, his wordplay is on point as you hear that he has
the adaptability to mix up his flows alongside some intelligent and, at times,
emotive lyrics; while showing he is not afraid to bring lived experience into
tackling sensitive subjects. His dedication and those inspirations really do
shine through here and gives you an album that you’ll happily have on repeat
and will also be as relatable in a few years as it is now.
Overall, I enjoyed Taxi Ride as it showed one
person’s passion and dedication to bringing great music to people who enjoy it.
KJ shows great talent in self- producing, mixing and writing his material and
adding in qualities and subject matter that is easily relatable to all who hear
it. This is an album to be proud of as an artist and one that needs to be heard
by the listeners. Taxi Ride is definitely high on my albums of the year
so far and one I can easily chill out to.
No matter what my thoughts are, KJ’s ultimate destination
right now is made plain and simple by the last track, he’s Not Going
Anywhere…
Taxi Ride is available now on all good streaming platforms.
My humble thanks to KJ for sending me a copy and giving me
the chance to do my thing.
My ride’s over for now,
See ya next time.
Steve.
Note: I just wanted to add a little additional nugget
here. After I wrote the review, I sent it over to KJ so he could have a read
before it goes live. Now one of the things that came out of this was that my
interpretation of the track ‘Do Anything For You’ was slightly off. This shows
just how much you own feelings can change the way you interpret the content of
a track. The track is in fact about his sister and how much she means to him as
a brother, and if you listen back, you can really feel that; what happened with
me is that the emotions in the track and how KJ describes his love for his
sister, touched my feelings for own children and how much they mean to me. The
emotions of my children living in Ireland and the loss of my youngest daughter,
were deeply stirred by this track and had a huge impact on how I did my own
interpretation. This is a great way to show just how we can all see and feel
things differently, depending how we listen to and hear the words mixed with
our own feelings and experiences. Just missing a word here and there and
overlaying your own feelings can change things for you. I just felt compelled
to note this for you.
LINKS
Here is the two links you need for Taxi Ride and everything KJ:
I do love getting to review independent artists who come
from areas I know well, especially those I grew up in or are on the Southcoast
of the UK, and Southside Willy is one of those. The thirty-eight-year-old
father of two makes his home in Ferndown Dorset.
He began his music making journey during his university days
but, the band reformed following lockdown. Around this time he began to
experiment with making his own Hip Hop music and created a parody rap persona
called Phat Dave. The resulting track called Doncha Know was not good, in fact
it was intentionally so as this was how he saw the character. However, before
this could develop, he was hit with burnout and dropped out of his band and
found the character of Phat Dave to be too exhausting to take any further plus,
he had his first baby on the way.
He knew he wanted to make music as himself but, with
self-imposed restrictions based around what his character would say. So,
Southside Willy was born, and his first single was titled “Fuck You, Tara”
which was a striped back diss track that was aimed at his next-door neighbour.
Following a few more singles and then with another baby on the way, he became
impatient with how long it took to get his music out. He was, after all,
writing, producing, recording and making videos for every single and recording
at home was a rare thing.
With his backlog of material Witten and not much of an
audience to speak of, he decided the best to get it out was to put out a full
length album, and being more of a hobbyist and less of a career rapper, he has
less pressure to get everything out.
This is how Southside Willy views the album Dad Bod“I’ve
released a full-length album of wholesome UK Hip-Hop. Down to earth with
relatable themes, delivered with heavy sarcasm and self-deprecating humour.
Rock and pop influences blending with hip-hop beats. Touching on family,
approaching 40, feeling out place in the UK Hip-Hop scene, social anxiety and
more. This is also the first time I’ve ventured into more emotional subjects”.
Now you have had an introduction to Southside Willy, the
only thing left to do is for you to join me as I take you through Dad Bod…
Dad Bod is a twelve-track album that kicks off with Wifey,
Hand Claps, piano and horns, all merge with the sparse drum beat to create this
light-hearted upbeat sound, that is a little infectious as it gets you moving. As
you can guess from the title of the track, this one is a fun filled dedication
to that special woman in his life. Written from his point of view, it really
looks at how he feels about how she came into his life, and he continues to
feel about her on a daily basis. There is nothing better than love to help you
create just right feel in a track and this one nails it in a warm and energetic
fashion. Next up we have Kids, the tambourine, chilled beat and ukulele
vibes, give this one a nice east going vibe. Once more Southside Willy
perfectly puts into words the thoughts of all of us dads out there that have
wrestled with life and how the arrival of our children turns it all upside down
in both good and, at times, not so good ways. However, regardless of what we
experience as fathers and parents, we love out kids unconditionally and would
never change them in any way; just as we would never change the experiences, we
have had with them. With the thoughts of our kids still floating in our heads,
the vibe switches up and the drumbeat is far more apparent here as keys and
electronic vibes all mesh together on Tongue Tied. Here we find
Southside Willy giving us his bio and thoughts on where he is at right now, all
in one track. Its all about where he’s from and where he’s at, and you realise
that the lack of streams, and just a few video clicks, don’t have the impact on
him that it might have for most, because you realise, he is doing this just for
the love of what he does, honing his craft and enjoying every minute of it.
The Morning After brings us this chilled beat with
this mind twisting sound that almost feels like a musical expression of a lack
of proper sleep. As you listen to this one, you kind of feel at odds over what
its all about; are you listening to Willy describe some weird dreams or perhaps
all he is doing is going over the fact that he stayed up way too late, gaming
all night, and after little sleep, those images from hours of intense digital
action are still whirling inside his foggy mind. Time to pick things up a bit
as a drum machine type vibe and piano, has you nodding you head along, in an
almost unconscious manner as we get caught up in being Overworked, Underpaid.
This one is something most of us will be able to associate with, getting up
every day, in that repetitive manner, working till all your energy is gone,
only to receive little or no recognition and going to sleep with the
realisation that tomorrow you will do it all again. It’s a cycle and a catch
twenty-two situation, because you can’t afford to leave the job but, you don’t
really want to stay either, so you carry on until life becomes little more that
a reflex action, something you’re conditioned to do, simply to survive. As the
struggles of the work life balance fill out mind, Introverted brings a
more spaced-out sound that mixes sparce drums with some keys that have an
almost lo-fi feel. This one touches on a place where many of us have found
ourselves at times, becoming introverted and wanting to hide away from the
outside world, keeping others at arm’s length. Reality often impacts us in so
many ways that it can get too much to handle, and it is so much easier to shut
the doors and close out the world around us because that way, if we can’t see
it then, it can’t see us and has no effect on us, and we can look to reset
ourselves once more.
Halfway through the album and Southside Willy has already
covered a lot of ground and you feel an eagerness to see what’s coming next. Good
Girl has this jazzy vibe of horns and bass alongside a chilled drumbeat.
This light-hearted track is a heartwarming ode to man’s beast friend. Anyone
who has ever had a dog as a part of their family will easily feel this one
bringing a smile to their face and some beautiful memories to boot. Speaking of
memories, 2007 (Take Me Back) hits with a big sound of live drums and
guitars that brings a sound that puts you straight into those small intimate
venues where the live sounds fill your ears. Southside Willy reminisces on the
memories of his band and songs they wrote and the mini tour they embarked on.
This is brief glimpse into an inspirational moment in time, one that helped
shaped who he has become and still plays an important role in his life. The
sound of guitars and drums fill our ears once more as Vintage Bitch
drops. This one has Southside Willy bringing life to his memories of growing up
and the things that were fun to remember about those times. As I hear mention
of games consoles, White Lightning and rotten dot com, it makes me wonder, if
Willy considers himself vintage, then I must be beyond Jurassic…
We explode into the final quarter of the album with Embarrassment,
a pulse pounding sound that ignites the adrenaline and gets you bouncing
around. This one mix’s elements of Willys background with some great
tongue-in-cheek moments that will have you grinning from ear to ear. There are
plenty of fun one-liners here that make you realise that you have more in
common with him than you might want to admit. The penultimate track is This
Family, mixing organ notes and guitars with a more chilled beat to create a
more emotive vibe. Family is a huge part of all out lives and here we find
Southside Willy opening up about what his family means to him. There is not a
lot that I need to say on this one because this is one of those personal tracks
that speaks for itself. With that emotive vibe running through us already, the
final track of the album, Tadpole, brings a deeply personal and
emotional air. The guitar takes forefront as the drums are stripped back to
bring more focus to the words. This one finds Southside Willy speaking on
experiencing a miscarriage with his wife. As someone who knows the pain of this
experience, this one touched me deeply and really does not need many words,
because this is an experience that only those who have been through it know and
Southside Willy gives a beautiful ode to life that was so special, it did not
need to enter this world.
After ending the album in such an emotional way, it is hard
to begin to sum up this album. I have to be honest here and say that there were
some moments that really touched me. As a Dad I have experienced the loss of
two children, one who was stillborn and one to suicide, so when I here emotive
tracks speaking on family, children and loss ofchild, it always touches deeply and This album did that on a few
occasions and so a salute Southside Willy here for doing that in a way that
myself, and any other father or mother can truly understand. Alongside that
there are some great fun moments and also those that bring a big grin to your
face too.
Now, if you take my word and give this a listen, I’m sure
there are many out there who will recognise that there is a rawness at time
here and a little roughness but, that really takes nothing away from the album.
It shows that this is someone who is coming up, honing their craft and showing
that not only do they have some talent here but, the future is a very bring
place too. It is not every upcoming artist that writes and produces their debut
album and Southside Willy demonstrates that he has a lot to give. His
production is solid, and his lyrical flows and wordplay show a wealth of
knowledge and a desire to be himself and to be just that.
I also, felt that, as I said earlier, that this is someone
who makes music for the love of it and not necessarily for pounds or streams.
It was nice to be able to understand every word he said and to really feel the
energy in those words. There is also so much here that is relatable to for so
many of us, it really hits the mark in that sense too, and as a dad with his
own dad bod, being able to associate so closely with this is made the album all
the more enjoyable, and the way he sensitively takes certain subjects is a huge
credit to him.
Yes, Southside Willy might still be at the beginning of his
Hip Hop journey but, I’m suitably impressed by this debut album, and it shows
he has a lot of promise and talent as producer/rapper, especially with the
emotive content. It proves that the south coast of the UK is rich in quality
Hip Hop.
I really recommend you check out Dad Bod and
Southside Willy, which is out now…
