Self Confidence
By
Can’t Be Copied
I don’t always know which review will round off the year for
me, sometimes I do get to plan ahead but, 2024 has come with a lot of
challenges towards the end with some cancelled reviews, and so it came down to
the last two and the first that I receive of those was Self Confidence from
Can’t Be Copied aka K.A.O.$ Da Rowdy MC and Mr Roka. It is a pleasure to round
off another year of reviews with these guys.
Now, it has been a while since this one came my way and so
it gave me a chance to just check out their website before I got into this. CBC
note that the album is a “declaration of the confidence in our ability to
create new and meaningful Hip Hop”. Now, I have to say that the guys never
disappoint in the music they create and messages they give, and they do all
that without the need for offensive language or cursing.
So, I won’t keep you hanging around but, get straight into
this album, which is some 19 tracks deep, consisting of ten full tracks and
nine skit’s, so let’s go…
The guys kick it off in style with a heavy pounding beat and
these electronic background sounds which get you head nodding from the get-go
on Flowcresent. This one goes in hard looking at gun violence while also
being a huge statement on the confidence that the guys have together. In fact,
just as an after thought here, there could be an analogy here between the power
that a gun has and the power of words and music. Guns give some confidence but,
here CBC show that you don’t need that, use the talent’s you were born with and
crafted from hard work to bring you that confidence. Next up is Skit 1,
where we find K.A.O.$. speaking on how CBC does everything themselves so there
is no need to wait on anything, this gives them more freedom to create their
vision. Mr Roka provides wicked backdrop with cuts, a dope beat, and this synth
vibe that has a John Carpenter feel to it. There is no time to dwell to much on
that thought as more synth vibes, cuts, and another sweet beat drop in, getting
you bouncing for Can’t Take It. This one really seems to define how
having that self confidence can really boost the steps you take on your life’s
journey, and when that happens there will be many around you who simply can’t
take that energy. It’s all about keeping that confidence and cultivating the
drive it gives you to succeed in life.
Skit 2 takes us backstage with K.A.O.$. Da Rowdy MC
checking that everything is ready for the live show while Mr Roka is setting up
on-stage and providing a little background bass notes to keep things moving.
Now that everything is ready for the show, its time for CBC to give you What
The Crowd Like, as Mr Roka drops some funky bass infused beat, with some
slick background cuts, to get you rocking. K.A.O.$. gives us exactly what crowd
likes, with a dope display of lyrical wordplay as he spins bar after bar to get
your adrenaline levels pushing into the red. Skit 3 brings a pounding
beat from Mr Roka as K.A.O.$. lays the cards on the table. This is CBC and this
is that real Hip Hop boom bap sound and not just some average sound; this
proves one thing, which is that CBC has No Competition. The beat hits
hard getting you moving while Mr Roka’s cuts keep sucka’s at bay. K.A.O.$.
brings the bars as hard as the beat hits, unloading the kind of lyrical flows
that scream that real Hip Hop vibe from the roof tops, that’s it, this is the
realness…
Skit 4 has this almost LoFi sound that just drifts
through your awareness as K.A.O.$. reinforces the importance of self confidence
by telling you not to let others on the outside influence what you do. You can
listen to what others have to say but, when it comes down to it, it is the
strength of your own convictions in your own talents that will win out. Just go
with what you feel inside, that’s the key. Shouldn’t Have brings a
banging beat with organ sounds and so much more it gets you fired up right out
the gate. The message here is pretty simple when it comes down to it, as the
focus is one things that shouldn’t have been done and a few things that should
be done. This is the kind of thing that we go thought life experiencing,
knowing that there are so many thing people shouldn’t have done to us, and its
not just those close to us or around us but, those who govern or sit in a place
of power, and at times the shouldn’t haves seem to out weight should haves. Skit
5 has this funky little beat where the bass and synth really pop out. This
has a real tongue-in-cheek feel to it too looking at an artist trying to be
something they aren’t and not being authentic.
Talking of being authentic its time for CBC to show their
level of authenticity with Ready For Me. Mr Roka brings us this real
funky vibe that has these piano and organ vibes that really tweak at your
nerves. All the while K.A.O.$. is dropping bars that go hard on those who don’t
perform with any level of real authenticity. There is not much more you can say
here except, being authentic brings a different energy and allows you to create
something that your audience will always remember and that breeds your confidence
on so many levels. With Skit 6 its all about the fact that CBC do what
they do, that’s it plain and simple, and straight from mouth of K.A.O.$. Mr
Roka provides this electronic vibe that just sits in the background, giving you
a light level of anticipation for what’s next; which is Only Here. This
track sees Mr Roka bringing a guitar infused sound, using sampled guitars to
create this energetic sound that fuses with the beat to be strangely
infectious. Similes and metaphors about here as K.A.O.$. spits some venom on
the mic. It’s all about the fact that CBC are here to do what they do, bring
the real Hip Hop sound; its not about making a name or being one of the greats,
but if that comes to pass, it’s all good. Really its more about the music that
the rewards.
Skit 7 a nice funky beat that gets your head nodding
along while K.A.O.$. notes that something does not feel right and time to step
back for a bit. Giving yourself some time to kick back allows you time to Visualise,
and here Mr Roka brings a proper boom bap beat that is mixed with bass, and
keys to give you this chilled space to sit in. K.A.O.$. speaks on some
different stories that might be happening anywhere right now, and as you become
aware of what is going on around you, it makes you think about how things might
affect you if you were there. When you visualise these things, it often gives
you a different sense of perspective on your own life too. Skit 8 brings
a sound that has this percussion sound that has an echo vibe and a deep feel to
it. This one is just about inviting someone to come backstage and speak on
their view of CBC.
Mic-ful brings to life that backstage chat about CBC
and K.A.O.$. speaking on lived experiences alongside more on what CBC is all
about. Mr Roka drops a heavy drum beat that is backed by piano and guitar notes
with a sound that feels like all this information is slowly drip-feeding into
your mind as to listen along. The penultimate track here is Skit 9, with a LoFi
background sound that seems to mirror the ambient outdoor noise, we find a
tired K.A.O.$. waiting for a bus which leads us into our final track Observation.
The drums pound heavy here with an electronic element that gives this one a
subtle electro vibe. This one continues perfectly from the previous skit as
K.A.O.$. speaks openly on his observations on Hip Hop and its impact on the
world around him. I have to echo so much of what is said here and I think that
any real Hip Hop head will agree with me…
There is always a pleasure and flow when I am writing to
what I hear from the CBC boys, and this album is no different. The notion of
this album encompassing their self confidence in their crafts and Hip Hop in
general is only too apparent here. It flows in true abundance and that
dedication to bringing the listeners a form of Hip Hop that is deep and says so
much but, is also a form of Hip Hop that you can play anywhere strikes a
different chord. It speaks to you on many different levels with intensity but,
a different level of intensity that you might feel when explicit language is
used. Not that I have an issue with the use of course language but, sometimes
it is just a breath of fresh air to hear Hip Hop on this level without dropouts
or rewinds to cover up certain words.
Now, I know there are a lot of skit’s in this one and there
are a lot of you out there who do not like these but, each one does lead into
the following track and gives you a bit of breathing space between tracks. I’m
certain that should you chose to listen to the album with or without the skit’s
it will not change your listening pleasure but, I would suggest you give it at
least one go in its original format.
All-in-All Self Confidence is another quality release
from CBC and one that further cements their dedication to bringing that real
Hip Hop music to the listener. Every track here has its foundations in the true
Hip Hop sound and as such it brings a special vibe to those of us who grew up
with Hip Hop and those whose love of Hip Hop has taken down a road of discovery
through the history of the Hip Hop sound. CBC truly do keep live the heart and
soul of that true Hip Hop sound; of that I have no doubt.
Self Confidence is available now exclusively from the Can’t
Be Copied Hip Hop website.
Go grab it if haven’t already.
See you sometime in the New Year,
Have a good one.
Steve
LINKS
Get your copy of the Album exclusively from the CBC Website (All social links are here too):
https://cantbecopiedhiphop.com/home
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