Album Review: Vincent//Deconstructed by Uncle Mic Nitro

 

Vincent//Deconstructed

By

Uncle Mic Nitro

 

It was way back in 2021 when I kicked off that year’s reviews with the original Vincent On Horseback from the talented emcee Uncle Mic Nitro, who just happens to hail from my home city of Southampton, here in the UK. I never thought then that the best part of five years later would see me reviewing a remixed version of the album Vincent//Deconstructed.

Well, this is not strictly a remixed version of the original album as the original has been deconstructed and then six of the original tracks heave been remixed, alongside two brand new tracks and, if you grab the digital, there is also a remix of one of those new tracks as well.

Alongside the changes with this album, which is being released through Empty Hand Records, a hot new label located on Australia’s Gold Coast run by Speaks, and whose debut release was Highrize Jamz by Speaks himself (One I don’t currently have sadly), the tracks remixed from the original still feature the likes of Greg Blackman, Joe Burn, Ced Gee (Ultramagnetic MCs), Ramson Badbonez, Micall Parknsun, and Klashnekoff. There are cuts from DJ Tones, Jabbathakut, Krash Slaughta and Outbreak, with production coming from Speaks, Djar One, Krash Slaughta, Ollie Cheebo, Ollie Knight (who also handles mixing and mastering), the legendary DJ Supreme (Hijack), and Uncle Mic Nitro himself. It is all rounded off, once more, with artwork from the one and only John Dyer.

With all that said, let’s not hang around and just dive straight in…

 

First up is Write, which features Greg Blackman and is here in the form of the Speaks Remix. Here the sound is an infectious upbeat vibe, with a soulful edge which is extenuated by Greg’s vocals, that makes you want to move every ounce of your body. The message within this one is still the same as the original, with its reflective edge, looking back on life and the many moments that ignite the passion within UMN to put pen to paper, because the time is right to just write. The deeply personal edge to this one means that, even while you are enjoying the music, you can still relate to every word, something that may well ignite your own personal passion to do something to express that. Such an upbeat start to the album seems to wipe the slate clean of any expectations, and you don’t have to wait more than a second or two before UMN keeps it going with Snap Your Neck (Speaks Remix). This time Speaks gives us pounding beat that is backed by synth vibes giving this that kind of heavy bounce and pound the air vibe. DJ Tones brings the doubled-barrelled cuts with Joe Burn joining UMN on the mic. This one is a blistering display of vocal ferocity, one that hits you with such force that it threatens to snap your neck while you are bouncing and enjoying every second. Before you can take a breath and recover its time for Bod Gets Slapped Up (Djar One Remix) featuring Ced Gee and Ramson Badbonez. Flowing the Ced Gee intro, Djar One gives us a heavy rock guitar infused sound that is sure to see Bod get pounded rather than slapped. Our three emcees take turns to deliver the type of lyrical devastation that comes when you unleash this calibre of emcees. This one takes bod slapping to a whole new level hitting your ears with the kind of wordplay and delivery that has your adrenaline levels soaring, and every verbal hit that is delivered is matched by the razor sharp delivery from Djar One, who is also on the cut here.

As you try to recover from that onslaught, Speaks returns with the Fuck You (Speaks Remix) which also features cuts from Outbreak. Keeping that Coming to America sample, Speaks brings a solid boom bap sound with a funk fuelled edge from the guitars and keys, making sure to keep the adrenaline levels amped up. The original had this almost Hip Hop opera vibe to it, and while this one retains and echo of that, the sound brings a far rawer edge. UMN delivers his own homage to Hip Hop and being a rapper. That line ‘Two Turntables and a Mic’s like all I Need’ seems to say it all with that rapper’s braggadocio mixed in with explicit wordplay gives you all you need to know right here. As you pick yourself up off the floor, its time to get transported to a whole to world for the New Planet Goons (DJ Supreme Remix), featuring Micall Parknsun, Klashnekoff and Jabbathakut, this one brings a heavy beat with bass and some jazzy elements that all merge together at the hands of DJ Supreme to bring a sound that vibrates through your whole body, separating you soul from your earthly being. You drift off as the vocals take you off to the etheric realms where memories, thoughts and dreams all fuse together making you wonder exactly where you are but, you just allow yourself to go with it, flow with it, because this is a far better place to be than the three dimensional world you just left. You come back from this waking dream to the first of the brand new tracks from Uncle Mic Nitro. Heavy Tusk (Krash Slaughta Original Mix) brings a solid and heavy banging sound that has vibe that draws you in, uncapping the levels of adrenaline you can experience, getting you back up and bouncing with reckless abandon. UMN delivers another devastating display  of his lyrical dexterity. This one has a battle rap edge to it too as it hits you with blistering pace and some heavy nature infused wordplay that leaves you impaled by a ton of ivory.

We finally reach the last of our remixes from the original album with Keep Drinking (Eyes Like Dolls Remix) which has a heavy house vibe to it, giving you the kind of sound that you can really see being a proper club sound that gets everyone moving. Here UMN unleashes a no holes barred look at the effects of the use of alcohol and illicit substances to shut out the darkness and bring some level of momentary enjoyment to a tough life. The sound here completely changes my view of this track from the original. There are elements that reflect from that initial interpretation, but here we see how so many use substances, in many forms, to escape what life brings but, ultimately reality catches up with you. Up next, if you have the physical version of the album, is final album track and the second of the new tracks. Cake or Death (Cheebo Original Mix) sees Ollie Cheebo give us a sound that has a heavy pounding beat with this eerie backdrop of strings and keys that gives this one a dark edge, making you want to listen and understand what this one is all about. UMN weaponizes the mic here as he mixes battle rap and rap braggadocio into a raw and explosive display of wordplay, flows and lyricism that shows just how good of an emcee he is. This is one to enjoy and punch the air too as the shear level of vocal mastery is a pleasure to behold. Now, just to round things off, with the digital version of the album comes the Cake or Death (Nappa Remix) what this one does is take a number of instantly recognisable samples, mix them up and give us an upbeat sound that completely changes the air of the track. This remix takes the heavy battle rap edge and flips it to this upbeat sound that has you nodding your head, grinning from ear to ear as you bounce around having a great time just enjoying every line…

 

After listening to this album, top to bottom, there are two things that become clear to the listener, well, if you choose to listen intently, and if you know the original Vincent album…

Firstly, The album is a rock solid display of just how much of a talented emcee Uncle Mic Nitro truly is. As I noted with the original Vincent review, UMN is one of those UK emcee’s who has cemented his place within the scene and possesses a lyrical prowess that is second to very few on the scene. What is also apparent here is that he does not try and saturate to scene with releases that push who he is, settling for quality over quantity, which is something for me that works so well. There is no need to drop release after release to prove your expertise, when a release or two per year, or in UMN’s case, every few years, can demonstrate how good you are, if gives a lot more anticipation of the quality than when you release something every month. Uncle Mic Nitro is definitely one of those emcees who has the quality of wordplay and delivery that puts a rubber stamp on all they do.

The second thing that is immediately apparent here is that remixing tracks can so often revitalise and almost reinvent them. We see here how those tracks from the original that have been remixed for the project, have their vibes changed quite vividly, allowing the listener to listen again, gaining further insights into each. We also see just how much vibes can be changed when you look at the original and the remix of Cake or Death.

Giving us two brand new tracks also adds a little extra to the album, giving you something new to look forward to for the maestro on the mic, UMN. This breaths new life into Vincent and gives him a new world to explore, therefore giving his listeners new music to enjoy along the way. All the production fits so well with the vocals and those cracking feature verses, that it leaves us nothing, we can’t enjoy.

Everything here is top notch. The producers bring old tracks into the present with some solid reinterpretations that give us a new look, and a new wat enjoy these tracks. The new tracks add another dimension to things, giving us something new to enjoy and leaving us with an air of anticipation that perhaps Uncle Mic Nitro is not done yet.  

This is a cracking second release for the fledgeling label Empty Hand Records, and one that shows that they are well on the way to making themselves a force in releasing good music, regardless of whether it is Hip Hop or another genre entirely.

 

Vincent//Deconstructed, due some delays, is released on 18th January 2026 with some limited vinyl copies available, so don’t sleep on these, Pre-Orders are now live.

Huge thanks to James at Empty Hand Records and Uncle Mic Nitro for giving me the chance to bring you my take on this.

 

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.   

LINKS

Pre-Orders open now here:

https://emptyhandrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vincent-deconstructed

Uncle Mic Nitro Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/unclemicnitro/

https://www.facebook.com/unclemicnitro

Empty Hand Records Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/emptyhandrecords

https://www.instagram.com/emptyhandrecords/

VIDEOS

Write (Speaks Remix)

 

 

 

 

EP Review: Kemz The Astral Being by Kemetstry X Micall Parknsun

 

Kemz The Astral Being

By

Kemetstry X Micall Parknsun

 

It’s been around twelve months since Kemetstry was last featured on the blog. His latest release is Kemz The Astral Being, an EP that is four tracks deep and fully produced by the legendary figure of Micall Parknsun, who also features on the EP, alongside a feature from Anyway Tha God.

Now this one was released back at the end of September and is the third in the Kemz series of releases. The previous being Kemez The Atlantean (2022) and Kemz The Alchemist (2024), both of which have been reviewed here, so check the hyperlinks.

Being as I have featured Kemetstry a few times on the blog, I won’t make you wait with a long intro. So, lets get straight into it…

 

We begin our journey beyond this mortal realm with Astral Beings (spray out) featuring Anyway Tha God. Parky brings us a sound that fits with the etheric energy as the heavy beat is backed by keys and percussion that has you floating out of body. Kemz and Anyway Tha God bring us some cerebral wordplay that seems to speak to you beyond this three dimensional existence, directly to your soul. The narrative appears to speak with a viewpoint that looks back at lives past, giving you pointers on how to live a better life before progressing to the life beyond. With that thought in mind, Micall Parknsun joins Kemz on vocals for Lighten Up Ya Soul. Here the beat is backed by synth sounds that keep us floating through that etheric realm. This one brings a soulful edge to the lyrics, and one speaks directly to your mind, here in the 3-D world by inviting you to step away from darkness that exists around you and connect with your soul, your energetic or light-being self, which comes from a place of unconditional love. This is where you can find your true self in a place where darkness takes a back seat.

Once you have found your true self the trick is then to Stay In The Light. Parky brings a powerful beat that is backed by keys and a vocal sample that has an angelic feel, lifting you up and bringing a truly euphoric air. This one really seems to look at the eternal battle between light and dark and how our lives, so often move between experiences that keep us in the light or see us in shadow. Those shadow times can be unexpected or even of our own doing, and what is important is to know when the shadows fall upon us and to make that conscious decision to move back to and stay in the light. The EP ends with Road and Postcode (R&P), here piano notes back a proper head nod beat, giving you a reason to move and listen to the lyrics. There is proper reason to listen close to the lyrics here as Kemz brings an important message, one that is as pertinent right now but, is something you could have said forty years ago, and it would still hit the same. The road and the postcode say where you are from, and so often that could well make you a target. When I was growing up in Southampton, that meant going to Portsmouth was a risk but, also just walking half a mile down the road put you in a postcode that meant you were in the Weston area, and if you were from Sholing, might become a target. These days you won’t just get chased, now we live in a society where knives and guns are a very real risk, but the message here is to think before you act and don’t do anything that could come back on you or those closest to you. It is a very real message to stop the violence, and not just here in the UK, but the world over too.

With an EP, it can often be hard to pack so much into a few tracks, but here Kemestry shows that if you have the right vison, you can do just that. Here he shows that intelligent wordplay is the keys to helping the listener to be open minded as to what they can hear within the music they are listening to. His deep cerebral lyricism brings a spiritual edge goes beyond just telling someone a message. Here he takes you beyond your current understanding, speaking not just to your mind but, to your soul. There just seems to be this unconscious aspect to the words you hear and their delivery that makes them touch you on a whole different level, one you are not immediately aware of. That is enhanced by the etheric nature of sound that Parky brings with deep soulful sounds that appear to move your awareness to a whole different plane, fitting so well with what Kemz is delivering with his lyrics.

I am all for promoting Hip Hop that hits on different levels, while still delivering a positive message in away that speaks to you on a truly deep level and I found that Kemz and Parky have really seemed to have nailed that vibe. Everything about this one, from Kemetstry’s lyrics to Parky’s production, and the guest artists, all just exudes that sense of deep positive alignment with the true nature of the universe.

The Kemz series has taken us to some exotic places and some that have a very occult nature but, they have always had a very positive outlook, especially one in lifting you up and evolving your awareness of the true nature of things; and Kemz The Astral Being is no different. I mean, you can’t go wrong in aligning yourself with legendary Micall Parknsun, and alongside Kemetstry, they have brought to live another chapter in the Kemz series that focuses that positive, uplifting vibe, to a finer point, and one that makes you wonder if this is last in that series or if Kemz still has more to say in pointing you towards a more elevated vison of the self…

Kemz The Astral Being is out on digital and strictly limited physical copies, so don’t sleep on this one.

I’ll be seeing ya…

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://spidalee.bandcamp.com/album/kemz-the-astral-being

Kemetstry Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/kemetstryOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/kemetstry_official/

https://www.youtube.com/@Kemetstryofficial

Micall Parknsun Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/memyselfandakai

https://www.instagram.com/parkypix/

VIDEOS

Stay In The Light

Road & Postcode

 

 

 

Album Review: Still Natured by Ill Natured

 

Still Natured

By

Ill Natured

 

Now, it was way back in July of 2022 that the Ill Natured crew first graced the Infinite Sounds UK blog with their debut self-titled Ill Natured EP. At that time, I was impressed with what I considered to be one of the hottest debuts I had heard, and not only that, but these guys gave us a sound that was deeply rooted in the soul of real Hip Hop music.

The guys are now back with a long player, the Still Natured LP which was released back in June of this year. This time the core members of the crew Cosmic Rayne (South Africa), Abstract Soundz (UK), DJ Stav (UK), and Sativa (Germany), are joined by DJ Slowz and Yung High (Both from Vietnam), alongside a host of artists from across the globe, which includes: MC Karlito (France), Micall Parknsun (UK), Brotherman (UK), Eavesdrop (South Africa), and Pain aka Dai Ca P (Vietnam).

Before I get into the album, I would like the final words of this intro to go to Ill Natured, as they give you some insightful words to ponder at the back of your mind as you listen:

Taking inspiration from the era when the forefathers of Hip Hop set the bar for anybody who calls themself a ‘rapper’…‘The Still Natured LP’ provides insight into the true nature and essence of what has been lost in today’s commercial rap music.

At a time when its purpose is all but forgotten, clouded by the need to be instantly validated through likes and views, pure lyricism is still practiced by the few who understand that Hip Hop is forever. For as long as we stay true to the artform - and ourselves - the meaning of being a rapper, producer, DJ, Bboy and writer will never be lost.

Like the ancient knowledge and wisdom passed down through generations, through hidden messages in texts and art, the Still Natured LP is reserved for truth seekers. Those unfazed by the demands of modern society to believe that numbers are the goal. While it may be for most, it isn’t for us.

Transcending conventional ideas of modern Hip Hop, reminding the listener that being authentic is the goal, necessary for growth and progression, infiltrating the mind and body as if it were a disease, yet taking us back to the roots and planting the seeds for the future, this is ILL Natured.

Now let’s immerse ourselves into being Still Natured…

 

Our journey begins with Abstract Soundz (Production) and DJ Stav on The Intro where a thumping beat, piano, and strings, all combine to bring us a proper head nod intro that has a myriad of vocal samples to give you a little insight into what’s about to come. Plus, plenty of cutting shit up from Stav makes this intro do one thing, which is to let you know that this is real Hip Hop and that’s where its at. With the scene now set, its time to really get busy with Fall Back which features Micall Parknsun alongside Cosmic Rayne, who also produces this one. This one has funky vibe about it with a heavy beat, bass sound that keeps you moving. This seems to focus on the fact that there are a lot of rappers out there right now, just because you can rap does not mean your Hip Hop, and even if you are Hip Hop, you need to be relevant and speak from the heart. So, this one takes a shot at those rappers who are not all they make themselves out to be, they need to fall back, because this is Hip Hop where the real rappers live. Next, it is time for MC Karlito to join Sativa, with DJ Stav on the cut for Lament. Produced by Abstract Soundz, this one has a nice, chilled vibe provided by jazzy keys and horns, as the beat kicks. Now I’m not going to even make a guess at what is being said here, as sadly I speak neither French or German, but a lament is piece of music that is an expression of grief or sorrow, and alongside the fact is that the flows and tone of the lyrics match that chilled vibe, it draws you in regardless and allows you to speculate on the vocals, taking you wherever you need to go.

Riff Raff has production from Cosmic Rayne as he drops this one alongside Pain aka Dai Ca P. Double Bass is prominent in this one alongside guitars, xylophone notes and more, giving this one a deep sound that’s almost vibrates through your whole body with every note from the double bass. I had to think long and hard on this one, because as I listened, it didn’t feel like it was a derogatory reference, even though it reminded me of how, there was a time where if you were into Hip Hop music you might well have been considered as Riff Raff. But the more I listened the more it felt like this one had an air that more closely fit with one of the older definitions of the phrase, from around the mid 1300’s, in that it was all about leaving little of value behind. Perhaps this one has multiple means, depending on how you see it. Has a rapper you might be considered riff raff but, when you are that good at your craft, you will leave little, in the way of spoils, behind. After that mammoth thought process, its time to move on to A Funky Interlude which is produced and cut up by DJ Stav. This one is like a quick little audible pallet cleanser that funks things up and gives you time to just enjoy things before getting back into things in-depth with Live From Saigon, produced by Abstract Soundz, it features Sativa alongside MC Karlito once again. Drums and double bass take the forefront here with guitars and more softened into the background, bringing an overall sound that has this infectious funked up edge to it. Again, I’m going to pretend that I know what is being said here but, you can feel that this one has this air about it where you can imagine these two just getting up on stage and dropping an incredible show for everyone, nuff said.

Word War brings Sativa and Cosmic Rayne together with MC Karlito and production from Cosmic Rayne. This one has a sound where the drums are at the forefront while keys, in the background, give this a slightly dark edge, but one that is softened to the point where the vocals stand above all else. This one sees all three emcees using their words as weapons in a war where the content and shear impact of your wordplay has to be on point, taking out all opponents to leave you as the last one’s standing. The Skit is produced by Abstract Soundz, Cosmic Rayne, and DJ Stav, and is the first three of these on the album. This quick little interlude takes the form of Ill Natured in the lab, working on a proper head nod beat with cuts from Stav. Before you know it, you’re back into things with the Ill Natured crew on Naturally Ill. Abstract Soundz provides the production here with a laid-back sound with keys and bass that is softened into the background, except on the bridge. It really puts you in  mind of the likes of ATCQ etc. This laid-back vibe allows the vocals to take the forefront, allowing them to sink into your awareness. This one really puts you in mind of that Hip Hop braggadocio style of bigging yourself up, knowing how good you are and that every thought you have can be turned into a dope rhyme. However, there is one difference here, being that the delivery comes with no air self-centred delivery, but more of a statement of facts, delivered with a quiet air of a deep personal knowing.

8 Bars is another little interlude that sees Abstract Soundz, Cosmic Rayne, and DJ Stav collaborate. Back in Lab again we find Cosmic Rayne delivering the bars over a proper boom bap beat with plenty of razor sharp scratching. Timelapse brings us back from the lab with Abstract Soundz on production and joined by MC Karlito and Brotherman on mic, alongside DJ Slowz on the cut. There is a definite jazzhop vibe about this one with the jazzy piano vibes and chilled drumbeat giving you a tune to move to. At first listen this one seems like a straight up demonstration of lyrical prowess, but the more you listen you get the sense of something else alongside that; which might be that what you say does not have to be said in any particular timeframe, sometimes its good just to say what you need to in your own time, delivered in a way that allows everyone to understand the deeper meaning within. With that concept of listening and understanding now rooted in your mind, Dusted sees Sativa joined by Yung High with Abstract Soundz on production. The chilled drums and jazzy piano vibes see this one continue that jazzhop sound, making you feel like your sat in some smoke filled speak easy. Once more I find myself in the position of not knowing what the lyrics are speaking on, and so I go with my gut again. That laid-back sound and the chilled tone of the lyrical delivery really puts you in a place where you just want to sit back and allow it all to sink in, not thinking too hard but, letting the lyrics float through your awareness as you slowly nod to the beat.

As we head into the final few tracks of the album, The Fifth Kind sees Cosmic Rayne on production, joined by Eavesdrop. The futuristic sound here toys with your mind, expanding your senses and taking you beyond the confines of the planet. Here we are taken on journey that explores the idea of alien contact with humans as both emcees drop some complex wordplay that would be an interesting concept, were an extraterrestrial race to hear this as its first contact with humans. All this is backed by samples from an interview with researcher Steven Greer, who I met some years ago, who has been very outspoken on the subject of Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind. The penultimate track is our final interlude from Abstract Soundz, Cosmic Rayne, and DJ Stav, which is the Cosmic Abstract Interlude. This one is a chilled number that mixes a drum loop with piano notes and some electronic elements, all together this track allows you to kick back one last time before the album ends with the albums title track, Still Natured. This one is all Cosmic Rayne, including production and has him dropping a beat that is backed by this sound which has an almost eerie quality to it which gives the whole track an air that rounds off the album but, still has you feeling, it’s not the end. Time is a huge factor in the lyrics too, giving you this feeling that you need to make the most of the time you have, so you need to fill that time by being authentic and the greatest expression of who you truly are.

 

The first thing that is apparent from listening to this album is that Ill Natured have stuck firmly to the ethics they forged with the Ill Natured EP, and that is that their music is firmly rooted in the golden era of Hip Hop. Their sound retains that vibe that takes you back to that time and puts you in mind of some of the legendary figures such as ATCQ, Gang Starr, and many more. You also feel that they have this desire to keep their sound firmly rooted where Hip Hop should be, on the streets and in the underground clubs, never straying from that path and never wandering into the watered down sound of the mainstream, where music is controlled and not allowed to speak real truths. Because that is a place where money is king and speaking from the heart rarely brings any real returns.

There is also such a deep feeling of unity within Still Natured as an album and Ill Natured as a crew. Something that embodies what Hip Hop has always been about, at it core. Ill Natured are a crew that spans the globe, and as a result, the album also does that. It brings together artist from many corners of the globe and proving that by uniting under the banner of real Hip Hop means that even if you do not know the language of the artist, you can still enjoy their display of their craft and feel the energy and the message they are putting across.

Every aspect of this album embodies the true Hip Hop sound, from the solid production values of the crew to the impressive wordplay and lyricism displayed by all the emcees involved, be they from Ill Natured or as guest artists. It kind of makes you not want to single anyone out, and you don’t have to because what you realise is that, within the confines of the album, everyone is Hip Hop and everyone is Ill Natured, they become one, because that is what Hip Hop does, it brings us together as one, and that is something that I find really gets to you as you listen and you realise just how deeply this album and nature of Ill Natured brings that unity vision to the listener.

When I listened to debut a few years back, I really felt that these guys were gonna go a long way and after hearing Still Natured, I’m as sure as I can be that future for Ill Natured is going to keep raising that bar and keep promoting unity through the sound of real Hip Hop music.

Still Natured is available digitally now and, if your lucky, available on limited edition cassette too, through the Low Definition label.

My huge thanks to Abstract Soundz for the chance to bring this one to you and for the awesome cassette too, you can’t beat taking it back to the days of old.

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab Your copy on Bandcamp Here:

https://illnatured.bandcamp.com/album/still-natured-lp

Stream on Spotify Here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/05mZsufZgOtK645M1Pd2iq

Ill Natured Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/abstractsoundz/

https://www.instagram.com/cosmicrayne/

https://www.instagram.com/low_definition_records/

https://www.instagram.com/dj_stav/

https://www.youtube.com/@illnatured5804/featured

VIDEOS

Riff Raff