Never Really
Accepted
By
Pride
It is always a pleasure to have a new artist on the blog,
and this time I welcome one of the UK’s legendary figures and former member of
the incredible Suspekt crew. Pride brings his hot solo album Never Really
Accepted to the table. An album which has been around three decades in the
making, as dropping a solo album has been a focus for Pride since he first got
into the game.
Pride and Suspekt, alongside the likes of Blade, Blue eyes,
Son Of Noise, Killa Instinct, Deliverance, and others shaped my view of the UK
scene. So, it is an honour to be able to bring you my humble view of this debut
solo release. I have heard some great things about this release from Remark
(who features on the album) and Whirlwind D, not to mention the many posts on
social media that have been popping up.
Alongside Pride on this album are some top notch producers
and features, but rather than list those hear, I thought I’d break with my
normal way of doing things, it’s always good to mix things up every now and again
and introduce you as we go.
So, I’m going to keep this intro short, dive in and take you
through Never Really Accepted…
We kick things off on the A-Side with The Reckoning
which features Producer and DJ Haynesy. The sound immediately switches your
adrenaline levels past ten, with Haynesy mixing electric guitar elements with a
banging beat and cuts to remind you this is Hip Hop. You might think that a
reckoning is something that comes at the end, but here Pride unleashes his at
the very start, giving those who don’t know an insight into the wordplay and
delivery that gives him a pedigree within the UK scene. All those other rappers
out there who think they are all that and might consider that artist from years
back can’t do this anymore, well Pride has your number and is here show you how
its done. After such an incredible start, there is no let up as Monster hits
with an original beat from Seek The Northerner, mixed by Guided Mindz, and
featuring Remark. This one hits with a funk fuelled sound with proper head nod
beat that keeps you moving. The energy in this one works so well as Pride and
Remark pull no punches as they take aim at the society we live in. There are
references to how the media has been weaponised and how those in places of
power only seek to keep us all locked in a place of fear, in order control us
and make it look like they are working for our best interests while lining
their own pockets. There is only so far you can push people before it creates a
monster, the very think you feared the most, and here are Pride and Remark,
emcees with an axe to grind and the perfect stage on which to do it. Next up
Pride is joined by producer and DJ Stanton Miles for On The Up. This one
has a heavy and rough sound with plenty of cuts, bringing a deep sound with an
electronic organ sound that threatens to fray every one of your nerves. Here
Pride drops a track that focuses on Knife crime as her details a story of one
young mad driven to take a stand against others but, who is ultimately taken
from the world and his loved ones. This track details a story that is echoed
across the country, even the world, as young people fight over nothing, leaving
grieving families and pain in their wake. It is a wake up call, a cry to all
those young people out there to put down their knives, stop the violence, and
ease the pain that touches so many.
The A-Side continues as Haynesy joins us once more on Till
My Name Remains. This one has a sound, with plenty of cuts, that hits like
kick from Bruce Lee. Lifting you up and slamming you down in the same instance,
while inviting you to jump around. Here Pride drops a battle rap sound, hitting
out, not at anyone individual, but at anyone who might chose to step up, and
particularly those who think they are good enough to expect respect without
earning it. Now, you might think that’s a bit much, but when you have been in
the game as long as Pride, you have earned some bragging rights; and there has
always been this thing in Hip Hop where emcees showed their prowess with more
than a little braggadocio. So, respect the pedigree. Hard Yardz gives us
our first look at production from Guided Mindz (aka Steve B) who has been
working with pride for some time, and here the sound has a pounding beat with
some slick guitar and organ notes, giving you a nice funky sound to vibe to.
Here Pride gives us a look at just what he can do when he unleashes bars. Each
one hitting hard, delivering a potent vocal punch that rocks your eardrums.
Each bar delivered is a statement, showing you just how a talented emcee rocks
the mic. The A-Side comes to a close with Guided Mindz on production and
Murkyman on the cut for Sub Assassin. The sound on this one has a big
ragga sound system vibe that will get your whole body moving to the beat. As
you listen to this one you get the feeling that Pride is going all out to
entertain you with a blistering display of wordplay that fits so well with the
energy and vibe of the track. You couldn’t end the side in a better way that to
uplift the listener and get them hyped up to get the vinyl flipped as soon as
possible.
Side-B begins with the albums title track Never Really
Accepted which brings an original beat from Seek The Northerner and an
appearance from DJ Renegade (Son of Noise) on the cut. Heavy drums, heavy horns
and more give this one a sound that seems to have anthem written all over it,
it has that elevated kind of vibe. Here Pride gives us the kind of track that
will allow you to get out of it, how you chose to listen to it! Give this one a
surface listen and you will hear a solid banger that will get you amped up but,
chose to listen a little closer and you will hear a track that is packed with
skilled wordplay that seems to speak on an underrated artist who has not
received the recognition he deserves, despite years of putting his heart and
soul into his craft. This is something that a great many other artist can
associate with as underground and independent artists. So, listen with the
right ears and this one is indeed your anthem and one that encourages you to
keep pushing to be the best you can be and to leave a legacy for your children
and others to build on. Next up is Mirrorz which features production
from Guided Mindz and Drew Stansall (sax, The Specials) alongside Pride.
Guitars and horns create the sound with another head nod beat creating a 2 Tone
sound that you just can’t help but nod your head to. Great sample from The
English Beat’s, Mirror In The Bathroom (1980). There is a definite air about
this one that is looking at the scene and the struggles of the artists. From
streaming sites who don’t pay what an artist deserves to those who don’t push
themselves enough. A lot of the time it all comes down to looking at yourself
and how you market yourself and your craft. You can’t just put stuff out there
and expect things to happen, it is all down to you to promote yourself. It’s
not easy but, only you know your worth, so only you can push yourself you the
point where people really sit up and take notice. Pride is joined on Not To
Be Liked by DJ/Producer/Emcee and fellow UK Legend Chrome (Chrome and
Illinspired, Chrome +). This one has a cracking upbeat sound that tweaks the
energy levels and delivers a solid funky sound that gets you bouncing. From
Pride’s solid vocals and Chrome’s blistering pace there is an air about this
one that says doing what you love is not always about doing it to be liked,
it’s about doing it because you love the craft, you love the sound, and you
love the product you put out. There is a difference between doing something for
the money and doing it for the love of it, when you it for the love of it, you
bring passion and authenticity, two things that set you apart from the rest.
Midz Connect features DJ Fever and brings a banging
sound of drums and bass, and cuts of course. The Incredible Bongo Band, It’s
Just Begun sample mixed in gives this one a proper Hip Hop sound that will
definitely resonate with the old skool heads as it gets your head nodding. This
one see’s Pride reminiscing over some of the moments that had a huge impact on
who he is, changing his life’s path and setting him on a journey that all led
to this point in time and a solo album that lays his cards on the table and
brings you the man and the music. Wabaabaam is the penultimate track of
the album and see’s Haynesy return for one last track. The sound here begins
with a laid-back sound before really kicking off with a heavy beat and horn
heavy sound that seems to fire you up from the inside out. Here Pride takes a
look at the grim state the country and society. This is not just a look at the
powers that be, but a look at the role of social media, racism, and a whole lot
more. It might seem like the sound puts an upbeat spin a very bleak outlook of
life in England but, sometimes you just can’t sugar coat the truth and laying
it out in this way helps to open the mind to what’s going on around you and
perhaps, give you just enough to start the change. The album ends with an
appearance from Reggiemental and production from Guided Mindz on Put Ya Mic
Down. This one brings that ragga, 2 Tone sound back, but with a more
multi-layered sound that switches things up in a way that you can either bounce
to you kick back and chill with. The message here is all about knowing your
worth and standing by that. At the end of the day everyone has bills to pay,
especially in a world where everyone wants something for nothing, you have to
stand firm by your values and if money is not there, then it is ok to just walk
away. Now this might seem like a strange way to end the album but, this is a
very real aspect of what underground artists are faced with. Promoters who will
book for shows with little or no fees, and when you are an artist of thirty
plus years standing, it takes money to survive and there is no shame in
requesting a fee for your time…
Now, I know I have said this before, somewhere along the way
but, there is an old saying that ‘good things come to those who wait and that
can certainly be said of Never Really Accepted. When you have waited
thirty plus years to finally put out a solo album and what you are able to
deliver is something of this quality, then you could very easily drop the mic
now and walk away, job done.
Let’s be honest here, with everything you have just read,
you could be thinking that there is not a low point on this album, and you
would be correct. There are no fillers and no tracks that are simply ok, every
track here is a banger in one way or another. There was no point during the
album I thought that any track was any less that any of the others. What I did
find was that here are twelve tracks and the best part of fifty minutes of some
of the best UK Hip Hop that money can buy, and to be fair I could leave it
there, but I won’t…
Pride has worked with Guided Mindz aka Steve B to bring you
a solid Hip Hop album that is born of the true foundations of what Hip Hop is
about. They have brought in some additional top quality producers to add some
substance and then some top quality emcees to add the icing to the cake.
Everyone of those guest emcees stand shoulder to shoulder with Pride, as do the
producers with Guided Mindz. The guest features are not over done and there is
plenty of space for Pride to display the quality of his own craft, which he
does with aplomb with a top tier display of wordplay, flows and, at times,
emotive lived experience, all with a quality of delivery that speaks directly
to you, allowing you to hear and associate with everything along the way. Proving, without a shadow of doubt that he has lost none of his edge and delivers the kind of top quality display of an artist who has taken the time to craft something special for himself, and the listener.
The basis of Never Really Accepted might be Hip Hop
but, with the 2 Tone and reggae, plus the funk vibes too this one has enough
variety and substance to keep you going no matter where you are and what you
are doing.
What this proves to me is two fold really, the first thing
is that Hip Hop, that real Hip Hop sound is far from dead and buried. It might
have returned to the underground to flourish, but flourish it is. The second
thing is that more and more I see quality UK acts coming up or, in this case,
returning to the stage and standing up for the culture and the music that we
grew up with and made our own, to a point anyway. It kinda says to you that we
are seeing that the quality has been ebbing and flowing and its time to bring
it back and that is what Pride is doing here, alongside Steve B, he looking to
bring that beat back, bring the soul and the real Hip Hop back.
Never Really Accepted is out now with a limited edition vinyl. If you have not heard this one yet, take it from me, you don’t want to
miss this.
My humble thanks to Pride and Steve B for giving me the
chance to bring you my take on this one.
I’ll see ya next time,
Steve.
LINKS
Get your copy of the Album here:
https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/35732956
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