Album Review: Rose Hill by Deeq X Mankub

 

Rose Hill

By

DEEQ x Mankub

 

Rose Hill is a recent release from Deeq, who has featured on the blog before, and comes with production from Mankub and is released through awesome Gold On The Mixer label, where both are label mates.

I have always found that Deeq always brings a deep intellectual wordplay to his releases, as I have noted on my previous reviews, Kuru by Flooded Hallways (Deeq and Nemrot) and Salamander (2025) which featured production from Farma G, so expect this one to be no different. There are also appearances from Raz Ghoul, EF Knows, Jaroo and Amos, just to put the icing on the cake.

Rose Hill is an ode to Deeq's childhood, Rose Hill brims with brooding intent. Where the listener is transported to a low-income council estate, in one of the most deprived areas of Oxford, circa '88. With those thoughts running through your mind, it makes you think that this album is likely to be deeply personal, bringing some dark imagery that might well touch some of you in different ways. Especially those of us who grew up in the eighties or who might have experienced a similar upbringing in different, or even the same areas.

Bearing that in mind, lets see what happens when Deeq and Mankub transport us to Rose Hill…

 

Over and Out (Intro) takes us into the album with a nerve shredding sound that has a dark edge and sets the tone for the album. It has this vibe that seems to drag you away from the reality you are living in, giving you a blank screen to project the imagery on to, that you are about to be given. Ashhurst Way hits with a heavy sound that is backed by guitars and keys that give you this Italian air to things. Here the scene is set for us as we get an introduction and a look at how Deeq dressed and presented himself during those times. How you meet the world says a lot about you and the way you dress, the labels on the clothes and even down to how you cut your hair gives you that recognisable street look, which many of us can remember from those times, it was about making the statement that, this is me and this is who I’m down with.

Fool’s Errand brings a multi-layered sound that softens the beat into the background, bringing this nerve-jangling sound to the forefront, kind of putting you on edge. There is definitely an edge to this one, something that put me in mind of the foolish things we all did as youngsters, getting involved in altercations and pushing back at all the things that we didn’t want to vibe with, even though, most of the time, our efforts would amount to little of nothing. But we did what we did because we thought we knew best. From images of the rougher side of things, we move to Talisman, which features Ras Ghoul. The sound here returns the beat to the forefront, backed by this organ sound that tweaks your nerves in a different way, almost giving you this floating feeling. That feeling is what a talisman brings to you, a feeling of calm in the midst of a storm. You get the feeling that the storm here is the altercations and peer pressure of living on a housing estate, where just stepping outside your front door was a test of your resolve.

Toulouse-Lautrec has a far more relaxed feel to it as the xylophone, keys and double-bass notes mix with the laid-back beat to give you a bit of a breather from the heavy feel of the album thus far. This is Deeq’s ode to the French painter, his works and legacy. As much as this is a breather for the listener, you also feel that it mark’s an important part of Deeq’s youth, studying the life and work of the painter was probably a welcome aside from pressures of life growing up on the estate in Oxford. Black Summerz brings a funk fuelled sound that does not rely on a heavy drumbeat but has this sound that has an air of sharpness to it, rather that a heaviness. Listening to this one gives you a sense of what it was like to live back then during the summer break when you were left to your own devices and had to find ways to fill your days. Sometimes your days were filled with writing and sometimes with running and hiding. While the break from school was great, it also left you more open to stresses and strains of live beyond the front door, which could mean a whole host of unknown situations to navigate on any given day.

We move to the albums penultimate track Precision, which features EF Knows, Jaroo and Amos, alongside Deeq. Mankub brings a thumping sound that, once again, has that sharp sound to it, giving this one a sound that seems to tweak your focus. This one seems to take our focus away from that estate in 88 and show us what a glimpse of what Deeq has become since then. With back up from the other emcees, we get a display of precise wordplay right here. It gives you a feeling that no matter your beginnings and the hardships you may have faced, if you follow the right path in life, then anything is possible and a posse style cut like this shows that better days do happen. The album rounds off with the album’s title track Rose Hill. This has a heavy sound with piano sounds and more that give this one an air that puts you in an almost twilight world, looking back with dark clouds casting shadows across the land. You get the feeling here that Deeq is summing up those years spent in Rose Hill. Three minutes and some change seems like a mammoth task to sum up those years but, he does a great job of dropping an overview of those times. Showing that, while its time to turn his back on it now, that time still shaped him and helped him to become stronger.

 

There is a lot I could say about this album as, for me, it did bring some of my own memories to bear on things. I lived on the edge of an estate in the Sholing area of Southampton where one side of the road was the main housing area but, my own front door opened onto a green area where we all hung out. Our challenges came from other estates that bordered ours. But I digress here. Rose Hill most definitely takes you a place where you can draw on your own memories to help you visualise what it must have been like, the challenges of a built up area like this and peer pressure that comes with that, doing your best to fit in and be a part of something, even if that something drew you into situations that tested every nerve in your body.

Deeq does a superb job of drawing you in with intricate wordplay that teases you to listen and listen again to see if you can grasp what he is saying between the lines. The outcome of this is that you find yourself in the darkly brooding world where rowing up was a delicate balance between your own feelings and fitting in. All this hits you in a little over twenty minutes, which is a lot to take in with such detailed vocals, and you find yourself going back over a track or wanting to listen to the whole thing once again, just get the vibe.

Mankub does a superb job of matching the vibe of Deeq’s words with moody production that easily carries you into Deeq’s world. Crafting soundscapes that vary in intensity and switch between heavy brooding sounds, to those that have a sharper sound to them. None of the impact of the sound or mood being lost along the way. This has to be the mark of a good producer that they are able to, almost instinctively feel the aura of the words given them, or to produce a sound that exactly matches what the emcee needs to write those words to.

The features from Raz Ghoul, EF Knows, Jaroo, and Amos all bring that subtle edge that defines who they are, while also complimenting Deeq and instinctively the sound of Mankub. All-in-all bringing that extra layer of depth that rounds everything off perfectly.

 

Overall, Rose Hill is one of those deeply personal albums that encapsulates solid wordplay and emotive production, bringing you an album that not only gives you a window into the life of the artist, but also invites the listener to realise that by looking back, it is possible to understand just how far you’ve come.

My huge thanks to Mankub for giving me the chance to bring you my take on the album.

Rose Hill (GOTM079) is out now.

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy of the album here:

https://goldonthemixer.bandcamp.com/album/rose-hill-gotm079

Social Links:

Deeq:

https://linktr.ee/deeq_darkimagery

Mankub:

https://www.instagram.com/manku8/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064003532012

Gold On The Mixer:

 https://flow.page/gotm

VIDEOS

Fools Errand

Album Review: Iron Curtain by Myalansky

 

Iron Curtain

By

Myalansky

It has been some time since I last reviewed anything that had a connection to Wu-Tang Clan. That was 2^nd Generation Wu, who featured on UK producer Planky’s single Rescue Me, back in 2023. Now I have the chance to be able to review some more Wu affiliate music courtesy of fellow reviewer JD Hip Hop Reviews. He was able to send me some stuff to review and the first of those is the recently released album Iron Curtain from Myalansky.

Myalansky named himself after gangster Mayer Lansky and rose to fame as part of the Wu-Syndicate from Virginia, which also included Joe Mafia and Napoleon. Wu-Syndicate debuted in 1998 on the compilation Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm, they followed that with their debut self-titled album Wu-Syndicate in 1999. Myalansky would release his debut album in 2008 titled Drastic Measures. He would also release two follow ups to that album with Drastic Measures 2 (2018) and Drastic Measures 3 (2021). Among a number of solo releases, including the M.E.D.U.S.A. trilogy (2023), he has also continued to work with Joe Mafia under the Wu Syndicate name.

So, with a pedigree like this, there is only one more thing to do, and that is to get straight into a deep dive into the album, which is produced by Wolf T Calzone’ and has features from Haylo Da G.O.D., Cise, Sicarii and Two Onez, alongside cuts from DJ King Prince and live instrumentation from Brian Butler. So, let’s get into it…

 

We kick things off with Manufacture Consent (Intro) which features an excerpt of an interview with Mayer Lansky over a chilled beat that features bass guitar and drums with heavy etheric vocals that give this one a laid-back air allowing you to focus on words of Lansky discussing the role of the media in making him a target of the authorities. Next up is Trick Knowledgey, the intro to which has this Baptist church vibe before the beat kicks in, bringing us a heavy sound of guitars and a pulse pounding vibe that gets your head nodding. The Baptist preaching air becomes the bridge to each verse as Myalansky drops some real knowledge, calling out the powers that be, who control the masses by seeking to trick us in a host of ways to become sheeple. There is even a lot to be said that the knowledge we are taught is a trick, as it not always the real truth, but a manipulated truth they want you to hear to point you in their direction and not to question anything. Think of the wealth of fake news and fake truths being perpetrated through the internet. There is plenty to give you pause for thought here.

Controlling Shares features Two Onez, this one has a multi-layered sound which keeps your head nodding while giving you plenty to move to as the sound keeps your mind bouncing too. The message here is all about not allowing anyone to fully control what you do. When you have spent years honing your skills and rising to the top of the game, make sure you are the one who has the controlling share of everything you have achieved. When you let others take control of what you do you are likely to become a puppet, making money for others while you will be life with nothing. The Iron Curtain Interlude brings a pulse pounding beat, strings, guitars and cuts as a short instrumental break. Casualties features, Haylo Da G.O.D. and Sicarii. It drops with a guitar heavy sound and an eerie vocal sample that seems to mess with your nerves as you listen. This on focuses on the events of 9/11 and the events surrounding what happened. This one makes you think about all the casualties there have been as a result of what happened all those years ago but, it also makes you think about current events and how we are all casualties in these politically charged events where it seems that control is the ultimate goal and we all end up being the casualties paying with our lives or financial security. Reminds us that we are all just pawns in the game of the elitists.

The Town sees Haylo Da G.O.D. and Sicarii remain alongside Myalansky. The sound here has a heavy Piano vibe that takes the forefront over the sparse beat. However, it takes nothing from the beat and keeps you moving, giving you a sound that is strangely infectious. On first listen you might think this is three emcees dropping some intricate and ferocious wordplay. However, if you are one of those who thinks a bit deeper and you read between the lines, this one speaks on how you need to be prepared on the streets anywhere in the US. Now it might not feel that way here in the UK but, it is that that way in most of the big cities, and you have to be ready for anything these days, especially after dark. Foolish King is another interlude with more about Mayer Lansky over a laid-back beat with heavy strings. Another short to make you think. Emmaculate features Cise, Haylo Da G.O.D. and Sicarii stepping up alongside Myalansky. The beat here is a classic sound and brings a smile as your head nods along with the guitar vibes in the background. This one mixes slick wordplay with more gangster references than you can shake a stick at. Giving you polished delivery with less flaws than diamond, this one is all about being perfect in all you do, because that way you are always ahead of the game.

We round off the album, well almost, with the Iron Streets (Outro) and this one gives us heavy, but laid-back way to end the album. The vocal element here is more on Mayer Lansky but, here it more in a reflective way looking back on the man and his legacy. As I said this is not the end of the album because there is more to come with Casualties (Black Tuesday) Bella Ciao Remix. This one strips back the sound of the original and gives it a whole new spin. The vocals remain the same, as does the message, but the delivery is switched up as each verse has a different beat giving each a whole new feel. This does not lessen the impact in anyway as full force of what it represents still hits hard. Making that thought of just who was responsible for what happened on 9/11, still one of the greatest unanswered questions.

Now, you might think that is it, but no, there is another remix here, which I have listed as a vinyl only track. I might need correcting here. This is TrickKnowledge, a remix of Trick Knowledgey. This one brings the beat to the forefront, backed by piano and a more operatic vocal sample. This remix gives the beat more power and thus gives the impact of the track a little more power. Not lessening the power of the original, just switching it up.

 

I think the important thing here is just to set that Wu affiliate link aside for just a second and to take this album at face value. Yes, there are little things that make you think that it has that association with it but, there is far more to this than that. This album can easily stand on its own two feet without the Wu association, and it is for that reason why you can understand that it has that association now.

The album is packed with politically charged narratives and solid wordplay that has conscious interwoven aspect that constantly asks you read between the lines. There are deeply thought-provoking aspects to this album that show a desire to bring a spotlight onto these subjects in a way that invites the listener to think far beyond the final notes of the album.

Although I remember that original Wu-Tang Killer Bees album, I cannot remember specific tracks, so this album also serves as a solid reminder of the quality and depth of what Myalansky has to offer in terms of being a Hip Hop emcee. His conscious lyricism and wordplay flows so well and he delivers every line with an internal strength that gives every line an energy that speaks to you on an unconscious level as well as that you hear. Something that gives it that, read between the line’s quality. The featured artists all do a quality job here too, bringing their own individual talents to bear on the project, and all complimenting the project perfectly.

The production is on point here too. Every sound scape does a great job of being the perfect backdrop for each individual track. You can feel that the roots of the sound all have the essence of that boom bap hip hop sound but, adding elements that work well with that gangster vibe too while not making it too over bearing as the gangster element is almost secondary here as it shows that you have to question who are the real gangsters. I also love that there are some cuts here that add that authentic feel to the whole Hip Hop vibe.

It was also good to have a couple of additional remixes here. Just highlighting exactly how you can change the impact of a track by mixing up the sound. Overall, this is a quality album that shows how the Wu-Tang name can bring a focus to a name that deserves to be heard, and in my view, this one does deserve to be heard, even without the Wu-Tang affiliation.

Iron Curtain is available now on Bella Ciao Records.

My huge appreciation to JD Hip Hop Reviews for helping me to bring this one to you.

 

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab a strictly limited vinyl copy here:

https://badwatch.store/iron-curtain

Myalansky on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/rapdiamondvvs/

Wolf Calzone on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/wolf_calzone/

Bella Ciao Records:

https://www.instagram.com/bella_ciao_records/

https://badwatch.store/bella-ciao-records

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

VIDEOS

Iron Curtain Full Album