Don’t Stop is the latest release from Layman (Stroud,
Gloucestershire) and Abstract Soundz (Banbury, Oxfordshire). It is also the
final and lead single to be released from their upcoming Don’t Stop EP, which
will be dropping soon.
I know that producer Abstract Soundz has featured on the
blog before and I was sure that I had featured Layman before but, it appears
not and so I have not sorted any sort of Bio for the man to give him a bit more
of an intro, I’ll have to rectify that soon…
With the prospect of their forthcoming EP, lets let the
music speak for itself and straight into Don’t Stop…
The organ notes that lead us into the track give you an
instant impression of a reflective vibe, which is only reinforced as Abstract
Soundz brings in a solid boom bap beat with horns and more keys, giving you the
energy to nod ya head. You realise that the reflective vibe is a perfect
backdrop for Layman to drop a deeply personal track that details the struggles
of addiction and coming out the other side to make it past those dark days.
This is emotive and deeply touching for anyone who has struggled with an
addiction of any kind, which is why this one is so relatable.
The thing is here that regardless of whether it is drugs,
alcohol or even an addictive behaviour, many of us are touched with this
realisation and we don’t always understand that what we are doing is an
addictive behaviour. It is only when we finally understand and accept it for
what it is can we look to find the reasons and the help that will bring us back
from the addiction and help keep us in a better place with the ones we love.
You really get this sense that what Layman is saying here is
don’t stop doing what you are doing in finding a way back to being your true
self. By being truly open and bearing his soul on this track, it such an
inspiration to others out there to do the same. So, don’t stop and don’t give
up, you can do it.
Great track that I found instantly relatable, I had an
addictive behaviour that I did not understand could cause so, much pain, and so
accepting that and changing the way I was, as a hard thing but, the benefits
were so great. The production from Abstract Sounds is boom bap infused but, has
a deep vibe about it that makes it work so well with message within. Layman
paints a harsh but necessary picture of the struggles behind addiction and
coming at the other side. His vocals flow in a way that allow the impact of
each line to sink deep into your awareness but, at the same time, there is that
energy that uplifts too.
This is a cracking track that will live with you long after
the speakers have fallen silent…
Don’t Stop is out now on Definition Records for Download or streaming.
Pressure is sure to be a unique single with the
classic boom bap hip hop sound of Abstract Soundz production, mixed with the
vocals from Skunkadelic who’s sound is inspired both by the Jazz Rapand the sound of his own ancestral Nigerian
music. However, there is only one way to truly get the feel of this one and
that is to immerse ourselves in it. So, join me as I take you into the sound of
Pressure…
Organ notes and bass open this one as the faint sounds of
bells steadily grows, then, just as we hear Skunkadelic for the first time, the
drum beat kicks in and giving us this nice head nod beat mixed with a mellow
vibe that really seems to draw on the classic Jazz Rap sound of the likes of
ATCQ etc. Skunkadelic skilfully takes us into what it is to live in the
stressful reality that is our current society. He looks at what it is to live
with one of life’s silent killers, stress, and also looks at self-loathing,
another aspect of the self that many of us can associate with in these tough
times. There is a deeper element to this too as he is open about some of his
own recent life experiences. There is also a hint of there being a brighter
future to whatever is currently going on in life, like you might be finding all
that pressure hard to deal with but, in the end it will all be worth it and the
sun will shine on you once again.
Overall, Pressure is a track that takes an honest look at
life in our current society in a way that the listener can easily associate with
and puts it to a classic sounding jazz rap vibe that can either bump in your
car or sit back and chill to, if I’m honest I can also easily see this one
pumping out the speakers in the clubs.
Skunkadelic and Abstract Sounds have really nailed this one
and you definitely need to get on this if you’ve not heard it already.
My thanks to Abstract Soundz for sending this one my way and
letting me bring you my honest opinion.
Ill Natured are a Hip Hop crew that is truly global in it’s
make up. The crew consists of Lyricist Blaise from New York USA, Cosmic Rayne a
wordsmith from Cape Town South Africa, Abstract Soundz from the UK, and DJ Stav
also from the UK, there are also features from Saigon emcee’s Kazanalam and
Caz. So Ill Natured spans the USA to the UK, down to South Africa and then
links up with Vietnam, that’s pretty global…
Production on the EP comes from Blaise, Abstract Soundz and
DJ Stav, who also gets busy on the 1’s and 2’s.
So, just how did this global group of Emcee’s/DJs and
producers get together? Well, I think I’ll let them answer that “Conceived
on a rooftop under the sprawling skyline of Ho Chi Minh City, the ILL
NATURED crew came together through the love of the art form of hip hop”.
So, when you have a crew that joins forces simply out of the love
of the artform of Hip Hop, you get the feeling that what you are about to hear
could well be something special and the best way to find out is for me to take
you through the EP and give you my thoughts…
The Ill Natured EP kicks of with and Intro that is full of
drums, keys, vocal samples and, as is essential for a good Hip Hop sound, a
good dose of cuttin’ and scratchin’ all produced by Abstract Soundz. Now what
this intro does, is what any good intro does and introduces us to vibe of the
EP and that vibe, right here, is some real boom bap, golden era, upbeat Hip
Hop. Into the first full track and we are treated to a heavy beat that brings
in some double bass, keys, and cuts. Ill Natured pt 1 gives us a glimpse
at what the Ill Natured crew is all about as Blaise, who produces the track,
and Cosmic Rayne speak on their views as to the world around them and in the
music business But, there is also a deep consciousness here where it’s all
about leaving the violence behind to live in peace and in harmony with nature.
The ending to the track also features Tuan SS, from Hanoi Vietnam, who drops
some melodic beatbox and scratch vocal sounds. With Ill Natured having given us
much to ponder, we are not even considering what’s next as Abstract Soundz
production drops a proper head nod, feel good beat on us, that is heavy on the
piano and keys. Miraculous features Saigon’s Kazanalam alongside Blaise
where the two of them, in a meeting of minds, seem to celebrate exactly what
the culture of Hip Hop, and its music, brings, what it means and the feelings
it brings. As there is this meeting of minds there is a deeper almost metaphysical
aspect as the two emcees’ almost merge into one being. What is also amazing
here is to hear Kazanalam spit vocals in English as well as his native tongue.
The intro to Straight From The Heart, kinda says it
all. Abstract Soundz funky beat is full of keys and tambourine is almost
softened into the background giving the focus to the lyrics and bringing them
to the forefront. The vocals from Cosmic Rayne and Saigon’s Caz have an
uplifting feel to them as they speak on producing music from the heart.
Expressing yourself from the heart is the truest form of expression and when
you do that, be it in your music or just in your day-to-day life, you are
coming across in the purest form, being your true self and allowing everyone to
feel that. Time for DJ Stav to bring us a short Interlude. Mixing up
cuts, keys, drums and flute notes he keeps the boom bap, head nod vibe flowing
and giving another little insight into the Ill Natured crew, and that insight
opens our mind ready for the coming of Ill Natured pt 2. Here Abstract
Soundz brings us a slightly more chilled vibe with piano, drums, and some
multi-layered sounds. Cosmic Rayne expands on what Ill Natured sees in regard
to the current state of Hip Hop music. There are so many out there who are just
looking for the money and the fame but, their music lacks any real ethics, and
they are not really saying anything worth noting and they do not speak with
their truth or from the heart.
As we move to the penultimate track, Cause and Effect,
it is produced by Ill Natured (it’s a collective effort) and hits us with a
body moving, head nod experience where drums and flute notes merge with
multi-layered sounds to get the energy flowing. Once that energy is flowing,
and it does not take long, you feel this deep desire that Ill Natured is
bringing us this understanding that everything you need in life, the strength,
the energy and the creativity is all contained within you, all you have to do
is to channel it in the right way, and Ill Natured does just that as emcee’s,
DJs and producers they channel their energy in positive ways to bring enjoyment
and uplifting vibes to the listener or the crowd. The EP ends with a short and
spoken Outro from Blaise where he gives thanks to all those who have,
and continue to, give support to the crew.
Overall, The Ill Natured EP has to be one of the most
impressive debut’s out there right now. The Ill Natured crew have come together
with a mutual love for Hip Hop and from that mutual love, friendships and
respect has grown, and this has given rise to a celebration of that Hip Hop
culture through their own Hip Hop music, in one of it’s purest expressive
forms. You can truly feel that time was taken to craft what Hip Hop means to
them and that they are, in turn, giving that back to those who love real Hip
Hop music.
The Ill Natured EP simply oozes the sound and feel of the
golden era of Hip Hop music, keeping that sound, that energy alive. But, more
than that, you can feel that in their music is a deep understanding of what Hip
Hop is truly about, its core values of Peace, Love, Unity and just enjoying
expressing yourself be it through the music, breakin’, graffiti or in the
gaining and sharing knowledge. In Hip Hop there are no borders to separate
peoples, in Hip Hop we are all one family united. The world could be a truly
better place if we all lived this way and Ill Natured understand this on a
truly deep level and in bringing this to those who listen is seeding a new
generation of thought.
Something else I want to quickly touch on here is that the
Ill Natured EP also features Tuan SS on the beatbox. Now beatbox, for me, is
one of those elements of Hip Hop music that makes it unique, it is also one of
those elements that is fast becoming forgotten in a digital world where someone
can make a beat on their smart phone. Beatboxing takes amazing talent, growing
from those who wished to make beats but could not afford the equipment in the
ghettos, it also has to be one of the most unsung parts of Hip Hop music and
its great to hear a small portion of it here, not letting it be forgotten and,
in turn, showing that beatboxing is one of the original elements that made Hip
Hop what it is.
It could be said that Ill Natured are the greatest crew you
never heard of. They might not be household names right in this moment But, I
suspect that, in the near future, everyone will know the name, Ill Natured.
The self-titled Ill Natured EP by Ill Natured is out now to
buy or stream. My advice is to get it now…
On that note,
I’ll see ya…
Steve
LINKS
Get the Ill Natured EP from Ill Natured on Bandcamp Here:
