So Far away is the lead single from the new
collaboration of London Wordsmith Cactus Corino and Australian
production powerhouse Rising Suns. It comes from the forthcoming album Photosynthesis,
which, like this single is heavily influenced by the 90’s Hip Hop sound.
For those not familiar with these names, let me give you a
little background before heading into the single review.
With his roots in music going as far back as the playground,
Cactus Corino came into the limelight with 2021’s Ridiculous, which
featured partner in crime Kao, which gave him the chance to perform alongside
the likes of Skinnyman. Being no newcomer to the music scene, it was the
memories of Emceeing in his formative years that provided him with the
inspiration for the recent EP ‘Playground Legend’. His wider influences from
the streets of West London to the golden era age of rap have led him to have a
string of new projects on the way which will feature a blend of 90’s era Rap
and some more modern sounds.
Rising Suns are the duo of Onemore and DJ
Mathmatics, who combined their talents during the time of lockdowns. Their
work has already seen them release a project with O.C. (D.I.T.C) and Alyx Ryon
(Maryland, D.C) and additional work alongside Nelson Dialect (High Focus).
Their sound is very much that of the golden era, 90’s boom bap vibe which
promises to be a treat for Hip Hop fans on the forthcoming ‘Photosynthesis’
with Cactus Corino.
Now you have a bit of insight into what’s coming, lets get
into So Far Away…
You are immediately invited to get your head nodding by the
banging drums and organ sounds, the added cuts just what is essentially a
classic Hip Hop sound from Rising Suns. Cactus Corino drops lyrics that have
this dual message, firstly, he states how far he is willing to go create music
alongside Rising Suns, and this is the kind of music that will uplift and move
the crowd. The second point made with in the lyrics is that it is important go
that extra mile to do what you need to do and yeah, that might mean stepping
outside of your personal comfort zone but, only by pushing the boundaries can
we really know what we are capable of.
So Far Away is electric introduction to what is to
come from Cactus Corino and Rising Suns. Doing what Hip Hop does in breaking
down boundaries and spanning the globe, these guys once more show the strength
of Hip Hop in uniting people from across the globe. In fact, you could say that
is a hidden meaning that is built into the music, you might be separated by
miles but, in truth, borders and oceans can’t stop the Hip Hop Be Bop, sound or
the unity it brings.
So Far Away is out now and keep watch for the album
Photosynthesis, coming soon…
My Huge thanks to Benson Hedges for sending this one my way.
Inner Peace is the latest album from emcee Big Haz who
resides in Melbourne Australia. As an emcee he has already had an interesting
career. His first single ‘Chopper The Musical’ featured the notorious
underworld figure Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read in 2009. He followed this with
his debut album ‘Larger Than Life’ in 2010 which featured a host of heavy features
including Canibus, Masta Ace, King Tee and Chino XL to name a few.
With Inner Peace being his sophomore album, it also features
a number of big name features in Canibus, Kool G Rap, Daz Dillinger, King
Magnetic, Nysom and Kozme. The album originally dropped in November of 2020, so
with that said the best thing for me to do is to take you through all sixteen
tracks and give you my insight…
Straight out of the starting blocks you get the sense that
this is all about the Hip Hop for this guy. The sound is this kinda laid-back
beat with some synth notes that carry you along as Big Haz drops some
intelligent and slick vocals that serves as deep introduction to just who he is
and perfectly sets the standard for what is to come by detailing his journey to
inner peace, which is something that will ultimately, as he says, Set Me
Free…
With the stage set Canibus joins us to drop the Inner
Peace Prologue over a nice head nod drum beat with some piano notes. In
this short intro we get the full force of Canibus and his complex verbal
arsenal as he brings the focus to his wingman, Big Haz. From there, the beat
stays proper head nod with some string notes forming the backdrop to Verbal
Murder 2020. Here Biz Haz and Canibus treat us to more than five minutes of
straight bars. There is no let up as both emcees unload clip after clip of
lyrical hollow points that deliver hit after hit of technical and intelligent
verbal mastery.
Hip Hop Stand Up is a boom bap style track with
keyboards and a soulful chorus, that sees the first appearance of Kozme joining
Big Haz. This one has that anthem sound as the emcees drop bars all about what
it is to be Hip Hop and to rep for the music. Definitely one of those tracks
that has energy you feel through you whole body. So, stand up, put your fist in
the air and bounce to this. Next up, the beat gets heavier and the synth sounds
bring this darker edge to proceedings. That sound is perfect as Hip Hop’s own
mob boss, Kool G Rap faces off with Big Haz on The Mobster and The Scholar.
As these two trade off, you first get the feeling of which is mightier, the
Scholar’s pen or the Mobsters bullet but, as the track goes on you feel more
and more that the strength is in their unity. The vibe switches to an upbeat
mix of drums, violins, synths and cuts which gives you this uplifting feeling.
Kozme and Big Haz bring focus the person you are and how good it feels when
other believe in you but, ultimately the message here is that when you Believe
In Yourself, you are unstoppable.
A soulful chorus and a mix of guitars, keyboards and a
chilled out beat, brings a thoughtful and reflective vibe to Glad To Be Home.
Here Big Haz and Kozme take a look at the tough times we’ve all had and the
journeys that have led us to where we are now, looking to a brighter future.
Something that always brings a lighter edge to things and makes even the darker
days seem bright, is being thankful to have someone to come home to. Time to
get into that funk vibe with mix of bass, guitars and drums that creates this
upbeat block party, celebration kinda feel. Daz Dillinger and Big Haz look back
at those who have paved the way in Hip Hop and have influenced generation after
generation of artists and fans alike. This is Hip Hop, We Live Hip Hop
and Ya Don’t Stop. Kozme is back on the next track which has a more laid-back
beat, piano and soulful chorus. You get a deep personal vibe from the sound and
that feeling is enhanced as the words detail the kinda things you like to say
to those who are closest to you, your loved ones, children, and closest
friends. The words that say to them I will Never Let You Down…
Facing You, Facing Me has a deeper feeling. The
piano, guitars and choral vocals mix with the lyrics of Big Haz to create this
depth and strength that touches on something we all find hard to admit or to
face up to. That is the fact that often what we see in others reflects a part
of us we might not like. It is not until we stop and think, that we realise we
are more similar than we would like to admit and perhaps then we can heal a
certain part of us and take another step toward inner peace. That deep
reflective vibe remains on Dark Room. The beat still has that head nod
vibe with some guitars and soulful vocals mixed in. Kozme joins Big Haz once
more for a look at the personal struggles we often go through, the type of
struggles we keep to ourselves and don’t often show to others. To keep things
bottled up can be self-destructive and the only way to break out of this cycle
is to look deep within, only here can we find the true strength to push on and
find our true selves.
Kingz Of The Grind hits with more modern trap kinda
edge to it but, the keyboards and soulful chorus serves to soften that. Here we
have King Magnetic and Nysom joining Big Haz on a track thar seems to focus on
the daily work you have to put in to get by and to make ends meet. At times it
is not always easy but, you keep going because there are those who rely on you
and sometimes you just have to do it for you. The mood switches once more as
the sound is more head nob but, on a laid-back vibe with piano and strings. It
is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul but, here Big Haz has
something different for us. For Big Haz states that it is his lyrics that are
the Windows To My Soul, mainly because of the depth of feeling that can
be put into those words. The head nob vibe continues with some guitars and an
echo sound that puts you in mind of being in a closed space, somewhere your
thoughts and words are constantly thrown back at you. It is just like you are
trapped in a nightmare, not knowing what is real and what is not. When you realise,
I Can’t Sleep are you desperate for the solace of the light or the bliss
of true sleep?
The album’s penultimate track is also it’s title track and
the calming mix of drums, strings and keyboards still has that Hip Hop sound
but, one that allows your mind to drift away. It’s all about that Inner
Peace, a state of mind where ego no longer controls you and you find a
blessing in every day. After a rollercoaster ride of an album what is the best
way to end this album? Simple, with a head nod beat and Big Haz dropping the Soul
Scriptures (142 Bars) of pure Hip-Hop lyrical fire. This is something like
a freestyle where Big Haz demonstrates his technical lyricism and ability to
switch between flows and styles with relative ease. Drawing on many aspects of
his own personal journey, this one comes straight from the heart and shows the
soul of Big Haz.
Inner Peace is almost like a personal life story put into
rap with a Hip-Hop soundtrack. There is a lot here from the ups and downs of
life to the enjoyment of dropping bars just for the sake of it. You can feel
all the elements that Big Haz has put into this from the fun and the good times
to the tough periods. You get a sense for the people who have touched his life
long the way and have inspired him to be the person he is. The journey may not
have been easy but, by the end you get this glimpse at where he is now and what
his Inner Peace looks and sounds like.
There is little doubt that this albums sound is rooted in Hip
Hop. There is a good mix of styles that are all rooted in the true sound of Hip
Hop but, along the way we are also treated to other influences from some more soulful
moods to other more modern styles. The production is all solid here and more
that ably allows the sound and vibe of the album to flow from start to finish
through all its ups, downs, twists and turns. Lyrically you feel that Big Haz
has crafted a style all his own. He has a sound knowledge and a technical
ability that would allow him to stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone. His use
of deeply personal themes that don’t fail to touch you on a deep level are
perfectly balanced by the use of tracks that detail his love for Hip Hop music
and tracks that serve as a stage to display his lyrical prowess.
The high calibre of features take nothing away from Big Haz
himself and simply serve as the icing on the cake of what is already an
impressive free standing album in its own right. Check out the album artwork
too from Kebo, which is incredible and sets the album off perfectly. With more
in the works from Big Haz, including an album with Canibus, 2022 looks to be a
good year for him and I’ll certainly be keeping tabs on him for sure.
Configa has to be one of THE go-to
producers in Hip-Hop right now. His work on Arrested Development’s latest album
Don’t Fight Your Demons and his own recent Configa Presents: The ConfigHasCrates has shown the quality and diversity of the work he is known for. Tracks
from these albums have received some seriously heavy rotation and recognition
as you might expect.
Our first sniff that he was dropping
something else came in February this year when the Topic Of Discussion EP
dropped which featured vocals from Ruste Juxx. This was the teaser to the
forthcoming Configa Introducing DJ Views Album which finally dropped at the end
of April and is titled The Year After. Now most of you will be familiar
with Configa and his work but you are probably unfamiliar with DJ Views, hence
why this album is Configa Introducing him.
DJ Views comes from Australia, a DJ of
22 years, he plays mostly Hip-Hop from the 80’s onwards. More recently he began
producing beats using an Akai MPC-1 and Serato, then dropping a number of mixes
and has emerged from relative obscurity to collaborate with the likes of Ruste
Juxx, El Da Sensei and Sadat X to name just a few. In the six months prior to
the release of the album he worked closely alongside Configa and with the help
of some huge, featured artists has brought us The Year After, and let’s
face it, after the year we’ve just had music is the antidote to most things.
That all being said, let’s step into The
Year After and see what it brings…
Dj Views is straight in at the deep end
as he steps up with a huge soundtrack vibe consisting of cuts, keys, strings,
movie dialogue and a proper head-nod beat. Featuring Termanology and the
Apostles of Rhyme (Configa’s signed artists DA Donnieboy, Fro Magnum Man and
Mic Audio), Mic Domination is all about the relationship of an emcee to
his mic. Every emcee does their best to dominate when on the mic and with a
host of similes, metaphors and impressive wordplay, this track displays that
sentiment admirably. Configa is next up bringing a mix of piano, soulful vocals
and a booming beat that surrounds you and demands your full attention. Now
you’re focused, up steps Planet Asia, Pacewon and NINE to drop some heavy,
hard-edged stories of the brutal truth of life on the streets where it’s Dangerous
On The Ave.
The ball passes back to DJ Views who
brings us an upbeat vibe full of cuts, drums, and guitar loops. Ruste Juxx
features and takes us on a journey from the streets to the stage, where
everything is high octane, gritty and most definitely On The Dot and
will have you throwing your hands in the air. With the ball back in his court,
Configa follows up with a laid-back beat which is full of horns and xylophone
notes, alongside a soulful chorus. He enlists the help of Kxng Crooked, Speech
(Arrested Development) and Sulpacio Jones to drop some knowledge on supporting
those who are striving to make a name for themselves despite adversity, telling
the listener I Want U 2 Make It and giving something back with advice
and common sense.
The spotlight moves back to DJ Views
who takes us to the launch pad with a pounding beat and some spacey electronic
vibes. His cuts ignite the fuel, and we are blasted into orbit in the company
of Melly-Mel (South Africa), Confucious, HaStyle and DA Donnieboy. With some
impressive wordplay and Galactic Rap, the hyperdrive is engaged and we
are launched into deep space and beyond to the astral plane, before landing
back on Earth. As the focus shifts back to Configa, he is joined by Chino XL.
The organ intro heralds a darker vibe which is mixed with more organ notes,
vocals and a delicious head-nod beat which sets it up perfectly for Chino XL to
deliver bars like a rapping AA-12 shotgun on full auto with a drum mag as he
pounds your ears and leaves all suckers receiving a Funeral March.
Hip-Hop is an international scene and
DJ Views, with the legendary Craig G, hits us with some boom-bap drums, cuts, strings,
and big orchestral vibes creating the perfect scene for Craig G to drop some
knowledge and to speak on the greatness he is crafting with DJ Views across Different
Timezones. With there being so many aspects to Hip-Hop it’s back to Configa
to bring some organ notes to a laid-back beat which creates a chilled vibe that
is just right for Ras Kass, Melly-Mel and Akrobatik to drop some different
views and experiences on what it is to Live Comfortably.
For our penultimate track from DJ Views
he hits us with a multi-layered boom-bap beat with cuts, violins, drums and
cymbals, which brings a focused edge to the track. That leads us to pay attention
to El Da Sensei, John Robinson and Solemn Brigham, emcees doing what they do
best, dropping bars and displaying an uncanny knack for Word Science,
using all they have in their arsenal from words to personal experience and
flipping similes and metaphors. The penultimate visit from Configa is a
head-nod beat that mixes in some synth, which has a harpsichord sound. There
are cuts along with a sung vocal sample in the chorus which creates a
thoughtful vibe which sees 4-IZE, Jarmel Reece and Sky High 305, speak on the
daily struggles in life, the kind of struggles that mess with your mind and
mental health and sometimes sees you Slippin’.
The final track from DJ Views was the
track that gave everyone a taster of what was to come, Topic Of Discussion.
A heavy boom bap beat with layers of cuts, violin, and piano notes (which
lighten the tone at times). Ruste Juxx features here and breaks it down on who
he is, his experiences and the fact it’s all about the realness, no playin’.
Configa rounds the album off with his take on the track that kicked it all off
but with a twist. This Mic Domination Remix has a heavy piano vibe
alongside some booming head-nod drums and gritty bass notes. The message is the
same as the original, being the relationship between an emcee and his mic but,
as the piano hauntingly tweaks at your nerves, Configa also mixes up the vocals
as he brings in Smoke Gzus, Dell-P and the UK’s own Ken Masters to accompany
Termanology and take this one to a whole new dimension.
Now, many will look at the line-up of
guest features and immediately get hyped and admittedly those features are
enough to make ANY Hip-Hop lover sit up and take note but, as a great album is
not made by features alone, it is the depth and quality of the production which
holds it all together and solidifies this project as a whole. Configa has
created a superb platform here for an upcoming DJ/Producer, in DJ Views, to
display exactly why Configa has put his trust in him in the first place. The
way the album switches, track to track, between Configa and DJ Views, is a
great vibe and allows for a perfect flow to the album. In fact, it’s like
having two rollercoasters running parallel to each other and the listener is
constantly switched from track to track, each complementing the other perfectly
whilst having just enough subtle differences to keep things flowing and always
keeping you guessing in exactly what to expect. The addition of the emcees
brings additional twists and turns on our ride with every one of them, from the
legendary figures to those less well known, all displaying the kind of lyrical
prowess that shows exactly why they are here presented to us on this album.
This is some introduction to DJ Views
who proves, without doubt, that he is capable of sitting alongside an acclaimed
producer such as Configa and being able to take the reins that are passed to
him and to keep the stage bouncing and on course for a whole new world of
Hip-Hop possibilities. Configa demonstrates exactly WHY he is such a powerhouse
in Hip-Hop production, creating soundscapes that excite the mind and body,
while DJ Views shows us that not only does he know his Hip-Hop but that he is
more than able to put that to good use in getting your heart and fist pumping
and body moving.
Overall, this one is going to receive
heavy rotation, no doubts, and deserves to be in your collection too. With every
track keeping the listener pumped up for more, The Year After is truly
an international slice of Hip-Hop GOLD, a rock-solid album that has a foot in
both hemispheres of the globe and adds further weight to the fact that Hip-Hop
music is universal and able to touch and unite all.
Configa Introducing DJ Views – The
Year After is out now on Configa’s own imprint Configaration Records.
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