Album Review: MicTronics by Mic Mountain X TronBeatz

 

MicTronics

By

Mic Mountain X Tronbeatz

 

MicTronics is the latest album from Washington D.C. emcee Mic Mountain, it marks his third album to be reviewed on the blog this year and his 9^th Solo album. So, for a bit more background on Mic Mountain, please check my previous reviews for Triple Piragua and Mountain Dreams.

This time around Mic Mountain teams with Tronbeatz, out of Connecticut, on production and Cuts from Mr Scratch Hook (who also provides mixing and mastering). The album is not overloaded with features either, giving Mic Mountain plenty of room to shine. Those who do feature here are CrDnlSn, The Bad Seed, and Thirstin Howl the 3^rd. As we have seen with the previous reviews from Mic Mountain, expect a sound that is rooted deeply in the traditional boom bap sound but, with maybe a surprise or two along the way.

So, don’t let me keep you hanging right now, let’s get straight into it…

 

It all kicks off here with Chill You Got It with Tronbeatz bringing a heavy sound of guitar notes over a drum loop that gets your head nodding from the get-go. The mixed in vocal samples also add some depth that serves to get you fired up. Mic Mountain lights up the mic with a blistering display of wordplay where metaphors and similes abound, with just a dash or two of Hip Hop braggadocio to boot too. You really get the feeling here that this one is gonna be some journey. If you thought there might be time to chill here, then think again as Back In The Day Pt. 2 brings a follow up to a track from Mic Mountains 2018 album The Avalanche. Here razor sharp cuts and a heavy sonic sound merge with a pounding drum beat to get you bouncing and pumping the air. Mic Mountain takes us back to his teenage years, schooling us to some of his inspirations with mentions for the likes of KRS ONE and BDP, Redman, Black Sheep, Cypress Hill and more. But more than that we also get an insight into what it was like for him growing up, learning the latest rap verses before heading home to write his own. This is a true look into how you push yourself to rise from the early days, constantly evolving and practicing, never resting but always having that faith in yourself that you can be someone. The focus now switches from those early days as DMV MC takes us into the metropolitan area of Washington D.C. and for anyone not familiar with the term, it stands for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Tronbeatz gives us a solid head nod beat that is backed by a multi-layered sound that chills you out a little while Mr Scratch Hook cuts up some classic Hip Hop samples. Mic Mountain reps it for the hometown here as he takes us back to the streets of DC, showing us what it was to be an emcee growing up there, constantly honing his craft on the mic as well as dabbling in graffiti.

Conan Swords brings a heavy sound with horns that keeps your head moving while vibrating through your whole body, giving this one a sound that seems to grab you and hold you in a vice-like grip. Lyrically, this one has a battle rap edge to it where each bar hits like a bullet or the razor-sharp edge of a heavy metal sword, where everything cuts deep but, rather than leaving you bleeding, this one gets you hyped for what’s coming next; and coming next is the first feature as CrDnlSn joins us for Got That Motion. Here the sound has an edge that seems to take you to the streets after dark with a drumbeat is backed by chilled synth sound. There are also a couple moments the sound switches up but still keeping that bright lights big city feel to it. Mic Mountain and CrDnlSn keep it rooted in the streets of the DMV while displaying the desire to take it from those very streets to conquer the globe with their vocals, always moving forward and never looking back and with plenty to encounter along the way.

Mystery Weed takes the original Scooby Doo theme, flipping it into a banger of a sound that brings a smile with it. You switch that smile into a proper grin as Mic Mountain has fun by flipping the classic narrative of a Scooby Doo episode into a smoke filled comedic romp where the culprit would have got away with it too, if it wasn’t for that meddling Hip Hop MoFo. We keep that idea of flipping the Scooby Doo vibes with the Scoob Scrap Raps. Here Thirstin Howl 3^rd joins Mic Mountain to drop some just for fun mic mockery as wordplay meets the world of mystery Inc. flipping it all on its head and leaving all sucka rappers dead. TronBeatz provides the stage for all these fun and games with an eerie synth sound underpinning a heavy drum loop that beats the strange sound into your bones and has you looking over your shoulder at every turn…

Broken Glass features The Bad Seed alongside Mic Mountain as TronBeatz brings a sound that thumps hard, threatening to make your ears bleed. There is a couple of switches along the way that have a sound that is freakier that a sixties horror movie soundtrack vibe. Lyrically this one hits you like pieces of broken glass falling on your ears. Wordplay that slices deep into your mind and eliciting thoughts that intrude like broken nightmares into your awareness. All to soon we are at the albums penultimate track Nautical Flow, with a sound that pounding beat with organ notes and vocal samples that make you feel like you could be floating, ebbing and flowing with the tide. Mic Mountain takes us on a journey of subsurface vocals where lyricism meets the oceans, mythical creatures, pirates and more. This one takes you into a dream world where water, an emotive symbolism, surrounds you, holding you just long enough to take you away from the trials and tribulations of life. The album concludes with It’s A Wave, where TronBeatz brings a sound that has a beat that makes you move almost unconsciously, but the synth sounds have a vibe that once more gives you that feeling of ebbing and flowing, although the waters may feel a bit choppier this time around. Mic Mountain takes us to the crest of the wave, riding that energy there is a feeling that the message here is that you need to make waves so that people will take notice of what you have to offer. Once you have their attention, they will see the strength and the reality of what you bring and that you speak from a place of knowledge and understanding.

 

Mictronics is a little under twenty five minutes in length, but what it might lack in length, it more than makes up for in shear content. Now, I have never been a fan of track lengths under three minutes, I find it hard to see how you can put enough into anything shorter. But I have to say that I am becoming more used to it now and on Mictronics, Mic Mountain and TronBeatz really do make the best use of every second, giving you a hell of a lot of bang for your bucks.

The album is a full on boom bap rooted album, there is no question, but along the way TronBeatz gives us just enough tweaks to give it a fresh sound. He also brings a good number of vibes that have just the right amount of emotive edge to mirror what Mic Mountain is trying to elicit from the listener, something that he does with aplomb.

Mic Mountain keeps it straight Hip Hop here with lyrics, flows and wordplay that allow you to hear every rhyme, thus allowing you to be able to get right into each track, if you so choose to. There is also a great mix of styles here that bring you the kind of tracks you can enjoy listening to for fun but, at the same time there is a balance of tracks that also have some deep massages, some of which can be quite subtle, you just have to take the time to listen.

It would be amiss of me if I were not to mention how the Hip Hop vibe is accentuated by the cuts of Mr Scratch Hook. There is always that little voice inside me that says how Hip Hop are you being without the inclusion of a DeeJay cutting it up. For me it is, pretty much, a must as an aspect of that real Hip Hop vibe.

It is also great to see that as a solo album, Mic Mountain has kept the features to minimum, highlighting his own lyricism. That is not to take anything away from those who do feature. Thirstin Howl the 3^rd, The Bad Seed and CrDnlSn, are all a credit to the scene and add depth and feeling to those tracks they appear on, this complementing Mic Mountain and the overall sound of the album.

For me, this was a highly enjoyable album from start to finish where solid emotive beats meet intellectual wordplay, and where it all comes together to make smile, bounce and ultimately think. Hip Hop music has always been a sound which can encompass so much, from just having fun with lyrics and wordplay, to deeper conscious explorations and understanding the origins of the artist bringing you such deeply relatable subject matter, and with Mictronics, Mic Mountain and TronBeatz have done a superb job of doing just that. You just have to truly listen, but you can also just listen and enjoy it, because that is what music is all about too.

Mictronics is released on 5^th December everywhere so don’t sleep on this one.

There is also an album listening party via Bandcamp on 3rd December at 7pm ET in the US or 00:00 4th December GMT.

 

My huge and humble thanks to Mic Mountain for giving me the chance to bring you my take on this one.

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

 Grab your copy here:

https://micmountain.bandcamp.com/album/mictronics

or

https://micmountain.com/ 

 

Mic Mountain Socials

https://www.facebook.com/micmountainmusic

https://www.facebook.com/michael.mountain.34432

https://www.instagram.com/therealmicmountain/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaQhDfbvbpWHPOUHkKESfg

TronBeatz Socials

https://www.instagram.com/tronbeatz88/

https://www.facebook.com/tron.beats

VIDEOS

Mystery Weed

Scooba Scrap Raps

 

Album Review: Undiluted by Cymarshall Law Produced by Ramson Badbonez

 

UNDILUTED

By

Cymarshall Law

Prod. By Ramson Badbonez

 

I really like it when a label goes that extra mile to promo a release, and here Nuke Fam Records have done that for this release. They sent the Nuke Fam Mag Vol One to those who had previously purchased a release from them as a way to fully promote Undiluted from East Coast US Emcee Cymarshall Law and UK legendary emcee and producer Ramson Badbonez.

The Nuke Fam Mag Vol One really gets you hyped up for this release with a review from the one and only Craig Killa Tapes aka Grimee Quick (which I decided not to read prior to this review), some great pics of the artwork and artists, plus an interview with Cymarshall Law; I’ll put a link to the full interview on YouTube below.

Now, I have featured Ramson Badbonez on the blog before with my review of his producer album, Lead By Example, and a number of features too. Based in London, he has been one of the UK’s most prolific emcees in recent years. He also turned his hand to production in 2021 with the afore mentioned Lead By Example, further cementing his legendary status in the UK and further afield.

In fact, it was Lead By Example that also gave me my first introduction, on the blog, to Cymarshall Law, who appeared on the track Reservoir Dogs. Born in Luton UK, he moved to the US when he was just nine years old. His career would be instigated as he watched his older brother Skits Slam’s own career evolve. But it would be at age seventeen that he would get his break joining the group Everlivin Sound, on the advice of another UK ex-pat, the one and only MF DOOM (R.I.E.P). The New Jersey based emcee is now one of the East Coast heavy hitters and joining forces with one the UK greats, seems a natural progression.

The album also has some cracking features to with Ramson Badbonez himself picking up the mic alongside appearances from Leaf Dog, DJ Phillip Lee, Pacewon, and DJ Jazz T. Showing that this one is a true slice of Hip Hop that spans the oceans.

Anyway, with all that said, I think it’s now time to get into the album…

 

So, Side A (Yeah, I’m gonna give you the review as it you were listening to the vinyl, if that’s OK), kicks things off with Free Like A Breeze, an intro that hits you hard with pounding drum breaks and more, swirling in your head like the trailer for a movie. The vocals here seem to float alongside the sound, and the more you listen, the more they seem to be opening your mind, preparing you for what’s to come, and you are not left waiting as Ramson Badbonez picks up the mike alongside Cymarshall Law for My Opening. This one immediately injects some adrenaline into your system getting you bouncing from the get-go with an infectious sound you can’t ignore. Cymarshall and Ransom trade verses here, flexing their lyrical muscles, with the kind of intricate wordplay that gets you all fired up while systematically having your brain rewired. So, with your body now bouncing and your mind spinning we move on to Hymphony (Going In), which has this banging funk vibe to it with funked up drums and guitars getting you moving in a whole new way. Cymarshall Law takes the gloves off here, demonstrating that this is some real Hip Hop right here as he alludes to the B-Girls, B-Boys and the graff writers, before unloading a salvo that takes out the competition in true rap style. It’s all about going in with everything you got and standing tall so that everyone can see that you have the skill to back up the braggadocio, the way rappers threw down back in the day, and this is throwing down for a new era. Just as all that is sinking in DJ Phillip Lee steps up to the One’s and Two’s, cutting it up alongside Cymarshall Law while Ramson Badbonez drops a heavy beat that is mixed with chilled keys, giving this one a laid-back sound that still has your head nodding. Burning It Up embraces that slightly laid-back sound as this one is all about mixing up the rap vocals with more that hit or two from a certain medicinal plant that many enjoy, and one that just happens to, as Cymarshall cleverly points out, have ‘the same colour as Raekwon’s tape’ alluding to limited first edition tape version of ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…’ which was purple in colour. You also can’t escape some of the classic vocal samples that are cut into this one too, adding to the rawness of that boombap sound. Emerald Tablet brings strings to bear on this before the beat kicks in elevates the adrenaline levels. This one speaks on being authentic in this modern era, a time when the rise of AI and digital media makes it easy for people to create something that they don’t have to think much about. Cymarshall states he is the ‘Emerald Tablet among iPads’, the Emerald Tablet being a cryptic text from 8^th or 9^th century CE that is attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. This shows the difference between something created by someone thousands of years ago, from knowledge alone, as opposed to a digital construct that allows people to create something without too much thought. Creating something that is truly authentic allows people to connect with you in different ways, giving depth and feeling to what you do. Side-A ends with One Warning, which features another legendary UK figure in Leaf Dog. Heavy Drums and horns give this one a sound that seems to seep into the very core of your being. This one seems to have that vibe of how things change from when you were younger to the present day. When you were young you got just one warning about things and that set up on how things played out as you grew but, these days it seems that people need to have things repeated to them over again, there is not the respect there used to be. Maybe I’m not getting the right message but, I really felt that as I listened, that there was this air of giving respect to those for what they have achieved.

So, spinning over to Side-B, we are straight back into it with Shell Toes. Here the drum break and horns give this one soundtrack vibe, elevating the sound a couple of levels and getting you jumping, forget the bouncing. Now, you might think from the title that this one is going to be a homage to the classic Adidas sneakers but, this one goes above and beyond that with the Shell Toes being a symbol of what this is all about, which is all about what you put into what you do. The Shell Toes have always been synonymous with Hip Hop and here it’s all about constantly putting in the work and elevating your craft, constantly pushing yourself to be the best you can be. Better Win brings a new sound to your ears, with new percussion vibes, chilled basslines and sonic sounds that seem to get you floating along giving more attention to the vocals. There is this kind of faint ragga air mixed into to this one too especially with the way Cymarshall Law drops his vocals. As you listen to this you get the feeling that this one is all about not sitting back and getting too comfortable to being in one flow, one style, one vibe, It’s all about keeping it fresh and delivering real lived experience that the listener can associate with and focusing on the best possible outcome in life. With that thought in mind, we move on to the Tables Turning, Where the drums pound but, the multi-layered background sound has a more lo-fi vibe that gives you a sound to chill to. This one gave me chills as it really focused on the fact that Hip Hop, the Real Hip Hop, is coming back, silencing the critics and proving that the roots have always been there and are still inspiring people to bring it back. It is something that I have felt in a lot of the music that I review, I know that real Hip Hop is still out there, regardless of the views of so many, including the internet critics. This one really mirrors my feeling on the culture, and that is what gave me those chills. Next up is Aurora where Ramson Badbonez ups the pace a bit with a banging beat that is backed with organ and more giving you sound that really gets the adrenaline moving. Cymarshall Law gives us a solid display of raw Hip Hop braggadocio, taking self-expression to new heights and giving us the kind of track that just makes you nod your head for the quality of the wordplay. We now come to the penultimate track of the album, Dust Settles, where the drums and accompanying keys, give us this deep sound that gets you moving while vibrating through you to the core. When you hit the game with force, you are going to kick up a lot of dust, and right here Cymarshall Law is unloading plenty of verbal lead, causing huge amounts of dust to be kicked up in the process. This means that many will fall by the wayside in the face of such an onslaught and begs the question, just who will be left standing when the Dust Settles. After such a powerful statement, you might think that’s the end of the album, but no, there is one bonus track left, which is Here I Am featuring Pacewon, DJ Jazz T on the cut, and bass from JCA. Ramson Badbonez rounds things off with a solid banger hits with some heavy pounding beats with some background sounds that give this one an edge that seems to weigh on you from all sides. This one sees our two emcees trading verses in a blistering display of wordplay that goes to prove, in one three minute track, that Hip Hop is well and truly alive and kicking.

 

The first thing that strikes you about this album is the feeling of just how raw it feels. It makes you feel that what went into making this was pure unadulterated passion for expressing the essence of true Hip Hop music. It might not have some of the deep conscious vibes that a lot of Hip Hop is displaying right now but, what is does display is a deep desire to strip things down and give the listener a raw display of what Hip Hop wordplay and the sound is all about. 

What Cymarshall Law and Ramson Badbonez have done here is to perfectly display a mix of production and rap that encapsulates exactly what Hip Hop music is, while also demonstrating their own, individual abilities.

Cymarshall Law shows what being a heavy hitter is all about by displaying a talent for slick and intricate wordplay while being able switch that across a range of flows that keep the listener engaged not matter what he is saying along the way. His technique just seems to blow you away, especially as it shows his deep love and appreciation for rap and the whole Hip Hop culture.

Ramson Badbonez shows that an emcee can use that knowledge of wordplay and flow to craft beats that work perfectly for bringing focus to an emcee’s words, while still giving the listener an enjoyable experience. Plus, his production is, at times, as intricate as the wordplay that he himself is so adept at.

When you put these two together, they perfectly complement each other in a way that brings a new wave of appreciation and love for that true Hip Hop sound. As you listen to the album you get this feel that each has their own deep love and passion for Hip Hop and that is what brings that authentic sound to entire album. There is not one track here that does not exude that same passion and desire to bring that real Hip Hop sound to your ear. In fact, to a point here I almost forgot to mention how good the features are because each one of those features bring their own energy to the mix but, also, they bring their own love of that real Hip Hop sound, and that is why they work so well here because they all have one thing that binds them together.

Overall, there is not much more I can say except that Undiluted is a passionate and raw homage to Hip Hop and its sound. This album shows that Hip Hop is a sound that is universally recognised and unites people and nations the world over. So, no matter what you take from this album, what it says to you or how much you enjoy it, remember that one thing it has always stood for, Unity…

My huge thanks to Eskar at Nuke Fam Records for giving me that chance to bring you my take on this truly outstanding album.

 

Undiluted is out today and available on limited edition clear vinyl and cassette copies plus, digital of course. So go grab your copy now…

 

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy Here:

https://nukefamrecords.bandcamp.com/album/undiluted

Cymarshall Law Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/cymarshall.law.2025

https://www.instagram.com/cymarshalllaw/

Ramson Badbonez Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/ramson.badbonez

https://www.instagram.com/ramson_badbonez/

Nuke Fam Records Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069127714724

https://www.instagram.com/nukefamrecords/

VIDEOS

Cymarshall Law Interview

 

 

Album review: 2 Heads The LP - Directors Cut by Nay 'n' Pand

 

2 HEADS The LP – Director’s Cut

By

Nay 'n' Pand

 

The last time I featured these two together was on 2022’s The Long Year EP, Which was produced by Panda and saw The Local Healers (Nay Loco and Ty Healy) alongside Louis Cypher, and even back then they were working an album together. That album would eventually come to fruition as this album right here, 2 Heads The LP – Director’s Cut.

Now the reason this has taken a while to reach your ears is that Panda and Nay wanted to bring you a true audible experience. But, please let me allow Panda to explain, “the LP has been constructed in a way that mirrors a feature film. There are twist’s and turn’s, hidden ‘easter eggs’ / film references, and it is all essentially split into 3 act’s with Opening / End credit theme’s and interval’s in an effort to keep you gripped from the moment you press play on the first track right through to the end”.

So, with all that said, the anticipation levels are high and I’m not gonna keep you hanging around but, just dive head long into the album, so let’s go…

 

As you take your seat, the lights dim, and the room darkens. The curtains of your mind slowly open and music begins with the 2 Heads Prologue (Opening Credit’s Theme). This short intro has a nice head nod vibe that gets you into the groove of things as the piano serves to bring this light-hearted edge that gets you in a feel good mood. Feeling good, but maybe with a slight air of anticipation about what is to come, Yung, Handsome & Black kicks in with a beat that keeps the head in motion while the mix of horns, sees Panda get that pulse rate elevated just enough to get you focused on the vocals. Nay takes on the role of our protagonist, giving us an introduction to just who he is, while spinning things just enough that you wonder is he portraying an anti-hero or something more? While you are pondering that for just a moment, Veronica Caine joins proceedings for her first appearance on Cartoon’s.  Panda brings us this very easy going vibe that perfectly emulates the sound that puts you in mind of watching cartoons on Saturday morning, back in the day. Nay and Veronica take us on a smile inducing trip through memories of an animated world where some of the craziest things happened, things that got you laughing. As you listen to the lyric’s, they get you thinking once more, is life really more of a cartoon than a movie? Consider it for a second but, but not too long because 32 Raws sees the horns and a more chilled beat, bringing a jazzy edge to the sound. Floating away to these easy sounds, you realise that this one is all about taking more than a few moments away from reality by taking a hit, or two, or more on one thing that can give you some respite from the daily grind. It might still be illegal right now but, perhaps times are changing? In fact, change, of a different kind, is something the end of the previous track alludes to, in which many couples are choosing to live together for longer, rather than get married quickly, and this brings us directly into the next track, Ain’t Married Yet. This features Veronica Caine on her second appearance alongside Nay. Here, the beat keeps that chilled edge but, with piano vibes accompanying a more head nod sound. This one looks at how love and family life can grow deeper and take its time to bloom. Not everyone decides to jump straight into marriage and that is something that is down to the individuals, and for some taking that time can forge a strong relationship that stands the test of time. 

  

Ya Don’t Stop (Act 1 into Act 2) is our first instrumental interlude from Panda. A heavy but laid-back sound that gives you a minute to nod your head to and consider where this one might be headed. Act 1 has given us an introduction to things, an overview, if you will, of our protagonist. What comes next is bound to open things up a little and we wait with bated breath. Act 2 begins with Saint or Sinner as Panda brings us a laid-back sound of bass and piano elements with this drum beat that brings a deeper edge to things giving this one a reflective vibe. Here Nay seems to be reflecting over his past, which has him caught up in a sense of purgatory, wrestling with just who he really is? The message here is that your life is what you make it and you need to choose the right path, one that is an expression of your true self; allowing you know that you have lived life to the fullest. Lost Folks changes the mood slightly, there is still a reflective edge here but, Panda uses the beat and piano vibes to bring a more personal edge to things. Nay grips that personal sound and takes us on a deep journey through life, thinking of all those he has lost along the way, reflecting on the good times and the bad. But the message here is that losing those close to us can be a hard thing to deal with and leaves us with a sense of emptiness, but it is important to remember them and to use those memories to fill our hearts with love and to never loose sight of who we are, walking forward with their essence still beside us, every day. That reflective edge continues with Somehow, the mood here is lifted slightly with Panda almost softening the beat into the background. The bass and guitars take the forefront here, and this creates a sound that lifts the mood. Nay reflects that lifting of the mood by speaking to his younger self about how all those struggles and hard times being worth it. You just have to bide your time and one day, in some way, and somehow, you will get that break and understand just what all those moments meant to you and how they prepared you for the place you are in now. Act 2 draws to a close with Kick A Rhyme 2. The first Kick A Rhyme appeared on 2023’s Bamboozled EP by Pandamonium and Ty Healy, Nay’s partner in The Local Healers. Panda brings a funky vibe that mixes bass and other guitars with a solid beat and more that provides an injection of adrenaline to the proceedings. This gives Nay the perfect platform to drop bars and open up his lyrics, kicking it on whatever he wants to, while bigging up Panda on the mix.

That sets it up perfectly for Me & My DJ (Act 2 into Act 3) as Panda rounds off Act 2, giving us a moment to reflect. Piano, heavy guitar riffs and banging drums bring a head nod sound that injects more adrenaline and gives you the energy to muse on Act 2. Act 2 seemed to show our protagonist reflecting over the past, wondering who he was as a person and understanding how his past experiences have brought him to this point and made him who he is, from a young man who may have been to be headed for self-destruction. It was the music that gave him the chance to be here now and teaming up with the right DJ has elevated things. With that thought in mind for Act 3, we find Nay looking to the future with Where Do We Go from Here. Panda comes with the Jazz fuelled sound that sees piano takes the forefront, giving us a chilled sound to kick back to. Just like Dizzy Dustin on his album with Panda, Nay finds himself stood at a crossroads in life. All the pain and suffering we see around us, and even that we have lived through gives us food for thought as the road in front of us finally clears, we wonder how we walk forward carrying that heaviness. The answer is just to take some time to remember who we are and find the strength to take that next step forward. As we consider that next step, Panda ups the pace a little with How We Roll, bringing a more pulse pounding sound that gives just the right energy for Nay to take that next step. Nay takes the beat between his teeth here and brings more grit to his delivery, giving us a look at someone taking his seat at the top of his game. Channelling all that past energy into a future that he has fought hard to bring to fruition, carefully honing his craft and polishing every aspect of his game and taking his rightful place at the top. I Saw Ya, brings a real laid-back vibe that changes the direction you thought the album might be taking. Panda switches things perfectly here by creating a platform for Nay to drop a track that speaks on the love he has for the love of his life. This is another deeply personal dive into Nay’s life, something that shows how love can help you change the direction of your life. That notion of change is explored now with Change, where Panda brings in an upbeat Jazz vibe that has in infectious sound that you can’t help but, move to. Nay looks at life and how some can change for the better while others change for the worse, that is just how life works as it evolves from the choices we make along the way. Some changes are things that we intend, while sometimes things just change in an instant but, one thing is for certain, change is always on the cards, it’s just how we react to that change that sets up where we go from there. Finally, we find ourselves at the end of the album, closing out with Until Next Time (End Credit Theme). Here Panda brings the final interlude and signing off of the album. As the curtains in our mind draw once more and we listen to this funky little ditty, it sets us up with pondering over the entirety of the album. Long after Nay & Panda are 5000 G, you are left thinking. We began with Act 1 giving us snapshots of what was and had been happening, while Act 2 drew us in deeper, reflecting on life before finally coming to a crossroads and looking to the future…

 

This album has been some ride, and I have to say that Nay and Panda did a pretty damn good job in how they created and presented this album. It takes you deep on many levels and while giving you a deep look at Nay’s Protagonist, it also gives you enough room to come away thinking about your own life. While keeping the enjoyment levels high and injecting just enough to break things up along the way.

Nay shows a wide range of flows, wordplay and that ability to bring deeply authentic, personal lived experience to the table, something that allows you to really associate, on a personal level with the themes and focus of each track. This gives Nay’s delivery a depth that makes you want to listen intently to his lyrical content and to not want to miss a word of it.

Pandamonium just seems to evolve and mature with every release he is involved with, be it solo or alongside another artist and here he once again shows how that evolution as a DJ/Producer allows him to perfectly emulate the sound that Nay is looking for to take the lyrics to a place where the musical mood is balanced with that of the lyrics. He also, does all the cuts, mixing, mastering etc, and that’s something.

It would be amiss of me if I did not give a mention to Veronica Caine who appears in Act 1. She brings a nice balance to those tracks with her delivery and wordplay. Something that not only brings that balance but, also adds a little extra depth, giving you a different angle on things.

Together these guys have taken their time to craft a release that is exactly what they were trying to deliver. 2 Heads is an album that is crafted in such a way that I don’t think I have heard it like before. It balances entertainment value with deep emotive content in a way that, you have to listen to it in one go, just like if you were watching a movie, and if you have to stop for snacks or to use the loo, you have those little interludes in which to do so, once you pause it of course.

I really understand how It took nearly three years to get this right, you can’t rush something like this, especially if you want to deliver the depth of meaning that the album brings, and credit where credit is due, the guys have done a masterful job here.

I don’t think there is much more for me to say except that 2 Heads The LP – Directors Cut, is a pleasure to listen to; and it was also a pleasure to write to, as it was one of those listens that allows the words to flow, and I love that. It is also released through Pandamonium's own imprint Label, BAMBOOM Records.

If you have not heard this one yet, then I advise you to have a listen now. Plus, there are strictly limited cassette tapes available, and I think there might be more physical versions coming soon too, so watch for that.

My humble thanks to Pandamonium for letting me bring this one to you, albeit a little late.

Enjoy, and I’ll see you next time.

Steve.

LINKS

One Link to grab the Album and more:

https://linktr.ee/naynpand

Nay Loco Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/ElNegroLocoNay 

https://www.instagram.com/nayloconotts/

Pandamonium Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/pandamoniumuk/

https://www.facebook.com/djpandamoniumuk

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

 

 

 

 

 

EP Review + Bonus: The B-Line EP Vol.5 & Sunshine Single by Specifik X Chrome

 

B-Line EP Vol. 5

By

Various Artists

Bonus – Sunshine by Specifik x Chrome

 

Now this review is probably gonna come as a surprise to most people as I have not told anyone I’m doing this one. The B-Line EP series has been going since way back in 2013, and I happen to own volumes 3 and 4 which were gifted to me by Specifik at the first ever Rope-A-Dope for being the unofficial photographer on the day. It is the B-Line EP series that gave me one of my favourite UK tracks to date, Painkiller by Chrome and Illinspired ft Whirlwind D and Super JB which featured on Volume 4.

These EP’s have always been packed with top notch Hip Hop bangers to really get your adrenaline levels ramped up, giving you an insight into the some of the cream of the underground UK Hip Hop scene.

As a bonus I am going to give you my take on the hot new single Sunshine from Specifik and Chrome, so keep reading for that little bonus. I’m not going to give you any insight into who features on this one so read on for the lowdown.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it…

 

It all kicks off with a track that has been resurrected from the early 2000’s, Microphone Mathematics comes from the one and only Krash Slaughta and features Louis Falasha, Remark and Bandog. As you can probably guess this one hits max levels from the get-go as Krash hits us with a pulse pounding mix of horns and an infectious beat, alongside a wealth of cuts, scratches, and much more getting your body moving and your head nodding. This one is a trat for the eardrums and gives you exactly what you expect by adding three mics together, then multiplying by two turntables, dividing between four legendary figures, and subtracting nothing at all. Working this all out means the answer is total enjoyment and the freshest thing since sliced bread. If you were in any doubt as to whether things might ease back after that, think again as a huge beat explodes in your ears for Molar Rameses from Beattrix featuring the man Junior Disprol. This one has your adrenaline levels pushing past the red levels as Junior Disprol seizes your mind and rips your awareness apart with the kind of lyrical mastery that is second to none. All the while the beat kicks, the cuts slice, and the samples bring in the one Kool Keith. All in all, this one pushes your heart to the point of bursting with its shear hip hop purity. Now its time to bring the pulse levels down a little but, increasing the energy that vibrates through the body as Specifik and The Doozer bring us The Grift with beat that literally shakes the walls and the very core of your being. The guitars add a nice little edge while the beep monitors your heart rate. This one has The Doozer laying it all about those who engage in the swindling of the masses. Dropping little nuggets of information that form a larger scale misdirection, sucking people into their propaganda without even knowing it. The message here is really not to trust anything to hear in the media or from sources that stand close to the powers that be. Next up is Whirlwind D, Franky Roar and Djar One with International Swagger. This one has a heavy but laid-back beat with an orchestral backdrop that puts you in mind of some James Bond, espionage vibes, while the cuts hit with laser like precision. Whirlwind D seems to slip into his Double Agents persona here delivering intricate and intellectual lyrics that appear to show the trio promote their Hip Hop swagger while keeping their cloak and dagger exploits well and truly in the shadows; their one focus to prove to the world that Hip Hop lives through B-Line Business. The A-Side rounds off with Dancin’ With Life by Chrome. Time to take things to a more funk fuelled vibe as the multi-layered beat gets the energy levels pounding big time with a huge dancefloor sound. Listening to this one is not just infectious but, it takes over your whole body and mind, helping you understand that, through the music, you can feel how it intoxicates us all the same, making us move to the beat and feel the positive vibes that can easily unite us all.

Take to flip the wax over and continue this ride with Paul Nice (Fabreeze Brothers) featuring AG (D.I.T.C. & Show and A.G.) with For Old Times Sake. A pounding beat and big horns combine with razor-sharp cuts to bring the kind of sound that gets the head nodding from the get-go and screams Hip Hop from the roof tops. AG brings that golden era Hip Hop lyricism, with a hint of braggadocio for good measure, making it known that sometimes, you just gotta do things one more time for old times’ sake. This kinda speaks for itself right here so enjoy. Now, you might think its gonna be hard to follow that but, now its time for the UK’s legendary Evil Ed to step up with Every Time, which features Habitat, Chrome, Cappo and Donnie Proppa, and that line up alone gets the pulse racing. The beat is heavy with a dash or two of cuts and a chilled out horn sound that gets the head nodding while bringing a focus to the lyrics. The message in this one is pretty simple and is all about the universal language of Hip Hop. The message is in the combination of the lyrics and the music that all comes together in one cohesive moment, just as the diverse peoples of the world can all come together, and it is the universal love of music that does it every time. Next Up is Miracle and Deeflux with I Forgot, bringing a heavy funk vibe to proceedings with a wicked beat with guitar and keys, combining with slick cuts for the kinda sound that gets you swaying. This one might sound like a little journey into one person’s forgetfulness but, there is a deeper part to this if you really listen to Deeflux. It speaks on how forgetfulness can be a precursor to something much more challenging for a family and it is important to be aware of this, because things such as dementia can affect us all so deeply. After such a deep edge to the last track, the B-Line EP Vol 5 rounds off with a due who got together back before B-Line Recordings, Specifik and Project Cee with The Medley. The beat on this one really takes you back to those early days. This one takes you places you might have forgotten as Specifik lays down some slick breaks that many of you will remember while Project Cee gives us the kind of lyrics that remind us of why we fell in love with Hip Hop in the first place. The Medley, which was originally recorded back in 2002 for live shows only between 2002-2004, is a reminder of what can be achieved by those who have a deep love for the music and what to create something out of that love for those who share that love, the love of Hip Hop…

 

What the B-Line EP Vol. 5 does is to take you from the shores of the UK, across the pond and back again. It gives you the kind of experience that, felt to me like experiencing the live Rope-A-Dope events on vinyl, it really had that vibe about it. It was a treat for Hip Hop music lovers that really felt like B-Line Recordings was putting out something for the fans as much as anything. This EP does not just celebrate UK or US Hip Hop but, brings you the kind of listening experience that leaves you breathless and wanting much more. This EP has the calibre of artists that gets you excited just by reading the hype sticker on the cover, just as each one has done over the years and yeah, I must get Vols 1 and 2 sometime too.

I’m not gonna say too much about this one because, for me, the EP speaks for itself, and I have probably said enough about it already. So, it you have heard this one already, then you will know exactly what I’m talking about, and if you have not heard it yet, then why not? You need to get on this one now, because this release is what B-Line Recordings is all about, giving you, the listener the best audible experience you can get, and reminding you that Hip Hop music is alive and well here in the UK and beyond.

The B-Line EP Vol 5 is available now and there are still a few vinyl’s out there so jump on this one quick.

 

Now it’s time for that bonus review of the latest single release from B-Line Recordings, Sunshine (Gotta Get Away) by Specifik x Chrome.

This one has a nice heavy beat with chilled out Guitar, bongos, Horns and more. When all combined this one has such an upbeat sound, especially with that sung chorus, that really does put you in mind of those summer vibes, listening to dopest beats. Chrome reminisces and takes us back to the eighties with memories of breakin’, electro beats, and playing your tapes so much they got distorted or broke. There will be many of us older heads out there who will be touched by this one, it reminds me of the days we would hop on the train from Southampton to London, to check out all the big stores for new trainers and then tour the independent and second hand music stores, trying to find the latest releases or something we had been wanting for a while. We even tagged the trains and buses along the way, because that’s what we did back then, those were the days…

Specifik and Chrome have really knocked this one out the park and created a single that is not just something that has that summer anthem vibe but, it really takes you back to a time when you were younger, had little to care about except what Hip Hop culture was all about.

For me, Sunshine (Gotta Get Away) takes the biscuit as the number one summer track. It is also out on a very limited run of 30 7” vinyl, so catch one of you can (Think these are now all sold out! Sorry Peeps).

 

I have to give huge shouts here to Shaun Dowling at Hip Hop Be Bop for giving me the chance to bring you my take on the EP and to Specifik for the single promo, which I just had to include here.

 

So, till next time, Enjoy the sunshine and the B-Line Business.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab Your Copies of Both Below:

https://thecoldkrush.bigcartel.com/product/various-artists-the-b-line-ep-vol-5-12-b-line-recordings-bln041

https://hiphopbebop.com/product/various-artists-the-b-line-ep-vol-5/

https://thecoldkrush.bigcartel.com/product/specifik-sunshine-gotta-get-away-featuring-chrome

Specifik on Bandcamp:

https://djspecifik.bandcamp.com/

Chrome on Bandcamp:

https://chrome.bandcamp.com/music

VIDEOS

Sunshine (Gotta Get Away)

 

 

 

 

EP Review: Fortune Seller EP by K-Saulz Produced by World Of Ghosts

 

Fortune Seller EP

By

K-Saulz and World Of Ghosts

 

It has been nearly two years since I featured my man K-Saulz, and at that time he was working alongside production duo DiffHop but, now he is back, and this time he teams up with another production duo, World of Ghosts aka Context and Clarity, to bring you the Fortune Seller EP.

This was released just a few days ago on 5^th May and consists of four full tracks and an intro. The promo for the EP promises “a gritty, thought-provoking collaborative project, the EP delves deep into the darker corners of the human experience, reflecting on toxic culture, political unrest, and personal battles in an increasingly chaotic world. Rooted in classic boom bap with a signature UK underground twist, World Of Ghosts bring their trademark slow-tempo, head-nodding production, laced with eerie atmospherics and heavy-hitting drums. K-Saulz and World Of Ghosts have created a snapshot of modern struggle, survival, and truth—wrapped in raw beats and uncompromising bars”.

Alongside K-Saulz and World of Ghosts, there are guest appearances from Scrolls The Mystic, Verbz MC, Ill Sykes and Seek Tha Northerner. With all that said, I hope I have whetted your appetite enough…

So, join me know as we sit in a tent, dimly lit by candles, and with the faint smell of incence filling the air…

World of Ghosts remain in the shadows while K-Saulz takes a seat across the table from us, and once we cross his palm with silver, he begins. The Intro sets the scene for us, with a down tempo beat and some eerie key notes, we are drawn into an alternate reality, created for us by the artist, where paranoia seems to be the order of the day; something that, in truth is not that from the reality in which we currently live.

Now things begin in earnest as K-Saulz becomes the Fortune Seller, while World of Ghost brings a cinematic sound scape of horns and strings, over plodding beat that floats along to faint smoke of the incense sticks. K-Saulz captivates us with the depth of his wordplay and poetic lyricism. As we listen to flow of these captivating words, there are metaphorical lines that play havoc with our minds and have us wondering if this is just the intricate flows of am emcee ahead of their time, of if he is actually getting into our minds and dreams, giving us glimpse of what is to come? As our minds spin, Scrolls The Mystic appears from the shadows, seemingly forming from faint smoke that hangs in the air. He joins K-Saulz for the Rebirth Of Cyrus and a heavy beat kicks in while bells, keys, cymbals and more bring an eerie edge to proceedings. This one really tests the limit of our understanding as words, metaphors and similes twist the very nature of our understanding of the world around us. This goes some way to mirror the constant stream of information, dis-information, and mind-controlling information that our awareness is constantly exposed to every day. It is how we individually process this information that controls how we see and understand what is happening around us; a deep and, at times, troubling thought that may make you re-examine what you see as truths and untruths.

The form of Scrolls The Mystic fades away and is replaced by the form of Verbz MC for War Dance. Here, World Of Ghosts brings us more heavy drums over which is a mix of guitars, harp, horns, and much more that goes past eerie and tests our every nerve. K-Saulz and Verbz MC bring intricate wordplay that serves to bring visions of all forms of altercations, arguments, civil unrest, wars, and beyond. These visions might come from what you see in the world around, with those around you, or even from within yourself but, one thing is for sure, every day we see and experience these things and must learn not to let them to seep to deeply into who we are, or the negativity will take control of us and draw us into the darkness. The EP draws to a close with Reality Check, something we definitely need right now, and once more the swirling smoke begins to take on human form. This time if takes on the form of Ill Sykes and Seek The Northerner, standing shoulder to shoulder with K-Saulz. World Of Ghosts brings this melodic beat with bass, bells, flute, and vocal samples which all mix to bring us this more uplifting sound but, still with an air of the mystic. If you have been picturing yourself, sat in this little tent, questioning just what reality is all about, then this one will blow it all apart and have you trying to fit the pieces back together like some mindboggling jigsaw puzzle. The guys take a deep dive into many aspects of life in the world today and then tear it all apart leaving you question everything and wonder just what goes where and what the bigger picture truly is…

 

Once K-Saulz and World Of Ghosts have stepped away, you leave that little tent with a sense that the Fortune Seller EP may not have told you anything you did not know? However, what it has done is to sell you a whole new way to look at the world around you and how you might see your life and fortunes progressing. Music is a powerful medium that can paint an audible picture for you that might, in this case, immediately seem to be a dark representation of life but, as it seeps into your awareness more and more, you realise that its all about how you view that reality and how much of the negative aspects you allow to consume you. If you can take a step back and view the world from a different standpoint and not allow the darkness in, things look a whole lot different and you can walk forward knowing it will never control you, and only you have the ultimate control of yourself and your journey…

I have to say that I really enjoyed this one and how it allowed me to have some fun with my interpretations. The production from World Of Ghosts has this eerie, almost Trip Hop vibe to it but, still has that foundation of solid boom bap Hip Hop. It is those subtle background sounds that create the eerie vibe, and when laid over those down-tempo beats it just helps you float along to the sound, as incense smoke hangs and floats through the air. K-Sauls really goes all out here in demonstrating his intricate wordplay, flows, and a deeply poetic edge that really draws you in and helps you get lost in the moment. Bringing in a few solid emcees here also adds an additional edge to the proceedings. Each guest emcee brings a different vibe that just adds a subtle depth to those tracks, taking nothing away from K-Saulz but, fitting perfectly with the overall vibe of the EP.

The Fortune Seller EP is one of those releases that you can easily just bang in the car on your headphones and just enjoy the sound but, equally it has a deep message that allows you to sit back and drink in those words and let your self get completely immersed in the music.

If you have not checked this one already, then I humbly suggest that you do so, because you’ll be glad you did. For me, it has me wondering if there might be an album coming and also wanting to hear more from World Of Ghosts.

Artwork comes from Fabio Sanna.

The Fortune Seller EP is out now, so don’t sleep on it.

I’ll be seeing you next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab the EP from Bandcamp Here:

https://k-saulz.bandcamp.com/album/fortune-seller-ep

K-Saulz Links:

https://www.k-saulz.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/ksaulzofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/TheGobbyHobbit

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_fipZeFAwRG0ymnafxb4w

World Of Ghosts Links:

https://www.instagram.com/worldofghosts1/

https://worldofghosts.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/worldofghosts1

VIDEOS

Rebirth of Cyrus ft Scrolls The Mystic

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Self Confidence by Can't Be Copied

 

Self Confidence

By

Can’t Be Copied

 

I don’t always know which review will round off the year for me, sometimes I do get to plan ahead but, 2024 has come with a lot of challenges towards the end with some cancelled reviews, and so it came down to the last two and the first that I receive of those was Self Confidence from Can’t Be Copied aka K.A.O.$ Da Rowdy MC and Mr Roka. It is a pleasure to round off another year of reviews with these guys.

Now, it has been a while since this one came my way and so it gave me a chance to just check out their website before I got into this. CBC note that the album is a “declaration of the confidence in our ability to create new and meaningful Hip Hop”. Now, I have to say that the guys never disappoint in the music they create and messages they give, and they do all that without the need for offensive language or cursing.

So, I won’t keep you hanging around but, get straight into this album, which is some 19 tracks deep, consisting of ten full tracks and nine skit’s, so let’s go…

 

The guys kick it off in style with a heavy pounding beat and these electronic background sounds which get you head nodding from the get-go on Flowcresent. This one goes in hard looking at gun violence while also being a huge statement on the confidence that the guys have together. In fact, just as an after thought here, there could be an analogy here between the power that a gun has and the power of words and music. Guns give some confidence but, here CBC show that you don’t need that, use the talent’s you were born with and crafted from hard work to bring you that confidence. Next up is Skit 1, where we find K.A.O.$. speaking on how CBC does everything themselves so there is no need to wait on anything, this gives them more freedom to create their vision. Mr Roka provides wicked backdrop with cuts, a dope beat, and this synth vibe that has a John Carpenter feel to it. There is no time to dwell to much on that thought as more synth vibes, cuts, and another sweet beat drop in, getting you bouncing for Can’t Take It. This one really seems to define how having that self confidence can really boost the steps you take on your life’s journey, and when that happens there will be many around you who simply can’t take that energy. It’s all about keeping that confidence and cultivating the drive it gives you to succeed in life.

Skit 2 takes us backstage with K.A.O.$. Da Rowdy MC checking that everything is ready for the live show while Mr Roka is setting up on-stage and providing a little background bass notes to keep things moving. Now that everything is ready for the show, its time for CBC to give you What The Crowd Like, as Mr Roka drops some funky bass infused beat, with some slick background cuts, to get you rocking. K.A.O.$. gives us exactly what crowd likes, with a dope display of lyrical wordplay as he spins bar after bar to get your adrenaline levels pushing into the red. Skit 3 brings a pounding beat from Mr Roka as K.A.O.$. lays the cards on the table. This is CBC and this is that real Hip Hop boom bap sound and not just some average sound; this proves one thing, which is that CBC has No Competition. The beat hits hard getting you moving while Mr Roka’s cuts keep sucka’s at bay. K.A.O.$. brings the bars as hard as the beat hits, unloading the kind of lyrical flows that scream that real Hip Hop vibe from the roof tops, that’s it, this is the realness…

Skit 4 has this almost LoFi sound that just drifts through your awareness as K.A.O.$. reinforces the importance of self confidence by telling you not to let others on the outside influence what you do. You can listen to what others have to say but, when it comes down to it, it is the strength of your own convictions in your own talents that will win out. Just go with what you feel inside, that’s the key. Shouldn’t Have brings a banging beat with organ sounds and so much more it gets you fired up right out the gate. The message here is pretty simple when it comes down to it, as the focus is one things that shouldn’t have been done and a few things that should be done. This is the kind of thing that we go thought life experiencing, knowing that there are so many thing people shouldn’t have done to us, and its not just those close to us or around us but, those who govern or sit in a place of power, and at times the shouldn’t haves seem to out weight should haves. Skit 5 has this funky little beat where the bass and synth really pop out. This has a real tongue-in-cheek feel to it too looking at an artist trying to be something they aren’t and not being authentic.

Talking of being authentic its time for CBC to show their level of authenticity with Ready For Me. Mr Roka brings us this real funky vibe that has these piano and organ vibes that really tweak at your nerves. All the while K.A.O.$. is dropping bars that go hard on those who don’t perform with any level of real authenticity. There is not much more you can say here except, being authentic brings a different energy and allows you to create something that your audience will always remember and that breeds your confidence on so many levels. With Skit 6 its all about the fact that CBC do what they do, that’s it plain and simple, and straight from mouth of K.A.O.$. Mr Roka provides this electronic vibe that just sits in the background, giving you a light level of anticipation for what’s next; which is Only Here. This track sees Mr Roka bringing a guitar infused sound, using sampled guitars to create this energetic sound that fuses with the beat to be strangely infectious. Similes and metaphors about here as K.A.O.$. spits some venom on the mic. It’s all about the fact that CBC are here to do what they do, bring the real Hip Hop sound; its not about making a name or being one of the greats, but if that comes to pass, it’s all good. Really its more about the music that the rewards.

Skit 7 a nice funky beat that gets your head nodding along while K.A.O.$. notes that something does not feel right and time to step back for a bit. Giving yourself some time to kick back allows you time to Visualise, and here Mr Roka brings a proper boom bap beat that is mixed with bass, and keys to give you this chilled space to sit in. K.A.O.$. speaks on some different stories that might be happening anywhere right now, and as you become aware of what is going on around you, it makes you think about how things might affect you if you were there. When you visualise these things, it often gives you a different sense of perspective on your own life too. Skit 8 brings a sound that has this percussion sound that has an echo vibe and a deep feel to it. This one is just about inviting someone to come backstage and speak on their view of CBC.

Mic-ful brings to life that backstage chat about CBC and K.A.O.$. speaking on lived experiences alongside more on what CBC is all about. Mr Roka drops a heavy drum beat that is backed by piano and guitar notes with a sound that feels like all this information is slowly drip-feeding into your mind as to listen along. The penultimate track here is Skit 9, with a LoFi background sound that seems to mirror the ambient outdoor noise, we find a tired K.A.O.$. waiting for a bus which leads us into our final track Observation. The drums pound heavy here with an electronic element that gives this one a subtle electro vibe. This one continues perfectly from the previous skit as K.A.O.$. speaks openly on his observations on Hip Hop and its impact on the world around him. I have to echo so much of what is said here and I think that any real Hip Hop head will agree with me…

 

 

There is always a pleasure and flow when I am writing to what I hear from the CBC boys, and this album is no different. The notion of this album encompassing their self confidence in their crafts and Hip Hop in general is only too apparent here. It flows in true abundance and that dedication to bringing the listeners a form of Hip Hop that is deep and says so much but, is also a form of Hip Hop that you can play anywhere strikes a different chord. It speaks to you on many different levels with intensity but, a different level of intensity that you might feel when explicit language is used. Not that I have an issue with the use of course language but, sometimes it is just a breath of fresh air to hear Hip Hop on this level without dropouts or rewinds to cover up certain words.

Now, I know there are a lot of skit’s in this one and there are a lot of you out there who do not like these but, each one does lead into the following track and gives you a bit of breathing space between tracks. I’m certain that should you chose to listen to the album with or without the skit’s it will not change your listening pleasure but, I would suggest you give it at least one go in its original format.

All-in-All Self Confidence is another quality release from CBC and one that further cements their dedication to bringing that real Hip Hop music to the listener. Every track here has its foundations in the true Hip Hop sound and as such it brings a special vibe to those of us who grew up with Hip Hop and those whose love of Hip Hop has taken down a road of discovery through the history of the Hip Hop sound. CBC truly do keep live the heart and soul of that true Hip Hop sound; of that I have no doubt.

Self Confidence is available now exclusively from the Can’t Be Copied Hip Hop website.

Go grab it if haven’t already.

See you sometime in the New Year,

Have a good one.

Steve

LINKS

Get your copy of the Album exclusively from the CBC Website (All social links are here too):

https://cantbecopiedhiphop.com/home

Album Review: Lost In The Loophole by Frisco Boogie

 

Lost In The Loophole

By

Frisco Boogie

Its great to have Nottingham emcee Frisco Boogie back on the blog. I last featured him back in October last year with 50 From The Cradle and since them things have definitely been moving forward for him. This year he signed to Montener The Menace’s Hidden Hobby Records and his first release for the label is this nine track album, Lost In The Loophole.

As always Frisco Boogie does almost everything himself on this one, from writing and production up to arranging and, obviously, performing. He even designed the artwork too; you can’t get much more multitalented than that! The only thing he does not do is mixing and mastering, which is handled here by Mark Gamble. There are also features from DJ Glibstylez and the Local Healers to spice things up a little.

So, join me as I get Lost In The Loophole with Frisco Boogie…

 

Our journey into the loophole begins with Frisco Boogie’s most recent single release Lost. This one is really the album’s title track and has a heavy drum beat that is backed by this nerve tingling piano loop that brings your focus directly into the music and the lyrics. As you nod your head to the beat you can easily get lost in the music, which is really the whole message here. We live in a society where getting lost in anything is a challenge as we are often connected to the world in some way, shape and form but, music is something you can truly get lost in, no matter your tastes. As we get further into the loophole, you realise that things will come back around, the Same ol’ Same. The beat here keeps the heavy head nod beat but, the keys and electronic vibes bring a lighter vibe. Frisco Boogie tells it as it is, which is the fact that life is a loophole. We go through life, day to day, experiencing the same things, in the same places, going round in circles. Even holidays are only a short respite from the same ol’ same ol’. Piano notes draw you into Silence, a nerve-jangling mix of piano, drums and flute that has you questioning what’s going on. Featuring DJ Glibstyles on the cut, here we find Frisco Boogie detailing the value of those moments of silence; these moments can be the most valuable thing for us as choosing what you feel inside over a snap decision of reaction, can be the one thing that changes the outcome of where things will lead you and those around you, it can be the difference between a positive or a negative outcome. Just think about it, shutting up might be the best thing you ever did…

The Local Healers feature on the next track, March which has an infectious sound of another head nod beat, alongside hand drums and more that give this the kind od vibe you can drift away to. There is powerful message behind this one too, it is a celebration of the women in your life and the strength of their feminine energy. We will all have a special woman in our lives who bring a strength and power that guides and lifts us up. For some, it is just their mother, and for others it could also be your wife, friends and more. For me there is also a deeper message here, you can go beyond the respect and love for those women and find the strength of your own feminine energy, just because you are a man does not mean that you do not have that energy within; let the women in your lives help you to find it and all it brings. With such a powerful message still raw in your mind, a heavy beat kicks in and the drums, keys, guitars and vocal samples, bring an uplifting sound that still keeps you moving with Karma. This is a short little track that looks at the outcomes of our choices when those choices are made with less than positive intentions. In fact, karma comes with all the choices we make, it is just our intentions that decide how the karma affects us. Violin notes bring in No Answer, with xylophone, guitars and a solid drum beat, the vibe is one with a reflective edge. This one looks at all those times we sit and question what’s going on around us, our mind swimming in a see of questions but, try as we might, there seems to be to answers forthcoming from inside, even as we look externally for something that will help form those answers, nothing comes and those questions continue to float around, deep in our mind awaiting the time when an answer may be forthcoming. There is a short jazzy skit at the end of the track that is different to the vibe of the track and it kind of jumps out and surprises you, just like an old question arising or the sudden answer to an old question finally falling into place…

Field Of Crows hits with a pounding drum beat and sampled vocal sounds that give this one a questioning vibe, following on quite nicely from the last track. Frisco Boogie muses over questions of what it would be like to see through the eyes of a crow or even to be a crow. These are questions that scientific study of these birds is only beginning to give us insights to. Crows exhibit many of the traits that we humans do so, perhaps we are not that different? Maybe it would be a good thing to be able to experience how animals and birds see humans and how we treat them, as it might teach us a thing or two and help us treat them and each other in a better way? With those interesting thoughts in our heads, we move into the penultimate track of the album Turmoil In The Trenches. Horns, bass and keys compliment the beat, bringing with it a contemplative vibe. We find Frisco Boogie sat on a park bench, taking time out to watch as the loophole continues around him. Here he watches as life passes by and sees the turmoil that exists in the flow of the moment; a place where we all live, side-by-side but, not passing like ships in the night but, with a tension between us that brings with it a sense of not knowing what’s coming, either from other person directly but, also from outside, indirectly, with so much turmoil around us, sometimes you just have to sit on that park bench and take some time, just for you. The final track of the album is also the first single that was released, One Question. Eerie keys bring us into this one with some vocals that pose the one question we all come back to at some time in our lives; as the beat kicks in Frisco Boogie opens up in depth about not just that one question but, all the things that bring you to that moment, that question, go back over all those moments that brought you here to this single most important question and ask yourself, if you could relive one moment that would express everything about you before this point, where would you take yourself…

 

After listening to this album, you kind of find yourself thinking about things, questioning if you are really living in a loophole, and if you are is there really going to be a moment in which you come back to the beginning once more or will you reach a moment in which the loophole appears to end with one final question? In fact, is this life, this loophole just an on-going series of questions, some with answers and some without? Perhaps that is the purpose of this album and it’s a very ingenious concept, to leave the listener with more questions. It is also a very healthy energy, the more we keep our mind active the healthier it remains and if we have to question everything; then perhaps that what we do?

I love music and I do enjoy that listening to music allows you to get lost anywhere you want, there are no borders when it comes to getting lost in music, and more than that, I love it when the music I listen to gives me something to get my mind buzzing with thoughts and questions because that allows me to become creative with my words and Lost In The Loophole is one of those albums that does that, leaving you questioning everything long after the last beat and the last word have passed by.

I mean, even if you set aside how this album may affect you, you are left with an enjoyable album that has Hip Hop music at its core. Every beat is for those that enjoy the head nod style boom bap sound and will keep you moving from top to bottom, even if you chose not to immerse yourself in the deeper meaning of the tracks. You will also find that Frisco Boogie has an adept way of using his wordplay and insightful lyrics to good effect across the entire album. The appearances by DJ Glibstylez and Local Healers add the icing to the cake or the jam in the sponge, if you will, giving the album an extra dose of flavour that works so well but, first and foremost this is crafted by Frisco Boogie who knows exactly what he wants and expertly crafts it from words and music.

Overall, however you chose to listen to the album and whether you chose to immerse yourself in it or not, just enjoy it. This is a superb album for Frisco Boogie to bring as his debut on Hidden Hobby Records and shows why he is such a great signing for the label. Lost In The Loophole is most definitely one not to sleep on, in my humble opinion.

Lost In The Loophole is out now.

I’ll see ya next time, maybe with more questions, maybe not…

Steve.

LINKS

Get Lost in the Loophole on Bandcamp Here:

https://hiddenhobbyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-the-loophole

https://friscoboogie.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-the-loophole

Stream on Spotify Here:

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

Hidden Hobby Records Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/hidden_hobby_records/

Frisco Boogie Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/friscoboogie/

https://www.facebook.com/friscoboogie

https://www.youtube.com/@friscoboogie11

Lost in the Loophole YouTube Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kSsFaF5Ub8RghpXjWffJ89EytLt7EGA-w

VIDEOS

LOST

Silence ft DJ Glibstylez

Turmoil in the Trenches