EP Review: Banff Avenue by Dragon Fli Empire

 

Banff Avenue

By

Dragon Fli Empire

 

Way back in 1991, my Twenty First year on this planet, I went on holiday to meet family in Canada. During that trip we visited Banff, Alberta, A stunningly beautiful part of Canada. I had no idea back then that nearly 32 years later I would be reviewing an EP based around that place. However, the latest release from AE Productions is a reissue of Dragon Fli Empire’s 2020 release, Banff Avenue.

This will be the first time that Banff Avenue has been released on vinyl and it is a joint venture between AE and Make Believe Records (DFE’s own label) and has been remastered especially for the vinyl release by Rola at Khameleon Studios, Bristol, UK. Previously only available via download or CD, the collaboration was born during the release of MR Fantastic’s 2021 single Breakdown, which featured TeeKay on vocals. As the head of AE Productions, Mr Fantastic felt that Banff Avenue deserved a vinyl release and Dragon Fli Empire (Teekay and DJ Cosm) agreed. Fast forward to now and allowing for all the pressing delays due to the pandemic, Banff Avenue is now available as a full vinyl release. Those familiar with the original release will note that the vinyl release has a different running order to the original release, and this was done in order to give the vinyl a better balance of cut quality and volume.

With all that in mind, please join me as we take a trip down Banff Avenue…

We are not on the road long before we enter Banff Ave, with its laid-back drums, tambourine, and chilled cuts. We gaze lazily out the window as the stunning scenery glides by and Teekay steps up as our tour guide, providing a verbal description of everything we need to take note of on our trip, from the Canadian Rockies to sights and sounds of the town of Banff, he expertly creates an audible vision for us, even with our eyes closed we can still see everything as his words float through our awareness. Keeping it chilled the sound shifts slightly to chilled jazzy mix of drums, bass, and organ notes as we slide into Overtime. With the sun going down Teekay regales us with stories from DFE’s past and getting to where they are now. He keeps us hanging on his every word, having us picturing everything in our mind’s eye while, with every pause, we are treated to DJ Cosm brining our awareness back to the present, cutting it up on the 1’s and 2’s. Just as we are considering turning in for the night Teekay and DJ Cosm turn it up and get our adrenaline flowing with an upbeat banger with pounding drums, bass, and a plethora of cuts. On My Way has us up on our feet as DFE rocks the crowd in true Hip Hop fashion with slick flows, deft wordplay, and cuts galore. We get schooled on the where DFE are from, some of their inspirations and where they are at now is right here turning the party out. The focus shifts once more as we approach the end of our first day, or side a if you will. A beatbox and drum fuelled intro brings us into Talkin at Movies, bass and guitar vibes join the beat as Teekay takes a tongue-in-cheek look at those people who choose the talk all the way through, when you’re trying to sit and watch a good movie. This one brings a grin to your face not just because we’ve all been in this situation but, also because that beatbox brings to mind the late great Biz Markie (R.I.P), and if you’re bringing that real Hip Hop sound, you gotta have the beatbox too. With day one over it’s time for a brief pause as we flip to day two…

The needle descends and the sun rises on day two with the DFE and we are greated by a funky vibe created by chilled drums, bass, and keys, with a dash of cuts and a sprinkling of horns to cap it all off. As the beat gets you moving, our first stop is the Vortex as Teekay guides us expertly into parallel universes with his slick, intelligent, mystic wordplay. All of us having our own individual experiences, leaves us wondering just where we are going next, even questioning if this is still Canada or not but, we are not questioning the current state of reality for long before xylophone notes have us back in Banff just as the bass and drum beat kicks in and we are suddenly Looking For Tomorrow. The jazzy vibe has us nodding our heads as Teekay takes us deeper into the vision and sound of DFE. This one really makes you think about where you are, where you’ve been and understanding that to get where you’re going you need to have a vision for tomorrow, something that you can literally reach out and grab, constantly pulling you forward. Before you know it, we are here at the final track, the end of our journey with DFE. Piano notes, horns and drums give us this after-hours jazz sound, creating this chilled vibe as DFE asks us, How Ya Doin. This is like a check in between us and them, just making sure we are all doing well after our time together on Banff Avenue but, it is also a reminder to check in on those around you, just to see how they are doing, something as simple as this can go a long way, trust me. As we leave Banff Avenue, we know that this is nor like any other trip because we can just put the vinyl on anytime and go back…

 

It's always a pleasure to listen to something that allows to use your imagination to slip away out of your reality and into a different space and time, and Banff Avenue is one of those listening moments that does that so perfectly. On one hand you know that this is, pure and simple, real Hip Hop but, then DFE have also crafted this EP that flows so well and is such a pleasure to listen to and expertly allows you to create this mental picture of this journey to Banff area of the Canadian Rockies. OK, so I have been to Banff but, that was a long time ago but, this EP does stir up the memories of the rugged mountain peaks, conifer forests that flank the town. A place where you step from the hustle and bustle of the streets into the calm of the surrounding countryside.

Now I have not heard the original version of Banff Avenue yet but, I do like how this version flows. It does create this feeling like you are on an audible trip with DFE. It has this feel that you travel into the town and arrive through Banff Ave and Overtime, then there is this upbeat peak across On My Way and Talkin At The Movies and then journey continues through Vortex and Looking For Tomorrow before being rounded of with How Ya Doin. The progression seemed so obvious that it created this whole feeling of a journey that it had me creating this vibe as I wrote. The sound of the tracks really does carry you so well, it’s like a breath of fresh air and all credit to DJ Cosm for his production which is so on point here. Teekay also does an excellent job with his descriptive lyricism that has you visualising what he describes at every step. Not just that but, he switches so well in his flows and styles it is just a perfect display of everything I love about rap within Hip Hop music.

I have to be honest here and wonder how I missed this the first-time round, it’s a mystery to me but, I’m so please to have caught this now because it is such a pleasure to listen to and one a wholeheartedly recommend that you listen to.

My humble thanks to Mr Fantastic for sending this one my way.

Banff Avenue is available now on vinyl from AE Productions. CD and Digital is still available from the DFE Bandcamp Page.

 

On that note,

It’s time for me to go back to Banff,

See ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab the vinyl from AE Productions Here:

https://www.ae-productions.co.uk/product-page/dragon-fli-empire-banff-avenue-ep

Get the original 2020 release from DFE on Bandcamp Here:

https://makebelievehiphop.bandcamp.com/album/banff-avenue

Additional DFE Links Here:

https://linktr.ee/dragonfliempire

DFE on Instagram Here:

https://www.instagram.com/dragonfliempire/

VIDEOS

Banff Avenue

Overtime

 

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Listen To The Masters by DK and Ghettosocks

 

Listen to the Masters

By

DK and Ghettosocks

 

Listen to the Masters is the new album from the duo of DK (Producer) and Ghettosocks (emcee) both hailing from Canada. The last time Ghettosocks appeared on the blog was way back in 2019 when I reviewed the album HOLOS when he teamed up with fellow Canadian Aquakulture as Aquasocks. Check that review for a little more about Ghettosocks. Producer DK is new to me and so I was excited when he contacted me and asked me to review the album, based solely on my reviews he had read. Let me add a few quick facts about DK taken from his official bio.

Born and raised in Newfoundland, DK grew up being audibly transported by his father’s
eclectic vinyl and CD collections. His grandmother taught him the basics of the organ, but those
notes couldn’t compete with DMX’s bark and Dr. Dre’s cinematic g-funk. In love with hip-hop at
first listen, a teenaged DK then discovered A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock, Kanye West,
and more hip-hop artists whose music appealed to his affinity for jazz and soul. He didn’t know it
then, but these foundational influences would shape his sound as DK.
DK became obsessed with making beats in college. He spent every waking hour outside
of class on Fruity Loops, learning his craft one sample and drum break at a time. Chasing a
grittier and more vintage aesthetic, he purchased an MPC and began developing his meticulous
amalgam of vinyl sampled drums, analog synthesizers, dusty loops, and other live
instrumentation.
Local producers and MCs applauded DK’s early work, but he made his proper debut with
2019’s Soul Expressions, a bumping yet mellow 10-track EP that showcased the DK signature
with a tight roster of Canadian rappers such as Ghettosocks, Aquakultre, and Timbuktu, as well
as features from New York spitter Justo The MC and Atlanta-based Cam James.

Ghettosocks and DK began working together over two years ago and so Listen to the Masters has been a long time coming and one that has spanned so much of what has affected us in the last couple of years or so.

The album also features a host of guest artists lining up to bring us what promises to be a banger of an album. Check this line up Skyzoo, Rome Streetz, CL Smooth, El Da Sensei, Phoenix Pagliacci, Lxvndr, O.C., Moka Only, Tachichi, UFO Fev, Ambition, Justo the MC, Kxng Wooz and Timbuktu.

The album is 10 tracks deep and made up of nine full tracks and one skit splitting the album down the middle. So, with all that said let me give you the lowdown on what I got from the album as I break it down track by track.

Right out the gates you get a feeling for what is about to come as Reflections drops with this piano and drum heavy vibe and with a dash of flute and looped samples this one has you kind of floating into the album, which also creates this thoughtful air to proceedings from DK and this fits perfectly as Ghettosocks proceeds to reflect back on what it takes to get by and make something successful in life. It’s all about your ethics and your motivation to reach out there and grab those dreams and to create that reality for yourself. If you were thinking this one was gonna have a deep laid-back vibe, the kind that grabs and retains your focus, then What it Seems, has you thinking you’ve nailed it. DK comes with a chilled vibe of strings, drums, and keys while the cuts on the chorus slice into your awareness enough to keep from drifting away far. GhettoSocks, Skyzoo and Rome Streetz hit you with the kind of intellectual verses that make you realise that everything in the world today just ain’t what it seems. It’s not a game out there anymore but, more of a battle between us and the powers that be, where money and profit rules and we do not play the game, we are just the pawns. Next up is what you could say is the album’s title track The Masters. Here DK gives us an audible canvas with a background of slick keys, bass and sax, making you feel you could really float away to but, then a proper boom bap beat drops and you head gets to nodding. CL Smooth, Ghettosocks and El Da Sensei speak, masterfully, on really on what it is to be a master of your chosen craft. When you are pushing to make something of yourself, you see many masters out there doing what they do and the best way to become a master yourself, is to simply listen to the masters and continue to hone your own craft. Nearly halfway into the album and that boombap vibe continues on Be A Mango. The huge intro gives way to heavy sound of bass, horns, and drums from DK. It’s one of those sounds you just gotta nod your head to. But there is a deeper message here as Phoenix Pagliacci, Ghettosocks and LXVNDR lay it down about toxic masculinity and old views of gender stereotypes and how men and women are supposed to be is quickly breaking down and becoming an outdated notion. Now is a time when people can choose to be who they want to be. They can be their own expression of themselves and become truly authentic. Next up we have Ghettosocks, O.C. and Moka Only going All In over a solid heavy drum sound over an almost soulful mix of horns and keys, from DK and Moka Only, that keeps you bobbing your head. There is a definite air of uplifting the listener here as each verse reinforces the last, speaking to your soul and reminding you that life is not about half measures but, about giving it your all, going all in to reach for the stars.

So, we have reached that little interlude an Industry SHKIT, here we have Maya Killtron and Chudi Harris taking on the roles of Janice and Mr Woodsworth, for a comedy skit all about some out of touch record executive being given a new vinyl record, from DK The Producer, by his slightly more in touch assistant. Have a chuckle to this one as it cleanses the audible palate ready for part II of the album…

The second part, or side of the album if you have the vinyl, kicks off with DK dropping a straight up boom bap beat with some piano notes. This makes you wanna turn the volume up as Tachichi, Ghettosocks and UFO Fev drop verses demonstrating their verbal and lyrical skills, dropping bars and flipping the words for the hell of it on CHKN CHOP. To top it all of we get DK chopping up some classic Busta Rhymes samples. The vibe now moves to a far jazzier vibe as DK has us kicking back a chilled beat that is heavy on the sax alongside some xylophone notes and drums. Ghettosocks, Ambition and Justo The MC speak on those times when you are down on your luck and times are hard. This is kind of a reflection of how things are in the current climate with soaring prices and people being forced to choose where to spend what little money they might have. There is still this message here that whatever you go through its about what you do and how you conduct yourself that counts and you can still be Smoove Regardless. The penultimate track of the album is John McEnroe, which see’s DK dropping a sax heavy boom bap beat and some razor sharp, scratched up samples completing the classic Hip Hop sound. McEnroe was an outspoken person who often questioned the authorities and that is the metaphor here as Ghettosocks, Kxng Wooz and Timbuktu speak openly on the struggles that still face black people, particularly in North America. There has got to come a time when people of all races are treated with equal respect. Your skin colour should not be looked on as a negative aspect and a reason to treat you any differently. Until such a time when all peoples of the world are looked on as one family by everyone, the struggles of people in black communities and those who commit the crimes against them has to be kept in focus. The final track of the album sees DK and Ghettosocks going solo once more. Baggage has DK dropping a jazz fuelled vibe of piano, sax, double bass, and drums that will have you moving. Ghettosocks gives us a little story based around a couple, their relationship, experiences, and a few elicit substances. Just an entertaining little ditty, like someone reading from a novel, or is there more to this, can you maintain or get out of such a situation through a haze of a drug induced vision of reality…

 

So overall, what did I think?

Listen To The Masters is a solid slice of Hip Hop that has a very polished feel to it. There is an air of time taken to produce something where any flaws have been removed with a constant process of grinding and polishing until they achieved their goal. The sound is Hip Hop that flows between vibes in a way that is perfect for the listener. Boom bap, soulful and jazzy sounds all combine with lyrical dexterity that covers a lot of ground in its often-deep messages, such as police brutality, to those times it seems to give that just for fun display of wordplay. It might have been years in the making but, everything here is still very relevant now.

Ghettosocks displays an intelligent wordplay with a delivery that can be hard but, still have a silky-smooth flow that leaves you knowing that this guy has to be at the top of his game right now. Like any great emcee, his mastery of telling stories rooted in the now to simply having fun on the mic, has an often-cerebral edge to way it is delivered, with deft use of flows, wordplay, and lyrical prowess.

My first experience of listening DK on production leaves me thinking or should I say knowing that this guy is gonna be carving a huge name for himself within Hip Hop music. His use of silky-smooth samples and jazzy soulful sounds all backed up by solid Hip Hop beats is a true pleasure to behold and cuts are true gold, bringing that authentic Hip Hop sound to the fore front. DK is definitely one to watch and together with Gettosocks here they are proving that Canadian Hip Hop is showing how universal the Hip Hop sound is and bringing us closer around the world.

I also must give mention to the guest artists here who all fit perfectly into this project. Bringing and using their own unique sound to good use. Vocally we have the legendary figures such as CL Smooth, El Da Sensei and Moka Only, to those who might not be so familiar such as Phoenix Pagliacci (Canadian emcee and activist), LXVNDR, UFO Fev and Kxng Wooz, everyone does a solid display showing why they deserve to be on a release such as this. Some additional information I found out from DK was the use of live musicians on the album. I always rate using live musicians as it always adds an extra depth to the sound and I can why that has, perhaps, given me additional inspiration. Featured notable contributions are Keyboards on “Smoove Regardless” performed by Cas Weinbren and Saxophone on "Baggages" performed by jazz big band leader James Shaw.

A couple of additional shouts go to Uncle Fester who mixed the project and provided the cuts and scratches. The project was mastered by the awesome Jake Palumbo and artwork comes from Ghettosocks (He is a great Graff artist too, by the way) himself.

So, what more can say? Well, that is easy, just grab this on whatever is your preferred format and simply enjoy it.

Listen To The Masters by DK and Ghettosocks is out today in association with Black Buffalo Records.

On that note,

I’m out…

Steve

LINKS

Check the links for the release as soon as it drops. All links open in a new window.

Remember to check the guys on all social media, YouTube and all streaming platforms.

DK on Bandcamp:

https://dkproducer.bandcamp.com/

Ghettosocks on Bandcamp:

https://music.ghettosocks.com/

Black Buffalo Records on Bandcamp:

https://blackbuffalorecords.bandcamp.com/music

Black Buffalo Records Website:

http://blackbuffalorecords.ca/

VIDEOS

All In (ft O.C. & Moka Only)

What It Seems (ft Skyzoo & Rome Streetz)

The Masters (ft CL Smooth & El Da Sensei)

Album Review: Lead By Example by Ramson Badbonez

 

Lead By Example

By

Ramson Badbonez

 

There will be few of you out there who do not know the name Ramson Badbonez. One of UK Hip Hop’s most prolific emcees has returned but this time he puts down the mic in favour of production duties.

Lead By Example has a stunning line-up of emcees from the UK, USA, and Canada to handle the vocal duties, whilst also featuring turntable trickery from DJ Miracle, Kompoze and DJ Jazz T. With such a wealth of talent being brought to bear on this album, it promises to be as good a debut production for Ransom as it is a departure from his norm.

I’m not gonna make you wait here but, get straight into it…

Straight out the gate, with On Your Mark, you get an immediate sense as to what this album is gonna be about. A perfect head nod beat with keyboards is the background provided by Ramson over which we are introduced to the album over the course of a couple of minutes and the outstanding cuttin’ and scratching of DJ Miracle. It has your pulse racing from the get-go which is just as well because there is no letting up as heavy drums and jazzed up horns hit for Stay True. If you were wondering where the bar was after the intro then there is no doubt left that it’s been knocked into the atmosphere as Reks, Ruste Juxx and Blacastan drop some incredible bars of lyrical fire to get you even more fired up. The mood chills a little as the piano heavy beat of Rap To The Future hits like a cool breeze to your grill and sees Dizzy Dustin, Mr Hooper and Moka Only take us back over some of raps early days, with cuts from Kompoze, before returning us to the present.

Nonchalant is up next with some heavy drums, bass and guitar vibes that mix together to provide the fuel for Mark Fear and Ramson himself to each drop a verse in sparring fashion. Just to remind you that Ramson Badbonez can easily drop a verse when needed. Strings, piano, and a slightly more laid-back drum vibe are the backdrop for Justo the MC, Johaz of Dag Savage and Sleep Sinatra to drop some deeper more thoughtful words on Bismillah, which is Arabic for ‘In the name of God.’ Drums, piano and a mariachi guitar vibe create the prefect soundscape for spinning tales of the cities underworld and the Wolves who walk those streets. Those street stories are spun by Ramson alongside Cyclonious and Phoenix da Icefire.

Equality for Every is like a breath of fresh air, almost an aural cleanser, with and upbeat drum and guitar vibe over which is a lively brass flavour that drives the track as Ramson and Chima Anya look at the subjects of equal opportunities and racial justice, just as if they are sat at a table musing over current affairs together. Pounding drums and sonic sounds herald the arrival of Tru Trilla, Fly Kwa and Prince AK to the ring. There is nothing pretty here as these guys are here to deliver a flurry of lyrical punches with only one aim, to knockout all those Lame Ducks. Time for Ramson Badbonez to go it alone on Chinchillas. The drums pound over a melodic eastern style vibe and Ramson is clinical here in taking out those fakes. His lyrics are as sharp as a scalpel and as precise as a brain surgeon.

The drums continue to pound alongside flutes and guitars as Az Izz of The Outsidaz, Cymarshall Law, Speed Walton and Quip break out the heavy verbal artillery. This one is high octane and as deadly as any stand off from Reservoir Dogs. The penultimate track here is a posse style cut of epic proportions and one which reads like a ‘who’s who’ of top UK emcees as Ramson is joined by Kashmere, Truemendous, Mysdiggi, Micall Parknsun, Joker Starr, Gee Bag, Confucius, Jehst and Phoenix da Icefire for the Black Hole Cypher. The drums are heavy with a sonic vibe alongside and the lyrics are cerebral, with each bar drawing you further and further into the black hole but, what’s next? Where does it lead? It leads to our final track. A great spoken word intro leads on to solid boom bap beat with cuts by DJ Jazz T. Recognize Ali, Skyzoo and Juxx Diamondz step up to drop breathless flows and straight up knowledge with one main theme, if you wanna be an inspiration, a leader in this game then you have to one thing and that’s Lead By Example…

 

So, what have learnt from this album? What has the last 39 minutes shown us?

We started of by ticking a lot of boxes. We had Ramson Badbonez sidestepping from his usual trademark position as an emcee into the role of producer. We had a whole host of truly talented guest artists who joined Ramson from both sides of the pond, and we also had Ramson Badbonez displaying his mic prowess as well so, expectation was high, but did it deliver?

Did it deliver? The answer is easy, you’re damn right it did…

The album delivered on all levels. Ramson’s production is spot on throughout this album. It creates this perfect flow from start to finish that raises you up and keeps you there, ebbing and flowing, before taking you up a few more notches towards the end and wrapping up the whole thing on a new level of high points. The masterful use of talented guest artists is breath-taking. From legendary figures such as Dizzy Dustin, Moka Only, Micall Parknsun and Jehst to names that might be less well-known in the UK such as Fly Kwa, Justo the MC and Speed Walton, every one of these emcees drop performances worthy of those who are at the top of their game, this shows the sort of respect that Ramson Badbonez has in Hip Hop, that all these emcees and DJ’s are prepared to step up and to work with him at such a high level. It also demonstrates how Hip Hop is one and all those within it are one, breaking down borders to stand together as one.

Lead By Example truly is ‘The Real Deal’ and I have no doubt this album will be loved by Hip Hop fans the world over. This is not a UK Hip Hop album this is a straight up Hip Hop album, showing that hip hop is universal. I can also see this album as one of those that will stand the test of time and receive heavy rotation on playlists and radio shows wherever good music is played.

Can I overstate how good this album is? Nope…

Lead By Example is out today on New Dawn Records so, I suggest you find out how good it is yourself.

On that note,

I’m Out, See ya Soon,

Peace.

Steve

LINKS

Get Lead By Example on Bandcamp Here:

https://ramsonbadbones.bandcamp.com/

Check New Dawn Records on Bandcamp Here:

https://newdawnrecords.bandcamp.com/music

New Dawn Records Website:

https://newdawnrecs.com/

Check Ramson Badbonez on Facebook Here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063495610805

Ramson Badbonez on Instagram Here:

https://www.instagram.com/oscarslouch/

Ramson Badbonez on Twitter Here:

https://twitter.com/ramson_badbonez?lang=en

EP Review - The Connected EP by ES and Pandamonium

 

The Connected EP

By

Es and Pandamonium

EP Review

 

The Connected EP is a collaboration from UK DJ, Producer, and sometime vocalist, Pandamonium and Ontario emcee Es. I previously dropped a review by both these guys when Pandamonium dropped the fantastic summer banger ‘That Feel Good’ which featured a verse from Es.

Now, love it or hate it, Social Media has it’s plus sides and it was a post in a Hip Hop group that would see these two connect through that love of the true school, boombap, hip hop vibe. Now if you are one of those who has heard any previous releases by these guys and have maybe heard ‘That Feel Good’ you will be eagerly awaiting something new.

Making this connection from one side of the pond to the other is something that Hip Hop or even music in general plays a big part in. Especially in times where we are seemingly required to stay apart. So, connecting through the energy of music is so important.

So, let’s make that connection with Es and Pandamonium and see what their connection takes us:

Taking you into this EP is the Connected Intro, a laid back chilled out vibe which takes the form of a voice mail between Es and Pandamonium and has Es relating the story of how the guys got together. It’s cool to have that back story to get that feel for exactly how the connection was made. It just gives it that personal touch. It’s Coming, It’s Here drops and has that trademark Pandamonium Jazzy feel good funk vibe on that upbeat hip-hop vibe with a suitable dusting of turntable trickery. Es demonstrates his lyrical skills as he takes us through life, hip hop and connecting with Pandamonium. Keeping it jazzy with a sweet glockenspiel vibe running through it Up On It has Es using some deft wordplay to takes us on a journey through what it is to have music in challenging times, the importance of remaining creative and how it feels to be an artist and to see the people enjoying your music.  

Up next, we have Vision (Remix) which also features Solar-C. This track is all about remaining on track and focused on the outcome that might be as a hip-hop artist or just life in general. The path we walk has many hurdles but, as long as you keep you focus, anything is achievable. Pandamonium’s production takes the hip hop jazz funk fusion, dope cuts and creates a chilled platform for ES and Solar-C to help you create your own vision. Some jazzy keys herald the arrival of I Can’t Lose. Taking it upbeat with a light-hearted head nod beat Pandamonium and ES take a look at the current global situation and the challenges of doing what it takes to carry on regardless of the situations and hurdles that life puts in your way. Interestingly, the last track of the EP was the first one the guys recorded. Connect and Create really encapsulates the whole vibe of what the EP is all about from the heavy head nod beat to the audible picture painted by ES. This is just that real hip-hop vibe through and through and you can’t help but bounce to this.

 

What can I say about this one? The whole vibe about people with like minds connecting and coming together is what this world needs, especially in these crazy times we are living in right now. Hip Hop has always been a source of unity not just locally but, in that it crosses borders, seas and divides of all kinds. The way musicians can unite to create the kind of entertainment that excites, uplifts and unites people across the world is inspirational, and that vibe is what feels to be the essence of what The Connected EP is all about and the liner notes from ES really add that extra dimension and insight.

The connection that ES and Pandamonium have made has created something that can only be the start of something bigger and better. Recently we have seen the release of powerful releases that are opening our eyes and minds to powerful subjects like racism, paedophilia, government lies, mental health and more but, just as powerful is the ability of music to uplift and make you feel good. The Connected EP is one of those releases that has feel good written all over it and at its root. From this you could build on that essential component, unity.

The Connected EP, for me, is not just Hip Hop on a conscious vibe, It is Hip Hop on an uplifting unity vibe that holds its hand out to the world and invites you to take that hand and become one people we truly are.

As a bonus the CD and Digital (Bandcamp only) copies of the EP also feature the instrumental versions of the tracks. The vinyl version comes with four carefully selected instrumentals, what more could you ask for... Well, if you head over to the Bandcamp link below and pre-order you get one track now plus a promo minimix of the EP to set it up perfectly.

The Connected EP drops on 22^nd September with limited CD and Vinyl runs. Pre-orders are available now so, don’t sleep on this one and if you are Up On It enough, perhaps the guys might do something else for our listening pleasure…

So, Peace, I’m Out,

Steve

LINKS

Get the EP HERE: https://esxpanda.bandcamp.com/

Stream Links: http://smarturl.it/theconnectedep

Pandamonium Bandcamp: http://djpandamonium.bandcamp.com/

ES Bandcamp: http://esmuzik.bandcamp.com/

Remember to connect with the guys through Social Media:

ES

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HGmonsterEs

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/HGmonsterEs

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HGmonsterEs

YouTube: http://youtube.com/esmuzik76

PANDAMONIUM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djpandamoniumbeats

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/djpandamonium

Twitter: https://twitter.com/djpandamonium

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pandamoniumhhb

 

The Connected EP - Promo Video