The Craft
By
K-Saulz &
DiffHop
It was way back in March of 2022 that K-Saulz and production
duo DiffHop dropped The Abstract Arsonist EP, a release that lit a fire under
the floor of the UK scene, making people sit up and take notice of the guys
from South Wales. They also released a single, Stranger, in July that year,
keeping up the hype from the EP.
Now the guys are back, on Bard Picasso Records, and this
time with a full album, The Craft, to treat us to more of their brand of Hip
Hop. With one single, Lost In Space ft BMellow & Harkos, already under
their belt, this release promises a wealth of boom bap beats and slick rap
vocals.
Let’s not hang around here and get straight into it…
Puzzles is the little intro here that gives us this
little soundscape that is rooted in guitar notes while it gives us a little
insight into what is to come as the sampled vocal describes how words form the
basis of rap and how getting deep into how you use words is the foundation of
the emcees craft. Words are like blank jigsaw pieces and the emcee is the one
crafting something special from what is before him. From there we move straight
into the albums title track, The Craft. Opening with a sample from Silence
Of The Lambs, it features Brighty and DJ Jaffa on the cut; the beat drops with
drums, bass and a heavy violin sample, which gives this a deep atmospheric
vibe. The Craft is, of course, the art of emceeing and of taking a jumble of
words, phrases, similes, and metaphors, and then creating something that has
meaning, depth and can be instantly relatable or enjoyed by the listener; and
all done to a beat that helps to solidify the message or that sense of fun that
is being conveyed. With just a brief moment to consider what the craft of
emceeing is and what it means to the emcee, we are catapulted, by words and
music, beyond the confines of the planet, to where we find ourselves Lost In
Space. The one track to have features and where we find BMellow (UK) and
Harkos (US) joining the crew. A heavy beat and strings combine to create the
kind of soundscape that helps you imagine floating in the endless universe or
just closing your eyes and floating within your own mind. How you see it is
your choice as the emcees spin tales that are as at home in the here and now as
they are as the memories of those floating aimlessly among the stars.
An uplifting, chilled out vibe of Keys, drums, and strings,
brings a thoughtful air on Pulverise while the pounding beat keeps you
moving. Clever wordplay sees K-Saulz spin an audible kaleidoscope around what
it is to live our lives. Listening to the words that twist and turn in your
mind really is like the ups and downs of daily life as you do your best to
makes ends meet and get the most from every moment. Ahead of the Game is
another short skit that continues the narrative from Puzzles, further elaborating
on the process of writing and creating as an emcee. Strings and drums are the
main component of the soundscape for Silence is deadly, this creates a
vibe that seems to have you on edge as you listen. This fits perfectly as this
one is all about the anticipation, the pause before something happens; in that
moment anything is possible as the mind awaits what is to come, sometimes
knowing and sometimes unknowing, that brief moment is the place where dreams
can be born and crushed or where a moment of peace seemingly becomes the
opposite what it truly is…
Nightmare On Self Street has this sound of keys,
drums and strings that creates this deep dark vibe. This perfectly fits with
this tale of the dark and confused moments in the mind, where nothing seems to
fit or make sense and we begin to question everything around us; just until
that moment we wake and wonder if that nightmare was all just a dream or if we
did just live it? These moments where we question our sanity can often lead to
moments of clarity, we just need to write it down and try to understand the
true meaning behind it. Synth vibes draw us into Crossbone before the
beat drops and gets your head nodding to this brooding sound that wouldn’t be
out of place in a horror movie. Featuring Dick Dastardly and DW Smith, the
whole track is like an unapologetic, X-Rated brutal assault on your eardrums
and your mind. There are no punches pulled and no fucks given on this one, and
the more you listen the more it sounds like John Carpenter meets Hip Hop, so
enjoy. Crazy Chicks, featuring A Gent Orange, then drops with an easier
going sound that has a bit more a tongue-in-cheek vibe about it. This one is
like an alternative love story that focuses on the kind of women you can’t help
but, love even though they might not be the most trustworthy; there is just
something about them that’s gets you hooked every time.
Let Me Tell You has that summer vibe about it with an
uplifting soulful vibe of drums, guitar, and strings. The vibe here is all
about those days when your parents were away and you were home alone and so you
got a huge party organised, one that goes so well, at least to start with,
before quickly spiralling out of control into a 24-hour session that you
realise has gone so bad when you parents pull up in the driveway. Saxophone and
strings help us float into The Dark Passenger, featuring The Honest
Poet, then the beat drops with a piano heavy sound and bringing a deeper
thoughtful vibe. This is an emotive tale of addiction and broken, fractured
relationships and how they can so deeply affect all those around them. As much
as this shows the pain and suffering that can be caused, especially within the
family unit, it is also a cautionary tale that shows we all have a choice to
make; we can bury our own pain, or we can share it with those around us and let
them help us find a road to recovery. The penultimate and last full track of
the album is You Made Me which has a deep emotive sound created by Keys,
strings, harp, and drums. A beautiful track that explores those who make us who
we are, from our children, our mothers, our wives, these are the ones who can
be so close to us and make us look at who we are, changing us to one of the
truest expressions of our true self. The moments we share with our loved ones
are the moments which can change our lives for the good and for always. The
album ends with the Outro Skit – Doom, wise words on inspiration from MF
DOOM.
The Craft is a rollercoaster ride of sound and
content that explores just how expressive the art of rap and Hip Hop music can
truly be. You can almost sum it up in that one sentence alone, although there
is a lot more to it than that alone.
What K-Saulz and DiffHop (Dave Pearce & Lee Hardy) have
is to explore not just what it is to be an emcee and how they do what they do
but, also what it means to be an emcee, someone whose craft is to play with
words and meanings, and then to create entertaining and expressive music that
connects with the listener. If you truly think about it the emcee has to
connect with the producer, the DJ, the guest artists and the listeners; without
those connections the music will not be all it could be.
K-Saulz and DiffHop have that connection that allows them to
bring out the best in each other and making their sound have that edge that not
only sounds great but, feels great too. That leads to a connection with the
guest artists and a mutual respect that further deepens the sound and feel of
the album. All of that coming together creates the connection to the listener
who can feel the energy created by those connections, and they relate to every
track with a message and just enjoy the vibe of those that are just for fun or
expressing the complex wordplay, and that will make them want to hear more. So,
there is an aspect of the album that is about connection but, it is also about
K-Saulz cleaver, expressive and intricate wordplay; it is about DiffHop and their
slick production which creates a whole audible experience.
Overall, The Craft is a solid album that has one foot
rooted firmly in the roots of Hip Hop music, while the other foot is never
rooted anywhere but, is constantly searching out new avenues to explore and
bring to the music. There are emotive tracks that deal with some tricky
subjects in a sensitive way and there are tracks that also just display the fun
you can have with wordplay. There is a bit of everything here that will make it
highly entertaining but, it’s definitely not for younger ears.
The Craft is out on 28th October on Bard Picasso Records, and I highly
suggest you give this one a listen, you won’t regret it.
On that Note,
I’m outta here.
Steve.
LINKS
Get your copy of the album through Bandcamp Here:
https://k-saulz.bandcamp.com/album/the-craft-lp
The Craft streaming links Here:
https://songwhip.com/ksaulz/thecraft
Get you copy of the album and check everything K-Saulz on his official Website:
