Album Review: You Got No Fans by KJ

 

You Got No Fans

By

KJ

 

It was nearly two years ago now that I featured KJ with his album Taxi Ride (2024). During that time, he has had a few projects out, one of which in this one, You Got No Fans. This one was originally released a year ago in February of 2025, but I didn’t get a copy until recently. The reason for that is KJ sent me another album, which went awol in the post (a couple of CD’s have done so recently sadly) and so he sent me this one instead, which was cool as I remember all the fun video’s KJ put out to promo the album.

I’m not going to drop a lengthy intro here, so if you want to know more about the Welsh emcee/producer, check the Taxi Ride review for more info. That said let’s get straight into things…

 

The album kicks off with the title track You Got No Fans which features internet legend The Wealdstone Raider (you find plenty about him on the web, trust me), which samples the infamous video he features in from 2013. This one has a nice beat, that gets ya head nodding, backed by keys, bass and more, giving you a sound that is solid Hip Hop, with a little LoFi edge. KJ’s lyrics have a very tongue-in-cheek vibe about them as he gives us look at his wordplay while taking pot shots at the other rappers out there. This one brings that football banter style to Hip Hop braggadocio. Guitar vibes and a solid head nod beat form the backdrop of Skillz.  Here KJ continues a bit of that Hip Hop braggadocio by bigging up the skills he has to do a great many things. The light-hearted vibe continues here too as he invites others to step up by goading them on the chorus by saying ‘Yeah, I got skills, what you gonna do about it’. Simping brings a chilled beat with a big bass guitar vibe giving this one a chilled out edge with the keys and vocal elements. This one is all about being attracted to someone and showing an abundance of attention. It feels like this one is all about the things you would love to say to someone, who might not know or show the same in return, but the desire for attraction and close contact is there all the same.

Siren brings a beat that is backed by horns, keys and vocal samples, giving this one a sound that has that LoFi edge to it. This is one of those tracks that is a dedication to that special woman in his life. But this not a track where things get too soppy, this is a Hip Hop love song where similes and metaphors do all the talking by taking you off to another realm. Samurai is a short track where a pounding beat is backed by Japanese musical sounds to give this one a sound that transports you a place that seems far more personal. There are elements to this one that strike you as a frank discussion on the internal struggles of what you see around you and how you carry yourself in the face of that adversity, so you are able to raise yourself up. Cleaning The Mind (Phase 4) hits with a heavy beat that is back with some electronic sounds that give this on a very reflective air to it. Listening to this one you instantly realise that this is a deeply personal track. Touching on subjects such as addiction, depression, and much more. Reflecting on this type of lived experience is something many of us can associate with. I know there has been many times I have felt like clearing my own mind by opening up about my life. The deeply personal aspect of this one is hard to convey, in truth, and is the kind of track that you just need to listen to and understand.

ART-IST merges acoustic guitar elements with a more chilled beat and electric guitar vibes which give this one a different reflective sound. KJ gives a look at what it means to him to be an artist, doing what he does and bringing a wide range of styles and vibes to the listener. It’s not about the payday but, about the music and what that means to both KJ and those who listen to what he has to offer. Now we have an insight into KJ as an artist its time to turn our attention to I Don’t Battle. This one kicks off and features elements of Cartman from South Park, which should tell you a lot about where this one is headed. The beat is pounding with a nerve jangling flute kind of aspect and vocal samples, which kind of soften things a little. KJ goes all in on this one, in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way with unapologetic and no punches pulled vocals that will probably have you laughing out loud, unless you have some reservations over the content, it’s definitely not for kids by the way. KJ says he don’t battle anymore but, with wordplay like this any battle would quickly descend into chaotic scenes with everyone falling about laughing. Before we realise it we are already at the penultimate track of the album, Marmyte. More deep bass guitar vibes and a pulse pounding beat gets your head nodding to this one from the get-go. Here, KJ mixes Hip Hop braggadocio with just fun kind of wordplay, and just like a certain food stuff with a similar name, you are gonna love it or hate it. For me, I love it personally, just like that certain food stuff. So, just listen to this one and enjoy it with a smile. The final track of the album is Monster, which hits with another head nod vibe alongside an electronic vibe that puts you in mind of some weird lab where a crazed doctor creates a monster. This on sees KJ take us into the mind of both the creator and the monster, using distorted vocals for the monster. It takes us on crazed journey from the creation  of the monster, its rampage, and then the final meeting with its creator…

 

There is a lot to like about You Got No Fans, because KJ had moved away from the boom bap sound and had dipped more into LoFi sounds with deeper story telling vibes, but here he takes himself back to a more solid Hip Hop sound, although elements of the LoFi sound can be heard creeping in here too. KJ also brings together two incredibly important elements of Hip Hop music as the album is kind of two thirds just for fun and Hip Hop braggadocio, and one third deeply personal and relevant storytelling that gives you much to think about. Incorporating these two aspects was something that I felt worked so well. Having deeply personal and relatable content is always something that makes for quality Hip Hop music and keeps this relevant, relatable, and authentic for the listener. But once in a while it is good to listen to Hip Hop that has a fun and uplifting edge which makes you smile as much as you enjoy listening to it, which also means you don’t have to give it too much thought, and there is nothing wrong with that either. We all need a little break from reality every now and then.

You Got No Fans is a quality self-produced album which gives us plenty of slick wordplay, whether it is making us smile, which the appearance of The Wealdstone Raider certainly does, or making us think. KJ shows us that he is more than able to switch things up both in his production and in his delivery and flows. The outcome is a ten track album that really needs little in the way of words from me to tell you what it is all about, even though I have done just that. What this album really needs is for you to give it a listen and enjoy it. I do feel that, although this one is primarily Hip Hop at heart, it has enough additional influences as to make it highly listenable to a lot of people.

So, a huge happy one year anniversary to You Got No Fans and a huge thanks to KJ for giving me the chance to bring this one to you.

 

On that note,

I’ll catch ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Check this one link for the Album and all things KJ:

https://linktr.ee/kieranjulio

VIDEOS

You Got No Fans ft The Wealdstone Raider

 

 

 

Album Review: Taxi Ride by KJ

 

Taxi Ride

By

KJ

 

Its always good to review something a little different and Taxi Ride by KJ from Barry in Wales, promises to be just that with a more Lo-Fi Hip Hop vibe. In fact this one has been out for a bit now so, its good to be able to bring it to you.

Before I go any further, let me give you a bit of background on KJ; He was born in Burnley, Lancashire and moved to the Vale of Glamorgan at the age of two. His fascination with rap began at age 6 when he heard Eminem’s ‘My Name Is…’ on a tape his mother gave him. It was from age fourteen that he began writing his own lyrics, freestyling and battling, while having fun expressing himself. His father gave him CD’s by the likes of Dr Dre, Snoop, Tupac, RUN DMC and MC Eiht, further inspiration came from Gang Starr, Notorious B.I.G and many others. At age eighteen he applied to college but, owing to a late submission and an on the spot interview, including a freestyle for the tutor, he was successful and studied Music Technology for two years before leaving early to make his own music from home. Over the next few years he gained experience by busking in London, Birmingham and Swansea. In July 2019, his love of Battle Rap took him to his first rap battle on Don’t Flop at Cardiff’s Moon Club, quickly followed by another in Bristol in November 2019. Although his main influence is Hip Hop, KJ has also delved into other genre’s including Garage and House music.

Now you know a bit more about KJ, the album is seventeen tracks deep and fully written, produced and mixed by the man himself which promises something that has a far more personal vibe to it. Now, KJ was kind enough to send me a physical copy of the album for this review and flicking to the inside cover and reading the notes there, you get the sense that Taxi Ride is not something that is all about a ride from one place to the next but, more a of a ride along the journey of life and the choices you make and the destination that each one of those choices takes you too, an interesting thought in itself…

So, feel free to take a seat next to me in the back of the cab and see where the ride takes us…

Our Taxi Ride begins with the short Injector Deck (skit) which is the sound of a cassette being placed into the tape deck and pressing play. Now wondering what kind of a ride this is gonna be we get straight into the title track Taxi Ride, where guitar notes and keys produce a chilled air while the drum beat gives you just enough to slowly nod your head and move to, just like sitting in the back of a cab as it slowly bounces down the road. This one reminds me of my own days as a cabbie, taking people from one place to another, maybe home or maybe on to another bar or club, sometimes talking and other times not. It perfectly encapsulates the place of the passenger, with nothing particular on their mind just wanting to get where they are going, wherever that might be, watching the world go by. Next up Whispers brings organ notes as the foundation for the sound, which seems to vibrate slowly through your mind as you listen, leaving you just floating. Here we seem to be paused, stationary in a space where a wealth of thoughts suddenly invades the serenity of the ride. The stresses and strains of the world around us are all to real leaving us wondering which way to go but, those thoughts are whispers in the mind, and the ride continues. Bass and keys combine with more upbeat drums to get your head nodding once more. However, there is a deep edge to this as our journey now touches on fear with Ghost. The roads, and life, are a place where we experience many things and fear, alongside death, is a part of that. What if you were on the other side of the veil, what would that look like, perhaps something like this…

Failing mixes another head nod beat with bass, keys and electronic elements that get you moving but, once again gets you focused on another part of life as fear once more hits us but, here it’s the fear of failure and the fear of actually reaching out for help, something many of us can associate with on some level. Organ notes and drums bring a more upbeat vibe on Imperfections, helping to bring an uplifting feel to proceedings. With so much fear coming through, here we see that there is always someone out there who can see all that we are and will still accept us, listen and help us through those dark times. Guitar and organ notes lead us into Broke Happiness, which has this sound that keeps the uplifting vibes going. This one takes a light-hearted look at a life where money comes hard, where you’re living from week to week on whatever you can. Not working, for whatever reason, is a tough place to be but, if you can face it with a smile then it helps keep the dark clouds at bay. Don’t Care drops with a heavier sound of drums and organ notes that bring a slightly darker edge to things. This is one of those tracks that you take a few ways, is this just someone who does not care about anything or is this taking a shot at the social media generation where so many people publish their lives on line in words or videos just to get likes, maybe its even deeper than that, in a world where social media brings so many things into our awareness every day, perhaps this is how it feels sometimes when it all gets too much…

False Idols mixes some chilled guitar and piano notes with drums, which gives this one a more reflective vibe. There is a deeply personal edge to this one as it focuses on those we looked up to when we were young. Those we thought it was cool to be a round, even though they really lead us astray. As we grow, we see the things about them we never saw before, a darkness that leads them down a dark path. We understand what it was that them that so attracted us to them and wonder how they got to this place, and perhaps they could change if they just had the right help. Piano and an excerpt from ‘After Life’ leads us into Ask Me If I’m OK, as the beat drops in, you realise there is more to this one than you thought. There is a definite emotive edge to this one as it looks at something that we all need to do, check it with someone. So, many of us have gone through times where we were struggling on the inside, wondering why life is treating us this way and whether it’s really all worthwhile; deep inside we just wish someone would ask us if we are ok. We have all been there and we all know someone who is in that place, they might not look it but, just check in with them, it’s a life saver. Okaaayyy has a vibe you can shut your eyes to and drift away to as the drums, bass and organ notes merge together and float through your mind. It really speaks to you, if you’ll let it, and it seems to be all about looking at things differently, looking at yourself differently and seeing what is not needed and discarding that in exchange for what helps bring more light and positivity your way…

Music has this big synth sound, alongside the drum beat, which has this infectious quality and brings this upbeat vibe that almost has this neo soul, electronic sound to it. This track is another that seems to have dual meanings; on one side it is all about the love in your life and just what that person means to you but, on the flip side, this could also be an ode to exactly what music itself means to you and how it helps you be who you truly are. Cuts and a proper head nod beat merge with strings and other elements to bring a far more solid Hip Hop sound on God Tier. This one is just a platform for KJ to drop a track that is all about having fun on the mic, no need to think too much about this one because, just like life, we all need those just for fun moments, and this one is one of those tongue-in-cheek moments for sure.  Drums and strings form the backdrop for Do Anything For You, which brings a more emotive vibe; something that fits perfectly with the lyrics. This one is a truly heartfelt ode to his daughter, and tracks like this never fail to bring a warm feeling inside and a lump to the throat…

As we begin to come close to the end of our journey together, there is still time to take in a little more of life and guitar notes herald the arrival of Your Friend. The drums pound on this one, a little like the message contained within. This one looks at the one friend you rarely, if ever, think of and talk to, the one friend who will never leave you; and that’s you. Again, you could take this one two ways as it could be the words of someone who struggles with their mental health and tries to escape the voices in their head but, perhaps its more simple this time, maybe it’s just about understanding and being one with who you truly are inside because, you are the one person you can always count on to be there for you and it’s never to late to take some time just be you, at peace with yourself. We finally take the penultimate turn to our destination and begin to Unwind with piano notes, strings and drums, creating chilled but uplifting sound. Here we find KJ speaking on all the things you could do to take some time away from the struggles and strains of modern-day life. It is always important to take time to look after number one, and number one is you, so take those moments for you and do whatever that brings calm and peace to you. Just as we thought we had reached our destination, the driver takes one last turn bringing us home with the bonus, Not Going Anywhere. Keys create this electronic soundscape that is a platform for KJ to open up about what it means to him creating music, in a spoken word intro. The beat drops in with heavy drums and strings, alongside electronic elements to bring some energy; energy which is needed as KJ speaks candidly on himself, his life and what he sees around him. He drops a great verse namedropping all those artists that have inspired him along the way. This track is not just about KJ though, this is an inspiring message to everyone to never give up and always strive, never give up and make your dreams come true…

The first thing to note about this album is that Taxi Ride does just that, it takes you on a ride and one that covers the kind of subjects that you could easily see yourself pondering over while you were sat in the back of a cab as it heads toward your ultimate destination. Just as life is also a journey, one that you are in control of, making decision after decision as you head toward your own ultimate destination. It does not matter where you are from, this Taxi Ride could very easily be your own.

There is a lot here to like for those who enjoy good Hip Hop, as well as those who enjoy Trip Hop or other sub-genres. KJ shows that he is just as adept as a producer as he is lyrically. He is adept at painting a picture in your mind Beit with words or music, which is so important when you are doing this solo. Vocally, his wordplay is on point as you hear that he has the adaptability to mix up his flows alongside some intelligent and, at times, emotive lyrics; while showing he is not afraid to bring lived experience into tackling sensitive subjects. His dedication and those inspirations really do shine through here and gives you an album that you’ll happily have on repeat and will also be as relatable in a few years as it is now.

Overall, I enjoyed Taxi Ride as it showed one person’s passion and dedication to bringing great music to people who enjoy it. KJ shows great talent in self- producing, mixing and writing his material and adding in qualities and subject matter that is easily relatable to all who hear it. This is an album to be proud of as an artist and one that needs to be heard by the listeners. Taxi Ride is definitely high on my albums of the year so far and one I can easily chill out to.

No matter what my thoughts are, KJ’s ultimate destination right now is made plain and simple by the last track, he’s Not Going Anywhere…

Taxi Ride is available now on all good streaming platforms.

My humble thanks to KJ for sending me a copy and giving me the chance to do my thing.

 

My ride’s over for now,

See ya next time.

Steve.

 

Note: I just wanted to add a little additional nugget here. After I wrote the review, I sent it over to KJ so he could have a read before it goes live. Now one of the things that came out of this was that my interpretation of the track ‘Do Anything For You’ was slightly off. This shows just how much you own feelings can change the way you interpret the content of a track. The track is in fact about his sister and how much she means to him as a brother, and if you listen back, you can really feel that; what happened with me is that the emotions in the track and how KJ describes his love for his sister, touched my feelings for own children and how much they mean to me. The emotions of my children living in Ireland and the loss of my youngest daughter, were deeply stirred by this track and had a huge impact on how I did my own interpretation. This is a great way to show just how we can all see and feel things differently, depending how we listen to and hear the words mixed with our own feelings and experiences. Just missing a word here and there and overlaying your own feelings can change things for you. I just felt compelled to note this for you.

LINKS

Here is the two links you need for Taxi Ride and everything KJ:

https://linktr.ee/kieranjulio

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kj16/taxi-ride

VIDEOS

Taxi Ride (Official Video)

Failing (Official Video)