Outside The Box
By
T.H.E.M
Outside the Box is the long awaited and highly anticipated
debut album from Burnley crew T.H.E.M. As I noted back in December 2022 when I
reviewed the digital EP release ‘From Beyond’, this album was originally going
to be a double album but, constraints led the guys to scale things back to a
single album with From Beyond being made up of those tracks not to make the
album.
Fast forward to now and the album release is immanent and
let’s not keep you hanging so, I’m not gonna waffle here and take you straight
into what T.H.E.M aka Seek The Northerner, Karlow, Lomax and Bruva Smokes, have
to offer us with Outside the box…
The album kicks off in style with the upbeat, Seek the
Northerner produced, Monsters. Drums, bass, keys, horns and some deft
cuts from DJ Woody, all combine to give the kinda head nod, body moving Hip Hop
sound you can’t help but, move to. This one see’s the guys showing exactly what
they are all about with the kinda lyrical displays that simply takes your
breath away and sets up the tone of the album perfectly. Next up is Running
which is produced by Lomax and features Wordsmiff Flip. With drums pounding,
bass and strings melt into the vibe to keep your head nodding. Here the
struggles and strains of life combine as the guys look at how things can cause
you to lose touch with reality and who you are, your true self. But you can’t escape
that side of you, try as you might, you can run as far as your legs will take
you but, you will never outrun yourself, you are always there, in some way,
shape and form, ready for the day you are ready to be your true self once more.
The pounding of drums, piano and cymbals draw you into Below
Zero, produced by Bruva Smokes. Fear is the idea that immediately trust
into your awareness and there is a brief thought in your mind that questions
what’s coming. At first you feel you’re being drawn into some dark and depraved
nightmare situation where the guys describe how their actions install fear into
those who inhabit the darkness but, the more you listen, the more you realise
it is all just a play on words because their words are the weapons and the only
ones who need to fear anything are those who step up and think they are better
that T.H.E.M. You can leave the darkness behind as drums and horns, courtesy of
production from Seek, pour light on things with a huge upbeat vibe that
switches up the adrenaline levels all the way on The Sting. The guys are
joined by UK Hip Hop legend, Blade for a track that hits like you’re running
butt naked through a field of stinging nettles. Every line, simile, metaphor hits
multiple times on different levels, while the stories from back in the day;
talk of inspirations and the more personal notes leave you wondering which way
to turn, while the stings never relent. There is almost too much try and pick
apart here so just listen and enjoy this display of the art of rap. Million
Degrees is next, produced by Lomax, this one is a heavy drum pounding,
button pushing sound with a dash of razor-edged cuts, all of which has a nerve
tweaking edge at times, especially with the high-pitched violin sound. It all
seems to seep into the very core of your being, making you vibrate from the
inside out. The guys raise the temperature on this one for the streets.
Dropping lines that are so hot they blow every thermometer you can try and use
to measure the heat this one is pumping out. This one is so hot it might just
melt you’re mind from the inside out…
Drums and a mariachi guitar, with good dash of cuts, are the
musical foundation for Lost Cause, giving you this upbeat sound from
Seek that is so infectious, I dare you not to nod your head to this. T.H.E.M
are joined by the legendary figure of Chester P to examine just what is the
definition of a lost cause. Lots of food for thought here as the energy and the
words flood your mind to the brim, making you wonder what a lost cause might be
as you look around. There is even a faint thought that filters in making you
wonder if there is anything you do that might be considered a lost cause. Loop
Da Loop is up next, produced by Karlow, has a pounding beat over some
chilled guitars, with some etheric vocals sounds and cuts all mixed in giving
this a head nod vibe with a thoughtful edge. This one brought many things to
mind as I listened from a basis of what goes around comes around, to the battle
many of us have within our own minds and even battling the system but, none of
these seemed to stick and then I wondered “Is that what the guys were aiming at
here”, getting you to loop da loop in your own mind by going round and round
never quite certain of the real focus? The album’s title track is up next, Outside
The Box is produced by Seek and features AMOS. With horns, bass and drums,
this one has cracking funk vibe to it. Here, it’s all about spinning intricate
lyrical lines around and about things that are not just outside the box but,
there are some you might be so far outside the box as to be too much to touch.
This one has your mind spinning and doing back flips as you nod and move along
to the sound, and by the end of this you’ll be thinking “Who needs a box
anyway” this is Hip Hop.
Moving to the penultimate track, Milltown Flex, it’s
produced by Lomax and has this big sound of strings, drums and bass, which
gives this one a Hip Hop soundtrack vibe. It’s time for the guys to get
everyone up on their feet as they each demonstrate the pure quality of their
lyricism, proving that they are not just at the top of their game but, that
there is always another level to strive to reach. Once you gotta rep, it’s all
about keeping it and continually honing those skills and keeping yourselves
sharp and authentic. The track also ends with some slick cuts from DJ Musicarl,
who also provides cuts for all except the opening track of the album. The final
track of the album is What We Do! Production comes from Sidefx and it
features Ken Masters alongside T.H.E.M. There is this orchestral backing to the
drum beat that gives this an extra dimension as the piano element seems to echo
all around you. There will be no encore here as this is a supreme display of
how to end an album as everyone gives a solid lyrical display of their rap
skills, which all says one thing loud and clear, this is Hip Hop and this is
What We Do!
I’m not sure exactly where to start here but, it’s not often
that an album comes along that is not only a breath of fresh air but, also
completely takes your breath away, Outside The Box does exactly that and more.
There is an element here that makes you think that even if you have heard the
EP, listened to the live segment and sofa chat on 05:21, that nothing can
really prepare you for this album. I mean, what T.H.E.M. have done here is to
embody the essence of real Hip Hop but, with their own stamp well and truly on
it.
Outside The Box has everything I love about that real Hip
Hop vibe. From start to finish it grabs your attention and holds non-stop, with
ten tracks that are all three minutes plus, which really gives you time to get
into the tracks and to properly feel them. I’m not saying that sub-three minute
tracks don’t deliver but, they do always leave me wanting more and that is one
thing you are not gonna get with this album, except maybe once it ends that is…
It really is difficult to fully explain what is so good
about this album but, I’ll try and at least give you an insight. Musically the
production is exactly what you would want from a Hip Hop album. Every track has
the kinda vibe that makes your body wanna move. There is energy here that
doesn’t let up across the entire album. Seek The Northerner, Karlow, Lomax and
Bruva Smokes all show they have the skills to produce cracking instrumentals as
well as the kind of lyrical skills that so many wish they had. These guys might
all have their own unique styles and sound but, they also completely complement
each other as well, which in a crew like this, is invaluable.
It is also worth noting their careful choice of guests for
the album all of whom, fit exactly into place on the album adding extra depth
and another layer of polish to an already finely polished album. It’s not just
the legendary guests that might peak your interest here. There is also a
legendary figure behind the scenes too as No Sleep Nigel, who has been the
engineer behind many classic UK Hip Hop tracks over the years, handles the mixing and mastering of the album,
what more could you want right…
What you do realise, by the end of the album, is that
collectively and individually, these four guys have the talent and the passion
to deliver some of the most intelligent and exciting underground Hip Hop music
around today. For me, T.H.E.M. have well and truly nailed what it is to be
unique and authentic but, still have the foundation of what they do rooted in
what true Hip Hop is, with banging beats and vocals that can easily tackle
emotive personal stories, right through to those just for the street or those
to rock any party.
Outside The Box lifts that underground Hip Hop sound out of
the box and plants it where it needs to be, in a place where anything and
everything is possible, and nothing is impossible. This is one you just should
not miss and yeah, it really is that good so, nuff said…
My humble thanks to Seek The Northerner for sending this my
way and to the whole crew for having the faith in my writing.
The album is released tomorrow,1st April, through
Northentic Records and be sure to check the official album launch party on
Sunday 21st May at the Camden Club, London. It’s gonna be some
night, hosted by the one and only Blade and with T.H.E.M. and whole host of
guests from 4:30pm to midnight, check the link below for tickets.
Time for me to be outta here,
See ya,
Steve
LINKS
T.H.E.M. on Bandcamp Here:
https://themcrew.bandcamp.com/music
Northentic Records on Bandcamp Here:
https://northenticrecords.bandcamp.com/music
Album Launch Party ticket link Here:
