Feat. Masta
Ace, Heart.Wyred, Upfront MC & The Nicewun JM
It was only a few months back that I featured a track that
was produced by German producer Alias Molombo. That track also featured The
Nicewun JM (Wiltshire UK), and so when I heard that these two were going to be
linking up again, it seemed only right to drop a review; and a good thing too
as its official release is today, 6th September but, it has already
been receiving some big airplay.
The Introspection (Remix) features a big
international line up of emcees headlined by the legendary Masta Ace alongside
Heart.Wyred (Germany), Upfront MC (Split Prophets, Bristol UK) and The Nicewun
JM.
Let’s get straight into this one,
The Introspection (Remix) is a remix of Alias
Molombo’s own single which featured Masta Ace, Heart.Wyred and Upfront MC, this
remix adds The Nicewun JM to the mix. Molombo’s production here is quite
laid-back, the drums are the main element but, there is this background sound
that features what seems to be a xylophone, which when mixed in the drums gives
this one a very thoughtful tone, which fits perfectly for the track. The whole
message to this one is about looking within yourself, examining your own thoughts
and feelings and questioning, what would be different, or would I be different
if the choices I made or the events in life took me down a different path,
exactly what Introspection is.
We have all considered what would life be like had choices
and events and here we have four emcees giving us their own experiences of this
aspect of life; doing it by thought provoking wordplay, mixed with real life
experience. It is almost impossible to listen to this track and not have it
bring your own introspective thoughts to mind. I know that I have daily
introspective moments, and this track really does reflect those moments well.
This is a great track to get the mind ticking over in its
relatable contact but is also enjoyable at the same time. There is also that
international vibe to the track too, one that gets the mind ticking even more
as you welcome the fact that this music brings us all closer together,
something you don’t need to reflect on.
This is the second release that features the awesome artwork of Scum Doodlez aka Amir J. Sadeghi. I'll drop a link below to his Insta so you can hit him up for some dope art.
Introspection (Remix) is out today, so go check this
one out.
The Good People (aka Emskee and Saint) teamed up with French
producer Shar The Analog Bastard (who also mixed and mastered the project) to
release The Fall Back EP, way back in September of 2020. Originally released
just on digital, it dropped at a similar time to AE Productions releasing
Emskee’s Wall To Wall 12” single (which featured here in April 2021) and during
that time it was arranged for AE to also release The Fall Back EP. It was also
in September of 2020 that I first heard The Good People via the Cut Beetlez
album, What Beetlez?
The EP was remastered for its vinyl release by Rola and then
sent off to the pressing plant in June 2021. Due to the worldwide issues around
that time that were created by a certain pandemic, it is only now that The Fall
Back EP finally gets its well-deserved vinyl release through Bristol’s premier
Hip Hop label, AE Productions.
So, for anyone who has not heard this yet and is considering
buying this, and why not as it features guest verses from the legendary figures
of Masta Ace and El Da Sensei, plus an appearance from Meraxx, who you might
not be familiar with. So, join me as I guide you through this six track EP
with, what is described as a classic SP1200 soundscape…
The A-Side of the EP kicks off with Drums and Piano, which
are the basis for Just Begun, slick samples, cuts and horns on the
chorus all combine to give this a laid-back head nod vibe that you just wanna
sit back and chill to. This really feels like it is an introduction to who The
Good People are and what they are here to do. There is very much a sense that
is all about knowledge of self and using that, combined with a deep
understanding of the world around you, to create music that is authentic and
speaks from the heart to each and every one who takes the time to listen. Piano
and xylophone notes, alongside some tambourine brings in When It Counts,
then the beat drops and you are up and moving, bouncing to this. This one
speaks on how The Good People and Shar got through 2020 with the help of
creating music to uplift themselves and their listeners. The upbeat nature of
this one really lifts you up and fills you with good vibes and that’s all I
need to say. We end the A-Side of the EP with The Feel, which has this
infectious jazz vibe from Shar, where piano, guitar and drums, all combine to
keep you moving. Here, The Good People and Masta Ace really give you the feel
that this one is all about how it feels creating good, real Hip Hop music but,
more than that it is all about making the listeners feel that too. That sense
of that feel good feeling you have when you’ve created something meaningful and
you then put it across to your audience, who also truly feel it, comes across
in this one and you feel it to the very core of your being…
Flipping to the B-Side, it kicks off in style with heavy
drums and keys as Shar picks it up where he left off on the A-Side by keeping
you moving and your head nodding. The feel-good factor is off the charts on Say
N Repeat as The Good People and Shar make it upbeat for the streets, with a
block party vibe that really takes you back in the days. This one begs to be on
repeat when the summer days come knocking once more. The drums and that jazzy
piano vibe continue on OK Then, which see’s El Da Sensei joining The
Good People. This one takes on the all the fake rappers out there who are out
there creating a negative stereotype for themselves and being their authentic
selves. It is pointless giving yourself a name no one can understand and saying
things that are not true, just because you think that’s what people wanna hear
or because it’s what makes money. Sooner or later you will be like a flash in
the pan, gone and forgotten unless you are prepared to open up the true you and
speak on the reality behind the voice. The B-Side and the EP rounds off with At
A Glance, Shar brings a heavy jazz vibe on this with drums, bass, guitars,
keys and cuts, all merging to create a chilled head nod sound. Meraxx joins The
Good People to bring you something that, might just say something different to
everyone? For me this one felt very much like being stuck in a moment and each
time you blink, you cast your mind to a snapshot of a past event, what’s
happening around you now or even a possible future outcome. What it is really
all about is living for you in the now, being your authentic self and doing the
best you can to be the greatest expression of that true self, and that’s a deep
message to end on…
What can I say about this one that is over and above what I
have already said? Well, I have to start off by wondering how I missed this the
first time around? Coming out at a time when the world was a truly uncertain
place and people were walking around scared to be themselves, scared to even
touch one another or even be social. We spent hours days staring at four walls
wondering what the future might bring but, a saving grace for many was music
and this EP really does have vibe that runs through it that is there to uplift
and create feel-good vibes in everyone, with the kind of sound that makes you
want to move, from just nodding your head to making you wanna bounce around, it
has it all and coming towards the twilight of 2020, this would have been
invaluable. Not that it has lost any of it’s impact in this current climate,
that feel-good factor still does exactly what it is intended to do.
The Good People bring that real Hip Hop vibe to every bar on
this one, it really has that golden era sound that reminds you of why you fell
in love with Hip Hop. There is knowledge, experience and a desire to bring out
the best in people and all through the medium of Rap. They use the kind of
slick lyrical expertise that allows you to hear every word, regardless of flow
and style, which means that you can truly understand and take on what’s being
said. The appearance of Masta Ace and El Da Sensei helps deepen that golden era
Hip Hop sound as they embody that era. That’s not to say that Meraxx does not,
as his appearance is one of those that makes you happy that there are those who
still hold firm to the real sound of Hip Hop.
Production on The Fall Back EP is solid and see’s Shar The
Analog Bastard encapsulate that SP1200 sound that Hip Hop was built on but,
also he weaves in these additional influences from Jazz and elsewhere that
stamps his own mark on it. This sound really flows with ease from start to
finish, giving the listener this experience that carries them along with ease
as they listen. For we this was an inspired introduction to his work.
Also, a quick shout to the multi-talented Saint who also
produced the artwork for the vinal release.
Overall, The Fall Back EP is one of those releases you
listen to that hits you on a number of levels, Firstly, it has that real Hip
Hop vibe oozing out of every beat and bar. Secondly, it speaks on real life
while uplifting the listener with feel good vibes and lastly, it embodies the
fact that real Hip Hop brings everyone together and is the epitome of us being
one nation…
This is one not to miss…
The Fall Back EP is available digitally and to stream now
(Links below) and the vinyl releases through AE Productions on 27th
Jan, so it's out today.
Huge thanks to Mr Fantastic at AE Productions for sending
this one my way.
