X1 to Netanya is the new single from vocalist and beatboxer
Jonny Steele of The Scribes. Now, you will all know that I have featured The
Scribes a number of times on the blog, but this will be the first appearance by
on of the crew on a solo.
I want to approach this review a little differently as I am
sure it will provoke some deep feelings along the way so, please join me…
Before I get into the song itself lets just have a quick
look at the title and see what that says about what you are about to hear. If
you search X1 on the net you will find two main results pop up, the BMW X1 and
a number of Bus Timetables. These might seem unrelated but, these are both
forms of transport, and that idea of a journey is key here. Now search for
Netanya and its meaning and things begin to take shape. Netanya is a city in
Israel and also a girl’s name, which in Hebrew means ‘god has given’. Now put
this all together and you will see that Jonny is focusing on the terrible
events which are all over the news as Israel wages war on Hamas in Gaza and how we see it so far away in the UK.
X1 to Netanya is produced by One Soul and has a laid-back
soulful vibe of keys and drums. The overall sound is a reflective one that
brings your focus to more spoken word approach from Jonny Steele. The
intelligent lyricism and wordplay soaks into all aspects of your awareness as
the emotive tone of the words flow. This brings the plight of the Palestinian
people well and truly into the light, just as the many peaceful protests are
doing but, more than that it also asks why, with all the pain and suffering that
is happening, do our own government chose not to call for a ceasefire in this
war. In fact, it you truly look at what is happening, it causes you to question
everything because, in the past, wars of this nature have been called ‘ethnic
cleansing’ but, because this war started as an apparent retaliation to a
terrorist attack, that somehow validates what is going on. I do not condone
acts of terrorism and never will, so don’t get me wrong here. But is this war
truly what is needed? What about the historical plight of the Palestinian
people, try to find Palestine on a map, look on-line and you will find it is
not even labelled. The problem is a lack of balance in what is reported in the
media, listen to the voice of the people and you will begin to see the truth
behind all this.
I don’t want to get off track here as I do try to stay
neutral in what I write on the blog but, Jonny Steele has chosen to put into
words what so many of us are feeling and thinking, on what is going on so many
miles away and the lack of any acknowledgement by the UK Government. It was
only a matter of time before these thoughts and feelings were put into the
words and to music and Jonny has done this subject justice by bringing it into
the open and in such an emotive way.
X1 to Netanya is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that
truly asks what we as a united peoples are prepared to accept as we look upon
the injustices that go on around us and, what are we willing to accept when it
comes to the inaction of those we apparently voted to stand up for the people?
Jonny Steele is one voice that echoes the voices of the many
and puts that voice into a medium that crosses borders and asks us to stand
together as one for those who are not given a voice.
X1 to Natanya is out now and I encourage you to listen and
truly feel the message between the lines here.
Till next time,
Steve.
LINKS
To stream the single and for all things related to The Scribes:
Back in September of 2020 Arrested
Development released their first album which featured production from UK Super
Producer Configa, ‘Don’t Fight Your Demons’. That album was a huge testament to
the longevity of the group and was packed with knowledge and politically
charged statements, all fused together with solid hip-hop beats that would
equally appeal to old and new heads alike.
When I originally reviewed that album
there was a little voice inside me that mused over what they could do next, and
could any future project stand up to the power and energy of that album? Then,
in December of last year, Arrested Development and Configa were back again,
dropping ‘For The FKN Love’, and when the album dropped in my inbox, courtesy
of Configa, I was extremely excited, to say the least.
At the time there was actually no
pressure for me to review the album. However, the more I listened to the album
the more it spoke to me, through a haze of personal fog. The more it spoke the
more I decided that, as soon as the time was right, I would make this my first
written piece of 2022 and here we are so, let me take you through the album and
give you my thoughts and feelings in a way that might be a little different
than usual…
The album kicks off in a big way with
some huge orchestral horns and a no nonsense boombap beat which immediately has
your pulse racing and your heart pounding. Configa’s production brings a
powerful yet uplifting vibe which is crucial right at the start. ‘Yes
Always’ has Speech and Dee-1 bringing a message that speaks to the deepest
parts of your being. We all have times that challenge us and make us question
if we can ever continue but, when those times weigh upon us, we just stand a
little taller and rise up one more time, essentially you have the strength in
you to do that and you CAN do it. This was a message, at the time, that I
needed to hear and was a reminder to me that I could do it, it might take time
to rise up but, I would do it and here I am today and if I can do it, you can
do it too. There is strength in those words, you can do it, Yes Always you can.
The uplifting vibe continues with Configa’s inspired deep funk sound of
strings, bass and big drums perfectly matching with the message of ‘Building
From The Bottom’. Speech, 1 Love and 4-IZE take you on an inspiring journey
as they detail what it is to build something from scratch. Bringing you all the
challenges, the drive, the inspirations, and those ultimate rewards as you work
on your craft, growing something amazing from the smallest of seeds.
‘Never Had Your Back’ has a
dualistic approach to getting its message across. Here Configa provides an
uplifting mix of piano, drums, and cuts as a backdrop for Speech and Ke’andra
to bring us a deep message on the treatment of black women by the patriarchal
American society. It’s time for this degrading portrayal of how black women
should be or how they should act to change, and that certainly means telling it
how it is to make people listen, as displayed on this banger. The ultimate
message here is to give them true strength and true power by showing them in
their true light that shines from the inside out. They are not an object and
should not be viewed as such. ‘Swing Um’ is a track that has club anthem
written all over it. Creating a homage to one of the ultimate posse cuts, ‘The
Symphony’, is HUGE and requires a big line up and here AD’s Speech, Masta Ace,
Dell-P and Fatman Scoop step up. Configa drops a scintillating club vibe with
keyboards, drums, and cuts while Fatman Scoop whips the crowd up and has
everyone in a bouncing frenzy, which is just what you need for Speech, Masta
Ace and Dell-P to drop the kinda rhymes that gets the crowds hearts pounding,
fists pumping and jumping, while still keeping the wise words flowing with ease
that engage the mind as much as the body. Turn the volume up on this one!
It’s time to chill things out a bit
but, that does not mean that AD will let your heads come out of the clouds.
Configa’s harmonious drums, strings, and piano notes are the key to being a
little more laid back as Speech is joined by Monie Love and Tony Momrelle, with
a soulful chorus, on ‘Thank You’. This one speaks to us all, by giving
us the inspiration to remember and to celebrate all of those who have inspired
us or been a key part of our life’s journey. We all have many people to thank
in some way and whatever way you choose to thank them, let it be from the
heart. Time to switch the energy levels back up on ‘Bout It’ with a funk
fuelled vibe of horns, drums, guitar, and cuts. In fact, what Configa has
captured on this beat really seems to have been inspired by Prince, it really
has the feel for being like a homage to the purple one. Speech is joined by
MRK-SX, Jahah and guitarist Alex Jones to deliver words of wisdom that
celebrate the female form, it’s true beauty and how all aspects of the feminine
energy touch us on every level. ‘UNI (TY)’ has a more simplistic feel to
the beat with just piano, drums and vocals creating the backdrop, courtesy of
Clint Taylor. This opens up the track to let the vocals of Speech resonate.
Putting more emphasis on the lyrics works so well here as the message is deep,
looking at what divides us as people and the ways in which we choose to see
differences in each other. What we truly need is to see past these apparent
differences and understand that all we truly need is ‘U n I and UNITY’. From
that thought provoking moment it’s time to get your head nodding and body
moving, in a laid-back way, to the strings, keyboards and drums of ‘I Don’t
Care’, perfectly produced by Configa. Here Speech details what it is to be
who he truly is. Many may constantly scrutinise his life and all he is doing
but, the truth is he is just doing his best to live his life. His message in
this track is simple and one that we can all heed - no matter what others may
think of you and how they might choose to see you, all you need to be is YOU
and to be the grandest expression of who you truly are. Don’t concern yourself
with what others might think as that that is their stuff, you are you so, be
you.
‘Do It Up’ is the first of two
tracks from Speech produced by Cris Acosta and another track that has a dual
aspect to it. The beat has this laid-back guitar vibe that seems in almost full
contrast to the drums, that have this kind of industrial feel to them. This
dualistic nature is mirrored in the lyrics which look at both the dark and
light times we all experience in our lives. We may often slip in cark periods
in our lives but, the light is always there for us to reach out to. There are
many different ways we can elevate ourselves to reach for the light and music
is one of those ways, a catalyst to bring forth the light in our lives. ‘Where
Lions Roam’ is the second track from Speech and Cris Acosta. The syths,
electronic sounds and sparce beat give this a kind of focused feel, like you
are on one path, going one way and any deviation from that path and who you are
is an alien concept. The world can be a dangerous place and as we grow, we are
taught that we have to be a certain way and follow a certain path. We are
conditioned to be and act a certain way from birth. It takes courage to look
beyond the social conditioning and to change who we have been taught to be but,
in taking that step, into the place where lions roam, we can exhibit our inner
lion and we can truly be free to be ourselves.
The experience of the small-town boy
moving to the big city is the setting for ‘We Are Not In Kansas’.
Configa’s pounding drums and keyboards take Arrested Development to the streets
as Speech and Freddie Foxx look at situations of where you’re from and where
you’re at, examining the differences and how it affects you in moving from a
small quiet town to the hustle, stresses, and strains of life in the city. As I
first listened to ‘Be Refreshed’, the mix of strings, drums, keyboards,
and etheric vocal samples from Configa seemed to have an almost modern trap
vibe but, the more I listened the less apparent that became, my head was
definitely nodding all the same. The lyrics from Speech, 1 Love and Twan Mack
have this definite feel of looking at what is going on in America and, to a
point, the world. There is so much that is affecting people right now and what
can be done to separate them from the pain. It’s a song about taking a step
back to relax and refresh before taking time to understand differing viewpoints
and situations, then taking time to consider the best way forward… That feeling
of how best to approach certain situations follows us into ‘Grandma’s
Southern Ways’. The horns, harmonica, piano, and drums all combine to bring
a huge upbeat vibe with an abundance of pure energy, courtesy of Configa.
Speech, G-Love and Lish Speaks focus on the many challenges that life brings
and how we choose to overcome them. So many times, when we are faced with a
difficult situation, we will look to those tried and tested methods, that have
been handed down to us, as the simplest way to get through and overcome
whatever obstacle lies in front of us. The abundance of energy we just had is
the perfect springboard for Speech and Twisted Royalty on ‘We Feeling It
All’. The drums, percussion, xylophone, and choral vocals, produced by
Speech himself, bring us a definite feel-good vibe where the energy hits in
short bursts. This one speaks on many levels but, the ultimate message here is
deep and acknowledges that we have all been through some tough times. We have
faced challenges in all aspects of our lives, seen people and loved ones pass
from this life but, we are still here. We carry on doing what we do, feeling
every ounce of emotion and do our very best to channel it in the most positive
ways, as we look to a brighter future.
After considering all that, what you
need is something to give you a glimpse of that brighter future. What you get
is Configa dropping a straight up boombap beat full of horns, drums, guitar,
and cuts that has you seriously amped up while touching you on a certain level
too. ‘Vibe’ was released as a single and sees Speech joined by the
legendary Big Daddy Kane, Cleveland P Jones, and Tasha LaRae for some
high-energy, feel-good hip-hop. ‘Vibe’ is all about that energy that is
inside us all, that spark that will never fail to bring out all those positive
feelings within us. Sometimes we might question if that spark really does exist
or we might feel we have lost it for good but, one listen to this track and you
cannot fail to reach inside and light that spark… As we move into the
penultimate track of the album, we find a deep vibe once more but, one that is
most certainly tinged with a silver lining. The deep musical aspect comes from
Configa’s mix of horns, guitar, drums, and xylophone notes. That musical
backdrop fits perfectly as Speech and KXNG Crooked focus on the many
experiences people have in their drive to push forward in life and to make
something of themselves and to leave a legacy. You might not know the story
behind the faces, just as they may not know your story but, have faith in each
other, support and encourage each other in reaching your goals, and tell them ‘I
Want U To Make It’. Supporting each other means you can all ‘Have Your
Moment’ and that is exactly what Speech, Configa, The Sugarhill Gang and 1
Love are here to tell you. The beat is big and one to bounce to, full of
guitars, drums and cuts it lifts you up and holds you there. The lyrics swirl
around your mind with an energy that encourages you to raise yourself up and
have your own moment in the spotlight. Not everyone will know you, they might
not even like you but, your moment is just that, it’s yours and it’s gonna feel
damn good. So, have faith in your ability and in who you truly are, the more
you do that, the more others will see it and the brighter you moment will be.
So, what can I say about the album
overall? What is plainly obvious is that Arrested Development have not reached
a level with ‘Don’t Fight Your Demons’ and then plateaued, they have in
fact continued to step it up and ‘For The FKN Love’ shows that there is
no need for the sky to be the limit, you can keep pushing into the atmosphere
and beyond. One thing that has struck me is the level of knowledge and
entertainment value this album has. I would go for as say that Arrested
Development has a definite sense of Edutainment. By edutainment I mean that
this album can be looked on as being both educational and entertaining.
Its educational value comes from the
depth of knowledge, personal experience and the deep level of social/political
narrative that Speech and the guest artists use to focus on things such as the
struggles of the black community, the treatment of black women and even mental
health. There is something to be learned by everyone here. There is so much
here, lyrically, that is delivered with knowledge, presence of mind and without
compromise, producing music that is full of feeling and character that speaks
so deeply to the listener at times.
The entertainment value musically
really goes without saying. But, in working with Configa, it has just brought
that extra dimension to what Arrested Development do. Configa brings that solid
boombap hip-hop sound whilst also being able to strikingly switch between vibes
and moods as the nature of the lyrics require. When the beat is boombap it is
the perfect stage for Speech to deliver straight up hip-hop vibes to get the
listener or the whole club bouncing. There is no doubt in my mind that ‘For
The FKN Love’ is going to easily stand the test of time.
Everything that has gone into this
album from Arrested Development, Configa and the guest artists is the perfect
sound to help give you that sense of energy and drive you need to feel the love
and reach for that light you want in your future. In fact, it helps you not
just reach for the light but, to also grip it with both hands and pull it
towards you. I really felt that this album was conscious hip-hop on another
level. You could feel the emotion at times, the strength of the energy that
went into every word, every line, and every beat. In reflecting on the album as
I wrote my notes for the review, I could feel how deeply the album had touched
me at times and the level of emotions it raised.
There is simply no better way of
stepping into a positive and free future than by listening to ‘For The FKN
Love’ by Arrested Development.
Truth Be Told is the follow up to 2020’s Freedom Of
Speech which was our introduction to the team of Haynesy and JD who brought us an album
that took it’s title seriously while still retaining enough light-heartedness
to poke fun at a quite messed up year. The sound was stunning putting which put it at
the pinnacle of the years releases.
For the Truth Be Told Haynesy is once again back on
the beats with JD on the mic, and they are backed up by JabbaThaKut on the
cuts. With such a heavy debut album to follow, is it possible for these guys to
get any better?
Well Let’s see shall we…
Your senses are immediately assaulted by a plethora of cuts
and vocal samples that tell you what’s coming, a proper head nod beat hits with
some electronic notes and a huge anthem style chorus. JD drops more that your
average amount of knowledge right here. It’s time to open your mind to the fact
that the government are turning the country into a dictatorship, trying to take
away your common law rights and with it your freedom. It’s time to educate
yourself and stand up for your rights because this ship is sinking and it’s
time to Abandon Ship, forget the old narrative and create our own. If
you’re now pumping your fist, then keep it up in the air and pump it along to
this drum beat mixed with a slick guitar vibe and Jabba’s energetic cutup
samples. This one takes us on a journey through Certified Life, where we
look at pain, injustice, inequality, and persecution that goes on around us
every day, the truth has a dark side indeed if you choose to see it…
Big horns and a vocal sample that seems to claw at your soul
are the intro to Freedom Fighters which has a military vibe to the beat
which fits exactly with the overall message here and that message is that every
revolution needs people to stand up and fight for what it right and here we get
a true sense for what makes up these people and the fact they stand for freedom
for all against a government who seek only to control the people for their own
ends and not to represent them or support them. JabbaTheKut expertly cuts up
that Big Yellow Taxi sample to bring in a more laid-back beat that incorporates
guitar and flute notes. The personal struggles we go through everyday are
enhanced by a system that is set up to keep down. But there is a message here
which is a massive realisation for many. You go through life working to pay the
bills and taxes to support your family and keep a roof over your heads and
through that constant work life struggle you forget that you are an individual
and you have worth But, so often you don’t recognise that worth, almost Till
It’s Gone. It’s vital to never forget that worth and the fact you can stand
for yourself and those people and values that are important to you.
Tribal and military drums beat a new rhythm one that sets up
a powerful vibe that is raised by the united voices of the chorus. The message
here is that if we want change on a global scale, a change for freedom then we
must truly Do Something. Revolution means we have to take a long hard
look at the corruption and oppression that is rife throughout the worlds
governments and they only succeed in what they do through keeping the people
asleep to what is truly going on. If the people truly wake to truth, then the
true revolution will begin, and freedom will be the ultimate outcome. Now
awakening people to the truth can be enjoyable as well as being a serious business.
So, it’s time for DJ Cue Tips and MC JD to step up with a block rocking old
skool beat, some flute notes and a whole host of classic Hip-Hop samples,
breaks and cuts. So, get out your seat as the beat takes us back to the golden
age. While you’re rocking out to this one, put a fist in the air as MC JD lines
up hid sights on those royal Blue Bloods (Cue Tips back to 86 mix), letting
the shots fly such that no one is left unscathed as its time to alert the
masses and awaken the sheeple. Oh Yeah! You might wanna turn the volume up a
bit for this one too…
Time to shift the aim from the sole focus of the royals to
the 1% those rich elitists who seek to control the worlds wealth and the world
along with it. A funky beat keeps you moving and is backed up with some flute
and tambourine alongside a horn and cut drive chorus. Every shot that hits home
is another we can pick up, cook up and Eat The Rich as there is no room
for those who think they are above the rest of us. A huge electronic and piano
driven vibe creates a very grimy, almost industrial vibe as the beat hits. The
focus shifts to looking at the one thing we all have, a freedom of speech. If
you chose to be a voice for the guerrilla republic, a voice for freedom, then
you must speak the truth and keep people hanging on you every word as they
watch When My Lips Move…
The Terminator intro sets up a bleak outlook as Scorzayzee
joins the revolution. The beat is pounding with some industrial electronic
vibes with Jabba’s deadly accurate cuts delivered with precision. This is a
bleak dystopian view of our lives through a lens of a matrix style vision.
Truth be known, are our lives truly that much different from this dark view of
life? The only way out is to awaken our minds and create a Glitch in the
matrix where we can create a brighter future. Moving into the final track of
the album there is no let up, in fact this one just switches up another level
or two as you are launched on the back of a heavy rock guitar and drum sound
that will give you the energy to bust free of the matrix and Fly alongside
Haynesy and JD. The vibe may seem a little dark but, JD is here to draw on his
uncompromising rap style and to harness the energy of the element as he battles
demonic forces which threaten everyone on earth. Step aside Hellboy we've got Haynesy and JD…
Let’s make no mistake, here and now in noting that this is
an incredibly solid album. Truth Be Told is a politically and socially
conscious album that is unrelenting and pulls no punches in its desire to open
the eyes of the people to the truth. Although it’s roots are squarely in the
golden age of Hip-Hop music, it still has enough diversity to appeal to a wide
range of audiences. If ever there was an album from the UK shores that could
pack the kind of power of the likes of It Takes a Nation of Millions by Public
Enemy or The Devil Made Me Do It by Paris, then this album could well be it.
The Production for Haynesy is unapologetically Hip-Hop. He
expertly creates the kind of pounding energy laden sound that fuels every
muscle in your body with huge amounts of adrenaline, and as such you cannot
fail to be moved I some way. Once more utilizing the talent of JabbaThaKut to add
cut’s, scratches, and turntable trickery to every track is pure magic. JabbaThaKut is one of the UK's premier Hip Hop turntablists who has this psychic ability for knowing exactly what to bring to a track to elevate it to that next level. Plus, lets face it, it is truly
Hip-Hop without the DJ? Honestly, you could take Haynesy’s sound and drop it
into any era of Hip-Hop and you would see emcees queued around the block to
jump on these beats. The energy and emotion that comes through the music here
is the perfect backdrop for JD to immerse himself in the current world climate
and to expose the truth. He draws on personal experience of leading protests to
fuel the call for freedom and to expose the racists and to open up about the
blatant oppression, double dealings and covert agendas that pervade every level
of our society and political parties. No stone goes unturned and there is no
place left for those powers that be to hide. You hear and feel the passion in
his voice as he speaks with knowledge and desire that mirrors such figures as
Chuck D and there is the feeling he will not rest until he see’s true change in
the world with equality and freedom.
To round off this package and capture the full ambiance of the project, John Dyer immerses himself into the message behind the project and provides, artwork and design that provides an intense visual impact that is the perfect pictorial representation of the album and indeed what we see day to day.
Truth Be Told is not just Hip-Hop it is a revolutionary
sound for a new era. It is a call to all of us, we must stand tall, because
together will not fall. Haynesy and JD show that it’s not just what you say
but, how you say it, and when you say it by taking the heart felt and
politically charged words of a modern freedom fighter and put them to the
emotive and high energy music of one of Hip-Hop’s most talented producers, you
can say exactly what you want to say and people will listen and not just with
their ears. It will energize every fiber in their bodies, triggering the release of all manner of emotions and this will allow them to hear it to their essence, the very core of their being.
For me Truth Be Told is more than an instant classic, it’s
going to be one of those defining moments not just within Hip-Hop music but,
also for the movement towards standing up for our common law rights and our freedom.
Truth Be Told gets it's digital release via Bandcamp on July 1st with streaming going live on 1st August. With a bit of luck there will also be a physical release too so, keep watch.
Truth Be Told, it's time to open your mind, stand up and raise a fist to the sky...
