Album Review: Antisocial by AiKz and Third Degree

 

Antisocial

By

AiKz and Third Degree

 

Antisocial is the debut album from the duo of Abingdon emcee AiKz (pronounced aches) and Producer Third Degree (aka Liam Byrne, one half of Sophisticated Apes) who also resides in Abingdon.

It has been five years since AiKz released his debut album “The Life and Times”, which I’m ashamed to say I’ve not yet heard. During that time, he has been working hard alongside Liam, whom he met in 2012, as they both worked hard on honing their crafts in order to be able to release something that would be the best possible reflection of their individual talents.

So, this duo that comprises of an emcee with a talent for some witty wordplay and fierce delivery and a producer know for raw and aggressive beats and whose debut album with Sophisticated Apes “Civilization” has gained over 130K streams and some major support from BBC’s Introducing in the West Midlands, has the pedigree to deliver a blinding debut but, can they deliver? Join me to find out as I take you through all thirteen tracks of Antisocial…

 

The album kicks off or should I say ‘hits you for six’ straight out the gate with heavy pounding drums, strings, and keys. The Intro (OX Stand Up) is exactly what it says it is, a high-powered introduction that prepares you what it to come from AiKz and Third Degree. The OX referred to in the title comes from its postcode which reflects its location in relation to the city of Oxford.

With you attention well and truly grabbed by that intro, the guys move quickly into high gear as horns, drums, and a background of horns, giving you something upbeat to get you moving on Shut It Down. Here we get the full force of AiKz as he delivers what is a statement of facts. Using his slick lyrical wordplay and ferocious delivery he takes aim at all those who talk loud but, ain’t sayin’ nothin’ and also giving us a full verbal IMAX look at exactly what he is capable of on the mic. There is also a good sprinkling of cuts here too.  Just like sitting in a movie theatre and watching events unfold on the screen, we get the feeling that is what is happening here and maybe not how we expect? Piano, strings, and cuts (The first of three appearances by the legendary Jabbathakut) guide us into Who’s He before the beat drops, which is ripe for the head nods. This is not done at pace though and those strings give it a reflective vibe. Here we find AiKz in fine form as he breaks down who he is for all those who might ask, Who’s He? That reflective vibe helps you really feel what is being said here and you kinda take an instant liking to who AiKz is behind the mic and beyond. The introduction to Animal is one of sound bites and guitar. When the beat kicks in, it’s pounding and ,alongside that guitar, gives this one raw feel. Here we get schooled to the fact that AiKz might be a likable fellow but, when he gets behind the mic it’s business and cross him and he can tear you apart like he has the jaws of an angry animal. There jaws are metaphysical as rhymes, wordplay, delivery, and flow all combine into a form that is truly devastating, especially to wack emcees…

Ugly opens with a sample from the classic, It’s The Joint by Funky 4 + 1, which gives you the feeling of something special to come. Third Degree provides a beat of drums and piano which turns up the energy levels, just enough to keep ya bouncin’. AiKz proves that the title of the song is only there to show you how far he has come. He is anything but, ugly on the track as he shows here just what can be achieved when keep you focus and faith in your craft. It’s like this, you might have called me ugly once but now look at me, all you did was to give me the platform to rise above that. The track also ends with some little dedications, which adds a little depth of feeling. Hurt by Jonny Cash is the opening to I Still Dedicate, the beat and acoustic guitar really give this one a deep emotive vibe. Occasionally you listen to a track that touches you deeply and this one does just that. AiKz speaks candidly and reflectively on personal experiences. From a broken home and a fractured family to the birth of his son and the creation of a new family. This shows the power of a true lyricist who can craft their words in such a way that with the emotive musical back drop, it expresses true, heart felt emotion. Circa 92 sees Jabbathakut join the guys again providing sublime cuts as the track opens with piano notes before a heavy beat drops and your head is automatically in nod mode. This one is a homage to the pre-millennium Hip Hop days, those days that many call the golden era of Hip Hop, the late eighties and early 90’s. It is emcees like AiKz and others who keep that soul of the real Hip Hop alive on the underground scene by paying homage and bringing those days back in their music. You can feel that love in his voice and in his lyrics right here…

Piano, Strings and nice chilled beat merge together to create this smooth boom bap sound that takes you warm summer days and BBQ’s. How Many Mics sees AiKz really display his love for that original Hip Hop sound and his despair at what the radio plays. You really get a feel for how those pre-millennium days in Hip Hop inspired and shaped where he walks on his journey as an emcee. Funky guitar vibes, drums and cuts come together to push up the adrenaline levels for So Villainous, The more you listen there is kind of a spaghetti western vibe going on here. One the seems to focus on the bandits, those who are spitting rhymes so criminal they are that good. However, the more you listen the more you realise that AiKz is those villainous aspects and twisting and spinning them into something that is most obviously coming from a positive standpoint and for your entertainment. Jabbathakut joins the guys one last time with more turntable dexterity on Infinite Jest. Organ notes and drums are the core of this one, all moulded together to give a nice funky upbeat feel. This one is all about AiKz having fun with wordplay, no need to over analyse this one too much so, just enjoy the skilful display…

An acoustic guitar and the sounds of a storm usher in the next track. Soon the soulful vocals of Teresa Meads join as does the drumbeat, creating a thoughtful vibe as it carries you along. Tom Stiles (the other half of Sophisticated Apes) joins AiKz on this one which, for me anyway, really seems to reflect the current way so many of us are feeling as we look at the life we are living. There is a storm going on around us and in the midst of this we find a need to reach out for help whilst other reach out to us. There is only so much we can give, that’s how we feel but, we carry on and walk forward wondering if we can truly make it. The truth there is we can and will weather the storm, if we all reach out to each other lend an ear for others, we will never be alone, only stronger as one. Together we can be the Eye Of The Storm, the calm in the midst of chaos. A heavy beat and piano notes, alongside razor-sharp cuts is the backdrop for AiKz to drop the Lyricist. The whole vibe of this one feels like a Hip Hop superhero story as AiKz breaks it down about what it is to be a true lyricist. It’s not an easy choice to make to be someone who stands up using words to create lyrics, the kind of lyrics that please the masses and leave you feeling that you have done the best you can. It's about balance too, living your own life each day while that alias lives inside you constantly bringing forth your creative side. Finally, it’s time to sit back and relax with the chilled out musical Outro. Just enough time to reflect on what you’ve just heard and that was something special…

  

From what you have just read, and reading between the lines, you can probably guess that I enjoyed this album a lot. To be honest there is nothing not to like here. The idea was to create an album that perfectly showcased both the talents of the emcee and the producer and for me they really nailed it.

AiKz displays some cracking wordplay and story writing skills, alongside a solid and hard-hitting delivery and flows. Not only that but, he is injecting just the right amount of emotion or comedic edge, along the way, to keep you entertained and focused throughout. Third Degree brings a depth of production that provides the perfect sound scape for each track, mirroring the emotional depth of the lyrical content with equally emotive music. They have kept guests to a minimum which helps to highlight their own strengths and where they have brought others in it only adds extra depth and substance. Teresa Meads has a stunning voice which is perfect for Eye Of The Storm and Tom Stiles is a great choice on there two and who doesn’t like the turntable skills of Jabbathakut, nuff said right there.

Overall, what you get from AiKz and Third Degree on Antisocial is an album that flows seamlessly from start to finish. Toying with your emotions as it switches between those just for fun rhymes and deeply emotive personal experiences, seemingly leaving no stone unturned in bringing you solid album rooted in the golden era of Hip Hop. It is a true powerhouse that is brought to you by two people who have one goal, to bring the lovers of good music a solid Hip Hop album that will never get old and will be listened to for many years to come. This album is far from being Antisocial as people are gonna be talking about this one, trust me…

If these guys are not at the top of their game yet, then watch out because they are carving out a damn good one for themselves and that’s great news for us too.

Antisocial is released today on most streaming services. CD copies will be coming soon.

My Huge Thanks to Third Degree aka Liam Byrne for asking me to review this one.

On that note,

I’m out, see ya…

Steve  

LINKS

Streaming links for Antisocial:

https://open.spotify.com/album/0R6Px0kaOePXDakdJ6AGbF?si=9XtiR93OQBO6SuNdPjvn5g&utm_source=copy-link&nd=1

https://hypeddit.com/ar14i4

Pre-Release Album Review: Civilization by Sophisticated Apes

 

Civilization

By

Sophisticated Apes

Civilization is the debut album from Sophisticated Apes. The group is Tamworth based Emcee Tom Stiles and Oxford based producer Liam Byrne (also formerly of Tamworth). Alongside a mutual interest in Hip-Hop the guys became active on the scene in the late 90’s and once formed part of the underground Hip-Hop group Gnostix.

Following on from this Tom continued to hone his lyrical skills with the group Unfriendly Neighbours, alongside rapper Joey G-zus, singer Carl Knight and producer Second Suzpect, their first official project was released through Roots Manuva’s Banana Klan umbrella.

 

Liam continued with his production and released the “Born for This" E.P with Rivem & Bash. Alongside other work an instrumental song would be picked up by Channel 4 and his work with Reggiimental and Matt Henshaw would see a track featured in NME Magazine. More recently he’s been working closely with Oxford rapper AiKZ.

 

The pair have devoted a lot of time to getting Sophisticated Apes off the ground and this debut album is the fruits of their labour. It features a host of guest artists that include friends and fellow artists Reggiimental, Joey G-zus, Aikz, Carl Knight, Teresa Meads, UK heavyweight Wordsmiff Flip and DJ JabbaThaKut who provides all the cutting and scratching.

 

With all that in mind it’s time for me take you through this one and give you my thoughts. So, let’s go…

 

The sounds of kids playing in the park allows us to drift into a laid-back beat with some chilled piano gives us this reflective feel which is the perfect canvas as we are taken back to the 80’s where memories abound of the music we loved and the crazy stuff we got up to when life was more simple and some of loved that Cream Soda. From fond memories of the past to more recent memories of what it takes to build a lasting vision, a Legacy. The beat is proper head nod style with some electronic synth notes to get ya buzzin’. We move into the album’s title track with a laid-back beat under layers of guitar vibes. A deep dark look at what we call Civilization and whether this is really a civilized culture or one this is just savage with a plethora of technological gizmo’s aimed at keeping us in line? Some calming piano notes bring us back to reality, even the beat helps to clear your head. Here it is all about how you live your life and treat those around you. Think deeply, always stand tall and conduct yourself with Integrity.  

 

As we move through our lives, we often encounter someone who Always Knows Best. You know those people who tell you what you should do or should have done, when all that you really need is a bit of friendly advice for you to take on and make your own decisions. There is a great reggae vibe to this one of keys, bass and drums. It also mixes in some more modern vibes toward the end and features singer Carl Knight on the chorus. A thumping beat with Organ notes and horns takes us into a look at all those fakes out there who constantly talk about who they are, what they got and how guns they’ve shot. We don’t wanna know all you’ve Fabricated just to look good or hard, we just wanna see who you really are, your authentic self will bring you much more respect and longevity. A haunting vocal grabs our attention before breaking into a straight up pounding boom bap beat but, that haunting vocal drifts throughout and pulls at your nerves on the chorus. Wordsmiff Flip,  AiKZ and JabbaThaKut join us here and might seem that this one is just about the ups and downs life, leaving nothing but Woe. However, listen a bit deeper and it’s more about elevating yourself, pushing forward and leaving the heartache and woe behind.

 

Violin and piano notes over a pounding beat, with some haunting vocals from Theresa Meads, create an emotive vibe. This is a deep look into the experiences of children in a broken home and the story behind it. Broken homes are all to common these days and here we see the mother is left to pick up the pieces after a father breaks the Happy Home. For a short while we are about to get lost in some jazzy piano over a head nob beat that mixes to produce a backdrop to memories or a dream of what can happen over Seven heavy days and seven heavy nights. A more modern trap vibe is the basis for the next track. The mixed in woodwind and percussion notes give this one a slightly eerie edge as we take a look at the divide between the Haves and Have-Nots.

 

Up next, we have a head nod beat overlaid with some emotive piano. AiKZ and Reggiimental feature here too where we take a deep look at the hidden struggles that so many go through and some of what triggers and compounds that pain, such as the fear-based media, and that makes many Cry on the inside. YGA features Joey G-zus and JabbaThaKut and hits almost on a battle rap style vibe. Piano and strings over a heavy beat give this a gritty edge that sees both emcees showing how they have come up and are now here to stay while the rest, well, You Gone Away. Time to calm things down a bit with a mariachi style guitar over a more laid-back beat and some slick cuts from JabbaThaKut. This one looks at those you love in life, from that special someone to you children, the ones you will always Say A Prayer for.

 

Miss Guided comes with a soulful feel but, still has that nice boom bap beat to it. This is a look at someone desperate to find love hooking up with the wrong people and being used, a sad situation all to common with many being taken advantage of. More of than modern trap vibe, mixed with percussion and strings forms the backdrop for the penultimate track, a stark look at life and the general state of society. We all do the best we can to enjoy our time by not letting things get us down and surrounding ourselves with love but, eventually all things come to end and when it does just don’t forget the Flowers. A heartbeat brings your focus to the final track, the beat is sparce, laced with guitar and organ notes alongside a final appearance from Carl Knight. This is an emotive piece looking at what it feels like when you are a parent bringing a child into the world. All the thoughts that come to you on what you will do together as they grow, the love you will share. There are few better feelings, as a parent, than tucking your kids in bed, reading, or singing to then and watching them Sleep Tight.  

 

 

Civilization is a cracking debut from the Sophisticated Apes. You could liken it to riding on of those water rapids rides at theme parks. There is just right balance of thrills and chills to keep you buzzing to the end. I felt drawn to using this water analogy because of the connection of water to emotions and this album has some really focused emotive moments that touch you on deep levels (one especially was hard even for me) and to be able to put that level of emotive feeling into something is the mark of excellent writing and production.

 

Liam’s production is tight throughout. He creates the perfect audible landscape for us mixed with a wealth of well-chosen movie soundbites that give extra depth to those tracks on which they feature. As we traverse these audible visons that have been created for our pleasure, it’s all brought to life by the solid vocals of Tom and the guest artists. Tom’s ability at mixing up flows and styles, plus the depth of his wordplay, shows what years of experience and dedication to your artform brings, in fact this the same for both guys and is a credit as to how well they work together.

 

The guest artists are all on top of their game here and are wisely used to enhance and bring depth of knowledge and experience to their feature tracks. It is always good to see those more well know names, such as JabbaThaKut and Wordsmiff Flip, alongside those you might be less familiar with and shows the wealth of talent out there and new names you might want to check out.

 

There truly is something for all here, whilst it is predominantly a boom bap style Hip-Hop album at heart the use of a few of the more modern vibes along the way (like them or not) gives this a wider audience that may well enable some to experience different genres for the first time opening them up to new avenues of musical expression. There is a great balance of themes here too with some socially conscious and highly personal emotive vibes to the straight up just for fun wordplay type vibes, Plus, you can really feel the depth of work, energy and heart that has gone onto producing this album.

 

This definitely one that I suggest you check out for yourself as it is well worth a listen and even adding to your collection as there are physical copies coming too.

Civilization by Sophisticated Apes is released through Refined Records and due to be released early in August.

Huge Thanks to Tom for sending this over.

Time for me to be out,

Peace.

Steve.

LINKS

Keep your eyes peeled for the album links coming soon. Until then check the links below and be sure to check your fav streaming sites too:

Sophisticated Apes on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SophisticatedApes

Sophisticated Apes on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sophisticatedapes/