EP Review: The Bedroom Rapper EP by Controverse

 

The Bedroom Rapper EP

By

Controverse

 

I previously reviewed Controverse when he featured on two tracks for Wounded Buffalo Beats on the album Black Magic & Horns. Here he featured alongside Pacewon, Jus Allah and Mayz, so it is good to finally get the chance to review his solo work.

2021 has been a productive year for Controverse with two singles already in the bag, On My Own and Hold Tight, the Bristol emcee now drops The Bedroom Rapper EP. The EP is four tracks with a nice little bonus, and he promises that there will be a bit of everything in this one.

I think I’m just dive straight into this one for you…

The EP kicks off with dark vibe of heavy drums and melodic piano notes but there is a thoughtful air to this one too. Here we find Controverse looking at the struggles of life, the moments that define who we are and those moments that literally save us. Along the way there are those who stand by us every step of the way, those who put us down and then there are those who only choose to stand by us once we have made it. Through all these moments there are those times when we need to respond and those times when it is just best to Say Nuffin’.

Time to chill things out a little with a laid-back beat and some multi-layered sounds. Controverse takes a look at why he Don’t Smoke Weed. He takes us back to times when he did smoke, that weed is not necessarily a bad drug and tells us about the reasons behind why he made the choice to stop. This is easily one of those tracks for those who enjoy a smoke and those who don’t because you can easily kick it and chill either way, it’s your choice.

From that chilled vibe we are brought back to our feet with a gritty mix of heavy drums and synth notes. Get Ya Fists Up is not a track that glorifies violence, as Controverse makes obvious in the into. What this is, is an upbeat hard-edged track that looks at those times when you are in a situation with no choice but, to defend yourself and that could be for many reasons. So, you can get deep into this one or simply just enjoy the beat and have some fun with it.

Time for some head nod now, piano driven with a good sprinkling of cuts. Although that piano also gives this one a thoughtful aspect too. That’s Life see’s Controverse take a look at the ebb and flow of life and the storms that occasionally darken the skies on our life’s journey. The message here is that, yes, life does bring us challenges and hurdles to overcome but, the reality is that, ultimately, life is what you make it. You can choose to fall or stumble and stay down or you can keep getting up every time and forge ahead in the knowledge that a better tomorrow is coming, and you are making it happen.

The bonus track brings us a deep emotive vibe from its sparse drums and piano driven sound to the etheric vocals. On My Own is one of those deeply personal tracks that hits hard on many levels. Here Controverse opens his heart to you as her details coming through all those hard times, the times you could never imagine seeing the light again, but eventually marvelling as the sun breaks through the dark clouds above, showing that the road ahead is clear, and you made it. There is a connection here that touches us all and one we can all associate with, from those who have already come through it to those who are still wondering when the sun will breakthrough? Don’t worry, the sun will shine through…

I have to say that this one did not disappoint. There was a bit of everything here, from some fun to things more thoughtful and those that will probably have you sitting back and maybe reaching for a tissue.

The thing here is that Controverse has skillful wordplay and flows which he fuses with feeling on a level that can just leave you blown away. He really puts a huge amount of feeling and personal experience into these tracks in a way that invites the listener to reflect on their own personal experiences to great effect. It shows proper maturity and a desire, not just to entertain, but also to connect with the listeners on deep levels that shows we all have a connection on some level.

The production on the Ep comes from Nigma (Tracks 1-4) and SK Plug (On My Own) and these guys do an absolutely cracking job of mirroring the emotiveness of Controverse’s lyrics. The musical backdrops to each track really bring that vibrancy out which allows you to feel the essence of what is being put across to you. There are times when the musical backdrop does not always do the job but, here that is not an issue as you feel every emotion whether it lifts you up and excites you or brings a tear to the eye, it’s all there.

Overall, if you are going to use music to convey a wealth of emotions to the listeners then it has to be the complete package. The Bedroom Rapper EP does that with aplomb. Controverse delivers a heartfelt project that perfectly displays his skills. He brings personal experience to bear here in a way that allows us in and to feel what he feels, and it’s all backed up by a stunning musical journey which carries us across a wealth of emotions in just under seventeen minutes.

This is definitely one for your collection, regardless of whether you stream it or buy it, just listen to it.

Having said that, I would say that the paltry sum that Controverse is asking for this EP makes it more that worth your while to part with a couple of quid…

Huge thanks to Controverse for sending this over to me.

The Bedroom Rapper EP is out today with streaming links to follow on 27th…

On that note, I’m out too,

Steve

LINKS

Get the EP on Bandcamp Here:

https://controverse.bandcamp.com/album/the-bedroom-rapper-ep-3

Album Review: Gold Pyramids On Black Sand by Cut Beetlez & Dopamine 189

 

Gold Pyramids On Black Sand

By

Cut Beetlez & Dopamine 189

 

Last year was a hot year for the duo from Finland, Cut Beetlez, who dropped a number of releases of which I reviewed a fair few including the CBNG LP with the Nice Guys, The Overflow single series Parts One Two & Three and of course the stunning What Beetlez LP. Finally, they are back for 2021, firstly with the single AMIRRORCA along side PhillGoodX7 and now with this new album.

If you have read my reviews and caught any of these fine releases, then you will know that HP Lovescratch & DJ J-Man are always upping their game and experimenting with new ways and sounds to take Hip Hop and Turntablism to new levels and dimensions.

Following their collaborations with the likes of Nice Guys and A-F-R-O etc, this time they hook up with Berkley California Emcee Dopamine 189, a beat maker, producer, and emcee, he also part of the KTD Crew, FSC Crew and Berkley CA All Stars  to bring you another banger.

Alongside Dopamine 189 there are also a host of other talented artists including emcees One Feather, Nac One and Matrix P, also featured is singer Etni Kahn and saxophonist Tuomas Sipponen, all bringing their own special vibes to bear on the project.

The release is all polished off by some striking artwork from Noom and design by the gifted Mr Krum. So, this is one of those releases you can’t pin any expectations on as it’s the Cut Beetlez. All we know is it will be a treat for the ears.

So, let’s get into it…

The album hits from the get-go with a short jazz infused Intro in which Dopamine 189 drops a little bit about himself and what his impressions of the Cut Beetlez were. The vibe of the track with its dash of cuts thrown in, really sets the tone of the album and the vision reflected by the cover artwork. From there we are treated to a mind-bending mix of Organ notes, cuts, claps, bells, and Bass which creates this almost Hip-Hop vision quest vibe for Sun Surfer. Dopamine 189 and One feather bring a lot of thought-provoking visions to bear on this track and detail the value of healing the mind. Alongside this the values and teachings of indigenous cultures shines through as the importance of living in harmony with the land is impressed on us. From loving yourself and loving the land the Beetlez and Dopamine 189 bring a different love to the forefront on Blue Lotus. Here the focus is a celebration of that special woman in your life and the background is a deep jazz vibe of guitar, piano, and the Sax of Tuomas Sipponen with a sprinkling of cuts which creates the perfect mood.

From the deep experience of love, we move into another deep experience as a multi-layered sound scape of Electronic notes, cymbals, guitar, and cuts has us transported to another musical dimension which is the perfect backdrop for Dopamine 189 to take us on a ride around the pyramids and ancient cultures then back to his music and the vibe of live shows. You can almost picture 189 stood atop the great pyramid of Giza flanked by the Cut Beetlez on top of the other two pyramids and all under a Grenadine Sky. The Beetlez create another musical sound scape to test the mind as they bring in Bass, Horns, Drums, and synths to create a laid-back soulful funk vibe that switches pace between verses to a jazz fusion instrumental. Meanwhile 189 is joined by Matrix P to speak on those who have walked before us and passed on, thus creating this thoughtful space that has you casting your mind to the universal lake of memory and all the while, above fly Neon Kites.

A short Skit takes us into the second half of the album on jazz tip with Dopamine 189 briefly explaining why he is rocking with the Beetlez. Organ vibes, Cuts, Bass, Horns, and drums initially hit you with something akin to a Hip-Hop big band feel before dropping you to the relative sparce ambiance of back street jazz club. While all this is going on Dopamine 189 and One Feather breakdown what it is to get deep into your music creativity, Life and Conscious Evolution and pay attention as you might need Clairvoyance to understand this one. There is no time for your mind to settle before a mix of organ notes, Horns, electronic vibes, and cuts spears your consciousness. 189 and Nac One jump in to spin a web of deadly but, precious vocals that has you questioning, who is the more deadly here? The 14K Tarantulas or the Emcees?

Bringing us down a bit is the more soulful organ and drum vibes that are interwoven with some vocal notes and cuts. Dopamine 189 speaks on that special kind of relationship between two people who have a deep bond and together engage in Stereo Romance. The final track of the album is a deep soulful blend of drums, organ notes, cuts, and the vocals of Etni Kahn. As the vibes have you floating in space Dopamine 189 gets deep into merging life and loves with the physical embodiment of earthly minerals, something that gives reality to our emotions and feelings.

 

Gold Pyramids On Black Sand is a challenging, for some reason I don’t want to say experimental, Hip-Hop success. There are huge multi-layered soundscapes here that merge perfectly with the emcee’s vocal talents. The whole project ebbs and flows precisely from start to finish, perfectly blending pace and musical styles to create something that, at times, is like some kind of Hip-Hop meditative experience. But not only does it flow and blend so well but, it challenges your mind and sense of reality to the point that you are not aware that you have only spent a little under 23 minutes in the company of the Cut Beetles and Dopamine 189. It is like you have just experienced the Hip-Hop musical equivalent of a Dali painting…

It is truly something to pack so much musical innovation and knowledge into such a timeframe it feels like it is a much longer listening experience. The fusion of street knowledge and some more esoteric with the indigenous culture connection and that sense of self perfectly bends stretches and moulds your sense of reality as you listen and immerse yourself into the experience.

The Cut Beetles are successful in again stretching their creative limits and bringing you a sound that is both undoubtedly theirs but, at the same time fresh and unique and teaming with Dopamine 189 it keeps it Hip-Hop but with an open mind. 189 brings that street element of Hip-Hop but tinged with a deeper understanding of subjects that extend beyond the box which is perfect for the vibe the Cut Beetles bring with their constant tweaking of the boundaries of Hip-Hop Music.

This is Hip-Hop for a new reality. Where listening with an open mind has you with one foot in boom bap street and the other in a portal to a reality where Hip-Hop stretches the boundaries of all you know and love…

You to can experience Gold Pyramids On Black Sand from today…

Huge thanks to the Cut Beetlez for sending this over to me.

On that note,

I’m not sure if I’m outta here or not…

Steve

LINKS

All the links for Gold Pyramids on Black Sand can be found Here:

https://linktr.ee/cutbeetlez