It was way back in April of 2020 that I reviewed the first
part in the Totem Trilogy. September 30th saw the release of part 2
of that trilogy. This time The Scribes have teamed up with Bristol based
producer Vice Beats to bring us eight tracks of Hip Hop goodness.
The guys have also drafted in some top-notch artists to
feature alongside them in Dizzy Dustin (Ugly Duckling), Akil The MC (Jurassic
5), Donnie Numeric and Thalassic. The EP also features Mac Lloyd providing bass
and guitars.
As with the first instalment, the Totem Part 2 features
artwork from Chris Malbon, who also provided artwork for the recent picture
disk release for the Shipwreck single. When the trilogy is complete, all three
pieces of artwork combine to give you a stunning Totem image.
Hopefully I have now whetted your appetite enough, so let’s
get into the EP…
Immediately you feel like you are falling down the rabbit
hole into some weird late 1800’s or early 1900’s travelling carnival as you
listen to Joviality Commences (Intro). The spoken intro and big drums
have you wondering what’s about to happen as your only link to reality are razor
sharp cuts but, even those don’t seem to stop you falling into this weird,
alternate reality…
As you stumble around in a half darkness, you find yourself
in a tattered tent with battered wooden seating. Suddenly you are sat in a
front row seat staring at faded and thread bare curtains, which suddenly part
to reveal Ill Literate and Jonny Steele on stage with Vice Beats. The stage
comes alive as the beat hits with horns blaring and you’re on the Hype
train. You realise that The Scribes aren’t alone, and the one Dizzy Dustin
stands alongside them. The horns ease for each verse and we are treated to
three emcees’ delivering a dazzling display of wisecracking wordplay with
pinpoint accuracy to properly hype the crowd. Vice Beats production fires up
the adrenaline and you suddenly wonder what you were freaked out about as this
is shaping up to be a travelling fair you’ll be wanting to come back to again
and again, especially as there is a nice bit of beatbox thrown for good
measure. The music does not let up and the lights dim briefly, when the lights
come up Dizzy Dustin is replaced by Donnie Numeric. The drums come to the
forefront, accompanied by xylophone and orchestral notes, from the Birmingham
Symphony Youth Orchestra, on a more chilled vibe to help us Focus. With
your head swaying from side to side you realise that this one is all about
bringing your attention to those things that are important to you and giving a
nod to all those artists that played a part in being an inspiration to you as
you found your way to where you are, without those paving the way, where would
you be…
Following another dimming of the lights, just the Scribes
and Vice Beats remain on stage. Drums and guitars with some horns bring a funk fuelled
vibe that gives us a soul of the Sixties. The guys take us on body
moving trip through what happened when The Scribes went back to the sixties.
You can’t help but, get lost on this trip as the guys guide us through some of
the key moments of the era while floating away on some crazy LSD induced
moments. Their vocals seem to merge into vibrant colours, and nothing sucks
because its all-cool man. As you begin to come back down from your trip, some
horns and drums bring back to reality where Vice Beats tells you its Just Rock using
the 1’s and 2’s on this Hip Hop DJ Just Rock (Skit), would it be Hip Hop
without the DJ…
With that short DJ interlude over, The Scribes are back on
stage with Mac Lloyd on bass for All I Can Say. Vice Beats production
keeps it proper funky to keep you moving as The Scribes keep you entertained
with slick bars and dope rhymes as they school the crowd on what it is to do
what they do and to thank them for coming and enjoying their crap, but, by now
the crowd is so lost in the moment they realise there is no crap here just damn
good Hip Hop vibes and they want more. Not wanting to disappoint The Scribes
drop an encore with Akil The MC, Thalassic and Mac Lloyd (on bass and guitars).
The Get Down (refix) is a new, more soulful, take on the original from
the Quill Equipped Villainy album. Organ notes and cuts guide us into the track
which is chilled and laid-back in its funky musical sound scape. This one has
you nodding ya head as you understand, once again, that in order to get on up,
you gotta get down. This is the way you really enjoy what’s coming your way and
this one definitely has that J5 vibe mixed with that Scribes and Vice beat
feel.
As the music fades you are suddenly gripped by the feeling
you will be back in that tattered tent and sat in the battered seat but, no,
orchestral notes fill you ears and a more easy going voice asks that he hopes
you had What A Pleasant Evening (Outro) and you feel like you’re now in
a 1950’s concert hall But, blink again, you right where you are now, just sat
there having just finished listening to the Totem Trilogy Part 2…
OK, so weird stories vibes aside, the Totem Trilogy Part 2
is cracking release from The Scribes and Vice Beats. It really draws you into
the music and makes you a part of the whole experience. This allows you to properly
get lost into the music, coming out the other side knowing you just enjoyed
every second of it.
Vice Beats does a fantastic job on production, every track
is skillfully produced to bring you just the right amount of energy to perfectly
match the vocal delivery and the mood of the tracks. There is some solid Hip
Hop production here that displays the quality of his work and shows why he has
worked with the likes of A-Plus and Blu and that support from Chuck D and DJ
Premier is helping him get recognition worldwide, with a number of upcoming
releases on the cards. Vice Beats already has the accolade of having the only
official J Dilla tribute to date.
The Scribes, just seem to go from strength to strength
delivering solid Hip Hop that delivers on every level. Regardless of whether they are dropping some
straight up Hip Hop or hitting us with a concept EP, everything is always
produced with polished and precise attention to detail. This is matched only by
their insane live touring schedule; these guys just don’t stop. The Scribes
truly are one of those defining elements of what real Hip Hop is all about and
not just in the UK.
It would not right of me not to mention the guest artist
either. Everyone fits precisely into place preforming with aplomb. Dizzy Dustin
drops the kinda verse that shows exactly why he so sought after and still
delivering solid Hip Hop. Akil The MC has a verse that shows the diversity of
his work and the fact that a rework of the track does not lessen the impact of
his vocals. Donnie Numeric (who is a long-time collaborator with Vice Beats)
and Thalassic show some slick wordplay and the give the kind of performances
that show these are names to look for in the future.
Totem Part 2 shows that this trilogy is likely to grow into
a must have for all those who love real Hip Hop.
The EP is out now on digital and Limited CD release through HHV/EQ Music.
Today sees the release of the new EP from one of the South
West’s premier Hip Hop groups, The Scribes. The Journey is a 4 track EP,
produced entirely by Risk1 Beats from Ponypridd South Wales, that is accompanied by what is, in my opinion
anyway, one of the most stunning 7” Picture disc’s I’ve seen in a long time. That
7” Picture Disk of the lead track, The Shipwreck, is released through
Stay Free Recordings and features the stunning artwork of Chris Malbon (who has also produced artwork for the Scribes Totem Trilogy. Part 1 of which is available now) and is a
strictly limited edition.
So, just what is The Journey all about? I think the
easiest way to explain that is for me to take you on a journey of my own as I
stand shoulder to shoulder with The Scribes and Risk1 on this one. So, come
join us for The Journey…
A short spoken into immediately grabs your attention and
pulls you into a place where the only importance is to sail from port to port,
never anchoring, never stopping just sailing. The backdrop is piano notes over
the intro before being joined by the pounding drums of the sea and a wind of
fierce cuts (from Risk1). This musical combination gives you this feeling that all there is
this ship and the sea, and you are at the mercy of the elements. Ill Literate
then uses emotive lyrics to describe the thoughts of the sailor, the captain
perhaps, of this ship. Beyond that the lyrical pallet paints a picture of
changing seas and the approaching storm. The fury of the sea and the wind takes
no pity on the ship and those thoughtless enough to sail into its path.
Ultimately the vessel is destroyed by the storm and our narrator finds himself
a victim of The Shipwreck…
Drums and Clarinet come together to produce an almost
Egyptian sounding vibe. This backdrop is perfect. Our survivor is now thankful
to be spared But, with the ship lost, he finds himself at the mercy of the
elements once more. This time the harsh unrelenting sun beats down on him as he
finds himself kneeling in sand and facing the challenge of The Desert,
as he seeks to find his way home. Ill Literate narrates helping us visualise
the heat and its effects, causing cracked skin and despair as the survivor
treads across shifting sands, wondering if only survived the seas to be killed
by in this ocean of yellow scorched sand…
Piano, bass, and drums produces a slightly darker edge to
the sound scape and one that might just be a saviour to our survivor. As ill
Literate narrates further, we find out survivor thankful once more as he makes
his way to edge of the desert to find that it is now The Forest that
awaits him. Passing out in the shade of trees, he awakes sits before setting
off once more. There are still challenges to face but, life of the forest helps
the survivor begin to heal. As he regains his strength, he is thankful that the
forest has helped save him and comes to more realisations about who he truly is
and his relationship to world around him…
The Return see’s our survivor back home and the
backdrop of piano, organ notes and drums give this a reflective air about it.
Here he reflects over the journey he has just been on, thinking on the
challenges he faced, the moments of fear, pain, healing, and joy. This is a
journey that he will never forget, it has changed him for the better, giving
him a deep respect for the world around him and for who he is and his place in
that world, a world that helped heal him and, perhaps, he can help heal it…
Although The Journey is one based on the story of a
shipwreck survivor and his journey through unknown lands and what he faces as
he tries to make his way back home, you realise that this journey parallels the
experiences of any one of us. The time, place and names might be different, as
is the situations but, there is no doubt that we have all done things where we
have gone in blindly or perhaps got real deep into something that when things
change, we feel suddenly alone, not knowing which way to turn. We will stumble
through a period of time, doing our best to get by before, one day having a
moment of clarity where we suddenly see the road in front of us, we realised
that we have been forever changed by what has happened but, now we have a new
sense of purpose, a new respect for life and we walk forward in the
understanding that what seemed like a negative experience was more of a
teaching than anything and we are thankful for that…
The Scribes and Risk1 have truly nailed this by bringing us
a very intelligent, descriptive, and poignant piece of hip hop. Musically Risk1
has produced sounds that completely suit the tone of each track and he does
that in a reasonably simple way, not with too many layers but, just enough to
produce the feeling in the listener, and all the while keeping that sound
rooted in that boom bap hip hop. Ill Literate uses emotive verbal wordplay that
flows easily with the vibe of each track, allowing the listener to visualize not
just the intended story but, also to visualize what is not said or not
intended. That is the key point here that the Risk1 and The Scribes merge to
bring you an EP that could, quite easily, have you imagine a different story
each time you listen, bringing a slightly different set of circumstances for the survivor in the story, while reflecting a
different story from your own journey as well.
Overall, I have to say that The Journey is not just a solid UK Hip Hop release but, an intelligent
story that is put together in such a way as to bring the listener reflections of their own personal journey as much as it brings a musical journey. It also goes to show why The
Scribes are one of the UKs most exciting Hip Hop acts, with lyrical dexterity
and uplifting vibes matched with bringing in exactly the right producers for
each of their projects. They also have an incredible work ethic in doing what
they love, their live program is almost non-stop, and I suggest you get to
see them when they pass through your town or city, because these guys always
put on one heck of a show.
It is also worth noting here that as The Scribes signed withStimulus Management in February 2022,
joining a frankly insane roster including
Nas, Snoop Dogg, DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, Busta Rhymes and Faith Evans. So, the future looks increasingly bright for the guys.
The Journey is released on digital, alongside The Shipwreck
7” picture disc and video (from Bristol based S G Media), today.
Between 2014 and 2018 I lived in a small village in Devon,
called Hartland, and about thirty minutes’ drive from there was one of North
Devon’s major towns, Barnstaple. Now Barnstaple just happens to be where
Citizen Nuggz resides so, how I never heard of him while I was living down that
way is nutz but, there ya go, so it was not until Pandamonium dropped a remix
of the track Country Lanes and Hedgerows that I first heard of Citizen Nuggz
and Weztax…
Anyway, I digress.
Off The Beaten Track is the debut release for Citizen Nuggz,
it was written over the course of four to five years and is fully produced by
producer/musician Weztax. What you are treated to is not just ten or twelve
tracks but, seventeen tracks of proper Hip Hop goodness, straight out the West
Country of the UK.
Citizen Nuggz (Patrick Carey) is the brother of B WUN of Da
Regiment. He grew up on the streets of North Devon town Combe Martin before
moving to Barnstaple (BTOWN) when he was aged 11. He had some heavy musical influences
from his Uncle Craig, who fed him tapes by the likes of Onyx, KRS 1, Rakim, The
Pharcyde and many more, and his own parents who liked Motown, Barry White, Earth
Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye and such like. He has played a host of instruments
from a young age including drums from age 8. From his late teens he began to
write lyrics on a serious basis and after playing in a number of bands would
eventually leave those to pursue being an emcee. The crews, he is in, are
associated with Exeter label One Lion Sound and he has also been associated with
Plymouth’s Cult Music and has spent the best part of a decade arranging Hip Hop
events, touring the UK and overseas.
All that considered, the expectation is pretty high for what
is about to be delivered by Citizen Nuggz and Weztax. So, without further ado,
let’s get into Off The Beaten Track…
The album hits heavy straight out the gates with the OTBT
Intro a pulse pounding mix of drums. Pipe organ notes and cuts. This really
sets up the tone of the album perfectly in introducing you to Citizen Nuggz,
Weztax production and the album. With
that vibe ringing in your ears the album kicks off proper with Verbal
Savegery. The bass, drums, and organ notes, bring a slightly dark edge to
the whole tone of the track, which is a blank canvas for Nuggz to display his
mind-bending wordplay skills as he takes words and sentences, twisting them
together creating an entertaining display of just what he is capable of doing
as an emcee. Next up we find Weztax stepping out from behind the scenes to
feature on Ain’t The Same, a proper boom bap sound full of drums, synths,
and strings that will immediately get your head nodding. Nuggz and Weztax set out
how they are in this for the love of the music, Hip Hop and not for money or
the fame. Here it’s all about the passion for the music and how it’s important
to be authentic in what you do and that is all about speaking on where you’re
from and in your own accent, that’s how you bring intelligence and authenticity
to what you do.
Outer Body hits with a solid Hip Hop sound that mixes
organ notes, bass, drums, and cuts along with an added flute sound that seems
to tease your awareness. Midway through the track that flute drops out in favour
of an electric guitar vibe, which tweaks your nerves. The focus here is on
writing lyrics and what that process makes you feel and what it can do to you. With
your awareness and nerves now in a heightened state Fictional Thoughts
hits with a slamming mix of drums, bass, and piano notes, in fact that piano is
so nerve tingling that you can’t lose yourself in this one as the piano keeps
you firmly focused on the track. Slard joins Citizen Nuggz here for a track the
seems to be taking aim at all those who can’t be original in their music. Those
who chose to write fictional fantasy stories instead of drawing on their own
authentic experiences. The vibe now switches to a more laid-back stance with
some heavy drums and strings creating the mood, which has an almost up and down
feel to it. In fact, that up and down feel fits perfectly on the track as
Citizen Nuggz is joined by Cracker Jon and Moraless for a track that looks at
the work you need to put in if you are going to succeed alongside the ups and
downs of life. There are so many who chose to waste their time, not taking
their craft seriously. It’s also key to remember not to take life too seriously
and having some Laughing Fits can really help mellow the mood of the
often stressful challenges life puts before us.
Praise The Grades is a big tune and drops with this
heavy sound of Organ notes, bass, drums and cuts which has this banging funk
vibe. Nuggz and B WUN drop some slick verses all about the different grades of
that sticky green and simply kicking back and chilling with a good smoke, no
matter which one you pack in. Now one thing you can’t escape from in North
Devon is the Country Lanes and Hedgerows and here Weztax creates a big
sound of drums, horns and strings that seems to fit so well with the North
Devon area, which is exactly what this one is all about. North Devon is not the
place you expect to find Hip Hop alive and well but, it is most definitely
there. In place full of country lanes, hedgerows, and grockles (That’s
holidaymakers to everyone else), anything is possible and here one thing is for
sure Hip Hop is alive and kicking. That North Devon ambiance spills over into MetaphoricMetamorposis where keys and drums mix with the sounds of nature to bring
you that breezy summers day vibe. If you mix that nature aspect with the ups
and downs of life and our own desire for change and how a view might change
around the corner of the next country lane, then you might just get a handle on
what Citizen Nuggz, Moxey and Toddy are putting across with this one, it’s very
clever…
The piano intro to Set Ablaze, gives you a sense of
calm, albeit a false sense as it fades into the background as some proper head
nod drums bust forth. Nuggz and Chatta drop some slick verses with intelligent
wordplay that focuses on writing rhymes and keeping everything hot to set the
tracks on fire and certainly accomplish that here but, if that were not enough,
the track ends with some fiery red-hot cuts that fan the flame further. Heavy
horns, a heavy beat, and some hefty rapid-fire cuts and Nuggz with some rapid-fire
lyrics. This short tracks hits heavy with every element pounding away in its
own way. Everything in life, those Odds and Evens, it’s all a game of
chance, every decision you make and every road you take, that’s what this one
is all about right? Well, I’m taking a chance on that one too…
Flute, drums, bass, and rewinds merge to bring a slightly
darker aspect to the beat for Insomnia (Skit). Nuggz switches the flow
down a touch as he muses about his troubles, what is causing it? Could it be insomnia,
or could it be an addiction to the music and writing rhymes? The skit ends with
a sampled interview with a specialist speaking on insomnia and Sleep Apnoea. As
I thought about this it brought me to my own experiences with insomnia and
sleep apnoea and Weztax production here almost feels like a musical expression
of the brain fog associated with poor sleep. Footsteps lead us to a laid-back
sound of drums, piano, and sax, which combine to create that laid-back but
almost haunting vibe. Nuggz relaxed flow details the Chapters of Larry,
which also features Jack Llewelyn. The story follows Larry, someone who appears
to have lost everything and all hop with life. Bad choices and an addiction to
heroin have turned him into a shadow of his former self, a sad dishevelled figure
searching bins. Jack’s soulful lyrics really add depth to the story and leave
us wondering if we should pity this person and offer help or just leave them to
their fate?
A more upbeat vibe that is created by strings, bass, drums,
and cuts is the backdrop for Airheads which see’s Nuggz team up with
Slard and Witness MC to look at all those people who have so much to say,
talking load but, really not saying anything. Those who constantly big
themselves up or spend too much time whinging but, in truth have nothing of
real value to say. So, the message here is if you’re gonna say something then
at least speak from the heart, that’s where truth comes from. It’s time to mix
things up a little as Jman joins Nuggz over a beat that features organ notes,
maracas and drums bringing the kinda sound you just wanna groove to. Nuggz and
Jman mix up Hip Hop and a dash of ragga vibes to bring you Calm. You get
a real sense from the words that there is so much in life that causes anger and
stress that we all just need to be more calm, but where does that calm come
from? Perhaps the music, something that allows us to truly take a step away
from all the anger and stress and puts us in touch with a good level of Calm.
The penultimate track here is Three Little Pigs with its bouncy beat of
organ notes and drums but, it also has a mind-bending edge to it too. Here Nuggz
treats us to a modern take on the classic nursery rhyme, rooting it in out
current society with the struggles of everyday life, the desires of the have’s
and the have nots. It’s a dark place where money and those who have it, rule,
while everyone else suffers…
The album ends with something special, OTBT Posse Cut
(or should that be a clan cut?) with an epic run time that almost hits twelve
and a half minutes. There are 16 emcees and sixteen beat changes across those
twelve plus minutes which features Citizen Nuggz, Lazy Eyes, Moraless, B WUN,
Chatta, Ino’vative, Chie, Fire@Will, Mr Grey, Moxey, Riffree, Mr Inglorious,
Witness MC, Toddy, Slard and Weztax. Each emcee showcases their skills here for
approximately 60 seconds at a time. This is a truly stunning slice of West
Country talent that is on show, and you would think that across such a time
frame that things would lose their appeal but, that’s so far from the truth,
all the beat changes are seamless, and the emcees have just enough time to drop
a dope verse. By the end of this you’ll be thinking you have just had an entire
festival worth of emcees packed into one track, mind-blowing stuff…
Overall, what you have here is a hairs breadth over 70
minutes of pure Hip Hop dopeness. Seventeen cuts of some of the best the West
Country has to offer. It’s a proper long player, as we used to say back in
antiquity. But, in times where more famous artists are putting out albums that
are around thirty minutes long, with tracks that are only 2 minutes long,
Citizen Nuggz and Weztax are making a bold statement here, in the words of the
legendary Rakim, “This is how I should be done” and “It ain’t where you’re
from. It’s where you’re at” because it’s not about being from the West Country
and doing Hip Hop that is just about where you’re from, this is about proper
real Hip Hop and that’s where it’s at. I have to say that I wholeheartedly
salute them for putting this hefty project out.
You can truly feel the heart and soul that went into this
and their love of the music. You can feel it in every beat of the production
from Weztax and in every bar of Citizen Nuggz lyrics, it just oozes Hip Hop
music for the love of Hip Hop music.
Nuggz lyrics are intelligent and performed with gusto from
someone who truly loves what he does. His wordplay and talent for switching
between flows and vibes show that he has honed his craft across years practice
behind the mic and on stages across the UK and further afield, in fact there
were times when his lyrics appeared so complicated and delivered with ease that
even this seasoned reviewer had to listen, listen, and listen again just to get
the insights. The future looks bright for Nuggz with a number of projects in
the works, Including Off The Beaten Track II, Road To Recovery (10 Tracks
written in hospital) produced by Charmandem and Citizens Advice produced by
Bristol’s Hozay, to name just few. You wanna keep watch for the name Citizen
Nuggz.
Weztax production is superb, switching from multi-layered
production to more simplistic sounds, none of which seem any less polished than
the last. He crafts sounds and moods perfectly that create the perfect backdrop
for Nuggz. Weztax is a solid and talented producer and musician, who also
provides all the cuts on the album, and deserves far more exposure than I have
seen to date.
The mix of featured artists is something that really adds
more weight to the project. From those you might know such as Jman (Babylon
Dead) and B WUN to others might not be so familiar with, it matters not as
everyone performs to the highest degree, displaying top notch lyrical skills that
shows the West Country of the UK has to be one of the driving forces of
underground UK Hip Hop right now. Have a listen and see if you agree?
There is no doubt in my mind that this album is gonna be
high up, perhaps even top ten, on the list of top underground UK Hip Hop
releases of 2022.
Off The Beaten Track is available now and there are physical
CD copies coming soon and some other merch available so, with all that said
there is only one thing left for me to say, Enjoy this one…
Huge thanks to Citizen Nuggz for dropping this my way and on
that note,
I’m proper outta here,
Steve
LINKS
Remember to check for Citizen Nuggz on social media too...
Weddings are Expensive So We Made an Album (WAESWMAA) is the
latest release by UK DJ/Producer and occasional Emcee Pandamonium. Released via
Kamikaze Airlines Records, this was made to celebrate and raise a few funds for his upcoming wedding,
in July this year, to Stacey.
The album is entirely produced, scratched, mixed, and
mastered by the man himself and features a host of top draw emcees from these
shores and across the pond. There is also an appearance from a little-known
alter ego of Pandamonium, who appears as the MC on the night.
So, without further ado, let me transport you on a little
journey into the album. It’s not your average album review so, feel free to
expect the unexpected…
So, picture the scene, our man Pandamonium is deeply
involved in plans for his upcoming wedding. Part of this is raising so much
needing funds in these days of rising costs. One night, as he lays in bed,
about to drift off to sleep, his mind is on how his music can help him raise
funds. He then falls into a deep slumber and begins to dream…
A laid-back boombap sound of piano, bass and drums heralds a
dream like no other. There is a stage here and lots of guest sat around at
tables. Heads are nodding to the jazzy piano vibe as Pandamonium’s American
alter ego steps on stage to great everyone and to give them a Welcome To The
Show, and that show is the future wedding reception for Daniel and Stacey.
The guests have their appetites wetted as a stunning list of guest performers
is noted and, as the guests clap their approval, Pandamonium takes up his place
behind the turntables and Kryptik (from Paisley, Scotland) steps on stage ready
to Step Up and take the mike. The beat kicks hard and is heavy on the
string sound and there is no pussy footing around here as it’s all about
getting ya heads nodding. Kryptik speaks, on his no nonsense style, on the ups
and downs of life the last couple of years and his desire to step up and keep
moving forward, no matter what. This is a message to everyone of us, because
every time we step up in the face of adversity, it’s a defining moment that
shows the true strength of our character. Next to take to the stage alongside
Pandamonium is Killa Complex from Long Beach California. The vibe is an upbeat
sound of guitars, drums, hand claps and xylophone notes to keep the crowd moving.
Killa Complex asks everyone to Never Judge a Man as he explains that you
can never judge anyone you meet. Someone’s appearance, how much money they have
and so on is never a true reflection of that persons back story and what they
have lived through. Whatever your first impressions of a person are, get to
know the real person behind the mask before you speak on how they may or may
not be. The message might be deep here but, as a guest, you will meet many
people on a wedding day, a lot you will not know so, the message is poignant.
The sound now morphs into a more soulful mix of drums and piano. Ontario emcee
Es takes to the stage delivering vocals for the happy couple and everyone as he
asks How Long is long enough? When two people make a commitment to each
other, for love, they wish to be together forever but how long is forever? Is
forever enough? Can that commitment, that love for each other extend beyond the
physical timescale we call forever…
As the guest ponder over the meaning of forever and Love, Pandamonium’s
alter ego takes to the stage to entertain us for a short interval. A groovy
organ sound floats into the awareness of the guests as they are informed that
Long Beach Emcee Dizzy Dustin is setting up for his performance…
With the legendary figure of Dizzy Dustin ready to go the
air becomes electric as the guest ready themselves for the Sink or Swim
Remix. The track was originally released by Diz in the run up to the
release of the Where Do I Go From Here album, Pandamonium’s remix is a pounding
beat and synth sounds that immediately has everyone out of their seats,
bouncing to the groove. Dizzy Dustin treats everyone to some slick wordplay
that is all about integrity. In life you have to do what you gotta do on lifes
journey but, in all that you do it’s about being upfront and speaking your
truth and not being fake or dishonest. With the crowd suitably buzzing, long
time Pandamonium collaborator One OZ (Edinburgh, Scotland) steps up to the Mic.
Panda and OZ have this great chemistry in everything they do so when the
guitars and heavy drum beat drops, you know you’re in for a treat. In his
typically unapologetic rhyme style, One OZ spits a gritty and witty story that
is all about upping your game. If you wanna step up and stand shoulder to
shoulder with others in the game, you have to Get Ya Weight Up and show
em what you got, prove you deserve your place. As the night draws to a close,
it is the turn of Sir Burbia (London, England) to bring a bit of fun to round
off the evening. The musical backdrop is a funky sound of guitar, keys, and
drums. Sir Burbia drops some slick, ‘just for fun’ lyrics, that echo the US TV
Show Keenan & Kel, as he explains his love for a certain beverage with, I
Do (Love Orange Soda). This one will have everyone grinning ear to ear, and
you can’t round off a party in a better way…
A horn heavy jazz Funk sound hits as Panda’s alter ego takes
to the stage one last time to Wrap Up things. He gives everyone a little
more information as the guests prepare to leave.
However, not everyone is ready to go just yet and the cry
rings out for One More (Encore) and so just to send all the guests away
in style, that’s just what Pandamonium gives them. An instrumental style joint
in a boombap style that is piano heavy and full of cut up samples to get
everyone nodding their head one last time. Then Panda switches it up one last
time and changes from piano heavy to a guitar heavy vibe midway through. This
all serves to allow the guest to leave on a proper high, this in turn allows
Pandamonium to return to being Daniel and for him and Stacey to finally settle
into married life, just as Pandamonium awakes from the dream that has just
given him the perfect theme for an album…
Did it really happen that way? I dunno but, it sounds good
right!
Overall, you can’t say much more about this album than it is
a solid production album that is undoubtedly a highly enjoyable and has been
produced by someone who has a love of good Hip Hop music and who has the
respect of his peers enough to feature such a talented line-up of guest emcees.
You can really get into the whole vibe of the album feeling
like a wedding reception that most Hip Hop lovers would want to be invited to. Pandamonium’s
production is as faultless as always and puts his years of expertise and
experience to good use creating an album that flows so well from top to bottom,
keeping you entertained all the way. The guest artists he has brought on-board
for this all give those ‘top of their game’ performances, just what you’d want
at a wedding reception.
There is definitely a family affair vibe about this project
to as the family have been involved in producing a very limited number, twenty
actually, of CDs to help raise some funds for the actual wedding in July 2022.
The artwork is all custom hand produced, numbered, and signed. So, if you want
one of these then I would advise you move quickly as they won’t be around long.
There is not much left for me to say except a huge thank you
to Pandamonium for sending this over and sending him and Stacey best wishes for
the up coming wedding, See Ya There…
Time for me to boogie on outta here,
Steve
LINKS
Get the digital version of the album in Original, Clean or Instrumental via Bandcamp:
Unbreakable is the debut offering from Bristol
Hip-Hop duo Kali Mist and Krazy. I have to be honest here and say that I did
not have much familiarity with their music prior to this and sometimes this is
a good thing as you can go straight into a review without any expectation. So,
I’m gonna let the music and my intuition speak for this one from the get-go…
As the organ notes and head nod beat kick off the title
track of Unbreakable, the guys are joined by Social Conscience to drop
some no-nonsense bars. The message here is simple, if you are gonna set up and
demonstrate how good you are on the mic, then you best bring all your wordplay
and rhyming skills to the table. Because only then can you display the
confidence and prowess that will allow no one to break you. The beat remains
heavy and is mixed with violins and a vocal sample creating this air of
thoughtfulness. This delivers the harsh reality of life and how we all
experience situations where we are concerned over the behaviour of others. The
deeper message though is not to react to these situations and Hold No Grudge
for these people and to not get drawn it and cause yourself any suffering. The
piano, vocal samples, banging beat and the arrival of Hozay, bring our focus to
a battle rap vibe. There are times when you need an edge to truly conquer your
opponent and here that edge is provided by the Poisonous Tongue. Adding
that bit of poison to your delivery can leave your opponent without the
strength to reply…
A more laid-back vibe is created by a chilled beat mixed
with some violin notes. Yung UK and Prestige join Krazy and Kali Mist on a
thoughtful posse style cut. It might be called the rap game but, it’s no game,
this is life, and this is how it is. You gotta conduct yourself correct and
always deliver your bars with knowledge, experience, and conviction. Always be ready
to Turn The Heat Up and be a step up from the rest. Next up the guys are
once again joined by Social Conscience for another deep look at life. Here the
piano, violin and heavy drums create a darker feel. As we move through life we Live
and Learn, how we react or don’t react to those situations will mean we
either grow or we fall, the choice is ours. Its back to the boom bap with strings,
piano, and hand claps. Yung UK, once again, joins the guys as they look deep
into the lies that are rife in society these days. The reality is that if
you’re gonna Talk It, you have to be truthful in what you say and be
real, don’t be something you’re not…
Drums, horns, and strings bring an upbeat feel as Guire and
Kray Bristol join Krazy and Kali Mist. Here it’s all about being authentic,
your true self and wearing a metaphorical mask and when you hit the stage, just
Set It Off. Keeping it upbeat with drums, piano and horns, the guys are
joined by Ceaze on this one. There is a light-hearted air to this one as
details of life experience abound with a message not to cross or upset those
closest to you, if you do you will find they will Ghost You. Into the
final track of the album with a heavy beat alongside some piano notes and
horns. I’m A Prick is a light-hearted look at who they are, what they do
and how they do it.
Unbreakable is one of those raw and hardcore
underground albums that pull no punches and keep it gritty because that seems
to be the current default setting for society right now and you just have to
tell it how it is for people to really associate with what you’re saying.
Krazy and Kali Mist produce the album themselves and the
depth of feeling in that production really gives the entire album a great flow
and an overall ambiance that fluctuates between the stark rawness of life to
those upbeat moments that prove the sunshine is always there wash away those
dark days. The confident and competent wordplay mirrors the vibes created
musically and has a sharp no nonsense edge that shows these guys love that
underground flavour and have no qualms in just speaking their minds and saying
it exactly how it is. The album further shows the wealth of Hip-Hop talent that
is evident in Bristol and why it continues to be one of the UK’s Hip=Hop hubs.
The choice of guest emcees adds extra depth to the album
with each one displaying some great skills and also having that underground raw
and hardcore edge which fits so well with the overall vibe of this album.
So, if you are looking for an underground Hip-Hop album to
get your blood pumping and your pulse racing, then you might not want to look
any further than this one. It hits heavy and leaves you feeling every ounce of
that barrage.
Unbreakable is out now on Krazy’s own imprint Word Life and
can be streamed from all good sites, as you can see in the above image, so go search for this one now.
Your friendly neighbourhood, B-Ball playing Glastonbury
based Big Smokin’ Joe is back with a brand-new single, Till This Day.
The official promo for the single details it as the most high energy song Joe has produced. Hard Hitting Lyrics and
Unpredictable Flows with Pounding Drums
with a Hypnotic Bassline urging the listener to march along.
This one definitely promises to
something special with a single release party at Glastonbury’s King Arthur pub
and a host of other live dates soon to follow. So, there is nothing left for me
to say except, Let’s get it to this…
Till This Day is most definitely pulse pounding and assaults your ears with a mixture
of heavy drums, bass and horns that not only gives you the energy to march
along but also makes you wanna pump ya fist in the air or raise both hands high
and clap along. The track consists of two verses, the first of which has Joe speaking
deeply on many aspects of life and what he sees going on in the world around
him from drugs to those who hold all the purse strings, the things people do
just to eat and the true cost to us all from the powers that be. The second
verse really mixes things up in terms of the flows and vibes of what you hear,
still keeping it real and focusing in on those deeper aspects of life the way
this second verse mixes things up really mirrors the unpredictable nature of
day-to-day life. If only our everyday lives were always as enjoyable as this…
There is absolutely no doubt
this is the heaviest and most high energy track that Joe has dropped to date.
When you focus on the lyrics you get there is a deep, hard edge to everything
he says, and it is all rooted in the now and delivered in such a way as anyone
across the country and even the globe can understand and feel that realness.
Having said that you can still get a great energy from this track that will
have you nodding along wherever you are but, as a live track this is one of
those that will have the crowd fired up, bouncing around and left breathless.
Overall, what can I say about Till
This Day? This is one high octane dose of Boom Bap Hip-Hop that aims to hit
your mind and heart. Joe’s delivery is precise, hitting hard from every angle and
delivering multiple hits quicker that the eye can see leaving you feeling like
you’ve just spent three minutes in a boxing ring after drinking too many
espresso’s…
Till This Day is released tomorrow along with a video premier and the release party
at the King Arthur in Glastonbury. So, if you’re in the area, drop in for some
good wholesome live music...
Check the link’s below to grab
this one and, remember, don’t miss the chance to check out Big Smokin’ Joe live
somewhere this year.
It’s always good to hook up with artists local to your area
and check out their music and have a chin wag if they’re close enough. One of
those local artists dropped me a line on Instagram recently to ask if I’d
consider reviewing his recent album drop… How could I say no to that…?
The Nicewun JM (JM are his initials) is a Hip Hop and Skateboard
lover out of Trowbridge, Wiltshire UK, so my neck of the woods, and he is part of
the TS Crew (Trowbridge Skate Crew). When I saw the title of the album was Celebratin’
Hip Hop… Over Here, it grabbed my attention straight way. You often get a
single track that pays homage to the culture but, to have a whole album is nice
to see and I wanted to know more but, more on that later as I have a quick
little QnA for you all to enjoy once the review is over.
This album is 16 tracks deep with a wicked selection of
features and production credits to boot. So, I think it’s best we get into it…
From the get-go this one undoubtedly Hip-Hop with some heavy
production and slick cuts from JabbaThaKut, Now & Forever gives us
an introduction into who The NIcewun JM is and what he’s all about. We get a
good feel for his clean-cut rap style with that instantly recognisable South
West accent. A pounding beat over some big horns of Domingo’s production
heralds the arrival of Ain’t Playin’ No More where we find The Nicewun
JM going in on the suckers and fake emcees, bigging up some UK legends and
displaying the kind of vocal talent you need to be emcee in the game. The cuts
here come from DJ Marlondon. Marvin A Doup brings a huge anthem style sound to Hear
Me Rhyme, which sees our man bringing a slightly harder edge to his style
alongside the similies, name drops and cuts from JabbaThaKut. There are some
people that don’t understand and might wanna call 999 when they here Hip-Hop
but, the key thing here that you do wanna understand, is that you can here
every word, every rhyme and that makes for some good Hip-Hop.
Don’t Wanna Battle brings a pounding beat, horns and
a jazzy piano as The Nicewun JM pays respect to those emcees who are battle
rappers but, explains that this is not what he’s about. No beef here just
writing those dope rhymes and rocking the crowd to the break a dawn. The head
nod beat, and brass notes of Mac Lloyds production is a great backdrop to The
Mind that has The Nicewun JM looking at ADHD and its associated issues such
as hyperfocus, something I can fully understand having been diagnosed ADD. It
good to see the awareness brought to this in a way that is entertaining and
from someone who truly knows and understands. Marvin A Doup is back on
production for Real Recognise Real bringing a funky beat mixed with
guitar and horns. This track is all about the things he loves and what is real
to him from his introduction and love of Hip-Hop to his belief in god and much
more besides. This track really reflects the core values of Hip-Hop What you
see, what you love, what makes you feel good and being one.
Can’t Keep Me Down brings in some boom bap production
and cuts from Da Beatminerz, which really makes you wanna move to this as The
Nicewun JM drops a solid track that looks at the times we don’t always get it
right and those who will always seek to knock us back but, here he ably brings
light and encouragement to others. This is another thing that Hip-Hop does so
well in promoting positive messages and uplifting vibes. Maintaining that
uplifting vibe but, on a more laid-back beat, synth and vocal sample of Marvin
A Doup’s production. This one is all about that special person in his life and
how they got to meet, if she had a favorite rapper or even a Favorite Colour.
It’s all rounded off with some chiiled cuts from JabbaThaKut.
Next up is the first of two tracks containing featured
artists. Underground Livin’ sees The Nicewun joined by Thirstin Howl the
3rd & MDV with cuts from DJ Marlondon and production by Marvin A
Doup which is heaviest beat you heard in a hot minute. This one is all about
the underground Hip-Hop music scene where it be rough, rugged, and raw ya hear.
If you’re gonna be Hip-Hop then you gotta have dope beat that will be head nod
and maybe have some horns, like you get here from Marvin A Doup, you gotta have
the dope cuts, you got those here from JabbaThaKut, and you need to be able to
drop those bars with knowledge and poise, and you get that displayed with aplomb
here from The Nicewun keeping it Strictly Hip-Hop. Knowledge and knowing
your Hip-Hop history is so important and we round off the track with a little
of that. Hip-Hop has always been about freedom and unity and on this short
track The Nicewun looks at the harsh times we live in and what it would be to
live in a Perfect World. The laid-back beat and jazzy horns comes from
Mac Lloyd on production with cuts supplied by JabbaThaKut.
For Close To The Edge The Nicewun is joined by Blaq
Poet and MDV over another heavy pounding beat and guitar sample (both of which
are classic samples and instantly recognisable) from Marvin A Doup with cuts by
DJ Marlondon which slice through your awareness like a rusty razor. Here we
have three emcees displaying their lyrical prowess in an unapologetic raw style
that displays the harder gritty element that Hip-Hop has. Rounding the track
off is short skit from Screwball radio. Head nod beat with a guitar loop is the
platform for this short track where we find The Nicewun looking deeply into
what you could Wish for in day-to-day life. Some of us wish and others
look to a higher power for guidance and here The Nicewun shows us that a wish
is not where his faith is as every day, he looks to the power of prayer. his
faith in the power of prayer and Jesus is reflected here in Pray Everyday,
a personal celebration of what his faith is to him and what it brings to life.
This reflected to me that regardless of your belief or faith, you should
celebrate it. The upbeat piano vibe comes from Domingo on production with
JabbaThaKut providing the cuts.
We head into the penultimate track now a more soulful boom
bap vibe from Domingo. The Nicewun speaks on what gives him the Passion
for Hip-Hop music, it’s that simple. The album ends on an upbeat high with a
jazz funk element from MDV’s production. The Nicewun drops an Alphabet
Attack, dropping similes and metaphors galore because, at the end of the
day, this is kinda wordplay that shows the versatility and quality of a true
emcee…
If you truly listen to this album, then there is no way that
you can deny that the musical roots of this are unashamedly in Hip-Hop and that
boom bap Hip-Hop at that and that is where this begins to be a celebration of
Hip-Hop. Not only that but, The Nicewun JM displays a good knowledge of the
history of the culture along the way. It is also clear from the plethora of
name drops that his influences are fairly widespread and the celebration
continues as you can literally hear the love for the culture running through
every track in music and in the words.
Now there will be a number of people that will not like this
solely because he raps in his South West accent. But that in it’s self is to be
commended as her not modelling himself on anyone else, he is simply being
himself and there are far too many people out there trying to be someone else
these days. If you set aside his voice for a moment, there is nothing about The
Nicewun JM that puts him below any other rap artist. He has the verbal skills
and changes of pace can easily lend him to stand shoulder to shoulder with
anyone and the more he puts out, the more he’s gonna hone that skill.
The production values are all on point here whether it be
the big names such as Domingo, Da Beatminerz and JabbaThaKut to those I am less
familiar with like Marvin A Doup, Mac Lloyd and MDV it really helps this album
flow nicely from start to finish with that boom bap style Hip-Hop that you
can’t help but, nod your head to. The few featured vocal artists here in
Thirstin’ Howl 3rd, Blaq Poet and MDV are all on point and conduct
themselves exactly as you would expect and The Nicewun JM shows that is capable
of stepping up and holding his own alongside them.
Overall Celebratin’ Hip Hop… Over Here is an above standard
Hip-Hop album that ticks all the right boxes and continues the trend that the
South West of the UK is one of the countries premier Hip-Hop hubs and one that
is cementing a bridge across the pond and far further afield. Not just that
but, The Nicewun JM also displays the talent that shows Hip-Hop is not just
alive and well but that also the mic is in good hands and I’m sure we will see
a lot more to come from this guy.
I suggest grabbing a copy, streaming it or whatever and
making up your own mind.
Celebratin’ Hip Hop… Over Here is available now…
But, before you go grab it, had a few questions for The
Nicewun JM:
First up The Nicewun JM, I just wanna send you my thanks for sending the CD to me and for taking the time to answer a few questions for me.
I wanted to give everyone, especially those who might not be familiar with you, a bit more depth on you and the album…
1.A few of the tracks on the album hint at how you
got into Hip Hop. Any chance you could go into a bit more detail.
Yo! Steve,
thanks for the review, I was really hyped on it. Yeah, for sure, I remember
very clearly the day I discovered Hip Hop. The year was 1999, I was 11 years old,
and I was with my twin brother. My mum and dad had just got Sky TV maybe a
month before. We decided to put on the music channels and the song and video
which caught our attention and began the obsession was Still D.R.E - Dr.Dre
featuring Snoop Dogg.
Just
everything about it... I knew it was the most amazing thing I’d heard in my
life and I wanted to hear more.
Not
long after this we went on a day trip to Cardiff with our Mum and Dad, and we
asked if they’d buy us a Snoop Dogg CD. We ended up getting Tha Doggfather
(Snoop’s second album). We were so hyped, but a funny story about that day,
being clueless 11-year-olds, at some point on the trip either one of us or both
of us had stood in Dog Shit (dunno how we didn’t smell it). On the drive back
home we’re both looking at the CD and getting the cover out of the case to look
at it. With it being a long journey, we eventually fell to sleep. When we wake
up there’s some Dog Shit smeared on the cover, and we still have that exact CD
and you can see some faded dog shit on the cover, but the album was DOPE and
definitely not dog shit... ‘You Thought’ is my favourite from that album for
sure.
From
there I just wanted to discover Hip Hop from everywhere, and I’ve collected Hip
Hop CDs ever since. ‘99 was a good year to get into Hip Hop. We’d record the
music videos & Hip Hop related programming such as The Lyricist Lounge Show
onto VHS and then cut pictures out of The Source & Hip Hop Connection to
stick on the VHS covers. Also used to stay at our Nan’s on a Saturday Night
where we’d record Tim Westwood’s show onto Cassette Tapes as well. Also
watching documentaries early on like Rhyme & Reason really helped me gain
knowledge and understanding too. Someone recently said to me I have a database
of knowledge. I’d never thought about it like that before but thought that was
a cool description.
What about the TSCrew, could you tell us a bit
more about you guys and how you all came together.
Yeah so
TSCrew was around before me even. I started Skateboarding in the year 2000 with
my twin and friends I grew up with. Eventually we started Skating down our
local Asda Car Park, and the older Skaters we looked up to were known as the
TSCrew, and we wanted to be a part of it, so basically we’ve just always
continued that legacy in our own community and making Skate Videos reppin’
TSCrew.
3.I get the feeling this album means a lot to you.
Why did you decide to make this album and how did you decide on the title?
It really does mean
a lot to me. I worked hard on it for many years, and definitely was a perfectionist
as I was anxious about the response it may get. Fortunately for me I’ve had an overwhelming positive response which I’m truly
grateful for!!!
I came up with the album title
from a few different influences:-
I’ve
always been into celebrating things I’m passionate about, so for example with
Hip Hop I
celebrate those we have lost who contributed
to the culture, Hip Hop album release dates
and giving props to those that have paid dues.
I was
listening to Drink Champs where I heard Noreaga say a few times we must
celebrate
our legends.
I went
with ‘... Over Here’ because I’m celebrating over here in Trowbridge and here
in the
U.K.
But, also
over here because a real emcee will ask the crowd “is the real Hip Hop over
here?”
So, it
was my own subtle way of letting people know that I’m Celebratin’ Hip Hop...
Over
Here.
4.Could I ask a bit about your influences? There
area lot of name drops on the album, I guess these are all influential to you
but, could you tell us a bit more.
Yeah for sure,
I’m influenced by Hip Hop and music from all over the world... Hip Hop takes
the ingredients of other genres and makes something new out of it, which I’ve
always been fascinated with. I listen to everything which makes it hard for me
to narrow down, but I can tell you my favourite album of all time is Moment Of
Truth - Gang Starr.
5.You have some great producers for the album
could you tell us a bit about how you came to work with them?
Yeah, sure so I’ll start with my people from Trowbridge. Marvin A Doup
is one of my Day One homies, who I’ve known before primary school even. He’s an
amazing Musician and Skateboarder. He recently changed his Producer Name to
Afralune, so any future music will be using his new name. I met DJ Marlondon
around 2005/2006ish who is from London, but has family down here and we’ve
always been tight... He didn’t produce any tracks but did the cuts on 3 of
them. I met MDV in 2009 and he’s another good homie... He makes Heavy Metal as
well as Hip Hop. Outside of Trowbridge there’s the homie Mac Lloyd from
Chippenham, who initially we met around 2012/13ish as he was doing a Skateboard
Clothing Company called Iron Cloud and was Sponsoring my twin... Mac Lloyd is
also a really talented musician and singer, and he’s signed to Res One’s Green
Brick Records. Jabba Tha Kut from Poole... Incredible DJ and producer who I got
in contact with via social media networking.... Then we have our international
producers from New York who again I got in contact with via networking... To me
it was important to work with people I’m a big fan of.
I’ve been in contact with Domingo for many years and his Media Famous
service has helped with the albums promotion. The last piece of the puzzle was
working with DJ Evil Dee & Mr. Walt aka Da Beatminerz, and we were able to
make that happen, and the track I did with them is my personal favourite.
6.Following on from that, why did you decide on
the featured artists for vocals cuts etc?
Again, this was
an opportunity to work with 2 New York heavyweights that I was already a fan
of, so I reached out to Blaq Poet & Thirstin Howl The 3rd. I also featured
my homie MDV on both featured track as he gave me a lot of support when I met
him many years ago and I thought he’d be a good fit on the tracks.
7.Being from the South West, do you feel that the
area is really becoming one of the countries Hip-Hop hotspots?
Yeah so, I
think everywhere has something unique to offer, but the South West definitely
has a really dope scene. Leaf Dog and BVA are definitely 2 emcees who I’ve
always admired lyrically.
8.Lastly, what’s next from you? Do you have anything
in the pipeline?
So, at the moment I’m just enjoying the response to this album and letting
that live on at the moment.
I fractured my foot Skating 9 1/2 weeks ago so I’m currently healing up.
I am considering possibly doing another album one day... I recently got
a beat from Micall Parknsun, so I plan on making a track over that at some point
in the near future.
I hope that gives you all a bit more of a look into just who is The Nicewun JM and, just one more time, I want to give huge thanks to him for answering these few
questions and for sending me the signed album. I look forward to
hearing more from him in the future as I think it's gonna be a bright on for him.
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