EP Review: Slippa Presents Wrappers Delight Mini EP

 

Slippa Presents

Wrappers Delight

Mini EP

 

The Wrappers Delight Mini EP is the latest offering on the Good Darts Label. It is a four track 7 inch which boasts some incredible talent across those four tracks. This release is based around the Wrappers Delight card series, which was the brainchild of official Topps artist Slippa Chervascus. He created his own card series after working on artwork the Garbage Pail Kids card series, and releasing Wrappers Delight gave him the chance to combine his artwork with his love of music. Working under the umbrella of Good Darts gave him the chance to promote his art-based projects as well as branching out and creating a record label.

If you are familiar with the Wrappers Delight card series, then you are probably gonna love whats coming on this Mini EP, so let’s not hang around and get into it…

First up is the title track Wrappers Delight, it features vocals from Wordsmiff (aka Wordsmiff Flip), production by Remi Rorschach and cuts by Jabbathakut. The beat and electric guitar create this real smooth, funky head nod vibe that really give you one of those ‘Oh Yeah’ moments as soon as you here it alongside the nod to the Garbage Pail Kids on the intro. As much as this is the Mini EP’s title track, it is also one hell of an anthem for the Wrappers Delight cards. Wordsmiff drops a few short tales from his life coming up before taking you on trip that touches on cards from series one, two, three and beyond. Listening to his words brings back memories of trading cards in the playground and wondering what to do with your doubles and trying to get the rarer ones or that last card to needed to complete a series. Not only that but, the more you the track goes on its like listening to some Hip Hop Hendrix vibe while trying to visualise the cards in your mind…

Next up is Ultra Garbage and this one features Jounior Disprol on the mic, production from Slippa Chervascus, bass from Cam and cuts from Jabbathakut. The bass, beat and tambourine give this one a proper Hip Hop head nod vibe, the kind you wanna turn up load to make the speakers bump. Now this might just be a short track but, in one verse Junior Disprol delivers the kind of rap vocals that tests the very foundations of your mind, making you wanna rewind every line, and sometimes every word, just to make sure you heard it right, just like you wanna keep looking at the artwork on the trading cards to see if you missed anything. When you want to mirror the detail in a piece of art by putting it into words, this is how you do it…

If you consider that every Wrappers Delight card is a piece of art, then Rap Objet D’arts brings that into focus with Brainpower (Artist, Songwriter and Producer from Amsterdam) providing the vocals, Remi Rorschach on production and Jabbathakut on the cut. Unashamedly Hip Hop once more the beat and instantly recognisable piano sample gives this one an inner city gangsta vibe, a little like the early Kool G Rap and Polo sound. Brainpower really breaks it down about how good and perhaps even a little disturbing some of the art might be on the trading cards but, at the end of the day its about how good every piece is; collectors items, just like this vinyl release too and brainpower makes sure to shout out everyone involved with the release and reaffirming that you need to grab everything released via Good Darts…

Before you know it, we are at the last track and The Harder The Hit is something special too. It features vocals from graff legend and one half of The Artifacts, Tame One (R.I.P), alongside production from AMBA (Tarboosh Records) and, of course one final appearance from Jabbathakut. The beat, double bass, and keys on this bring that fresh Hip Hop, Jazz funk vibe, and if your heads still not nodding, then you this on intravenous drip with an infusion of Krylon. Tame One takes us from Wrappers delight to the life of a graff writer and back again, fusing the art of the trading cards with walls and subway cars of graffiti art. There is little more to be said as Tame’s words really seem to reflect that the vision of the graff writer and the trading card artist are one and the same, and that’s it nuff said right here…

 

I mean, what can I say about this release? If you have ten minutes to spare, then this is about the best thing you can do with those ten minutes, because they will most definitely not be wasted.

This might be Hip Hop with a particular focus, that focus being the Wrappers Delight cards, but this is also Hip Hop at its best. Taking it from the UK to the US and back again, Slippa and Good Darts delivers what is arguably one of the premier releases this year, and that fact that it is all packed in one little 7-inch package is almost beyond words.

The production from Remi Rorschash, Slippa Chervascus and AMBA is proper good, everyone being a head nod delight, and when you mix that with the incredible turntable skills of Jabbathakut, it just keeps you bouncing throughout those four tracks and beyond. The vocals from Wordsmiff, Junior Disprol, Brainpower and Tame One are as solid as they are individual, with each of them displaying some sublime lyricism and flows that truly show how good that international underground scene is.

Respect where respect is due Slippa Chervascus has put together an awe-inspiring release here that has the finest production, the dopest rap and the freshest art from Mark 563. What else is there to say except, don’t sleep on this one, I really mean it.

Wrappers Delight is available from August 4^th on limited 7” Lime green vinyl (including some limited trading cards too) and a little later on digital from Good Darts.

On that note,

Anyone got any doubles they wanna swap?

See ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

The Mini EP will be available from the Good Darts Website:

https://www.gooddarts.co.uk/

Also available from Bandcamp:

https://chervascuts.bandcamp.com/album/wrappers-delight-mini-ep

Follow Good Darts on Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/DAMNGOODDARTS

https://www.instagram.com/damngooddarts/

VIDEOS

Wrappers Delight Promo mix by Jabbathakut

 

 

 

Album Review: Beat Tripping by Happy Headz

 

Beat Tripping

By

Happy Headz

 

It’s always good to have something new and a little different to wrap my ears around and the new album Beat Tripping by Happy Headz certainly fits the bill there. Released on Nuke Fam Records, it is produced by someone you might be familiar with, one Haynesy. Beat Tripping is the follow up to the debut One Summer and I'll drop a link to that below too.

My previous experience reviewing Haynesy’s work such as DopeBeat Biz Vol. 1 (2019) and his work alongside JD, Freedom of Speech (2020) and Truth Be Told (2021), has taught me that whatever he puts his mind to becomes a musical experience of the highest quality, with beats that are infectious and down-right dope. So, my thoughts are that this will be no exception, even if I’m not sure what’s coming, I know it’s gonna be pure fire.

Haynesy describes the album as a mix of retro dance, piano house, Hip Hop, electro, and chilled beats all in one package. Now I always enjoy a good challenge and so the idea of such a mixed bag of sounds really piqued my interest and that interest was piqued even more when I noted appearances from Jabbathakut, JD Guerrilla, Ryan Sanders, Scorzayzee, DJ Blend, Micky Swags, Wordsmiff Flip and Eskar (Nuke Fam Records). With a line-up like this alongside Haynesy I was eager to get my headphones on…

So, I’m not gonna keep you hanging around here, so join me on a trip through Beat Tripping…

Proceedings are started right with Dead Weight (Piano Mix) a booming house tune which put me in mind of the Chicago house sound which was big back in the eighties. The infectious beats, bass and that piano sound really gets you moving while the guest vocalist hits you with this story that seems to say that no matter how much you want someone, sometimes their behaviour just makes them a dead weight in your life. After that pulse raising start to the album a more chilled piano vibe takes us into Grow up and when the beat drops on this one you realise that the idea there would be some retro dance vibes here was not understated. Kicking up the BPM a bit it keeps the pulse racing and makes you wanna just keep moving. There are more vocals that help to grow that seed in your mind that parts of you just don’t want to grow up. Guitar vibes and strings guide you into the next track before the beat drops in and keeps you from wanting to kick back. Although this is a bit more chilled it still has your head nodding with it’s infectious sound and the vocals which speak directly at you, inviting you to look at yourself and enjoy yourself because You Are Enough. So, let the music into your soul and the ride that is your life.

That dance sound keeps going with bass, drums, and synth vibes but, Keep Shining has this electronic edge that seems to penetrate the very core of your being. As you listen to the vocals and feel that beat, you become aware that your body has unconsciously started moving and there is no stopping now and you can’t understand how you’re not boogying the night away in the club but, then maybe you are as another big bass sound hits with Nails Done Long. This has a more modern vibe or seems to but, before you know it there are some scratch elements thrown in and you’re suddenly pulled in different directions to different eras, or maybe that was just me? But, while I’m wondering what era I’ve been transported to another huge bass sound kicks in with a female emcee dropping some vocals all about one thing, Cash Money. The electronic sounds on this on push the limits of your mind while that big bass sound seems to impact and modify the beat of your own heart, making it beat in time with the bass sound of the track and pushing energy to new levels.

As the album is thirteen tracks long, we have just reached the pivot point of the album with The Place (Cuttin’ & Scratchin’ Mix) which features none other than one of the UK’s leading Hip Hop turntable maestros, Jabbathakut. The intro suggests this might be another house sound but, when the beat drops on this one you realise this is an instrumental Hip Hop banger that has you smiling ear to ear. The pounding drums, keys and heavy bass sound begin to push your adrenaline levels to the max but, the addition of Jabba on the cuts and a plethora of classic samples really push those adrenaline levels beyond their max levels. My advice, bounce, jump around and nod you head to this one and enjoy these five and half minutes of dopeness. Not sure what’s to come after that one, the bass hits and the BPM takes over with another huge club banger in Incy Rides Again (Riga Mix). This one has a sound that is almost techno but, has elements of the industrial sound and even Hip Hop cuts But, there is little doubt that by the end of this one whatever comes next is just gonna carry you on a euphoric energy you won’t wanna come down from. That sound that carries you on, is the massive DnB sound of Search Inside, which features JD and Ryan Sanders. Now, honestly DnB has never been my sound but, this one hits hard with some intelligent and anti-establishment vibes that encourage you to look inside yourself for the truth about what is really going on around you and the world at large.

From the pounding sound of DnB we are next transported in the electronic vibes of the Hip Hop Electro sound with A Random Sofa At 8am (Retro Electro Mix). This one perfectly captures that electro sound and brings in some classic samples, cut and scratched to create a sound that many of us older heads will be vibing with as the electro sound was part of what introduced us to the Hip Hop sound, in fact I remember sitting on random bas seats, random train seats, and car seats listening to this kind of music forty years ago. The Hip Hop sound continues with Love ‘em All, which features Scorzayzee on the mic. Pounding Hip Hop beats and heavy on the horns and not forgetting the cut n scratch, this one is a head nod banger that see’s Scorzayzee celebrate Hip Hop music and the art of making it. With some crafty wordplay, slick delivery, and some great tongue-in-cheek moments, this has the energy to keep that smile stretching broadly across your face. Chilled organ notes guide us into Say Something before the pounding bass beat is brutal and drops with the force of a 1000lb bomb. This one features Micky Swags, Wordsmiff Flip and Eskar (Nuke Fam Records) on the vocals with additional features from DJ Blend and Jabbathakut on the cuts, and is really all about he art of rapping and using words, similes and metaphors to bring your thoughts to reality and say something, no matter what it is. This track is a remix of the original Say Something single from DJ Blend and Micky Swags feat. Wordsmiff Flip and Eskar.

The album ends, or rather winds down, with the epic twenty plus minute Yoga Beatz (Blunts & Blaze Mix), which helps you float back to earth after spending all of what went before this moment, up in the stratosphere. There are elements of enigma, eastern flavours and sitar vibes that mix with a wealth of musical sounds to create this chillout, trip hop masterpiece that has the capability to take you wherever it is you want to go as you take a chill pill and drift off into a place of serenity courtesy of this musical meditative experience…

 

What a cracking album! I mean, there truly is something here for anyone and everyone to enjoy, and I don’t say that lightly.

What Happy Headz have done with Beat Tripping is to encapsulate the feel of a festival, club night or rave vibe, where there are multiple stages with a variety of musical genres all together in one place, for one night only. Then the album is finished off, as any good night is, with an extended chillout session that brings your energy back down to earth, before letting it drift off once more in a rather different fashion.

The production is truly a masterclass of multi-genre musical vibes that creates this energy that keeps you rooted in the present, while taking you back to days gone by but, that’s just from my standpoint as fifty something dude who has encountered more musical genres that you can shake a stick at. But the production on every track here perfectly captures the vibe of the musical genre it denotes. There is little more you say than that really. But, beyond that the flow of the album is like walking between stages or rooms and listening to a wealth of different music, while all the time keeping your energy levels raised up into the atmosphere. It also displays the wealth of influences that impact on us and how me might not vibe with a certain genre of music but, under the right conditions, the energy that music creates just draws us in and we can’t help but let it take control of us.

What you also see here is how, by picking the right guest artists to feature, it gives another depth, another element to something that is already, by all appearances, perfect as it is. These guests maybe unknown vocalists or more well-known artists, even those who have previously worked together but, all add their stamp, as a part of the Happy Headz Collective, in making this something truly special.

I must be honest here and say that there is little more I can say. The words kinda flowed so well as I wrote this and now, I just want to share it with all of you so, please give this one a listen and enjoy it as much as I have.

My humble thanks to Haynesy and Eskar of Nuke Fam Records for asking me to review this truly superb release.

Beat Tripping by Happy Headz is released through Nuke Fam Records.

 

On that note,

I’ll see you in the Stratosphere…

Steve

LINKS

You can find all the streaming links for Beat Tripping Here:

https://ditto.fm/beat-tripping

Check Out Nuke Fam Records Website Here:

https://www.nukefamrecords.com/

Check out the Debut album from Happy Headz - One Summer Here:

https://ditto.fm/one-summer-happy-headz

VIDEOS

Beat Tripping Album Sampler

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Outside The Box by T.H.E.M.

 

Outside The Box

By

T.H.E.M

 

Outside the Box is the long awaited and highly anticipated debut album from Burnley crew T.H.E.M. As I noted back in December 2022 when I reviewed the digital EP release ‘From Beyond’, this album was originally going to be a double album but, constraints led the guys to scale things back to a single album with From Beyond being made up of those tracks not to make the album.

Fast forward to now and the album release is immanent and let’s not keep you hanging so, I’m not gonna waffle here and take you straight into what T.H.E.M aka Seek The Northerner, Karlow, Lomax and Bruva Smokes, have to offer us with Outside the box…

 

The album kicks off in style with the upbeat, Seek the Northerner produced, Monsters. Drums, bass, keys, horns and some deft cuts from DJ Woody, all combine to give the kinda head nod, body moving Hip Hop sound you can’t help but, move to. This one see’s the guys showing exactly what they are all about with the kinda lyrical displays that simply takes your breath away and sets up the tone of the album perfectly. Next up is Running which is produced by Lomax and features Wordsmiff Flip. With drums pounding, bass and strings melt into the vibe to keep your head nodding. Here the struggles and strains of life combine as the guys look at how things can cause you to lose touch with reality and who you are, your true self. But you can’t escape that side of you, try as you might, you can run as far as your legs will take you but, you will never outrun yourself, you are always there, in some way, shape and form, ready for the day you are ready to be your true self once more.

The pounding of drums, piano and cymbals draw you into Below Zero, produced by Bruva Smokes. Fear is the idea that immediately trust into your awareness and there is a brief thought in your mind that questions what’s coming. At first you feel you’re being drawn into some dark and depraved nightmare situation where the guys describe how their actions install fear into those who inhabit the darkness but, the more you listen, the more you realise it is all just a play on words because their words are the weapons and the only ones who need to fear anything are those who step up and think they are better that T.H.E.M. You can leave the darkness behind as drums and horns, courtesy of production from Seek, pour light on things with a huge upbeat vibe that switches up the adrenaline levels all the way on The Sting. The guys are joined by UK Hip Hop legend, Blade for a track that hits like you’re running butt naked through a field of stinging nettles. Every line, simile, metaphor hits multiple times on different levels, while the stories from back in the day; talk of inspirations and the more personal notes leave you wondering which way to turn, while the stings never relent. There is almost too much try and pick apart here so just listen and enjoy this display of the art of rap. Million Degrees is next, produced by Lomax, this one is a heavy drum pounding, button pushing sound with a dash of razor-edged cuts, all of which has a nerve tweaking edge at times, especially with the high-pitched violin sound. It all seems to seep into the very core of your being, making you vibrate from the inside out. The guys raise the temperature on this one for the streets. Dropping lines that are so hot they blow every thermometer you can try and use to measure the heat this one is pumping out. This one is so hot it might just melt you’re mind from the inside out…

Drums and a mariachi guitar, with good dash of cuts, are the musical foundation for Lost Cause, giving you this upbeat sound from Seek that is so infectious, I dare you not to nod your head to this. T.H.E.M are joined by the legendary figure of Chester P to examine just what is the definition of a lost cause. Lots of food for thought here as the energy and the words flood your mind to the brim, making you wonder what a lost cause might be as you look around. There is even a faint thought that filters in making you wonder if there is anything you do that might be considered a lost cause. Loop Da Loop is up next, produced by Karlow, has a pounding beat over some chilled guitars, with some etheric vocals sounds and cuts all mixed in giving this a head nod vibe with a thoughtful edge. This one brought many things to mind as I listened from a basis of what goes around comes around, to the battle many of us have within our own minds and even battling the system but, none of these seemed to stick and then I wondered “Is that what the guys were aiming at here”, getting you to loop da loop in your own mind by going round and round never quite certain of the real focus? The album’s title track is up next, Outside The Box is produced by Seek and features AMOS. With horns, bass and drums, this one has cracking funk vibe to it. Here, it’s all about spinning intricate lyrical lines around and about things that are not just outside the box but, there are some you might be so far outside the box as to be too much to touch. This one has your mind spinning and doing back flips as you nod and move along to the sound, and by the end of this you’ll be thinking “Who needs a box anyway” this is Hip Hop.

Moving to the penultimate track, Milltown Flex, it’s produced by Lomax and has this big sound of strings, drums and bass, which gives this one a Hip Hop soundtrack vibe. It’s time for the guys to get everyone up on their feet as they each demonstrate the pure quality of their lyricism, proving that they are not just at the top of their game but, that there is always another level to strive to reach. Once you gotta rep, it’s all about keeping it and continually honing those skills and keeping yourselves sharp and authentic. The track also ends with some slick cuts from DJ Musicarl, who also provides cuts for all except the opening track of the album. The final track of the album is What We Do! Production comes from Sidefx and it features Ken Masters alongside T.H.E.M. There is this orchestral backing to the drum beat that gives this an extra dimension as the piano element seems to echo all around you. There will be no encore here as this is a supreme display of how to end an album as everyone gives a solid lyrical display of their rap skills, which all says one thing loud and clear, this is Hip Hop and this is What We Do!

 

I’m not sure exactly where to start here but, it’s not often that an album comes along that is not only a breath of fresh air but, also completely takes your breath away, Outside The Box does exactly that and more. There is an element here that makes you think that even if you have heard the EP, listened to the live segment and sofa chat on 05:21, that nothing can really prepare you for this album. I mean, what T.H.E.M. have done here is to embody the essence of real Hip Hop but, with their own stamp well and truly on it.

Outside The Box has everything I love about that real Hip Hop vibe. From start to finish it grabs your attention and holds non-stop, with ten tracks that are all three minutes plus, which really gives you time to get into the tracks and to properly feel them. I’m not saying that sub-three minute tracks don’t deliver but, they do always leave me wanting more and that is one thing you are not gonna get with this album, except maybe once it ends that is…

It really is difficult to fully explain what is so good about this album but, I’ll try and at least give you an insight. Musically the production is exactly what you would want from a Hip Hop album. Every track has the kinda vibe that makes your body wanna move. There is energy here that doesn’t let up across the entire album. Seek The Northerner, Karlow, Lomax and Bruva Smokes all show they have the skills to produce cracking instrumentals as well as the kind of lyrical skills that so many wish they had. These guys might all have their own unique styles and sound but, they also completely complement each other as well, which in a crew like this, is invaluable.

It is also worth noting their careful choice of guests for the album all of whom, fit exactly into place on the album adding extra depth and another layer of polish to an already finely polished album. It’s not just the legendary guests that might peak your interest here. There is also a legendary figure behind the scenes too as No Sleep Nigel, who has been the engineer behind many classic UK Hip Hop tracks over the years,  handles the mixing and mastering of the album, what more could you want right…

What you do realise, by the end of the album, is that collectively and individually, these four guys have the talent and the passion to deliver some of the most intelligent and exciting underground Hip Hop music around today. For me, T.H.E.M. have well and truly nailed what it is to be unique and authentic but, still have the foundation of what they do rooted in what true Hip Hop is, with banging beats and vocals that can easily tackle emotive personal stories, right through to those just for the street or those to rock any party.

Outside The Box lifts that underground Hip Hop sound out of the box and plants it where it needs to be, in a place where anything and everything is possible, and nothing is impossible. This is one you just should not miss and yeah, it really is that good so, nuff said…

My humble thanks to Seek The Northerner for sending this my way and to the whole crew for having the faith in my writing.

The album is released tomorrow,1^st April, through Northentic Records and be sure to check the official album launch party on Sunday 21^st May at the Camden Club, London. It’s gonna be some night, hosted by the one and only Blade and with T.H.E.M. and whole host of guests from 4:30pm to midnight, check the link below for tickets.

Time for me to be outta here,

See ya,

Steve

LINKS

T.H.E.M. on Bandcamp Here:

https://themcrew.bandcamp.com/music

Northentic Records on Bandcamp Here:

https://northenticrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Album Launch Party ticket link Here:

https://shoobs.com/events/79534/northenic-records-feat-them-outside-the-box-album-launch-party?fbclid=IwAR2-xDH9VN8Unwd5HBbkVuLKJCShFn2n4xe1d8hI7gMtymPIbgUU3PshI-8

 Northentic Records YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@NORTHENTICRECORDS/featured