Singles Reviews

SINGLES reviews

Uhuru & CNT

Hi Everyone,

I have been quiet recently. Which is due to some personal shit I got going on But, I ain’t gonna bore you with that.

To get me back into the review groove, I decided to do some quick reviews of some singles i have been spinning or rather banging in the car.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it shall we...

Murderation by Uhuru (Cyclonious & Tha 4orce)

Murderation is the first single from the Album ‘Uhuru – Expect the Unexpected’

Proper Hip Hop right here that has a nice reggae melody to keep you grooving from start to finish, with Cyclonious and (UK Hip Hop legend) Tha 4orce bouncing of each other with verses that will have you hooked.

As a first single from a forthcoming album this track makes a statement. Basically telling your brain, if you ain’t herd of us yet? You gonna, real soon and then some. 

With the vocal skills these two deliver and Tha 4orce’s pinpoint production, everything just fits together and reminds you, that here in the UK, Hip Hop just keeps creeping up on you and slapping you round the back of the head, just when you thought it was safe.

Get the single and wet your taste buds for the Album cos it’s gonna be huge.

Check out more from Uhuru Here:

Murderation Official Video 

Uhuru on Bandcamp 

Run with This & Stone Folk by Code Name Theory

Run with This

A straight up banger right here, Damn I love this track. 

Such a dope track that fits perfectly with some on point vocals by the CNT boys (Manage & Blitz) to give you a track you can’t help but, vibe to.

Top notch Production (By Kolak47), Dope rhymes and deft cuts (By the one and only JABBATHAKUT), this track has it all. Do I need to say more...

 

Nah...

Stone Folk

Time to kick back, chill out and light it up on this track, The CNT boys letting you take a break but, keeping it hard to the core and full of realness.

Again the deep track and the vocals just work. You just wanna here more from these guys...

If these two tracks are anything to go by, the album that they are taken from is gonna be one not to miss. 

I for one will be waiting on it and hopefully be able to bring you a review as soon as I hear more about it.

As they say – CNT, all thats missing is U....

Seriously, Don't miss out on the CNT boys.

Here is where you can check the CNT boys:

Run with This Official Video

Stone Folk Official Video

CNT Bandcamp

CNT Facebook

Sorry these are quick reviews but, I have a whole lot going on but, I wanted to give you all something to wet your appetites to. Watch out for Uhuru and CNT, big things are coming peeps.

I’m out, Till next time,

Laters...

Steve – Infinite Sounds

REVIEW: PROJECT KUBRICK - SIR Beanz O.B.E. & M.C. Kelz

SIR Beanz O.B.E. & M.C. Kelz

Project Kubrick - Review

I grabbed a copy of this EP from Sir Beanz Himself at the recent Rope-a-Dope 3 at the Rope Walk pub in Bristol.

This review is my first of 2018 and I can’t think of a better way to make my return to reviewing than with this slice wax from a couple of the UK’s finest.

So, without further ado let’s get into it...

Project Kubrick is a four track EP from SIR Beanz O.B.E. & M.C. Kelz who hail from Bristol in the UK. 

Both these guys have an impressive resume some of you will be familiar with But, for those who don’t know...

Producer and DJ Sir Beanz has been a part of some impressive Crews out of Bristol, Transcript Carriers, Parlour Talk, Undivided Attention and Wordsworth Surgery. M.C. Kelz or Kelz was part of 3PM. The two have worked together before on the projects Rhyme Stopper and Sagittarius Sound System.

There was a good buzz around this release and I was really up for checking out to see what all the hype was about. Originally released a few weeks back now I had to wait till Rope-a-Dope 3 to get my hands on it but, was it worth the wait?

Let’s see shall we....

Kicking off with Concrete Sands, we have Kelz in fine form with his instantly recognizable style. He hits you with lines about his history, putting Bristol on the map and so much more over a chilled out, laid back beat. You are instantly gripped by the track, thinking “yeah, I’m liking this” and you’re wondering what’s next before the track is even over.

As you sit in anticipation Kelz grabs you and warns you to Be Careful while Sir Beanz drops it splendid. What more can I say except that you can’t help but, nod your head to this one, trust me.

Next up is Same Way, where Kelz and Sir Beanz keep your attention held, transport you to a parallel universe and give you the “opportunity for you to rock with the same way.”

While you are still rockin’ out to the last track Sir Beanz and M.C. Kelz are back with a proper banger just to remind you that you’re listening to the Other Dudes.

By the time these four tracks are done you are at the point where you’re so hyped up you’re like thinking damn, where is the album. These two guys are so good together surely an album is a given? Well, not at this time. But, perhaps if this review goes down well and enough people love the EP then perhaps, just perhaps an album could be in the offing?

Seriously, this EP is 4 tracks of pure Hip Hop listening pleasure for old and new headz alike. There is none of your mainstream stuff here. This is proper raw and pure Hip Hop where you have Beats, cuts and rhymes at the highest level.

On a social media post recently, I made a comment about currently sticking with UK artists for my Hip Hop. Not say I don’t listen to Hip Hop from the US, Australia or anywhere else but, right now, I am able to associate with what UK Hip Hop is all about. In that post it was said that there are no UK artists better that the likes of the top US artists? Well, as we hit 2018, Sir Beanz and M.C. Kelz are just one of a long line of UK artists who, in my opinion, show that the UK has a plethora of talent that can side by side with the best from overseas.

But, like I always say, don’t take my word for it. Go get a copy of Project Kubrick and make your own mind up but, I tell you this, you ain’t gonna regret it. This is class A Hip Hop for sure.

Project Kubrick by Sir Beanz O.B.E. is available now on Ruztik Records.

Check the links below to get your copy.

 Respect peeps, see you again soon.

Steve Rider

Infinite Sounds UK 

Ruztik Records on Bandcamp 

SIR Beanz OBE on Bandcamp 

SIR Beanz OBE on Soundcloud 

Album (Mixtape) Review - Explicit: Without Time

Without Time (Vintage Footage Edition) by Explicit

Review

By S. Rider

This review has been a long time coming. I found this album whilst looking through Bandcamp for stuff to stream or buy. It said free streaming, Downloads and CD! All you had to do was pay for shipping? So, I thought ok that’s cool let’s give it a go.

Explicit hails from South Central LA in the US. I paid up for what Bandcamp says the postage should be. I also posted a crafty message asking for a signed copy if possible. I ended up exchanging a few emails with Explicit as he was having troubles posting the CD as UPS wanted extortionate amounts to get it here. Anyway I told him that regardless of what happened and his efforts, I would post a review anyway. So, following all the issues I have had recently and some last minute promo reviews, I am now going to make good on my promise.

This mixtape is 20 tracks deep so I am going to limit exactly what I say about each one but, here is my track by track run down....

The Intro is produced by BrassKnuckles and is Explicit just telling us who he and where he’s at and that place is real Hip Hop.

Won’t Understand prod By Easy Mo Bee, A nice chilled beat with Explicit hitting a nice flow with a raw sound and telling us he is Hip Hop and that’s what some won’t Understand.

Exactly, prod by Juno Adonis, A short track with a simple beat and Explicit telling what life is like.

Get Down, prod by Oddisee, has a nice beat with Explicit bringing it harder with the lyrics and giving us the lowdown on his style.

I Could Tell, Prod by DJ Desue, Explicit tells us Illmatic is his bible and that No weapon is needed... Nuff said, South Central Hip Hop without the guns...Damn...

Bombs, Prod by Khronos Beats, Explicit dropping bombs and referencing a life like Boyz in the Hood But, Where’s Bruno Mars when you need him.....???

Strong, Prod by Khronos Beats, Nice beat with Explicit explaining that no one can compare.

Actually, Prod by Be Frankly, Funky track with some name drops and nice lyrical flows.

They Just, Prod by Havoc, Bit of a head nodder this one with a theme of how people wanna be negative and knock you down.

Where We Are, Prod by Khronos Beats, Bit more laid back on this track but, don’t mean the lyrics are any less hard when focusing on life’s experiences.

Just Pretend, Prod by 9^th Wonder, Dope beat here providing the right platform for Explicit’s stories of life’s up’s and down’s.

Sniff, Prod by Dela, The light hearted feel of this beat provides a Yin-Yang kind feel with Explicit making the dope you should be sniffing.

What Now/Now What, Prod by Khronos Beats, Chilled out beat with a bit more of that classic South Central feel?

Behind Bars (ft Kulture) 2 Emcees spittin’ over a beat

Out of This World, Prod by Khronos Beats, Coming out the underground it don’t make money, even if you consider your flow is Out of this world. Explicit tells it how it is...

Regulated, Prod by Be Frankly, First track I’ve heard to mention fidget spinners....

Watch Yo Back, Prod by DJ Premier, you can tell this is a premier track and Explicit does a decent job on this.

Time After Time, Prod by Kan Kick, this has that record crackle and I like the feel of that. Explicit again handles his lyrical flow well.

It Ain’t Hard To Tell, Prod by Large Professor, Dopeness from the Large Pro gives Explicit a decent springboard to launch himself into this one.

Rest In Peace, Prod by Terror Beats, Hard beat and hard lyrics. This sounds very much like a posse cut but, no mention of who is on this track alongside Explicit.

So, overall what did I think of this?

Essentially this is the standard mixtape scenario. An underground Emcee looking to prove his skills by rapping over some beats. Yes, there is absolutely nothing new there, apart from a new name and a new face.

So, is there anything here that sets this apart from other releases of this genre of Hip Hop? Well, for me, a huge plus here is we have a young emcee from South Central LA, and we all know that’s where the Crips and the Bloods play. What is refreshing here is that this is not another Ganster Rap themed offering with guns, weed and ho’s. Explicit takes a more Hip Hop oriented look at life around him.

There times when you think well, that sounds just like the same old shit but, in the next sentence, you are thinking, you know actually this guy is sounding different. What also helps is the fact there are some good beats here from top Hip Hop producers. 

From a UK perspective, you might simply say this is US Rap and it’s nothing new and while I would not dis you for thinking that, I would add that a huge part of Hip Hop is from the US as is a huge part of Rap. Sometimes you have to set that aside and not allow it to colour your thinking of what you are hearing.

I will say that listening to this did not exactly set me on fire and thinking this is the next big thing and there are some tracks where I felt the beats were a little lacking 

But, overall I do think that Explicit's style is refreshing coming from South Central. He shows life in a gritty realism and lyrically he is pretty solid. 

As he progresses and hones his style and lyrical dexterity there is a chance he could break out to a wider audience. Especially so, as he has enough conscious thought to bring a new and wider viewpoint to us from an all too familiar setting! 

But, as always, don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

Sadly I don’t have my CD yet but, whatever happens, I thank Explicit for getting in touch and going out of his way to get a copy of the CD to me. For that he gets props and Huge Respect from me.

Without Time (Vintage Footage Edition) is available from Bandcamp. Check the link.

I’m Out, Peace

Steve – Infinite Sounds UK

Buy Without Time (Vintage Footage Edition) Here 

Graphic Bars Album Review - Infinite Sounds Exclusive

It Wasn’t Love....It Was Sport Rapping

By Graphic Bars

Exclusive Pre-release Review

Not too long ago, I was given the pleasure of an exclusive review of the Planet of the Fakes Album. Now I am again honoured to bring you another exclusive.

This time I have bragging rights again as only the second person, other than Graphic Bars himself, to hear his album in its final form. Am I humbled or what.....

I interviewed Graphic Bars a little while back and you can find that here on the blog. Graphic Bars hails from Brighton on the South Coast of the UK. Brighton has a long history within UK Hip Hop and is the place I attended my first every Hip Hop Gig, The 87 Def Jam Tour. So, for me it is not surprising that this guy connected with the whole Hip Hop culture.

I have been impressed by the first three singles that he has put out and have been eager to hear his first full length excursion into the Hip Hop world. With those first singles featuring Remark, DJ Tones and Merlin from Hamburg you just get the feel that this first release is gonna be well worth a listen...

So, let’s see what Graphic Bars has to offer:

First up is Deep Waters featuring Production by Merlin and Cuts by Remark. The track hits you square between the eyes and makes’ you realise what you are letting yourself in for. Graphic Bars rough and gritty delivery fits perfectly with the banging beat sprinkled with orchestral samples that, for some reason, made me more aware of being close to the south coast and the sea. Graphic Bars also shows he is willing to give singing a shot and to be honest it works well on the track, good to see a different vocal range.

Up next Is There Enough? A track all about feelin’ good and at peace But, also about what would it be like if this feeling could be harnessed? Would the powers that be try and profit from it? Production again comes from Merlin and this track was last single release put out by Graphic Bars before the album.

Graphic Bars first single is up next, Now Let’s See How They Run. A dope beat laced with violin and a drizzle of cuts galore. This track is all about the shit that goes on around us and how life just seems to suck you dry. But, you can turn it around. Reflect it back at those who would see you down and see how they run. Production comes from Merlin, Cuts by DJ Tones and guest vocals from Remark.

Train up a Boy like Wood to a Fire, A track rooted in how the powers that be are selective in what they tell us, how they tell us and when. Tell someone enough bullshit and eventually they will believe it. It’s happening, everyday, we are told what’s right and what’s wrong because what they say makes them richer and keeps us as sheeple. Well, we are waking up and we know the truth! Production is from Merlin with Remark on the cuts this time around.

Scenic Route, Graphic Bars takes us on a poetic journey of how he got from there to where he is now and how he came to be Graphic Bars. Again the beat is banging with Merlin’s production and Remark crafts the cuts for your listening pleasure.

What They Did, A bit more laid back but, no less hard hitting. Real life is hard hitting and you have to ask yourself who are the mindless Zombies, when you look around you each day? Production is by Merlin with cuts by Remark.

Like Swords in Water, Has one simple message, don’t sit still and think its all fine. Keep yourself fluid, question what you know, what you have learnt. Keep your mind active and don’t think for a minute that everything you have been told is the truth... This message was brought to you by Graphic Bars & Merlin with Merlin’s production and Remark’s cuts.

Seen Through Fog, all about the 80’s, this track capture’s those times in a way I’ve never heard before. If, like me, you remember those times, then you will feel this track for sure. Production is handled by Merlin.

The penultimate track on the Album is Graphic Bars second single Behind the Blind’s. A track that is all about what goes on inside ourselves and turmoil we hide. We all pull the blinds so that others don’t see in, to what is really going on... DJ Tones provides the cuts and Merlin, the Production.

Last track is Sport Rapping. A light hearted track that is all about Graphic Bars flow and lyrical dexterity, Just for fun, Just for the love of it or should that be the just for the Sport of it? Fuck knows, I liked it anyway.... Getting funky on the production was Merlin.

There are times when reviewing is fun and times when it’s frustrating as fuck. Doing this review had both. I must have listened to this album ten or twelve times in the last week or so and when I came to write up how each track made me feel or what I was getting from it, I found it very frustrating at times to find the right words. Each track just seemed to speak for itself without any help from me. Now that’s well cool as it shows a maturity and skill from Graphic Bars words. However, it’s hell when you want the reader to feel what you are feeling. After all, my words might be the difference between you buying or not buying this album....

If my track by track rundown has not given you enough, let give you some more observations.

Graphic Bars has his own style a rough and rugged hard hitting wordsmith who takes his lyrical story telling straight from life, from what he has and continues to see happening in day to day life. He handles the Mic exceptionally well and craft’s the type of message that we all know only too well. For me, this is the mark of fine Emcee. Someone who has taken time to hone his skills and deliver a style that is Hard but, also true to life and inspiring.

I agree that it also help’s when you collaborate with the likes of Remark (who has put more into this album than you know), DJ Tones (with the dope touch) and Merlin (Who’s production is seriously on point here) but, make no mistake, as awesome as their input is into this release, their quality takes nothing away from Graphic Bars himself who has fired a well aimed warning shot across the bow of UK Hip Hop.

With other projects in the pipeline, this is not the first and last time you have heard the name Graphic Bars.

Don’t just take my word for it though?

The Album is independently released on 27^th October and you can pre-order from the Graphic Bars website on the link below.

I want to give a huge thank you to Graphic Bars for allowing me to have the promo so, that you all can get my thoughts.

Enjoy listening,

I’m outta here,

Peace...

Steve Rider

Infinite Sounds UK

Graphic Bars Official Website - Order the Album here 

Graphic Bars - Bandcamp 

Graphic Bars - YouTube

Graphic Bars - Facebook