High Focus had an amazing 2013 seeing the releases of a variety of albums and lots of live performances including festivals. 2014 looks to be heading in the same direction with the first release of the year coming from BVA. Ever since we received the Brothers Of The Stone album, we have been thirsty for more and eagerly awaiting a solo album from Rusty Take Off.
BVA is no stranger to the UK Hip Hop scene, first getting noticed through his work with The 3 Amigos and the now infamous Four Owls. Last year saw the release of the self titled Brothers Of The Stone album, showing us how well the three members of BOTS gel together. The delivery from BVA and Leaf Dog blended with the tight production of Illinformed takes us on a journey of that real hip hop sound and is further explored in Be Very Aware. The album also features an all star line up of guest appearances from Verb T, Rag N Bone Man, Dirty Dike, Fliptrix, Cracker Jon, Kashmere, Smellington Piff and Leaf Dog.
The album starts with a great sample about beavers preparing for the winter and then drops straight into the opening track Rain or Shine. Produced by Leaf Dog we get a perfect arrangement of vocal and instrument based samples accompanied by the instantly familiar sound of BVA, rhyming about taking the good with the bad, people trying corrupt you and the importance of staying true to yourself.
The first official single is "This Love is Love". In this tune we can hear how immersed into the world of hip hop BVA has become and how his love for everything within the realm of hip hop has matured over the years, from freestyling in cyphers to collecting vinyl to play over and over again even though he isn't a dj.
"I freestyle in cyphers, everyone spits written verses, kids could think I'm wack when they don't know I don't rehearse shit."
"I buy vinyl even though I ain't a DJ, original presses off of Amazon and Ebay, I sit there for weeks with the same tune on replay, music speaks volumes and I hear what the beats say."
This attitude towards his art and the direction in which he wants it to excel is something that resonates within all of the High Focus artists; a message of staying true to hip hop culture.
The beat provided by Leaf Dog drops straight into a head nodding blend of keys and shuffled drums providing a lounge jazz smoothness that compliments the vocals perfectly.
Gifted stands out as a personal favourite. Everything from the summer and old skool vibes provided by Illinformed, to the guest appearance of Verb T screams instant classic. The piano, guitar and bass samples mesh seamlessly together to lay the groundwork for BVA and Verb T. In the first verse BVA lets us know that he expresses his true thoughts rather than what the mainstream audience expects to hear with his head held high.
"My policy is give a fuck what they all say, its all cock and ball-play, I do this the tall way."
Verb T hits the second verse with flawless execution to wrap this one up ........ with a bow.
"Me and BVA reach out and seize the day, we just changed everything shit will never be the same"
" I got presence on the mic now you fucking know, spit a dope flow then I wrap it up with a bow."
We can't stress enough how much we love this track, all artists involved shine throughout.
The first taste of the album, "I can't hear you", dropped on youtube early in January. It showcases BVA flying solo with production from Leaf Dog, setting the standard of what is to come with the rest of the release. The song opens up with a laid back brass section, a chilled vibe which we have all come to love from Leaf Dogs signature production style; heavily infused with jazz and that boom bap beat to accompany it. The tone is set and BVA is only too obliged to make sure his message is fully realised. Similar to the BOTS ethos, the lyrics describe what its like to be on the opposite side of commercialism, straying from what people expect from the underground UK hip hop scene and more into what they want to write and hear themselves, producing a more raw but meaningful approach to beat making and lyrical deliverance. This is a statement to the masses saying no matter what, they aren't compromising their art for anything.
Track ten gives us an insight to the vices of three different people, each verse is reflective of how their personal weapons make them feel through the vocal delivery and lyrics. BVA starts the track with the hook, followed by a verse explaining how weed soothes the strain of every day life. Dirty Dikes tale is booze fueled which seems to cause violence and aggression throughout his verse, where as Kashmere tells a very different story of taking Psychedelics. Illinformed gives us a slightly darker tone on this one using predominantly minor chords to set the mood and blend with ease to the darker topics featured on "Weapon of Choice".
Another personal favourite is Crazy Trips featuring Leaf Dog on the verse and tight production from Amdek. Starting off with a skit where Leaf Dog and BVA converse about the poor state of the mushrooms they're about to ingest before the sound of an oriental-type stringed instrument lays down the melody. Rusty then proceeds to tell us of a typical trip gone bad, from his personal point of view.
Sharp vocal delivery gives us a pretty accurate account of a heavy dose of hallucinogenics, and how one moment everything is fine, the next you fight off a stampede of vomit animals climbing up your leg. Leaf Dog hits up the second verse giving us examples of just how imagery can drastically alter the way his trip can take him, claiming "foods looking too crazy to consume, my hands badly animated like my cartoon."
A very funny tune capped off with a hard hitting beat and that catchy melody you'll be humming for hours.
After the high standards set from previous projects, this album does not disappoint on any level and is a must for UKHH fans. We have reviewed a handful of our favourite tracks, but that takes nothing away from the tracks not mentioned. The album is jam packed with 17 bangers, that will be played over and over. We suggest you pre order it now, trust us, you need this in your life! As always it will be available on a variety of formats including limited edition vinyl and digital download from the links below from 14th of Feb 2014.
http://shop.high-focus.com/product/bva-be-very-aware-double-gatefold-vinyl-pre-order
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/hype-man/id808703180?i=808703188&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
https://www.facebook.com/highfocus
https://www.facebook.com/pages/BVA/100862573328148
Reviewed by Double Es, NDLC and Collette.
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