Edward Scissortongue is quickly rising through the UKHH ranks, bringing his unique blend of oddball behaviour and visceral, fantastical story telling to the masses and after critically acclaimed success for his 2012 debut "BETTER.LUCK.NEXT.LIFE", he returns with a story driven EP which is set to make its mark on the scene in a big way. High Focus is extremely reputable for its ever expanding, yet massively impressive label and this EP has been highly anticipated since it was first mentioned to us back at Boom Bap festival in 2013, where we were lucky enough to catch up with him in the early hours of the morning. Even back then, he knew this would be a proud achievement quoting it as his best work to date. After a couple of listens it's obvious to see the high level of hard work that has gone into the EP.
The Theremin EP is a 7 track conceptual epic featuring massive sci-fi sound scapes and a dark, man-vs-machines themed narrative that grips the listener as it guides you through a twisted, thought provoking vision of an apocalyptic future. The intro begins with big sweeping pads and a haunting melody, building slowly. This sets the scene and foreshadows the mood for the upcoming tracks and also gives the listener a few minutes to prepare for the journey ahead. The music on the whole EP compliments the sci-fi and dark themes perfectly giving an overall epic feel to the finished product.
The EP reunites Scissortongue with Lamplighter who featured heavily on his last album and helped shape the sonic landscapes on both records with his dark, ominous synths, tones and minimalistic syncopated beats. Also featured on production is New York based Eon Ra, LDZ and Problem Child's producer Sumgii, Konchis, Miles Courtney and Dirty Dike.
A clever mix of slow churning strings, eerie vocals and melodies, droning ambient synths and hypnotic beats encompass the atmosphere of Scissortongues twisted visions of mans metaphorical and possible future. Each artist on the EP helps mould the canvas for this dark dystopian
fable-esque story, designed to make you listen attentively to the many
layers the narrative has to offer.
As to not spoil the story for anyone, we will only give brief clues as to our own interpretations of it. Trust us, its definitely worth sitting down and listening to this with a fresh perspective. Throw aside preconceived notions, for both music and story telling because Scissortongue and his boys don't mind stepping outside the box and straying away from the unconventional.
Reoccurring themes of androids and end-of-the-world scenarios, a land rife in despair, dealing with the aftermath of war amongst a civilization under constant threat. With ever diminishing humility all against the backdrop of the profound question; what is it to exist?
It is deep but that doesn't stop it from being a hugely enjoyable release, in fact, his story telling ability has raised the bar in our opinion. Its tightly woven intricate language and atmospherically drenched beats make this a stand out record and another milestone for Scissortongue and the High Focus crew. The Theremin EP kind of caught me off guard, I knew it would be good, but had no idea HOW good! This is definitely his best work to date and seems to get better the more you listen to it.
For those of you that need a little more than owning a copy of this masterpiece, the launch party takes place on the 3rd of May at Westminster Reference Library, London. The night will feature an MPC set from Lamplighter, a spoken word set from Jam Baxter, Mr Key and Greenwood Sharps, Lee Scott, Dj Sammy B Side, Mowgli performing an audio visual set and Edward Scissortongue showcasing the full Theremin EP live. Advance tickets only £8, a bargain considering the line up and are available from the link bellow.
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 flowthen 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.
Ramson BadBonez, the latest addition to the High Focus label was first discovered at the young age of 14 by the biggest entity on the Uk scene at the time Task Force. After featuring on a few of the "Music From The Corner" releases and projects from Jehst, Verb T, Mud Fam and many more UK artists, he eventually teamed up with producer Harry Love to bring us "The Official Mixtape Vol 1" which quickly got him noticed through out the UK hip hop industry as one of the fiercest Mc's around. After a few more years of pumping out highly rated mix tapes he dropped his debut album featuring production from Harry Love, 184, Farma G, Dr. Zygote and Jazz T.
Fast forward to 2014 and he has now teamed up with producer Charlie Mac (you may have heard some of his earlier work from his Instrumentals Vol 1 - 3) and High Focus records to release "A year in the life of Oscar the Slouch"
The album has 14 tracks and runs through from track 2, January to track 13, December giving us the full year in the life of the titular character. Featuring appearances from Jam Baxter, Fliptrix, Mystro, Rag N Bone Man, Row.D, Joker Starr and more, this release is set to excite the mind of anyone with a taste for the slightly darker side of hip hop; with a focus on a moody tone and a stylised take on story telling which is evident through both the lyrical content and the tight production.
The eerie artwork from Jaypee also helps solidify the mood of the concept album, whilst displaying talent from every angle, showing that High Focus and BadBonez are not to be messed with.
Here are some highlights from the album.
After the intro the album gets started with January "In Da Blitz Time" giving us an introduction to Oscar the Slouch, his struggles causing him to hustle for money and the grittiness of his streets.
"Straight from the back alleys and trash cans with no hope pockets are flat broke....."
"Hustle from a dark crevice blood I'm hard headed, a fucking shark menace cotching in the park selling....."
Charlie Mac accompanies this with a perfect beat to set the scene and start of the story. His ability to make you feel the months through his music is amazing and consistent throughout the album.
Moving on to February "Whateva The Weathea" shows us that Oscar is
willing to do whatever it takes to make money and fears nothing, not a
damn thing. Featuring Mystro backing up Oscars harsh words, Gadget
singing the chorus and a banging beat from Charlie Mac this one shines and delivers on all levels.
Another personal favourite is March, Scruffy, Bummy, Hungry featuring Jam
Baxter and Joker Starr. It starts with a short vocal sample followed by
Badbonez dropping straight into verse accompanied by Charlie Mac's big
bass and strings. Oscar seems to be angry during March referring to himself as the Grumpy Grouch and describes what sounds like a month of madness violence and setting fire to police cars. Baxter and Joker Starr deliver with their own individual style and twist to the story in epic fashion.
October was the first single to be released off the new record and gave us an excellent example of what to expect from the rest of the upcoming album. Not only showcasing the natural ability and skills from the producer and the title MC, it also features heavyweight MCs Fliptrix, Row.D and Rag N Bone Man, giving us a clear indication of the calibre of guest artists set to appear on the record. Each MC gives us a another piece of the story to enjoy over the deep, smooth bass provided by Charlie Mac, allowing the space needed to to ensure nothing is unclear. The production value is at its best and complimented by the chorus, courtesy of Rag N Bone Man.
Above is the second single Desperation (November). This banger is not only reminiscent of the old school hip hop sound we all love and crave so much, but the visual aesthetics of the 8bit style adventure game graphics from the early nineties, which struck a personal, if rather geeky chord with me. Ramson Badbonez hits this one solo, giving us a philosophical look at poverty stricken estates, drug dealin and general husslin' to get by on the cold streets in November. This tune stands out as it captures perfectly the combined talents of just Badbonez and Charlie Mac to create the perfect chemistry, shrink wrapped and sent directly to our ears.
In short, this album is a must for any true fan of UK hip hop. It has great production, story telling and plenty of guest appearances from well known UK artists. Ramson Badbonez reminds us he is a big player on the UK scene. If this album is anything to go by he has a bright future in the Hip Hop world.
Dead Players comprises of two of London's finest
MC's with sharp as razor wits and a flow to match, counterbalance that
with the eclectic, sample heavy, "avant-garde" beats from Ghosttown and
your left with a psychedelic trip through the minds of hip hops weirdest
(in the best possible way) trio. And my god, its quit the trip.
So this collab came to be when Baxter, back in 2010,
said publicly the MC he'd "most like to collaborate with" would be
Dabbla, who's skills had become widely renowned from his work with LDN Zoo.
Dabbla, hearing the call-out, put the wheels in motion and work on the Dead Players LP began.
Having
worked with both MC's in the past, the choice of who was to produce the
beats for the album was a no-brainer. Ghosttown was the only producer
capable of orchestrating the articulated canvas for both MC to flourish.
With vocals styles being as demanding as they are, a fight for the
listeners attention may have been a crucial obstacle to overcome, but
they have pulled it off effortlessly and the end result is a another
High Focus banger. Soon as the album came through the door it went in
the cd player and hasn't left since. I was
not expecting something so diverse, respecting the roots and culture but
willing to experiment and flip the middle finger to whats
conventional.
Track
one starts off with the sublime orchestral intro accompanied by floaty
high end female vocals whilst Jam Baxter prepares the listener for the
sonic tone change and complex vocal deliverance. Soon as the drums roll
out, the beat and "oohhhhh's" swallow my speakers whole. This intro
track sets the tone perfectly, and is a perfect example of how
effortlessly both MC's can switch up their vocal time to a slower beat
to constantly keep the listener hanging on to the momentum of the track
and thirsty for more. And those drum rolls are immense.
Track two starts off with a pitch-bent sequence of
notes that drops into a certified headbanger thats got you fully hooked
before Baxter spits his first bar, with an attitude sharp enough to cut
your ears and a wit to match. Once quoted as the "new king of rap" by
hip hop legend Chester P (Task Force), this song showcases his ability
in full motion. With a solid hook and an equally stella performance from
Dabbla, this tune is gonna stay with you for a long time....
Ever,
track five on the album was the second single to drop. Directing the
video himself, gives us a great opportunity to delve further into the
mind of Jam Baxter. Dare you look?
The
beat starts with a slow, almost hypnotic marching style drum
accompanied by soulful female vocals and guitar samples. Jam Baxter hits
this one solo and executes his ability from his signature lazy style of
MC'ing to double time, slowly building and getting faster, only to drop
straight back down to where he started.
The
video switches location for each verse, gradually slipping further into
chaos as each lyric is more tipped-out and twisted as the last. This
all builds to a psychedelic, circus horror climax, a visual and audible
treat and we hope this isn't going to be the last
directional endeavour from Jam Baxter as this was too good.
Badman,
track nine on the album is Dabblas time to shine and this is exactly
what he does. Fusing the vibes of so many different genres on production
not only sets the backdrop for Dabbla's lethal and anthemic lyrics, but
also shows how Ghosttown can seamlessly have his fingers in lots of
style's but the result will always be innovative and fresh, but still be recognisable . From trap style drums and simple sub, to the
dance-hall-esque kicks with a snake charmer twist, this beat literally
has it all. Dabbla's fast, intricate flow is, as always, killer and
flawlessly executed. A chunky chorus to go with it and you'll be boppin'
so hard ya neck will break.
The first single to be released off the album is Yeah and this is
the tune that we think needs the biggest mention. One of our personal favourites but not just due to the lyrical content delivered from both
MC's, but Ghosttowns production skills transforming the roman-gypsie
style accordion sample used into a monster of a beat that I cannot get out of my head.
The video gives an example of a crazy cartoon like
world and resembles the sort of stuff Mr Scruff would illustrate after a
long night of watching David Firth cartoons. We heard this tune along
with the video when it dropped early July and we couldn't get
enough....... "YEAH....." "All I wanna do is get lean with my team, if you know what I mean, say YEAH!!!! I drink, I puff, I can't get enough and I couldn't give a f*** like YEAH!!!!!"
Once you hear the hook, it's in your head to stay, and if you've seen
the video too, you can't help but crack a smile every time you hear the "YEAH...." Every time, without fail.
We
decided to review these track as we thought these were our personal
favourites. All of this album pushes the boundaries and innovates to the
highest level and we highly encourage you to get the pre-order for the
album release on the 12th. Links below.
Oh,
and massive props to the art direction for this album. A gothic, almost
steam punk attire and setting with the right photo filtering give this
album the aesthetics you would probably consider a far-cry from the norm
in hip hop culture. A bold but very successful (in our opinion) move
cause it looks so damn cool.
To
close the review, we thought we'd leave you with one of the closing
statements from the press pack biography sent to us by High Focus as it
perfectly describes the trio. Big up High Focus for sending us another
banger. "The result? A fellowship so colourful the UK hip hop will celebrate
it's inception for years to come, but moreover, an outfit that looks set
to span a wide spectrum of genres and movements with the music they
make. Dead Players have written and recorded an album that equally
suited for a Tuesday evening barbecue with your obese Mother to a
Friday night SUPER RAVE. It really doesn't matter; you could be on a
sinking P&O ferry or playing strip croquet with Zsa Zsa Gabor, the
sheer music dexterity on display is a times, game changing. Just
ask them yourself. Go find them. They're about. Dabbla is currently in
traffic on Holloway Road, smoking a fist shaped zuggy, Baxter is
at Glastonbury (still) and Ghosttown is on Regent Central watching his
dog terrorizing EVERYTHING."
Brothers of the Stone – Self Titled LP – High Focus Records
2013
Brothers of the Stone are:
Leaf Dog
BVA
Illinformed
Only
three tracks into the album two things were already clear. Illinformed
is a beast, and Leaf Dog and BVA are equipped with sick vocal abilities
poised with a potent message.This is the hip hop sound that has been
neglected as of recently in the hip hop community but has been sorely
missed. If you're that guy, like us, always complaining about the
current state of music and how some artists don't reflect hip hop
accurately and generally commercialise hip hop, then look no further for
the remedy is at hand.
Brothers of the Stone’s self
titled debut has been 4 years
in the making and is well worth the wait. With appearances from
heavyweights
such as KRS One, Vinnie Paz and the main man behind High Focus,
Fliptrix, this album is a must have for any hip hop fan wanting a
stripped down, un-watered
sound. It’s a 14-track album and available on CD, vinyl, limited edition
vinyl
and digital download. Need more convincing? Read on....
In the press release, BVA states,
“From developing the first
tracks for the album, the idea was to always make a raw album that had no
desire to be commercial.”
“We've
written an album that stays with the listener, from
the bars to the beats. Illinformed has supplied the big sample based
banger's that aren't commercial hits for the club, but more dirty
classics for the
heads.”
Brothers of the Stones three
members consist of two Mc’s, Leaf Dog and BVA, who have been working together
since day one (The Three Amigos - Four Owls – RLD records) and Leaf Dog’s
younger brother Illinformed on the beats (worked with Ras Kass, Jedi Mind
Tricks, J Love) all unified by one goal –
to bring hip-hop back to its true glory, un-tainted by mainstream commercialism,
gathering artists from across the UK and overseas to collab with them using a very
DIY approach, trading “beats for bars, features for beat tapes,” and so on to
score an all-star line-up for the album. Leaf Dog quoted in the album inlet:
"For
all the fans, thank you for the support! I do this for those who think
like me and want that real hip hop! We didn't pay for any of the
features on this album, everything was made for the love of hip hop
music."
The reunion between Illinformed,
Leaf Dog and BVA happened when Illinformed returned to the South West from London,
completing the trio and allowing their musical ideals to flourish. Whilst they all
worked on various projects they continued to work on the Brothers of the Stone
album.
We’re going to go through and
break down some of our favourite tracks, talking about why they stand out.
Introduction – The album starts
with a statement about being confused and “zombie” like. Track one, Freedom,
drops with organ stabs and Leaf Dog addressing the listeners directly, “Time to
get free, this is for you, this is for me…” Leaf Dog hits this one solo,
setting a contextual theme for the album. A short track, but briefly describes
the journey he took to get to where he is.
They See You – The second single
and track two of the album (you may have already caught the official video that
was released a few weeks before the album dropped) starts with a distorted vocal
sample which sounds like it’s been played through an old gramophone. This
compliments the video’s Film Noir/detective theme and sits perfectly with the
rest of the track.
Leaf Dog takes the first verse
and delivers a signature story telling style by introducing us to the “guy-gets
jumped" scenario. Reliving the incident
and portraying an interrogation style account of the night he uses this imagery
to describe what it’s like to be censored musically.
“And then one spoke, with a
rusty throat, he said he’s gonna get me for the lyrics that I wrote...”
BVA hits verse two hard and
heavy from his first bar.
“We've got girls too young to drink, but sip man milk,
too dumb to pass the test but leave blood spilled….” Venting his frustrations on
a corrupt system where greed is primary and not wanting to sit back and take it
lying down.
“That’s how it goes? Nah, fuck
that I’m coming, cuz the war drum’s drumming and my crew always thinks of
something…”
The hook is accompanied by a
long, swelling, dissonant trumpet sample… “They see you, but you don’t see them.
So many signs, it’s hard to pretend. They see you, but you don’t see them, you
will realise when it comes to the end.”
The
beat, like the entire album,
hits hard. Although stripped down and simplified, the raw drum samples
and eerie
jazz vocals give this track depth and momentum, and is a prime example
of how
these 3 individuals need no help in the hip hop game, they complement
each
other vocally, lyrically and musically. The video is a perfect match for
the tune and had us eagerly awaiting the album before its release.
The next track to mention on our favourites run down is track 4, "Go Hate".
The
first thing to really draw our attention is the "Latin-jazz" styled
sampled played at the beginning of the tune... captured simply what
digging for samples is about, allowing room for the drums to come in
full swing.... instant headbanger. A simple message from all 3 MC's on
this track, haters are always gonna hate, regardless. And don't sell the
fuck out.
BVA kicks off the first verse with a shout-out to anti-commercialism. "Fuck being normal, unlike the rest of them, I got my own shit. My lyrics are so far out, sometimes it makes me homesick..."
"And the anacondas we can see ya slitherin', the circle of respect isn't something that you're living in..."
"Money-maker to crew-breakers and every hater, I say 'goodbye', I hope I don't see you later."
Reef
The Lost Cauze features on this track a keeps the theme of real hip
hop, not selling out and rejecting the mainstream industry.
Leaf Dog's first line "Different face, same case, I guess that they never knew that he won't accomplish all the shit that he said he'll do..." and further on "deep down I know you thought it was your destiny, but real skills are earned, that ego comes free..." all stand out and help solidify the message of staying true to what you do. Add the head-noddin' beat and you're left with a certified banger.
Number
5 on the album is Imagine and features a nostalgic Leaf Dog,
reminiscing about the early days, lifes "what-if's?" and how his love
for hip hop progressed, through to the evolution of the various crews
leading up to BOTS. Another lesson on how effective story-telling in hip
hop can be, this one not only stands out for its lyrical content, but
the beat that lays so perfectly behind it. From smooth, smoky sax
licks, hitting all the right notes (no pun intended) to the floaty piano
riffs and simple drums make this a short but instant classic.
Track
10 is Both Wicks and has the kind of beat behind it that makes you
wanna crack open Ableton, even if you can't write music. Literally
inspiring. Big strings, minor chords and broken marching drums... need I
say more? BVA is simply lethal on this tune, displaying he can kill it
on the track solo without losing any momentum. Big chorus will have you
chanting along to his tale of life on the daily struggle... another
story ridden beast of a tune.
The
first single to be released of the album was Cartoon Days, track 7 on
the album. It starts with sombre piano loop that fades out quickly for
the song to drop straight into the hook. (The video edit has a sweep
before the drop.)
"These
are cartoon days, see the words jump right off of the page, we all have
a role to play, I should warn ya, is it you? Is it me? Who's the
author?"
Deviating
from the moody, down tempo beats that accompanied the tracks previous,
this takes a more upbeat approach with a quicker tempo and big vocal
samples that help carry one of the albums more quirkier tracks. With
Leaf Dog taking the first and BVA taking the second, the single also
has a guest appearance from RLD's, Jack Jetson, on the third verse.
Track
12, Burning My Soul features Fliptrix and starts with Leaf Dog
reinforcing the earlier stated message, to stay clear of what it would
take to become commercial and mainstream.
Leaf Dog...
"I listen to the radio and feel my soul burning....."
"It wont change it's arranged by the powers that be......"
BVA...
"I never heard of the group, but I still hope they break up...."
"What's the definition of commercial?, an advert, make your record label money, while they dress you up in pampers..."
Fliptrix...
"We've been free from the chains, releasing the flames, ya not in the stream that's main..."
"Pop tarts forgetting why they started since they charted...."
The
beat has a great Motown/Northern Soul sounding vocal on the hook and a
deep bass alongside organ and guitar samples throughout the verse. This
beat is a personal favourite from the album.
