Sometimes I wake up, pull my lazy ass over to the computer and on to our email and twitter to find messages from people telling us their latest dance-rap auto-tuned mess is the greatest thing ever. “Yeah spread the word kids, our badly created noise coupled with lazy lyrics might be the best thing your little site has ever posted before”. Cha…

Then other times (see how I’m building anticipation?) we’re greeted by some of the best music we’ve heard in months. Last week was a week like that, and ‘Fled The Flock’ was an album like that. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve become a big fan of northern hip-hop of late, but that doesn’t mean I instantly fan-girl over any thing that comes out of those luscious hills. In fact it means you’ve gotta work hard to impress me.
‘Fled The Flock’ is a catchy fucking album; within the first initial listen I was wandering around rapping to myself and humming the melodies. I think sometimes people wrongly assume that just because a record is catchy and easy to listen to, then that some how means the content will automatically be watered down. It just comes as standard, right? Wrong. This is the type of joint I can show to my less musically astute friends (that’s a nice way of saying ‘crappy music’ because I’m a cheeky tinker) and they can still get something from it without asking me to turn the radio back on. What was most surprising about this record was the obvious influence of early 90’s West Coast hip-hop. “The Message Part 2” has pure early Snoop production all over it. Whatever you may think about him now, you can’t deny his 90’s releases were the fucking jam.

The production as a whole on ‘Fled The Flock’ is set at such a high standard that you might be forgiven for forgetting that this record is pure revolutionary hip-hop. The title track sounds so Orwellian, it’s ridiculous, and I can’t praise the dude enough for it. Not to mention Shuqi’s verse’s solid and tight offering.

Whilst the album is bursting with hope and enthusiasm, you can’t ignore the obvious melancholy and dark undertones that are prevalent through out when Yosh addresses class, gender, militarism and everyone’s need to melt their brains over Simon fucking Cowell. Then again, this is Britain and not everything is oh so rosy right now so why try to dress it up as anything else.

All in all the more I listen the more I love. A positive and honest record. It’s only a measly £5 off band camp and you really want to support some honest hip-hop I suggest you get your paws over there.

Recommended If You Like: Akala, Tupac, Leddie&Smoggy, Notbeingadumbo.
Stand Out Tracks: The Message PT2, Fled The Flock, Remembrance Day, Reali. TV.

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Words: Aimee