This is the second video released from the forthcoming ‘Big Music’ project. Sarge has decided that ‘Big Music’ will be a free mixtape series this being vol 1 ft LiL Fame, Reks, Termanology, Ransom, Tash, Black Silver, and Ras Kass. Production from label mate Dianetics as well as The Cratez, Whoelze, Mobetta Brown, BangTunez, and Jinx
At first glance it may have come off as something a little out of the blue from the High Focus camp when Rag N Bone Man was enlisted to join their ranks. I’m sure large swathes of people have come to expect a certain sound when it comes to HF, and at least think they know what they represent and produce when it comes to UKHH. However if you can cast your short term little memory back. To when HF was first establishing itself, and everyone was getting their knickers in a twist because they were fast becoming the label that was releasing music and promoting artists that other companies wouldn’t have even given the time to. They became a household name for a reason, because they weren’t stagnated in a little pool of what people thought UKHH was or should be.
Fast-forward to the present day Rag N Bone Man’s EP ‘Put That Soul On Me’ is released, and hoohoo everyone’s surprised again. A blues artist? That’s not very hip-hop. That’s not what High Focus is all about! Except, yeah it is mate. It’s exactly what High Focus is about. Releasing music you didn’t even think to listen to, and now you’ve got all their records and a big picture of their face on your bedroom wall. That’s how it’s done, and that’s how they’ll continue to do it.
(Besides, if I really have to explain the timeline of hip-hop, and in fact music in relation to the blues then you’re a dummy and I’m afraid this relationship just can’t carry on. Your mate’s fitter anyway).
When first listening to this 3-track release (well 6 with the 3 instrumentals to be precise), it’s obvious why Rag N Bone Man’s picking up so much steam at the moment, especially after his previous joint effort with Leaf Dog. Whether you’re a fan or not there’s no questioning his talent. Dude can sing. Whilst he’s still relatively young, his voice has a lot of age and life to it that is complimented well by Dirty Dike’s production. The slightly off kilter samples and tones worked really nicely with Rags’ vocal range which I really enjoyed. The fluke in the EP’s title track was a nice touch, and does a good job of mirroring the content of the song itself.
Ronnie Bosh’s feature is a welcome bonus to the record instead of outshining his label mate, which a lot of MCs tend to indirectly do when adding their vocals to a singing-based song. It gives the track an interesting angle, and Ronnie Bosh has such a recognisable style that you can’t help but enjoy it.
This is a short but sweet offering from Rag N Bone Man, and I’m sure they’ll be some among us that can’t get their head around HF supporting what is essentially a blues artist, and don’t realise that the two genres can be and are constantly mixed ALL THE TIME. That being said I can only speak for myself here, but if you’re one of those people then you probably don’t know who Kool Herc is anyway, and I don’t want to invite you to any of our BBQs, sorry.
This is fun and catchy as fuck EP that’ll have you doing that skanky shaky foot shuffle you do when you’re not sure how you should be dancing. Whether you’re fan of the blues or not, I suggest you give it at least a few listens before you make you’re mind up. Trust me here kiddos.
Intuitive drops some dope bars for this quick freestyle ahead of his forthcoming ‘The Shropshire Lad’ UK Runnings mixtape hosted by the big homie Tricksta.
Sacramento Knoxx featuring DJ Dez “The Trees Will Grow” Written & Produced by Sacramento Knoxx
“Beefed Out” Written & Produced by DeathStar Klic (Dustin Haffner & sK)
Recorded at the legendary East Side Arts Alliance in Oakland, CA
Cuts recorded with Geno XO in Detroit, MI.
It will be available for free download but donations will be greatly appreciated and encouraged, because it’ll help fund AYO!, a youth group in San Francisco, and the funds will assist with their leadership development in the community! I worked closely with the youth leadership group during the artist residency at AROC, Arab Resource & Organizing Center that was collaborated with this incredible summer educational program at the School Of Unity & Liberation in Oakland, CA.
The US and UK governments continues to unconditionally support Israel’s crimes against humanity.
The time is now, more than ever, to end Israeli Apartheid. We are calling for a national and global movement to boycott and divest from Israel.
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND:
While the world watches in outrage, the US continues to support Israel’s crimes against humanity and give the carte blanch for Israelis to annihilate a whole population of Palestinians. We view the Obama administration as a partner in this war crime and we demand an end to our government’s active hand in funding these massacres, to the tune of 3.1 billion dollars a year of OUR tax payer dollars.
This is a double feature called “THE TREES WILL GROW AGAIN” speaking to the mass destruction colonialism currently has made for the people in Palestine & historically across Turtle Island aka North America. With the ongoing imperialist devastation that humanity is facing from systematic oppression at this moment of history. This feature builds solidarity with Palestine through cultural work. And as people of color, it speaks to building a cross cultural movement in joint struggle against these illnesses on earth, in relation to the destruction of the earth, people are rising, and the trees will grow again.
World famous DJ Dez is on the cuts delivering the phenomenal hook.
In the face of growing efforts to police our communities, we must forge alliances to challenge systems of repression and build power in our communities. Understanding prisons, borders, surveillance and policing as tools of global repression is critical to building and maintaining powerful movements for liberation. Gentrification in our streets is colonialism elsewhere. The War on Terror we are living through today is a new formulation of the War on Drugs, and the violence inflicted on our communities necessitates a unified stance against all forms of repression from the US to Brazil, to the Philippines and Palestine.
We ask our allies and partners to adopt these principles and take a stand against the policing and repression of our communities.
NO TO URBAN SHIELD
The tools, strategies, and tactics shared at Urban Shield will not only increase the opportunities for state violence in Oakland but across the globe in communities that show resilience and resistance in the face of oppression. Become a part of a growing resistance to increased police militarization and repression in Oakland and across the country demanding community self-determination to keep us all safe.
Kyza brings that Fire in the streets for Charlie Sloth and is back with a sick new album ‘Hibernation’. We’ve been highly anticipating new music from this UK heavyweight emcee here at HHLAT, and he is back with a BANG! We are sure you wont be disappointed too!
This album is the first project that Kyza has undertaken all of the production duties, singing, and general direction to date. After having a very turbulent couple of years away from making music, Kyza has decided to stick his head out of the cave and wave a bear paw to the masses to let them know that after spending time cleaning up and building his cave, he is ready to tell his story, and that time for hibernation is over….
Now whether or not you think we’re being bias by reviewing our own team’s work then please remember these key points before we get badly written complaints about it (Seriously step up your grammar. This is coming from a person with dyslexia). Regardless of who we’re friends with doesn’t mean a thing; if the material they’re producing is of a high standard and they’re progressing hip-hop in their own part of the world, then obviously we want to promote it. That’s a no-brainer. Actually you know what? This is the very last time I ever write a disclaimer about who we promote, if it really bothers you then go to Worldstarhiphop, you tinker. Are you the co-editor? NO U R NOT JOG ON. Ooh got a bit defensive then eh?
GET ON WITH THE REVIEW.
The varied producers on this record have a lot to do with the reason this is Nephilim’s best work to date. As a group, the guys that he picked to grace the boards never stick to one particular pattern or formula, but it’s pretty obvious to the listener who’s produced which track and their own definitive styles are very prominent. This isn’t a bad thing by any stretch and helps the record not to become stale or slow paced. Each producer puts his own stamp on the individual songs, and whilst it could potentially run the risk of sounding messy or becoming over saturated (too many cooks spoils the broth and all that) it does quite the opposite and I strongly suggest you check them out as well. The full list is Runone, Faulty Clicks, Andrew Luck, GdotAssasin and bandmate SingerDread. Not forgetting of course Rebs who mixed and mastered it.
When it comes to the rapper himself (yes we’re on the third paragraph already what of it?) he’s improved a great deal in the last few years in terms of style and content. When I initially was introduced to Nephilim way before he became the famous Adamtheintern we now know and love (although he isn’t really an intern I just think I’m funny and the rest of HHLAT let me believe it), I enjoyed his work but it needed a lot of spit and polish. Since then every project and demo I’ve heard is a vast improvement on the previous. Regardless of genre or medium when it comes to art, stagnation is your worst enemy. Even if for a time what you create is atrocious, and everyone hates it-at least you’re fucking giving it a go and trying everything to see what fits well with you, and even if that only fits for a short while. This is something I’ll be talking about again when I review Yoshi Riot’s new record ‘The Contrast EP’ later on this week (yes cheap plug).
Nephilim is a lot more focused in both his rhythmic concepts and lyrics, even when he goes off on little tangents he still brings it back and makes it work within the whole song or on a smaller scale, on a particular verse. His politics are very obvious on this as well, but he’s not a studio revolutionary shouting empty phrases. There’s cause and points to what he’s talking about, and as someone that has listened to A LOT of ‘conscience rap’ over the years I can tell very quickly the glaring difference between rappers who’ve read a few blogs, and the ones who’ve actually read a book (with real pages waaa) and worked within their’s or a larger community. Now I’m not saying our man is reinventing the wheel, or single handedly saving the world with this EP I’m simply saying he’s progressive and aware with both his music, and his ideas. This in turn makes the EP a pleasure to listen to. There are still a few cracks and parts that need smoothing over of course, but he’s really begun to make a solid foundation and has clear markers within each release now that are wholly his own. It’s a very UKHH record, but that’s not to say he’s stuck to a certain framework or blueprint. It’s just ashamedly local in its sound which I think gives it a lot of charm and will endear most UKHH fans as well those further afield.
Tell us Aimee, is this the best thing to ever to be brought into being? Is it completely without blemish? Did Beyonce write ‘Flawless’ just for Adam? Well no (although maybe to the third one who can say), not exactly but it’s still a great EP so listen to my wise words and get yourselves a copy.
Here’s a little bonus of a recent song Ad recorded for the birth of his lovely baby girl.
RE3CO answers what would happen if he had it his way …
This video continues a new series where rappers are asked to deliver their thoughts on the theme ‘If I Had It My Way’. The series launches the video arm of new platform Rethunk.
hiphoplifeandtimes 