Director – Ian Roderick Gray
Concept – Adian Coker
Writer – Dylan Harvey
Head Producer – Alex Hurle
Co-Producer – Becca Murray
Co-Producer – Dylan Harvey
Production Assistant – Zara Nicholls
Executive Production – Instinct Artist Management
Director of Photography – Anthony Dias
Gaffer – Jaoa Janeiro
Focus Puller – Ed Vijay
Stylist – Sarah Mughal
Makeup Artist – Rebecca Pursey
Production Designer – Dylan Harvey
Editor, Colourist & Titles – Ian Roderick Gray
Sound Design of Film Sections – Edwin Matthews
Props: Andy ‘AK47’ Link and The Art Kaida
Film Equipment from Pixi Pixel and Grayscale Productions
Starring:
Adian Coker
Andy Gibbins
Dylan Harvey
Ameer Daley
Timothy Harvey
Michael Nanton
‘A Good Combination’ is an aptly named title for this second EP of 2015 from the producer/emcee duo, with the UKs Configa providing the head nodding beats and with the lyricism and rhymes supplied by NYC rapper HaStyle.
I’ve always prided myself on being one of the first sites to rep Configa’s music, he supported me at my time as Chief writer for StandUpUK and the support and love continued when I set up HHLAT. This dope EP dropped at the end of August and got some heavy rotation here at HHLAT, however I loved ‘A Good Combination’ that much that I kept tinkering with the review to the extent that I wasn’t happy to publish, so my sincere apologies to the homie Configa for the time its taken me to get this published and also to HaStyle.
With that being said, lets move on to the music now if you’re a fan of that classic golden era sound then ‘A Good Combination’ needs to be in your collection, 8 tracks of soul sampled boom bap, laced with classic storytelling rhymes.
Everything about this release is dope from the track ‘Jedi Mind Tracks’ with Configa’s ill production and HaStyle telling the story of the battle of minds in a relationship, through to the joint ’12Monkeys’ a track about people not meeting expectations within the industry (something as a blogger I can relate too!).
After the duo payed homage to all the fallen soldiers of Hip Hop in their debut EP ‘The Calm Before HaStility’ with the joint ‘R.I.P’, with this latest release they pay their respects to all the female emcees that set the standards back in the day with the track ‘Paved The Way’ as Hastyle lists a string of legendary female names many of us grew us listening to over Configa’s piano heavy beat.
We then move swiftly into the track ‘Rap CPR’ as the duo bring that classic sounding Hip Hop back to life with Hastyle’s lyricism accompanied by Configa’s Tupacesc rant at the end of it directed at the industry and calling out a few names which needs to be heard!
There seriously isn’t a weak joint on this dope EP, I could of waxed lyrical on every track and every time I listen my favourites change daily! and the good news we still have an album from the duo in the pipeline.
Enough gas from me get Configa & HaStyle Present: “A Good Combination EP” here
Cult of The Damned – ‘Sugar Water’ features Bill Shakes, Salar, King Grubb, Lee Scott, Sly Moon, Bisk, Stinkin Slumrok & Tony Broke, produced by Reklews
Cult of The Damned ft Lee Scott, Black Josh, Sleazy F Baby, Salar, Stinkin Slumrok, Bisk, King Grubb, Bill Shakes & Tony Broke. (Produced by Col. Mustard & Reklews). [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Cult of The Damned Salar, Bill Shakes, Stinkin Slumrok & King Grubb – ‘Leave WIth Us’ (Prod by Col. Mustard) [OFFICIAL AUDIO]
Cult of The Damned ft Black Josh, King Grubb, Stinkin Slumrok, Salar, Sleazy F Baby & Bill Shakes. – ‘Stinky Posse’ (prod by Morriarchi) [OFFICIAL AUDIO]
Eshon Burgundy drops the lead single from his upcoming ‘Passover’ EP. “Gunz x Roses” features production from Apollo Brown.
Eshon Burgundy made his debut in the world of Hip Hop in 2007, that year he featured on DJ Jazzy Jeff’s ‘Return of the Magnificent’ and Hezekiah’s Rawkus Records release; ‘I Predict a Riot’.
Since then Eshon has released multiple projects, including his most recent, 2015 Billboard charting album ‘The Fear of God’ (Humble Beast Records). This time Eshon has graced an Apollo Brown production, an original song over 2 years in the making.
The latest mixtape from Providence, Rhode Island rapper LordWillin featuring Aspect Mendoza, the Dirty Turk, Paleface Junkies, Swann, Jack Of All Trades, the Sound Teckz, Tony Guatemala, V Knuckles, Ax Butane, Kwest, Danny Diablo, Shyste.
Apologies to our homies over at Boom Bap Professionals this dope release has been collecting dust in the HHLAT inbox along with a whole load more of dopeness that I’m slowly making my way through.
However, moving swiftly on to this release….. This is a new era; it’s time to get on your thinking caps with this cleverly titled EP ‘Educated Perspective’. This five track E.P. is the collaborative work of the Boom Bap Professional producer Steady Rock and the Metaphor-Father Reain. This is a new school of thought. Each song, Reain tackles a different concept, each time challenging listeners to think a little deeper; while Steady Rock provides classic sounding boom bap beats to keep the heads nodding.
On ‘Fighting Talk’ Reain’s words are weapons; we see a more aggressive side to him as he takes on elements of the violent street culture in the UK.
‘It Ain’t Gratis’, is like the Hip Hop Financial Times. With all this talk of recession, Reain is offering a wealth of knowledge. Steady sets the pace with this light, funky beat, which is skilfully contrasted with a weighty concept.
But be ready for a change of mood because ‘Where You Really From?’ looks at the complexity and diversity of being a black Briton.
‘Reality Check’ is a reflective, and more sombre, song where both emcee and producer slow things down a little and go deeper. Steady has also taken this opportunity to display some of the more musical and melodic sides of himself.
And last, but certainly not least, is the title track, ‘Educated Perspective’, where Steady and Reain are showing their best. The drums on this joint bang; the true definition of boom bap. The lyrics are metaphorical and gritty – packed with punch-lines while remaining conceptual.
Steady Rock has been an active force in recent years with a number of releases on his Boom Bap Professionals label. However, Reain has been lying dormant somewhere, but evidently not asleep, as the ‘Educated Perspective’ EP sees an explosive return.
When Shabaam Sahdeeq spits “SS pen a screenplay, day in the life/ Of a black man tryna make things right” on his ‘Modern Artillery’ single “Get It,” it’s easy to start imagining exactly how one can execute such a plan. Do you continue plugging away at a 9-to-5 to make ends meet? Or do you do whatever it takes to “get it how you live”?
For the Brooklyn rapper’s character in these visuals, he chooses the latter, but not without considering the consequences. Director Edward Jansen (for Lucky Cat Films) subtly reveals everything that S-Dub has to lose: his home and, more importantly, his loved ones. The protagonist is clearly conflicted, and it’s a feeling we can all relate to (even if you’ve never been involved in an armed robbery).
The Big Ape-produced cut stems from the ‘Modern Artillery’ EP, which is available through all major digital retailers, and is now available on cassette in limited quantities, via Fat Beats (buy-links referenced below).
D12 are back with the video for ‘Dirty Dozen’ taken from the long awaited project from the legendary collective and newly regrouped, D12. The new project hosted by DJ WHOOkid features 13 new records including features from Eminem, Slaughterhouse’s Royce Da 5’9, G-Unit’s Kidd Kidd & more.
Here’s a Bonus track from INNOCENT? and STAN DA MAN’s “WHIP APPEAL” EP featuring SADAT X. “OLD SOULS” shows lyrical content from these two emcees over the hard hitting beat. Look out for a video to accompany this joint coming soon!
Get INNOCENT? and STAN DA MAN’s “WHIP APPEAL” EP here…
Alien [PE.2] Out now. Vaguely following on from the conceptual mixtape ‘Patient Empowerment’, Scottish rapper Werd speaks from a confused and secluded place in his own mind. His brain cells, or mental cell, depending on listener’s interpretation. Having been left alone and ‘alienated’ from both the world and hip-hop scene, we are given an honest and often critical opinion of the human race and music industry. This is no longer about local hip-hop, pushing the music or gaining exposure. Werd’s new release is a wild mix of emotion based on frustration with our current system of life on a global scale.
