As Rappers/ MC’s go Inja is part of a small number (along with the likes of Dabbla, Fallacy, Foreign Beggars, Sway and Skinnyman) who are happy spitting on almost any genre of music. Be it late 90’s Boom Bap with The Delegates OF Culture (The crew that Inja, along with Skuff and Stakka Lyrics, among others, came up in), Dubstep influenced Bioviolence banger’s (The duo’s remix of Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ even got airplay on the BBC) or holding down hosting duties at Warning, the UK’s longest running Drum and Bass night, the man is comfortable with all!.
Therefore one never knows what to expect from an Inja release, which is no bad thing!
‘First World Living’ is Inja’s latest release, and sees him return after a couple of years off, as he has recently become a dad. Fans of Inja’s melting pot of sounds and influences will not be dissapointed, as the EP packs in Trap influenced bangers such as ‘Nothings Changed’ (a personal favourite) , which sees Inja smashing the Bioviolence beat with some sick double time flows and expert delivery, alongside reflective and thought provoking selections such as ‘Camb Shores’ and ‘The Greatest’.
Another highlight is the title track, which sees Inja comparing the trials and tribulations of living in a developed country to the plight of those less fortunate, and gives a clear message that we are relatively lucky, and to shut up moaning, because it could be worse! What really makes this track stand out however is the hook, beautifully combining the soulful vocals of the very talented Kimberley Newell with Inja’s sing- song voice to make one of my favourite hooks this year.
And if you’re stuck for what to make for dinner, let Inja help you out with a cheeky fish recipe on the clever ‘Cooking Song’!
Inja – ‘The Cooking Song’ (VIDEO)
I think this EP could well be up there in my top 5 UK releases of the year, such is its refreshing sound, solid content and re-play value! Great work from the Cambridge resident and the producers, Sumgii, 184, Pierre Green, Dan Gresham and Bioviolence who provide the backdrop for this well rounded and entertaining release.
Words; Chris
Inja’s ‘First World Living’ EP is out on Monday 17th November released on Audio Danger Records and is available to Pre-Order on Bandcamp
Check out a sneak preview to Mystro aka MysDiggi next video ‘Come We Go’ dropping next week Thursday 20th of November 2014 on his youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/mysdiggi
Yaheard Records Presents…Marchitect – “Everything”, Official Music Video. From the forthcoming album “The OverNight People”, this new visual was filmed around the world as Marchitect toured with The 49ers and on his own. This hard hitting, yet smooth track, will give Hip Hop Lovers, world wide something to nod their heads too. The song was produced, written and recorded by Marchitect.
Snake Eyez TV give us a promo video of one verse taken from the 2015 album by Dr G & Shakezpeare. DR G is a dope UK producer who has worked anyone worth working with, Shakezpeare is an underground rapper from Coventry, UK.
This December they will bring you their first album together ‘Narcissus’. Dr G has already dropped his critically acclaimed album ‘The Coalition Vol 1’ which you can get from http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/drg36
Directed by Jay Brown and shot in Detroit, “How To Kill God” captures some of the fallen bastions of America, while Ras & Apollo roam historic sites that have long since been abandoned (the original Model-T assembly line, the outside of a foreclosed Detroit Masonic Temple, and inside a since closed cathedral).
Ras Kass spits brutal bars that harken back to “Nature of the Threat” from his original classic “Soul On Ice.” Meanwhile Apollo Brown delivers soul stirring boom bap at it’s best for Ras to lay question after question, and bar after bar of articulate insight into historical facts too often ignored. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s not Ras & Apollo killing God, it’s them exposing the hypocrites standing behind empty dogma.
From the album Apollo Brown & Ras Kass “Blasphemy” out now on Mello Music Group.