hiphoplifeandtimes

You know, considering this is in my top ten albums of the year (Taylor Swift being number 1) this review should have come out the week Too Many T’s released their debut mixtape ‘Early Necks & Round Grey’. Maybe though, I wanted to let it sink in yeah? Maybe I wanted to bask in Too Many T’s musical mastery eh? YOU DON’T KNOW.

Anyway.

As previously mentioned this is Too Many T’s first official release. For people unaware of the London duo I would say that if you enjoy Atmosphere, Beastie Boys, Jabbathakut, DJ’s actually djing (no button pressers please), a healthy dose of light heartedness and mid-90’s hip-hop, then you’re probably going to like these guys.
‘Earl Necks’ is a good representations of the group, plenty of lovely breaks, cuts and scratches that will please any vinyl head, mixed up with some weird little samples that you just wouldn’t expect (Check The Yardbirds’ hook on ‘For Your Love), and some samples that you might (‘Get Out My Life’ features a delicious Solomon Burke remix, yum, yum). Ignoring the lyrics for a second, its instrumentation on this release is fantastic (Yeah I used that word, big boot claims indeed), and that’s in part to the big list of contributors present throughout, such as Savage Henry, Mr Ozio, Seek The Northerner. For a full list check the group’s Bandcamp page. Although I’ve seen these guys live and the two swapped DJ and beatbox duties, along with their in-house beatboxing/DJing music machine, Pikey Esquire so they could well have produced a lot of their own tracks, skills kids.

On to the lyrical aspect of the record, yes it’s got a lot of humour, but no it’s not all gimmicks and vacuous content. If it really was then it wouldn’t have had the sticking power that it has with me since its release in the early winter. They manage to poke fun at investment bankers, discuss the pitfalls of a relationship that just isn’t working anymore all with the same self-aware, wry British dark sense of humour whilst still having a serious undertone. Simply put, they’re not trying their very hardest to demonstrate how totally serious and brooding their are on every single track (SENSITIVE ARTIST MODE!); seriousness does not always have to equate to being unhappy you know? Gosh, have a cup of tea why don’t you? Trust me, I have so many feelings; it’s okay to smile.

Usually for me, I’m not a big fan of skits and intros/outros. In fact once I put an album or EP on my computer, I immediately delete them. The skits on this release however are generally listenable and not just generic messy spoken pieces about being real hip-hop or how bad they are. They’re a mix of some fun beatboxing, and a weird little Snoop Dogg inspired one called ‘Tz & Hustlers’. I can’t believe that I actually enjoyed a skit, it’s been years I tell you, years.

Overall this is one of my favourite releases from 2012, and whilst I was a bit disappointed they didn’t put in ‘It Ain’t Right’ on the mixtape, this is still a generally memorable and gold release. Now go and get yourselves a copy, you have the blessings of the HHLAT staff, praise indeed eh?

Words: Aimee
(For anyone who wants to argue about Taylor Swift being awesome, COME AT ME BRO)

For fans of Boogie Down Productions, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Jabbathakut, Beastie Boys.

www.youtube.com/toomanytvs
www.twitter.com/toomanyts
www.soundcloud.com/too-many-ts
www.toomanyts.bandcamp.com