Destined To Be?

Deliquent's My Destiny is only now getting it's official release on the 25th February. This song has been out for quite some time, I even played it back in 2006 on my show for 1Xtra. Judging by the success of T2's Heartbroken I am silently hoping that big things will happen for this song too. It's too upbeat and cheery to dislike and the video was only officially completed the other day. Make sure you go out and support it because I love it!

There is also a free Delinquent Mix Cd up for download, get it here...

Delinquent Mix Cd Vol 1

The self titled 'Godfather's of Bassline' can be found @

http://www.myspace.com/delinquentuk


Hmm I'm away to sleep now, sitting up doing media dissertations late and having to get up at 7 in the morning does bad things to good people

Blacksterz

Rackin' Tapes Raund Bonnie Wee Scatland

More freshness free for you lovely people! Straight off the Scottish streets Tapedekrok Records have thrown together a wonderful mixtape consisting of many different artists, including one of my personal Irish favs, Jee4ce. Make sure you check this out.


TAPEDEKROK VOL 1

http://www.sendspace.com/file/s8b6ck

Here's the tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Jee4ce - ASBO Music
3. Warrior Bone - Reachin'
4. ZX81's - Don't be a Hero
5. Matchstick Men ft Lingo Scott - The Show
6. Fresh MC - Flip the Skool
7. OJ Loops - Leprechaun Slumper
8. 1SP - Questions
9. 10dB - For the Kids
10. Jee4ce - Deadwax (Freestyle)
11. Whys - Word Song
12. Reachout - Seeds in the Wind
13. Fresh Famous - Casio Beat (Demo Version)
14. B-Burg - Mountain Bike Charlie
15. Jay Large - How's things change
16. Phoenix Down - Little Fingers
17. Whys - Rise Crispy's
18. Icarus - Stream
19. 10dB - Happy Feat
20. Whys & B-Burg - Super Nasty Ghetto Stank Ass Funk
21. Ambiant De Zaaj - Pulso Alterio
22. Outro


If you like it, drop them a comment @

www.myspace.com/tapedekrokrecords

It also has a Bit Torrent link so seed the album for as long as possible.

For further music by the big man himself Jee4ce, check

http://bebo.com/jee4cemusic





Jee4ce - ASBO Music



OJ Loops - Leprechaun Slumper


Ya Dun Already Know Tha Score!

Blacky

Everybody Loves Gingers!

Freebies! Oh yes this is totally free (apart from whatever you pay to be connected to the internet) and it is very good! I'm not talking about me coming to your house and hitting pots and pans with a wooden spoon, which is good and free...
I'm referring to Redzer, one of, if not Dublin's best emcee. His album has officially sold out across Ireland, so the kind chappy has uploaded his album on the internet for anyone who missed it.

http://www.redzer.ie/Dublife.zip

If you right click the above link and Save As, you will have his album, don't forget to unzip it after it's downloaded.

The quality might surprise people who haven't paid that much attention to Irish artists before, hopefully it will be eye opening and enlightening. UP DE IRISH HIP HOP YEO!

Don't forget to pay your respects to the big man either, catch him at -
http://REDZER-DUBLIFE.bebo.com
http://www.myspace.com/redzerdublife

Easy!

Blacksterz

Grime Music Tree Bearing Sweet Fruit

It's still winter but the Grime Music Tree is bearing some sweet fruit already! Griminal, P Money and Double S all putting their current mixtapes up for free download! Holy smokes I hope you guys have your rapidshare premium accounts at the ready, this type of kindess doesn't come along too often, and after hearing Frisco nearly burst into Skengman Mode on Rinse last Tuesday I think you should be grateful of these free downloads haha. So what are you waiting for.... get to it!

Double S - Busy With The Bars
Griminal - I Got Bars Volume 1
P Money - Coins To Notes Volume 1

Enjoy it!

Blacksterz

The Rubber'Ban' Man

Hip hop seems to be in the hour of crisis at the moment with just about everyone taking shots at it. All I am hearing these days is “hip hop is dead” or “it promotes violence” you know the usual hassle we true hip hop heads get harassed with everyday! It’s all been said before, but a new topic has been raised recently thanks to Mr. Russell Simmons, Founder of Def Jam Records.

Simmons is calling for three words, ‘ho’, ‘bitch’ and ‘nigger’ to be censored in rap music. Quite clearly this triggered a huge debate in terms of censorship within rap music and was eye opening of a sort. People stand clearly divided on this one, some choosing to side with the censoring, others saying there should be no such thing in hip hop.

To understand it fully we have to look back and see that hip hop started as an outlet for the oppressed to be themselves, it was not constrained in any way. People had the freedom to express their creativity and say what they liked. Hip hop was a unique way for people to express themselves without having to feel the pressures of society weighing down upon them. Groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A used this to great effect and turned hip hop into a political tool for the downtrodden. No longer were they a class without a voice, hip hop’s solidarity allowed a true message to shine through, without the government or media being able to manipulate it. Yet the founder of the same record label that was putting out Public Enemy’s uplifting songs has turned his back on hip hop and announced he wants a ban on specific words.

Now to be fair with Russell, hip hop has changed dramatically since the early 90’s as we can all very much testify, but do we really need to compromise our art form because of the change? I believe there is an argument for the banning of these words. Taking into consideration the social pressures to conform and how commercial hip hop has become in recent years I still think Russell has a point. The words he is looking to abolish do not show any creativity, actually they are the opposite. They are degrading, derogative and offensive. The N-word in particular disrespects the pain and suffering black people across the world suffered at the hands of racist oppressors. Surely this word is unnecessary in music and common everyday use, unless it is to strictly make a point, and with it being used frequently it gives us all the more reason to ban it. I find it shows an ignorance in the artist who says the N-word in every other sentence, and I cringe whenever I hear so called ‘conscious’ emcees such as Talib Kweli and Common using it frequently. It only serves as a purpose of keeping a divide between races, with all due respect, I do think we should acknowledge the pain and suffering black people all over the world went through, but the N-word does not honour their ancestors in any way.

Although there is the argument that by censoring these words in rap that we are in some way damaging the integrity of hip hop. Words such as ‘ho’ and ‘bitch’ are used daily on the streets and the “street life” is being portrayed through the music. These words are a reality and what we see in the music is reality. If we limit emcees to what they can rap about then we are missing an important element within hip hop, the right to express yourself fully.

I think KRS-One summed it up beautifully on the Classic joint recently when he said,
“Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, MC’s spit rhymes to uplift they people Peace, love, unity, and Havin’ fun, these are the lyrics of KRS One”.

When it comes down to it, we have had an influx of ‘hip pop’ rappers that are only out to make money and are talking about the same damn clichéd hip hop subjects of guns, money, women without displaying any love for the art. They are the ones that should be banned and abolished from hip hop, they are not needed and every unnecessary expletive they use tarnishes the art form. Whether you agree with the ban on the words or not is up to you, but when it comes down to it, even without a ban, should we be including these words in hip hop?

Blacksterz

Puretone Interview

So tell us a bit about yourself Puretone, how did you get your name and what are you bringing to the Irish Hip Hop scene?

Pure Tone, half man half amazing, yes that's me now commonly known as the TONE...
All me self hyped, self proclaimed KING, and yet everybody is mad as if they can do it better than the TONE! Been in this hip hop thing for 6 years, promoting,managing, emceeing, just being a hustler but for the last two years doing it for a deeper purpose and that's for GOD! At the moment I am a man that has a lot to say having seen a lot of stuff happening both locally and internationally. I mean by now you should know who makes the most noise in Dublin or rather in the hip hop scene in Ireland. The Tone is the answer for those who are ignorant enough not to know. Born in Zimbabwe, moved here in 2000 and immediately joined irishhiphop.com and then stepped into the live side of it in 2001.

As a hip hop promoter I have worked with so many artists that everybody recognizes in Ireland as the for front of Irish hip hop. Every recognised name in Irish hip hop has had a Pure Tone experience at some stage in their rap career. Some have had beef, some have been partners in various projects, some I have promoted, some have been good friends and most just want to be the Tone. It's all to me what I mean as a Pure Tone experience. You ain't even Irish hip hop if you don't have one. I mean who else can put 38 live acts on one stage in hip hop these days!

You've just released your first single 'Set It Off' from your debut album 'Prescribe Me A Soul'. Are you pleased with the current reaction to it?


Nah in a way I am pleased but just like before, radio are acting like they don't know what time it is. But nevertheless we press on. It's like Corey Red says to get airtime these days you have to pay for your promo or lay with homo. I ain't gonna lay with them radio presenters, it ain't happening. I mean the streets will still know about me 'cause I am the hype just like every emcee now knows the single is out. The reaction I wanted is simple... Get people in the notion that 'The Tone' is back and he is setting it off! I am heading for that MOBO that's what I want from the album. Not to be signed or sell millions I mean I know it will sell cause the industry's rejection of me has lead me to this direction of being self sufficient and provide for myself what I need. I also wanted the people to know I can deliver and I did a track for the commercial fan not the fan who views me as a deeper entity to this rap thing.

Oh you are probably wondering why the MOBO? 'Cause no Irish act has won one. I want to be the first and I truly believe even the British need Puretomania and so does America and the rest of the world.

And the beat is by Proud another person living in Dublin with big ambitions for Irish Hip Hop. Did you reach out to him for the beat or did he contact you?

Proud is like the little talented brother I never had. He will probably surpass everything I do 'cause he is learning from the best around him. Our families have history and so from the day go, I was working with him. Even when he was with Unique I was there. But kid is growing and kid is blazing he got that HYPE factor! So anyway I demanded a beat and he demanded recognition for it so we both reached out!


He's definitely making moves within the scene, is there anyone else out there at the moment that you rate?

Leiko and Maverick Sabre. These two are major talented but I think as it stands for
me my top ten is

1.PURE TONE!
2. No one
3. No one

4. No one
5. No one.....I am your top five and should be
6. Assassin
7. Leiko
8. Maverick Sabre
9. Nucentz/RIRA
10. Skangstar Family/ Millionaire Boys

It's just the way it is and all the rest are just wannabes.


With a number of live events under your belt and a few radio appearances, which do you get more of a thrill from, performing live or being in the studio?

I rock pavements, stages, I'd rock your world at a live gig. I love being live. Before studios that's what people had. That's the hype of an icon!


I think it's fair to say you are the most 'dissed' man in the history of Irish hip hop with 11 recorded disses if I'm correct? Why do you think you are such a target to other emcee's?

I have like 20 something disses, I think for some it's a phase. They love and hate The Tone! I don't reply I don't find any of them worthy yet. I think I am target 'cause I have that recognition thing going on in their minds, diss The Tone and you defo a IHH head or something. Then some try to test me, for instance Collie and Kounter Kulture are the only two that stand out as good tests. I didn't fail I shrugged them off as I should maintain my Puretology status of not responding to haters!


You certainly haven't been a stranger to run ins in the past, with history concerning KRS-One, Collie and The D.H.T. boys. How are things looking at the moment with you and beefs?

I know it seems I like these beefs but I really don't ask for it. I have one popping up every week. Enemies are a thing of beauty 'cause they make you watch your steps and never slip. At the moment the O'Liffey Family are my number one priority 'cause of what they represent and believe me I ain't hating I am taking them out! Nah just messing, but Flip and (Rob) Kelly should stop masturbating to my business. I know they find pleasure in talking bad about me but they should sip that chill juice and stay away from me. It's all love dudes, we will do some tracks together


Also is there any truth behind the rumours you and Rob Kelly had a slight altercation in the studios during the recording of 'Set It Off'?

Not really, they are two separate incidents and don't confuse this with the Wes D'Arcy one. Yeah we use the same studios and the same producer once in awhile, that's how he heard "Set It Off" before everyone else, typical fan. But we had an altercation in Stephens Green. Quite interesting and nah I didn't punk out but I could feel his fear. I am guarded by angels man you can't do nothing to me. This was a week before "Set It Off" and I told him I would mention him in the track which I did. I also told him I won't stop using him as an example of what is all wrong with
Irish hip hop and he just walked out and left. I mean what would he do? I am The TONE. You can't beef with TONE! It's all love I tell you. Give it few months you will hear I recorded a track with the guy and see pictures of the 30 year old wannabe rapper coming to church with me. That big kid needs to re check his music and confide with me. I'll teach him how to stunt!


It's interesting that you named your debut album, 'Prescribe Me A Soul', as you've reached out to prominent figures in the gospel rap scene in Ireland. What would you say has attracted you to that smaller niche of hip hop?


Was born doing Gospel but unlike many dudes these days who are talented I still keep my faith intact with he who was gracious enough to give me second chance when I didn't deserve it. Oh yeah and KRS One's fakeness made me realise hip hop as just empty and shallow with a lot of misguided values. In a way through it I am also finding myself and that's the effect I want Puretomanina to have to those who are touched by it hence the album title. There is a lot of pain, emptiness and a lot of questions but the album provides for a prescription. Look around you, it's like a sickness. Did you read about Saigon this week or the the RZA and Wu-Tang stuff and you telling me hip hop has a soul? Wait till the album drops.


Is there any confirmation on collaborations for 'Prescribe Me A Soul' as I know you've been in talks with Akala and the MOBO nominee Jahaziel?

Give it time, it's never confirmed until the tracks are done and on the track list of the album. I also have a lot of options. Some major heavy weights. I am the hottest hip hop act from Ireland.



Anything else you want to tell your fans?

My fans are my team. My success is their success so I say let's set it off. PURETOMANIA is the movement they are all waiting for LETS SET IT OFF!


THE TONE IS OUT!

Interview By Blacksterz


The latest single from Puretone is released and able for purchase at http://www.indiestore.com/thetone

Tinchy Stryder – Star In The Hood Album Review

If grime was the football world, Tinchy Stryder would be like your Theo Walcott’s, early Michael Owens and Wayne Rooneys of today. He has had hype surrounding him from a very early age. You could be misled into thinking he is a lot older than he is, because as Tinchy’s debut album drops, he has just turned 20. This is the same emcee that has featured on Wiley’s debut album back in 2003, has put out numerous mixtapes with and without his crew, Ruff Sqwad, had the successful street single ‘Underground’ and apparently was on the scene from 12 years old. Here was me thinking child slavery had been abolished.

Luckily torn ligaments or pulled hamstrings don’t usually ruin an emcee’s career before it has begun, so Tinchy might just make the Grime FC starting eleven. To be honest I wasn’t sure how this album would turn out. The first two singles, ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Something About Your Smile’ were nice, but didn’t offer the same rawness as we were used to from the young Bow E3 native. So it was to my delight when Dirty Danger’s sick production kicked in on the first track with the album titled name. The beat sounds like someone has sprinkled griminess on Kanye West’s ‘Takeover’ instrumental. Tinchy comes on spitting like he is ready for war, thankfully no emcees get dissed. We don’t need no Jay-Z/Nas career ending songs at the moment thank you very much.

It has to be said Tinchy has been blessed with some great beats for this album. Da’Vinche, Dirty Danger, Rapid have managed to keep the sound grimey but still accessible to hip hop fans. Surprising to some but the best track on the album was produced by a girl, GoldieLocks. I’ve been saying it for ages that GoldieLocks is one of the hottest producers out there at the moment. Hopefully this track will give her the recognition she deserves. Her verse was razor sharp and can’t fail to make you smile,
“Now I’m a bit electro, and he’s more grime, So I guess you think I love fashion and he commits crime,”
Did I mention she is a bit of a looker also?

Tinchy shows his versatility on Star In The Hood spitting over 4x4 beats with a straight club type song ‘Dance 4 Now’ and then switching it up on ‘Workin’ For Days’ where he gets introspective and speaks on black slavery and how he isn’t “feeling the minimum wage”. It’s a shame ‘Not Like Me’ comes across like a weaker version of ‘Underground’ with a strange telephone noise constantly buzzing. And on ‘Catch ‘Em’ it needs to be listened to if only for the worse gun noise ever used on a song, check from 2:10 onwards.

Guest appearances have been kept to a minimum with Ruff Sqwad featuring on only one track and it works well that way. Tinchy has made a grime album that sounds like a grime album, something which still seems hard for most artists to pull off. So a big ‘brap brap’ should be issued to the Stryder for not only pulling off a great sounding album, but for also having the balls to go through with it. I can’t wait to hear him next time round, that’s as long as he doesn’t break his leg and get stretchered off the pitch.

Blacksterz

Lethal Bizzle – Back To Bizznizz Album Review

Second time round for Lethal Biz and music fans will pleased to know there is no Pow, Piddy Pow, PPP Pow or Pow Part 14 Riddim on the tracklisting. Surely a positive sign, and it’s a whole 1 minute 15 seconds before the first Pow is uttered! Shock Shock Horror Pow! Ok I’ll try and cut down on the Pow’s for the rest of the review, it’s already beginning to look like Lethal’s lyrics book. Now with all jokes aside, Lethal is very easy to criticise for the simplicity of some of tracks. But no-one can deny he does have the ‘hit making’ ability that he’s always raving about. And as expected the beats on Back To Bizznizz are energetic and if played in a pensioners home is likely to get them bouncing off the walls like a 5 year old after downing pints of Sunny Delight, Red Bull and Coke mixed into one sugary cocktail. Lethal sticks to what he is good at on tracks like ‘Mr’ and ‘Bizzle Bizzle’ with the bouncy beats and infectious chorus hooks. And when Lethal gets it right it is the ultimate turn up and blow out your speakers music.

Lethal’s repetition of choruses and similar sounding beats over the years have led to criticism, that is why it’s refreshing to hear him experimenting on Back To Bizznizz. These experiments take Bizzle into the ‘grindie’ territory, a phrase coined by Statik after he put out a mixtape earlier in the year consisting of Indie mixed with Grime. Lethal must have picked up on this because he employed Statik to produce ‘Boy’ which features rocker heavyweights, Babyshambles on the chorus. With Kate Nash singing on ‘Look What You Have Done’ and the big guitar sample on ‘Babylon’s Burning The Ghetto’ Lethal is clearly expanding his horizons and creating a larger fan base for grime. I’m not sure if the whole ‘Grindie’ term will take off, or if it is actually even any good. Parts of Statik’s mixtape worked and parts didn’t. ‘Look What You Have Done’ was the only track out of the three guitar based beats that I actually liked, it’s certainly still in the experimental stages, but has the potential to grow.

If anyone can remember back to Against All Odds, it had moments that were probably best left forgotten about. Where Lethal tried his best to be introspective and it just came across as him talking shit over a lame beat. This time round Lethal seems to have learnt from his mistakes. Well sort of, you see on ‘My Eyes’ he slows things down to try and express himself. Truthfully Lethal isn’t really a lyricist so he would be better just sticking to the hype tunes, but ‘My Eyes’ is an improvement on Against All Odds’ attempts. ‘Reflecting’ is more what I would like to hear from him if he is going to spit about his emotions. The sweet chorus and relaxed feel to the beat makes you, in Lethal’s words, “feel good”. Lethal also paints a vivid picture of his car stealing days on ‘Police On My Back’. The use of the sample sounds great and he rides the beat with ease. And obviously no outing of Bizzle’s would be right if there wasn’t that one big grimey tune. So Lethal brings in help in the form of Ghetto on ‘You’ll Get Wrapped’. Ghetto must be the most sought after emcee at the moment, he’s on fire and his verse on this track is proof.

Lethal puts in quite a performance on Back To Bizznizz and shows he is slightly more versatile as an emcee than on previous outings. Although he still doesn’t wow you with any of his lyrics, which could put some people off, he does make great hype music. With the indie market also being targeted on this album I can only see bigger and better things for the Bizzle. As long as he doesn’t get carried away and become out of his depth in a crossover between music scenes then I think Bizzle could prosper between now and his next album. Who knows we might even hear a few more rehashes of Pow between now and then!

Blacksterz

Durrty Goodz – Axiom E.P. Review

With Axiom being Durrty’s second official solo release to date you could easily be mistaken for thinking he is new to the scene. This could in some ways favour Durrty better, as the surprise factor might shock you at the expertise on this CD. But this talent hasn’t come easy because his career has been anything but smooth up until now. With being caught up in murder trials to seeing his half brother, Crazy Titch, getting locked up, his name is quite justifiable as his ‘Goodz’ have most certainly gotten dirty along the way.

With all that behind him, he is back with a bang and fully focused on Axiom. Warning emcees and telling the listeners to ‘Keep Up’ over a bouncy DVA beat. On ‘Weather Man’ Durrty proves why he is one of the UK’s hottest talents, his skills range beyond simply spitting straight 16’s. The catchy choruses he displays on ‘Weather Man’ and ‘Boi Dem’ are very important, especially in the grime scene if you want to progress.

It’s Durrty’s versatility that makes him so likeable and versatility is the exact word to sum up Axiom. It is a completely refreshing listen. With only 9 tracks and hidden song at the end, Durrty doesn’t leave any room for filler, not that there is any. It’s concepts on tracks like ‘License To Skill’ and ‘Switching Songs Pt II’ that make Durrty Goodz so exciting. On ‘Switching Songs Pt II’ he flips flows over the best garage and grime instrumentals with ease and he turns the grime scene into a James Bond film on ‘License To Skill’. With Bigz being a Blofeld character trying to assassinate Durrty as he rushes to his studio where his Pro Tools are at. Can I just say to any film directors out there, I would pay good money to see this story turned into a film! Step On It!

This is definitely up there for one of the best releases of 2007. Emcees better take note of this E.P. as a guiding light when releasing material. (Yes You Wiley!) There isn’t a bad track on the CD except possibly for ‘The Youngers’ after a few listens because of the annoying high pitched voice. Other than that it truly sounds like Durrty has wanted to make each song chart single quality. He has set the standards very high for himself on Axiom, and if he can better it on his official album release we could very well be witnessing the new King of Grime. Until then I’m going to turn up the bass on my speakers and blast ‘Boi Dem’ out of them until either his next release or my system blows up.

Blacksterz

Ghetto – Ghetto Gospel Album Review

Peace be with you, you may now be seated. Ghetto is back with his own gospel but is it worth spreading the ‘good word’ about? Truth be told I think I got caught up in all the hype surrounding this release. Dizzee was dropping Maths & English and Wiley was releasing Playtime’s Over just as Ghetto leaked the album cover images.

So it was a good time for grime and the internet was going slightly nuts for the new Ghetts release. With a heavy single on rotation and a top class remix of it, I can’t deny my excitement levels were slightly higher than usual. Things were looking up because the tracklist didn’t appear to show Elton John or crappy US Hip Hop on the bill. Sadly my prayers (Gospel – Prayers? Anyone?) weren’t answered fully.

No the Rocket Man isn’t singing on the choruses of any songs, but the latter problem sadly pops its ugly head up. It is a criticism Ghetto is constantly faced with and I like to stay away from the hip hop/grime debate usually, but it cannot go unnoticed on Ghetto Gospel. Tracks like ‘Closed Thing To Heaven’ and ‘Hero’ have the most cringe worthy samples possible. Bonnie Tyler’s ‘I Need A Hero’ doesn’t need any more publicity thank you very much. On a realer note, it is lazy from a producer’s point of view because it’s too easy to loop well known songs and sell it based on the popularity of the original. Kudos lost for that basic mistake when it comes to creativity.

That said, Ghetto Gospel does start well with Ghetto’s hard hitting intro blazing straight into ‘Top 3 Selected’. The best song on the album by a stinking hot mile. Things take a turn for the worse after ‘Menace’ the dramatic Scorcher beat, because we have the annoying ‘Hero’ followed by ‘Drivers Anthem’ which sounds similar to ‘Menace’ without any of the extravagance Scorch captured the first time round.

I quite like ‘Touch The Sky’ Ghetto rides the beat well, even if it does have a Pinky & Perky cameo in it. Mr Slash produces the next two tracks ‘C P B’ and ‘Just Don’t Know’ which are great beats allowing Ghetto to express himself clearly.

I can understand Ghetto’s appeal to grime fans because he is more lyrical than most, but after a whole CD of him I feel drained. His voice can be wearing and isn’t as easily accessible as other artists for example Kano. Ghetto Gospel feels like it is stuck between being a Dipset CD and a grime mixtape, so the outcome isn’t very fulfilling as it lacks any real direction. With a new mixtape said to be in the works and Rapid behind the production desk on every track you would be as well to wait until then. I expect to see you next Sunday, peace be with you.

Blacksterz

Kano – London Town Album Review

London Town is the latest offering from the East London native Kane “Kano” Robinson. It’s now his second time round and he boasts a bigger and better line up with the likes of Vybz Kartel, Damon Albarn, Kate Nash, oh yeah and a guy called Craig David, all making appearances. Proclaiming on the album titled track,
“It sounds like grime but a little slower, I’m a lot wiser a little older.”
It’s a very true statement. Kano now has the experience of putting out his debut album and two successful mixtapes. But has he put what he has learnt into practice is the probing question. And the answer is partly yes and partly no.
What I notice firstly with London Town is that the production levels have been upped and it sounds a much more polished and rounded album. Totalling in at 53 minutes with 11 tracks and a hidden one, it seems Kano is purposely trying to avoid having any filler. This is all good as long as he delivers on every track, but that potentially is where the problems lie depending on the listener’s expectations.
On my first listen through I wasn’t overly impressed with London Town, it felt underwhelming. I desperately wanted a new ‘Reload It’ track with Kano spitting fire at a fast pace, possibly another anthem like ‘Typical Me’ and an emotionally charged rival to ‘Nite Nite’. These expectations weren’t met. But what we have to realise is Kano isn’t trying to churn out another carbon copy of ‘Home Sweet Home’ even if it was a great. He is progressing as an artist and trying to further himself musically and commercially. So even though Kano isn’t emceeing over the rawest grime beats on London Town, that doesn’t necessarily make for a bad album. And it’s to my great pleasure that London Town grows on me the more I listen to it.
‘Fightin’ the Nation’ is a definite stand out track, with Kano spitting some of his deepest bars over an acoustic guitar. And it’s whenever the drums kick in you realise just how good a song it is. It needs to be heard to be appreciated fully. Blur and Gorillaz front man Damon Albarn makes his presence felt with the production on ‘Feel Free’ and proves he can produce hip hop/grime just as well as he can when it comes to Britpop. Kano displays his great talent of capturing the listener’s attention on ‘Over And Over’ with his laid back flow. He breezes over the brooding beat and turns it into one of the album’s highlights.
Sadly I think ‘Bad Boy’ belongs on one of his mixtapes rather than London Town. The southern hip hop drums sound played out enough for American artists never mind UK emcees rapping over them. ‘Me & My Microphone’ sounds messy. Kano tries his best and his lyrics only just save it, because Kate Nash doesn’t fit as nicely as she should. And that is about the height of my complaints with London Town.
It is actually a very solid album and finishing it on the beautiful ‘This Is My Life’ followed by the hidden ‘Grime Emcee’ is a superb way to end. Don’t expect a testosterone filled grime album from Kano, but then he didn’t really do that first time round either on Home Sweet Home. If you approach London Town with an open mind and appreciate it for what it is musically rather than grime content then I think you’ll enjoy it. This is not to be slept on, and with its release being the same day as Kanye West & 50 Cent it might just get overlooked by people, but it undoubtedly stands alongside them if not above them. Now hurry along to your local record store kiddies!

Blacksterz