Anathema
(Higher Heights)
Delivering one of the best hip hop albums of 2008 so far, London’s Triple Darkness definitely appear to be on a mission to prove that the art of true lyricism is alive and well amongst the next generation of MCs to rep for the UK rap scene.
A captivating combination of grimy street imagery, social commentary and intriguing historical references, the unapologetically hardcore Anathema finds Cyrus Malachi, Nasheron and Melanin9 filtering their experiences of inner-city British life through a shared intelligence and wisdom that reaches far beyond the trio’s relatively youthful years. The haunting ‘Machinations’ strikes a powerful balance between the harsh realities of urban strife and the crew’s quest for knowledge and spiritual salvation, whilst ‘Snakes & Ladders’ features an incredible performance from Cyrus, with the gruff microphone fiend touching on subjects as diverse as slavery, Egyptology and gun crime. Elsewhere, the pounding ‘Pyramid Wars’ and ‘Thousand Cut Torture’ each display the group’s superior battle rap abilities, taunting the competition with seemingly effortless examples of vivid and intricate wordplay.
Backed by the atmospheric production of Chemo and Beat Butcha (all heavy drums, sweeping strings and nimble piano loops), Triple Darkness have succeeded in creating a poignant soundtrack for today’s troubled times. The revolution starts here.
What’s Happening
(BBE)
Hailing from the warm climes of Australia, producer Katalyst is sure to leave a mark on the global hip hop community with his first long-player for the ever-reliable BBE imprint. Already a respected name in his homeland, Katalyst presents a vibrant mixture of sounds and styles here, genre-hopping with ease whilst remaining rooted in the dusty-fingered tradition of boom-bap beats.
London-based vocalist Steve Spacek compliments the smouldering soul vibes of ‘How Bout Us’, whilst New York underground mainstay J-Live critiques the current state of hip hop culture on ‘Killing Ya Self’, his intelligent observations given extra weight thanks to a pounding guitar break. Elsewhere, Katalyst deftly turns his production talents to reggae (‘Over & Over’) and bluesy funk (‘Say What You Feel’). The Aussie music man also manages to address socio-political themes on instrumental cuts such as the claustrophobic ‘What Are We Talking About?’ thanks to some well-placed dialogue samples.
Although guests such as Brit rapper Yungun deliver impressive performances, it’s Katalyst who remains the star of What’s Happening, his work behind the boards providing this invigorating album with its dynamic sonic backbone.
True Hollywood Squares
(Big Dada)
Over the years, the likes of Ice-T, The Pharcyde and Snoop have all given us their own personal vision of Los Angeles. However, while those artists may have defined the sun-splashed LA of the 80s and 90s, in 2008 South Central’s Kail is here to offer a new millennium perspective on the City Of Angels.
A satirical take on the cult American television show of its title, True Hollywood Squares mercilessly plays with Tinseltown’s extremes, from the star-studded glitz of Beverly Hills to the gritty streets of Compton. Kail demonstrates an impressive writing ability throughout, utilising a collection of colourful characters to tell a variety of stories ranging from the funny and the tragic to the downright strange. ‘The Realest Motherfuckin’ Tour Guide Ever’ finds the sharp lyricist introducing wide-eyed visitors to corrupt police, drive-by shootings and wannabe porn stars over creeping, drum-heavy production. ‘Peter Pennyworth’ highlights the plight of a former casting agent now homeless on the same streets he once cruised in flashy cars, while ‘Cola (The Rhapsody)’ offers tongue-in-cheek ghetto romance over an old-school soul groove.
Combining street swagger, observational humour and a leftfield worldview, Kail provides a unique way of looking at LA’s many vices and sins. True Hollywood Squares isn’t an album that will sit comfortably with everyone, but it is an entertaining break from the norm.
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