As one of the most engaging voices to have emerged from the UK rap scene in recent years, London-based lyricist Wordsmith has built a strong reputation for himself thanks to numerous ear-grabbing performances on mix-CDs, other artist’s material and, of course, his own handful of releases.
It’s always been apparent that Words is an individual with a lot on his mind, and on this follow-up to 2005’s “The Roadman Showcase” he leaves no stone unturned, presenting himself as a truly well-rounded artist with more to offer than the average homegrown rap fare.
The opening “They Don’t Seem To Care” is an effective example of Wordsmith’s lyrical approach – gruffly-delivered street knowledge that’s rough-around-the edges but ultimately grounded in a desire to live in a better world (hence the album’s title). Accompanied by Beat Butcha’s wailing soul samples and rolling drums, the big-voiced emcee laments lost youth, pondering the future of those “young minds saddled with adult responsibilities” in today’s society. The breezy “Beautiful Life” finds Words assuring listeners there’s always hope amidst the darkness, encouraging everyone caught up in the day-to-day rat race to pause every once in awhile and appreciate their blessings, however small they might seem.
“Common Cause” features Wordsmith trading high-voltage barbs with the talented Genesis Elijah over typically dramatic Show-N-Prove production, while Foreign Beggars appear on the ominous “Sticks & Stones”, helping to paint a shadowy picture of an inner-city London populated by shady individuals with shattered tower-block dreams.
Yet for all of the sincere words of wisdom and skilful boasts of microphone superiority scattered throughout “In Pursuit Of Harmony”, the real sonic body-blow comes towards the end of the album in the form of the autobiographical “Son”. With producer Chemo supplying a gripping, emotionally-charged backdrop, Wordsmith delivers a gritty, heart-wrenching performance detailing his efforts to find his young child lost in the British social care system (“If you and me is tainted, I‘ll make it perfectly clear, I’ve been searching since your birth and throughout your nursery years”). Tragic but brilliantly executed, this track will haunt you long after it’s faded out on your iPod headphones.
Unapologetically raw and honest, Wordsmith’s bold brand of street-hop might not be for everyone, but those who choose to listen will definitely be rewarded.
A relatively new name to the UK rap community, you’d never guess that Portuguese-born emcee Jyager (pronounced Yay-ger) started his musical journey as part of London’s garage scene, as his vivid, often intricate verses sound far better suited to the head-nodding beats provided here by the talented Cee-Why than you could imagine they would when paired with club-driven garage vibes.
One of the biggest criticisms levelled at UK Hip-Hop in recent years has been that a seemingly never-ending influx of wannabe rappers has brought with it increased levels of mediocrity and a distinct lack of quality control, with it being almost impossible to distinguish one so-called artist from the next. Thankfully, Jyager appears to have taken the time to hone his craft before dropping official product and is obviously determined to walk his own path rather than be satisfied with following the pack. With that in mind, when you stop to consider that his label mates include equally unique lyricists such as Sir Smurf Lil’ and Kashmere, it’s easy to see why YNR decided to back this particular young emcee.
Opening with “Eyes Open”, a bold statement of intent littered with socio-political observations, “Encrypted Scriptures” is a thoroughly entertaining effort that easily mixes street swagger with moments of genuine personal reflection, such as the soul-searching “Somewhere In Paradise” which finds Jyager determined to maintain a level head amidst inner-city turmoil.
The raw, sparse drums of “The Session” take a verbal pummelling from both Jyager and the ever-reliable Jehst, who has his “dick jammed in the MPC…literally banging them beats”, whilst the mellow “Didn’t Wanna Have To Do It” tackles relationship dramas with disarming honesty. Only on “Never Gonna Bring Me Down” does Jyager lose his momentum, with the track’s annoying sing-song hook and sluggish production adding little to the overall project.
However, that small criticism aside, “Encrypted Scriptures” is an impressive debut – the garage scene’s loss is definitely homegrown Hip-Hop’s gain.
The UK’s DJ Woody unveils his latest mix “Happy Feet” – a dancefloor-friendly mash-up of everyone from Mantronix and Caveman to Tone Loc and the Jackson Five – check it out here.
