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BVA – ‘Lex Neville’ Review

May 27, 2021 by Ben Graham

The last 14 months have been weird. No pubs, no festivals, no shows. Thankfully, some things have stayed the same. British weather is still shit, Piers Morgan is still a blethering bellend, and BVA is still one of the sharpest emcees in the UK today.

For the uninitiated, the Beav established his impeccable credentials through his time in 3 Amigos, Brothers Of The Stone and Four Owls. But despite over a decade in the game, Lex Neville is only his second solo LP. Thankfully for BVA (and hip hop heads everywhere), it’s quality over quantity.

That’s not to say the album is low on tunes. The sixteen tracks zip by so quick you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a ten-track album. Lyrically, there’s more of what made Be Very Aware slap so hard; the righteous anger, puerile petulance and endlessly quotable slogans.

‘Bring It Back’ is BVA at his best, painting vivid visuals with a liquid-smooth flow. Like his fellow RLD labelmates, he excels in mixing late the effortless vibe of ‘90s East Coast classics with a quintessentially British no-fucks-given attitude.Likewise, ‘Role Model’ twists a nifty little bassline around a Greek lyre that works as surprisingly well as Ouzo and energy drink (trust me, try it).

BVA is joined by the cream of UK hip hop, with guest spots from Datkid, Smellington Piff and, of course, Leaf Dog. Jack Jetson and King Kashmere join BVA to usher in the apocalypse in ‘End of Days’, while fellow Owl Verb T graces the instant classic ‘Rolling’. That oh so sweet mix of chopped up soul, obscure jazz and classic ’90s boom bap is still present. But the beats (courtesy of Leaf and brother IllInformed) throw up a few surprises too. The G-funk inspired ‘Groundhog Day’, wouldn’t sound out of place on a GTA soundtrack. Jazz T also drops in to provide some sublime cuts on several tracks, most notably ‘Carving Tablets’.

But this is BVA’s moment. OK, so there’s not exactly anything new in Lex Neville. But the Beav is very much living by the “if it ain’t broke” mantra.

After a year and a half of bewildering change, it’s nice to know some things are exactly as good as you remember them.

Lex Neville drops 28th May 2021 on RLD Records.

The Four Owls – ‘Nocturnal Instinct’ Review

April 16, 2020 by Ben Graham

Let’s be honest, the world has taken a nosedive. We’ve swapped spring days outside for watching the first sunlight in six months spill onto empty streets. We’ve gone from absolute abundance to hoarding toilet paper. More importantly, we’ve gone from Friday night pub sessions to Friday night TV.

So when you hear The Four Owls are dropping a new album, it’s almost a shock. You remember there’s still worlds beyond our own horizon. There are still people doing things. More importantly, there are still people pushing out world-class hip hop. It might be the end of the world but most of us don’t even know what day of the week it is. Nocturnal Instinct is confirmation that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

With skills honed from almost ten years spitting bars together (and over a decade repping strong solo careers), The Owls have found that golden ground – garnering critical acclaim without burning the bridges that got them there. It’s not an understatement to say they’re probably the sharpest group in hip hop today.

Their status in the scene is backed up by the calibre of artist clamouring for a collab. Gang Starr legend DJ Premier returns to lay down some solid scratching on ‘100%’ while scene veteran Kool G Rap drops some obscenely smart bars on the aptly named ‘Pioneer’. Most fitting of all is Masta Killa’s guest spot on ‘Deadly Movements’. It makes sense; Wu-Tang planted so many of the seeds that would grow into The Owls hunting ground; from the simultaneous solo & group process to the classic soul samples now a bedrock of the Owls sound.

Opener ‘Sound the Alarm’ has some of the tightest bars of any UK release in the past decade. Whether it’s BVA’s talon grip on the bars, Verb’s hypnotic flow, Leaf’s razor-sharp staccato delivery or Fliptrix’s wise lyrical turns, the whole thing fits together like feathers on a wing. That’s not just down to delivery – it’s also thanks to the immaculate beats crafted by Leaf.

OK, so Nocturnal Instinct won’t make everything alright. It won’t save the NHS or keep your nan from being lonely (unless she’s bang into UK hip hop). But it feels like a moment of calm in the absolute shitstorm that is 2020. The world might have descended into a really dull version of 28 Days Later, but, Nocturnal Instinct proves some things will never change. Now wash your hands.

Nocturnal Instinct drops April 17th on High Focus Records.

The Four Owls – 100% ft DJ Premier

March 26, 2020 by Kieron Sullivan

YESSS! Marking the second collaboration between The Four Owls and the legendary DJ Premier, ‘100%’ is all the fire you would expect from the link up. Anticipation is high for the incoming Nocturnal Instinct LP, dropping April 17th.

The Four Owls – Sound The Alarm ft Smellington Piff

March 6, 2020 by Kieron Sullivan

The Four Owls swooping in with another banger featuring RLD Records’ Smellington Piff killing a feature spot. The highly anticipated Nocturnal Instinct is incoming soon!!

The Four Owls – Honour Codes

February 14, 2020 by dylan

The Four Owls mark their return with their first crew release since 2015, the Leaf Dog produced ‘Honour Codes’. Sick animated video courtesy of Gary Motion.

Brothers of the Stone – ‘Return To Stoney Island’ Review

December 4, 2018 by Rob O'condell

Return to Stoney Island dropped today, courtesy of British stalwarts Brothers Of the Stone and RLD records. The trio consists of label mates and two of The Four Owls; MC’s BVA and Leaf Dog. The production is carefully constructed throughout by the multi-faceted Illinformed. Bringing forward an effort that we have come to expect from the two early members of the High Focus family and one of the most prolific and influential UK Hip Hop producers at present. Soul and jazz samples mixed with British humour and lyrical dexterity, solidly place RTSI as one of the best releases in Britain of recent years.

Bubbling with British passion from start to finish., each song flows across your ears, slapping your eardrums and forcing your head to nod to the cold cuts and slick word play. The two MCs completely own their craft. ‘On a Roam’ is the perfect example of artists who completely understand who and what they are. Not to forget the sick accordion sample Illinformed throws in. Picking the best songs off an album this good is a hard task. Each track posses something individual to the record. If I were to pick my “favourite track” it would be a toss up between ‘Overseers’ or ‘Everything’. Or the title track or maybe ‘On a Roam’… This could clearly take a while!

The weight that British Hip Hop carries today is evident through the respect it gets from our friends over the Atlantic. Brothers of the Stone’s first album included guest appearances from Vinny Paz and the legendary KRS-One. Return from Stoney Island continues the cross-atlantic collabs. This time, including features from Young Zee, MOP and Wu Tang Clan‘s very own Inspectah Deck.

RTSI dishes out social commentary and quick puns with every track. The tongue in cheek lyrics cut over slick beats show that Return to Stoney Island is a true compliment to the British Hip Hop scene. Check it out here!

Brothers of the Stone – Overseers ft Inspectah Deck

November 14, 2018 by dylan

The first visual from the forthcoming Brothers of the Stone sophomore album Return to Stoney Island which drops on RLD Records on 04/12 ‘Overseers’ featuring Inspectah Deck, visual courtesy of Daly Operation.

Pre-order Return to Stoney Island here

10 UK US Collabs That Need To Be On Your Playlist (Part 1)

March 19, 2018 by dylan

It’s fair to say the US has always claimed the spotlight in terms of hip hop in the decades since it’s inception despite Britain repping since almost day. To celebrate the much deserved recognition that artists this side of the Atlantic still lack gloablly, we took a look at 10 times the yanks tipped their hat towards our shores. Results below in no particular order.

Copywrite ‘Royal Flush’ ft.Genesis Elijah, Mystro & Iron Braydz

First up is the straight up bar fest that is ‘Royal Flush’ by Copywrite featuring Mysdiggi FKA Mystro, Da Flyy Hooligan FKA Iron Braydz and Genesis Elijah (always known as Genesis Elijah but back when he had dreads). Don’t think this appears on any album, but was released in the run up to Copywrite’s 2012 album God Save the King… It’s worth noting we could’ve populated over half this list from the Proper English Version. Well worth checking out.

Dutch Mob ‘One Percent’ ft Edo G

Something more recent, lifted from last year’s dope Passport EP, Dutch Mob (Res One & Mista Fire) enlisted the services of Boston’s Ed O.G for ‘One Percent’, which takes aim at the political and corporate elite over an Illinformed beat.

Phoenix Da Icefire ‘Do My Ting’ ft Cormega

Someone I definitely feel deserves more shine Phoenix Da Icefire aka Solar Black has been consistently putting out dope music for years, whether by himself, with his brother or as part of the supercrew Triple Darkness, his energy shines through on everything he drops. Notable mention to ‘The Point of No Return’ lifted off The Quantam Leap feat Klash and Keith Murray, we opted to include ‘Do My Ting’ ft the mighty Cormega due to the dope visual shot by Global faction.

Brothers of the Stone ‘Meditation’ ft Vinnie Paz

Brothers of the Stone‘s debut self titled album was something special, and so was the list of features. Entirely produced by Illinformed, with bars by Leaf Dog and BVA, this still gets regular rotation. Fittingly for a Vinnie Paz feature, Illinformed seems to have taken a leaf out of the book of JMT on the instrumental for ‘Meditation’. Other features from across the pond on the LP come in the form of Beast1333, KRS One and Reef the Lost Cauze.

Iron Braydz ‘Firey Red’ ft Sean Price

Braydz & ‘The brokest rapper you know’, The late Sean P ‘Verbal Swardz’ had to make the list, anyone who knows Braydz/Da Flyy hooligan‘s music will know these two were tight, this is evident his tribute track ‘Sean Price’ lifted off S.C.U.M.

‘We dont need to have a manager to ask Ruck to make a track i came through played the song over the phone and he was feeling that… simple as‘ – Iron Braydz ft Sean Price ‘Hammer’

DJ Supreme ‘Arctic II’ ft Ice-T & The Icepick

Ice-T is no stranger to the UK hip hop scene, having signed Hijack to his label Rhyme Syndicate back in the late 80s, although this is his first collaboration with UK artists. Arctic II as the name suggests is the remix of DJ Supreme’s previously released track of the same name, also featuring The Icepick.

Stig of the Dump ‘Braindead’ ft R.A. The Rugged Man

It doesn’t get more gully than this. Stig of the Dump aka King Grizzly teams up with New York’s R.A The Rugged Man, pure filth. The result is the absolutely headbanging Braindead. Lifted from Stig’s ‘Moodswings’

Rhyme Asylum ‘Attitude Problem’ ft Copywrite

Lifted off the debut 2008 release ‘State of Lunacy’ Rhyme Asylum teamed up with Copywrite on this one ‘Attitude Problem’. Other notable mentions include Event Horizon ft. Crooked I & Open Mic Surgery ft DarkStar & Ill Bill ,both lifted off ‘Solitary Confinement’. Unfortunately the London group are no longer making music together, but definitely worth checking the couple of albums they did put out if you’ve not done so.

Lowkey ‘Voices of the Voiceless’ ft Immortal Technique

Probably the most obvious pairing on the list, two of the most of politically minded emcees from either side of the pond teamed up for Voices of the Voiceless. Lifted off Lowkey‘s The Soundtrack to the Struggle. A collaboration that had to happen.

Mark B & Blade ‘Split Personalities’ Ft Al Tariq

‘The Unknown’ – the seminal record by Blade and the Late Mark B is definitely high on our list of UK records that stood the test of time, and still gets regular rotation at the UKHH camp. The nostalgia inflicted by this album is up there with ‘Council Estate of Mind’. Split Personalities featuring Al’ Tariq, formerly of The Beatnuts had to make the list. Rest in Piece Mark B.

Obviously we’re aware there are a bunch more UK US collabs that could’ve made the cut, so we’ll be putting out a follow up list at some point. Hit us up with straight up fire that you think should make the second list.

The Four Owls – Natural Order Review

March 6, 2015 by Louise Brisbane

DJ Premier jumping on a track with the Four Owls was undoubtedly the news of the year in the hip hop community. As soon as the collaboration was revealed the already bubbling hype surrounding Natural Order exploded. An already talked about second album was fast becoming the pinnacle release of 2015. But more than having a celebrity producer lay down fire on a track there were many questions left unanswered: who else was on the producing duties? Would it top the masterpiece that preceded this? Most importantly how much has changed since 2011?

Natures Greatest Mystery was a debut worthy of all the critical acclaim it received. For its time in years there was an album that broke the mold and paved a way for a brand new style of artistry. It was groundbreaking way back then, but in 2015 the Owl’s second installment Natural Order is set to do so much more than just surprise fans of the genre.

One thing to take away from the album is the tremendous presence of unity engrained in the music. Initially the public unknowingly viewed the Owls as four artists who simply worked well together. This time, as Premo said it best, they’re here as four brothers. Which makes sense that Leaf took the reigns on the entirety of the album (bar Think Twice), exhibiting a vast display of technical genius throughout.

The Four Owls – Think Twice Prod. DJ Premier

Stepping aside from the production the album is teeming with expression and originality. Feels Great is an early example of this; ‘We show love to the fans who support us/as we travel across borders/it feels great when you recognize what’s important’. Verb T opens with a positive, humbling take on their international success, while remaining completely genuine about the love of their music and the people who support them.

Towards the end of the album another classic is born, Old Earth is a soulful throwback to the 70s blended with Leaf’s talent for unearthing gloriously obscure samples. The verses on Old Earth showcase a more pensive approach, displaying glimmers of sincerity about their own personal struggles. Old Earth possesses exactly what made Natures Greatest Mystery a hit; the Owl’s unrelenting openness and honesty in their music.

Notable collab effort undisputedly goes to Smellington Piff who steals the show with a heavy verse on Dawn of a New Day, followed closely by Jam Baxter who styles near flawlessly on a 90s rnb inspired beat. It would be interesting to see if the Owls had chosen artists away from the respective labels to work with but their choices hardly disappoint.

Natural Order shows a thought provoking shift in the way UK hip hop is being created, it also highlights the incredible rise of the High Focus artists in the past couple of years. It’s an album cushioned with unfaltering brilliance on the production, saturated with high quality, skillful lyricism. Not only living up to the imprint Natures Greatest Mystery left but soaring enormously above it.

Review by Louise Brisbane

Natural Order is out now on High Focus digitally, on CD and limited edition double vinyl.
Buy Think Twice Limited edition 12″ Vinyl

The Four Owls – Silent Flight

January 8, 2015 by dylan

Brand new from The Four Owls lifted from their new album ‘Natural Order’. Set to be released in February 2015

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