The Four Owls – Silent Flight
Brand new from The Four Owls lifted from their new album ‘Natural Order’. Set to be released in February 2015
Brand new from The Four Owls lifted from their new album ‘Natural Order’. Set to be released in February 2015
Choosing a 1,500 capacity venue for your 4th birthday celebration is a ballsy move by anyone’s standards, unless maybe you’re Blu Ivy or North West but the prospect seems less daunting when you’re talking about the UK Hip Hop powerhouse label that is High Focus Records.
Taking a step up from their humble roots in Brixton Jamm and Plan B, the pioneering UK Hip Hop collective will be celebrating their fourth year of existence at the famous Brixton Electric in the same unapologetically confident and truly original manner that we have come to expect from High Focus Records.
Boasting a roster full of fresh and innovative trail blazers like Edward Scissortongue and the labels founder Fliptrix, High Focus Records have stood out as a beacon of hope in what has previously considered by some as a dying scene, and they have definitely been putting in the hard graft over the past four years with over 20 albums released to date.
Exemplifying the slightly more artistically surreal side of High Focus on Friday night, will be Fliptrix joined by fellow label mates Verb T, BVA MC and Leaf Dog who form the avant-garde concept group, The Four Owls. It’s with this diverse and progressive range of acts that High Focus nights always promise satisfy the full spectrum of UK Hip Hop fans and they continually prove they are definitely not lacking style or substance.
Not only will the full line-up of High Focus artists be representing on the night but they will also be sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in UK Hip Hop including the legendary Klashnekoff, Jehst and the man credited with reviving afro futurism, Onoe Caponoe.
This will be a truly fitting way to celebrate four years of consistently high quality output from the label that continues to push the boundaries and challenge preconceived notions of the UK Hip Hop scene.
Full line-up and event details:
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS:
Friday 16th May – 10pm-6am
Tickets:
Super Early Birds/Early Birds/1st Release – SOLD OUT!
£12 2nd Release
M.O.T.D
Available from:
Ticket Arena | Resident Advisor | Fatsoma
18+ I.D Required // R.O.A.R
For the first time ever, ladies and gentlemen, listening to the radio has made me happy. It’s a rare occasion for me to listen to the radio anyway (I avoid it like lepers avoid loofahs), but was confined in a room with a radio blaring through some tinny speakers, and had to endure the likes of Rita Ora and One Direction before I nearly smashed my head into sweet unconsciousness on the wall. It was around this point that Tinchy Strider came on, talking about being ‘Misunderstood’. He could have been a gangster, or a footballer, but instead he decided to go into music he says. If only he’d known how much pain his music would cause, he might have chosen a more humane profession, like being a gangster, instead. As I looked for some way of turning the volume to lower than mute, I remember thinking how much I would love to reply to him, to tell him he’s strayed so far from the hip-hop mentality that it’s almost satire. But that’s when I realised that I don’t need to reply, because Jack Jetson’s new LP The Adventures of Johnny Strange was dropping soon, and it was the best reply for Tinchy, or any other gangster rapper. There are still some shining stars in the cesspool of UK hip-hop, and Jack Jetson will be shining even brighter after the world meets Johnny Strange.
The Adventures of Johnny Strange is Jack Jetson’s first full-length LP, but anyone who knows his 2012 High five EP will know he’s been making his voice heard for some time now. The entire album is wrapped up with stellar production values; each beat reverberates around your ears to superbly re-imagined soul classics. The Nottingham native drills the whole sound home with his rhythmic flow and a bag full of similes, metaphors and analogies so spot on you’ll find yourself using them yourself without realising. The Adventures of Johnny Strange strikes such a chord because it can inhale soul, jazz and funk and give Jetson the freedom to spout his linguistic gems over liquid slick beats.
The album is littered with references to Jetson’s alter ego ‘Johnny Strange’ and the idea of being two different people surfaces regularly. Perhaps this is why he can play the ordinary guy you can relate to and then talk about taping a girl’s face to a fridge and breaking her ribs. His verbal imagery isn’t usually violent, but the switch between easy-going every-guy and troubled youth is something everyone can associate with. You might remember Jack Jetson’s appearance on Brothers of The Stone track ‘Cartoon Days’. Since then it seems Jack’s been honing his own sound, with the help of top emcee and producer Leaf Dog. For those familiar with Leaf Dog’s output, Jetson’s debut LP will leave you feeling comfortably at home, bringing the same combination of quality beats and razor sharp humour.
In Johnny Strange, Jetson ponders the trivial side of life with a wry sense of humour and a flow that pulls you in like a fast river-current. His skill in forming images in your head is reminiscent of Sage Francis or Braintax, drawing you into a hazy world of vapourizers, micro-dots and caustic honesty. Second track Blue Moon is the strongest platform for Jetson to shout his message, giving him a nostalgic soul sample cut up to let him spit astronomical boasts that could all prove true yet (although maybe not the one about him walking across the moon). The put-downs come thick and fast, as do the boasts, but they’re delivered so tongue in cheek it’s hard to take them too seriously.
Guest spots like Leaf Dog on ‘Stay True’ give you a good indication to new listeners of what’s to come. On ‘Vitamins’, featuring LD’s Brothers of the Stone companion BVA, Jetson puts Britain’s drug culture to rights, injecting a bit of sense into modern day prohibition and proving behind all his boasts is an intelligent emcee.
Of course the album’s not perfect, but it’s close enough to guarantee it will find its way into several of your most played lists. Some stellar wordplay, combined with a unique vocal dexterity makes ‘The Adventures of Johnny Strange’ one of the best hip-hop albums this year. If only someone could tell Tinchy Strider, I might be able to enjoy the radio again.
The Adventures of Johnny Strange is out on RLD records on 12 May and is available to pre-order now: CD | Digital
Review by Ben Graham.
Independent UKHH labels are the foundations of any underground rap artist. They provide a camp to hone lyrical ingenuity and engineer desired output in an environment which shuns the materialistic ideals of the mainstream industry. We formidably support the underground and every independent UKHH label because they continuously produce music that thrives without commercialised mass-exposure or finance, in our opinion providing the finest testament to the extensive home-grown talent that exists nationwide. For these reasons we thought it best to do our part and promote to you, the loyal supporters, insights into the incredible material set to emerge from a selection of the livest UKHH collectives. Lee Scott, Ill Move Sporadic, BVA MC, Smellington Piff, Upfront MC, DJ Steady Rock, Jehst, Telemachus, Apex Zero, and Strange Neighbour spoke with us exclusively to confirm what their labels have in store for the people in 2014.
It’s true that some of the most innovative and chilling UKHH is currently emerging from the #blahcult. Now with over half a decade’s worth of releases accumulated between the Antiheroes, Children Of The Damned, Herrotiks, Reklews and the maverick duo Dirty Dockerz amongst others, they’ve ceaselessly provided some of the most diverse and cynical UKHH material to date. Be prepared for coldly demented bars, unnerving beats and a reconstruction of each knowledgeable fibre your brain possesses. This is a cult that was grimly endeavoured to fulfil the vices of only the illest hip-hop heads. The reputations of the founding artists are constantly being exceeded from an experience which is shed upon the ever-expansive cult following that is Blah Records. Blah veteran and lyrical maestro Lee Scott reveals exciting material to arise in 2014:
I’ve got some more solo projects finished, in the bag, complete, which included my album ‘Tin Foil Fronts’ and a Dirty Dike produced project. We got the COTD/Baxter collaborative project which won’t actually be released directly on Blah but it still has that Blah cult vibe. We got Black Josh – #Ratchet, and if you don’t know about Josh, get to! He’s going to smash it. We got Tommy Dockerz solo joint and I got some mad shit I have been making with Shakes, Grubb and Reklews. There’ll be loads of SH!T’s in there… And that’s just the shit I can remember. Look out for some Sly Moon shit too!
Gaining wide affiliation across the UKHH scene since their 2009 emergence, Starch Records have provided the unmatched gritty lyricism of South-England based artists Theme, Joey Menza, Oliver Sudden, Gus Pony and Omar Teknology. It’s no secret that the majority of output from Starch Records has been produced by the capable hands of the Ill Move Sporatic duo, recently celebrated for their widely-acclaimed November release Drug Corpse. What do we know about these guys? That they bring unique and excellent beats with bars set to intrigue and cause wonder. We can only anticipate more of the same to transpire throughout 2014, and Ill Move Sporadic can confirm our expectations:
In 2014 Starch Records will be releasing more ruff, raw, realness – taking shit to the next level/stage. We gonna surprise you again! Bringing through some new heads and resurrecting some old ones. Keeping it DRING as usual. Keeping it underdog. Hopefully we gonna shake people up a bit! In 2014 Starch Records will not be listening to the hype!
Born in 2010 with an intention to offer the latest generation of producers and rap artists a platform for development, the intertwined chemistry and creativity within the ranks of the High Focus crew quickly achieved them an undisputable reputation for producing some of the rawest hip-hop talents around. Their success is underlined by their extensive support from the hip-hop community, simultaneously breeding a new generation of hip-hop followers along the way. They define conceptual originality, constantly producing exciting new material ranging from the brilliant soul singing of Brighton’s Rag N Bone Man to the indoctrinating perceptions spoken by veterans Leaf Dog, Verb T and Dirty Dike to name just some of the admirable High Focus inner circle. Long anticipated material from founding artist and lyrical ace Fliptrix as well as more music from Ed Scissiortongue are, as BVA MC explains, just some of the reasons why this label must be watched by your third eye at all times:
High Focus has Cracker Jon release coming up, a new Fliptrix album and Edward Scissortongue has the Theremin EP coming as well. I’m sure there’ll be a Dirty Dike release at some point too. Me and Leaf Dog also have a label called RLD records where we have a Smellington Piff album (Notice of Eviction) and a Jack Jetson album (The Adventures of Jonny Strange) set for 2014.
As BVA previously explained, RLD was spawned between himself and Leaf Dog. Formed to release their EP’s and records under The Three Amigos before their signing to High Focus, they have since signed up Jack Jetson and Index alongside NLP which consists of Smellington Piff, O.A.B, Sean Peng and Leaf Dogs brother Eric Da Red. In 2013 NLP stormed stages across the country in the build up and following their début album Free Your Mind, which was praised positively across the majority of UK hip-hop forums. This is a label that’s only bettering itself lyrically and instrumentally. Inextricably linked with some of the biggest rollers in UKHH we can’t wait for them to top last yeats output as the year progresses. Smellington Piff revealed to us just some of what to expect from RLD in 2014
Real Life Dramas got a lot in store for 2014! We got Jack Jetsons album entitled Adventures of Johnny Strange, then we’ve got my album entitled Notice of Eviction both reaching the final stages… it’s all go!! Beyond that I’m working on an album with Life MC, watch out for the Brainstorm!! I’ve finished an album with Cracker Jon (Bad Characters) and NLP are looking to start a new album. Plus we’ve got Index lining up numerous projects. We’re Gonna Fuck Shit Up! 2014 is the year. Now’s the time.
Anyone Bristol based will be fully aware of the antics noisily generated from the Split Prophets crew: Upfront, Res, Datkid, Bil Next , Paro, Blank, Badhabitz, Flying Monk and 2 Tungs. Guaranteed a place on most UK Hip-Hop stages over the Summer of 2013, the Winter hibernation accumulated the cannabis-advocate Weedmason’s EP for release on New Years Day. It perfectly exemplifies their growing standard of lyrical material following the successes of their releases Scribbled Thoughts, Southbound & Down EP and Drugs, Booze and Dental Issues. As a collective they can cause riots at any venue, where they collaborate unique vocal flows with thumping hooks into an unmissable act. Upfront MC gave us a few tasty exclusives from the Split Prophets cauldron to be dished out across 2014:
It’s gonna be a busy year from the camp with a few different projects dropping, including my solo album “Upfront & Personal”, Flying Monk has a solo EP coming, me and him have a joint EP as well as Res who is also working on something. Me and Datkid are part way through an album and work with Life MC is almost ready too! As I say, there is a lot popping so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for this years releases. Split prophets business!
When you think of the Boom Bap Professionals you recollect a catalogue of instrumentals & beats accumulated by DJ Steady Rock. You think of The Boom Bap Bootleg Volumes, bars from Efecks, Luca Brazi, Oliver Sudden and Lego, who has recently been celebrated for his The Rendition release. Self-promoted as an “independent record label specialising in authentic hip hop” their output has rapidly increased over the past 5 years, proudly establishing their stance in the scene for providing the revival of boom-bap styled production. With an archive of over 130 tracks uploaded onto their YouTube channel available to visit, you’ll be impressed with originality in abundance and classic UKHH material. It’s needless to say that any self-dubbed hip-hop head should aware of their movements. DJ Steady Rock reveals what the Boom Bap Professionals have in store for 2014
Well, this year is BBP’s 10th anniversary so there’s plenty in store! There’s a bunch of new artists I’m working with and projects dropping throughout the year. Look out for Steady & Oliver Sudden – The Shutdown Remixes, Oliver Sudden – Phenomenaler Steaz, Steady & Oliver Sudden – Preservatives and new singles from Lego and Benny Diction as well as a new B.O.M.B project. Besides from that there is a bunch of stuff that’s still being developed: including some new artists and some new projects to watch for!
As time has passed, the UKHH spotlight has at times shifted towards the newest-generation of virally successive labels, thus consequentially providing less publicity to the labels that paved the road they tread upon. This of course is not true for YNR Productions. Since 1999 they have housed rap artists considered by many leading MC’s as inspirations, including veterans Jehst and Verb T (now signed to High Focus) to name just two. They’ve proved able to adapt to the hip-hop climate year after year, annually releasing highly anticipated material and persistantly proving that they still hold rank up amongst the livest UKHH collectives to date. With the ever growing repertoires of releases from YNR artists Jyagar, Kashmere, Kingdom Of Fear, Sir Smirff Lil and Telemachus tirelessly providing those classic UKHH sounds, you can never be fully in-the-know if you aren’t hyped for the material YNR is sitting on. Chief director of the label Jehst exclusively
YNR Productions will be kicking off 2014 with the debut mixtape from South London’s Confucius MC – ‘The Highest Order’ – entirely produced by Parisian beat-smith Keor Meteor. Keep your eyes peeled for the sophomore LP from Telemachus, which we can promise will take listeners even further afield as he expands his musical palette in terms of rhythm, tempo and texture. Plus new music from Jehst, the return of Kyza, and a whole lot more!
Telemachus on behalf of himself and his label Kilamanjaro added:
I’m gonna be focusing on releasing stuff as Telemachus. I’ve also nearly wrapped up an album with Jam Baxter. An EP with Onoe Caponoe is in the works and My Mate Does Beats will receive a 3rd installment. Also I will be the first UK HIPHOP MASSIVE CELEB to swim across the English Channel. Just need to buy the goose fat.
Lyrical themes of militancy, revolution, racism, social inequalities, war crimes and exposing the worlds evils in typically neo-hardcore fashion is commonplace. The West London-based label which will be the ultimate legacy of the sworn-brotherhood between OMeza Omniscient and Apex Zero has effectively struck chords and stirred awareness into hip-hop heads nationwide. Their priorities are primed in revolutionizing the nation in opposition to a global dictatorship that will inflict poverty and murder for it’s own self benefit as well voicing many of the internal issues in the West-London slums. Set to awaken audiences with an “intention to bring about a new mentally aware consciousness that’s being prohibited in ways unimaginable” Apex Zero explains why Design Chaos isn’t to be slept on in 2014:
Following the release and success of Apex Zero’s debut solo album ‘Reality Provoking Liberation’ in December 2013, the next release from Design Chaos will be a new mixtape from OMeza Omniscient called “Administer of the Hip-Hop Assembly”, with Apex Zero as the guest speaker. This is scheduled for release early in 2014. There is also more solo work from both OMeza Omniscient and Apex Zero in the pipeline, as well as the work being put into a new First and Last project.
The musical expertise that Big Dada has produced for the scene since 1997 is far-reaching and influential to many. Backing grime pioneer Wiley as well as Jammer from the Boy Better Know crew, it’s safe to say that this label isn’t strictly hip-hop. Big Dada is in fact a word-renowned label that focuses on artists with exceptional lyrical potential. The talent within the label is undoubtedly among the most commercially successful throughout the scene, with dozens of artists including (but not limited to) Congo Natty, Tre Mission, Roots Manuva, Speech Develle and Run The Jewels producing music on a mad scale to keep the masses entertained. Still maintaining much of the underground elements that the scene proudly represents, Big Dada is an unquestionably diverse representative for the quality of hip-hop the UK has got to offer.
Big Dada’s unique and it will always be unique because it’s a philosophy, y’know? It’s unique because it dares to stick its neck out and it’s run by people who genuinely love music. It’s not just a record label, it’s a movement. – Roots Manuva
Proudly representing socialist moralities Revorg Records hones the lyrical repertoires of reputed artists Strange Neighbour, Jack Diggs and Big Toast who form collectively as TPS. Also showcasing clever and intricate wordplay from Triple Darkness member Pheonix Da IceFire and Kill The Noize collaborator Efeks their reputation grows for regularly producing on point and dynamic lyrical material, providing distinctly underground sounds and spawning an impressive web of affiliations across the UKHH scene. Strange Neighbour reveals new material set to emerge from the Revorg camp across 2014:
TPS crew’s new album Hot Water Music will emerge taking its name from Charles Bukow-ski’s collection of short stories. With guest contributions from Dark Circle, Efeks, Phoenix Da Icefire, Res, Datkid & Geebag, Hot Water Music will give you an insight into the lives of crew members, Jack Diggs, The Strange Neighbour & Big Toast. Efeks and Jack Diggs have the E&J EP coming with Jack Diggs on the beats and Efeks on the rhymes sharing part vocals with Jack Diggs. This EP Has features from TPS and Verb T and possibly two other legendary special guests but this will all be revealed in due time. There’s Strange Neighbours & Phoenix Da Icefires Cinematic LP which will be bringing in heavy weight feature artists from Iron Braydz, Genesis Elijah, Fliptrix, Verb T, Cappo, TPS, Copywrite, Skriblah Dangogh, Manage and Kevlaar 7… And the list goes on! Not one to be missed!! Big Toast has his Save The Pub EP, where Toast tells his tales of growing through the pub years! This is still in the making and sounding dangerous! We also we have a LTD vinyl release by Hermit The Slob 8 track white label! Hermit pulled together TPS, Geebag, Oliver Sudden, Al Mighty, Dowta, Joey Menza, Cracker Jon, Datkid and more… This project is so early in the making it could possibly be a 2015 release!
Words By Ethan Everton
BVA is a a well loved staple within the confines of the UK scene, having toured as part of the supergroup the Four Owls and released a vibrant back catalogue with both 3 Amigos and Brothers of the Stone. But now the time has come for him to fly solo. We speak to him in the days leading up to release of his debut album Be Very Aware, to chat about life on the road, fan experiences and working with some of the biggest names in American hip hop.
UKHH: Easy BVA! How are things going?
BVA: Good, chillin.
Sweet. Lets get right in here, what was it like growing up in the West Country? Was there much of a hip hop scene prior to yourself and Leaf becoming well known?
Theres not much to do in the West Country so we all kinda grew up quick doing the wrong things for better or worse [laughs]. The hip hop scene’s always been going on in the West because of Bristol and places like that basically where there has always been a scene. Leaf and I are new school to some heads trust me.
Is making music your full time job? If so when did you decide to take the plunge to become a self employed artist?
I’ve been self employed for about a year and a half now or something but I’m still not living off of it. Just anything else I do is part time if you get me and I get a bit of help from the government etc. I haven’t had a 40 hour week job for that long (some peoples idea of works different out here). But before that I worked full time being a chef or various other jobs for 10 years straight on minimum wage most the time… I really appreciate being able to focus on the music and Leaf and I’s label, RLD Records, even if I am a bit broker… I get by and the rent gets paid just about!
Going back to last summer High Focus dominated the festival circuit, but which was your favourite on road memory?
Probably walking out on the main stage at outlook and seeing people there to watch us! Its all very well playing the main stage but if theres no one there to watch you you’d feel like a bit of a lemon eh. There was a fuck load of people, even though I’d fucked my voice from our boat party and going in far too hard the day/night before it was still an epic moment.
My opinions on the UK scene as a whole are that its sick right now and always has been, it might not be pretty or glamorous, it rises and sinks from time to time but it ain’t going nowhere!
Your new record, Be Very Aware, is dropping in a matter of days, how would you describe the albums overall sound?
Boom bap bangers.
How does the new album differ from the music made with 3 Amigos/Brothers of the Stone?
It’s different because its more personal lyric wise and is obviously just my creation this time rather than 2/3 peoples so its bound to come out differently but with the same traits as I made it with the same producers etc.
Is it still a strange feeling getting noticed after your shows? Do you ever get mobbed on your way out from a venue?
I mean yeah sometimes we kinda get mobbed in some places and not others. Its always a bit strange and mind blowing of course, but you gotta love it and i’m definitely more used to it now I think. Its just weird getting spotted up when your doing normal things to be honest… People will kinda give you a weird look or double check you then sometimes come over and shit. They can be slightly awkward situations with little stare offs and shit, but its always cool.
Did you ever anticipate just how popular Nature’s Greatest Mystery would be?
Nah, not for shit! It all happened real quickly to be honest making it and that. Then even when we were making videos we still had our doubts about rocking the masks and shit. It wasn’t until it dropped that I stood back really… It still amazes me now how well it did, I’m just real happy to have been a part of it standardly.
Of course, its a brilliant album! In terms of working with other artists outside of the UK scene has the Owls album opened doors for you guys?
Its opened doors on the gig circuit for sure. We still get bookings in UK and Europe now off the back of it and obviously bringing out material as solo artists also helps. All the American collaborations we have acquired (like [Vinnie] Paz and KRS) have been through Leaf Dog or Illinformed’s beat trades and hustles so far – the internet opened that door for sure.
You’ve been around for a while, what are your opinions of the UK scene as a whole? What does it take for a newcomer to make it big over here?
[Laughs] I wouldn’t know. Hard work and perseverance I guess, I’ll let you know when I’m making it big! My opinions on the UK scene as a whole are that its sick right now and always has been, it might not be pretty or glamorous, it rises and sinks from time to time but it ain’t going nowhere! It’s always full of life you just have to look a bit harder sometimes.
We asked the general public to shoot you some random questions, here are some of them:
If you had to live your life as any TV/film character who would it be and why?
Cheech, he’s always got weed and is always getting pussy somehow.
What is your favourite type of butter?
That proper shit from the butchers that looks like a cow shat it out and they lopped it off with a machete, wrapped it up in cling film and stuck a price on it… Or am i meant to say cannabutter?
Finally, any shout outs you’d like to give?
Shout out all my High Focus gang, all the RLD soldiers and anyone doing this shit rain or shine. Watch out for ‘Jack Jetson – The Adventures of Jonny Strange’ and ‘Smellington Piff – Notice of Eviction’ both coming real soon on Leaf and I’s label RLD Records
Interview by Louise Brisbane
Click here to read the ‘Be Very Aware’ Review
The phrase long-awaited is one I tend to leave out of writing, but in BVA’s case his newest album, Be Very Aware, is exactly that. High Focus supporters have seen BVA flourish in a variety of musical environments, from 3 Amigos to the Four Owls – the community respects his work inside of a group. When it comes to pushing the all important solo album to the ravenous masses how will he fare?
The bulk of the release has been sculpted by brothers, Illinformed and Leaf Dog – two names synonymous with BVA’s previous collaborations. A clever choice. Having worked together extensively in the past there is no anticipating whether or not the production will merge seamlessly together with the pace of the album. Alongside the family orientated production, Be Very Aware is awash with many brilliant collaborations. From track six onwards the solo artistry stops and opens the door to a host of highly esteemed names.
Bursting open the seal is a short introductory sample taken a nature programme – not entirely arbitrary as BVA’s alias comes from a childhood nickname, Beaver. A quick, endearing start to set the tone for the rest of the body of work. The intro blends into the first two Leaf productions, Rain or Shine and Hype Man. Each track has a distinct presence of honesty. These aren’t just random barrings that fit coherently together, its a testament to BVA’s realistic approach to music.
From the solo segment of the album comes the flood of collaborations. Where’s the Mic at features an authentic verse from Leaf Dog who effortlessly sets the track alight with another solid beat from his collection. The High Focus family rolls through to show their support on It’s A Mad World. Sammy B-Side exhibits flawless dexterity on the cuts, with Fliptrix and Cracker Jon adding extra panache to a track about the immorality of both men and women. Back in your earhole is Dick Trusay, aka Verb Twazzer, aka Verb T, who lends himself to Gifted. Perhaps not one of the most powerful couplings on the album but still an enjoyably smooth ride nonetheless.
The vibe of the Be Very Aware peaks at its fullest when BVA is joined by Dike and Kashmere on track 10, Weapon of Choice. Verses about smoking weed come correct, in my opinion, when they move away from the well documented pleasures of bunning up. BVA however speaks truthfully and articulately about weed being both an inspiration and fixation in his life. Moving onto That Old Bitch, featuring the insanely pleasurable vocals of Rag N Bone Man, shining as one of the best tracks on the album.
Music about psychedelic experiences will always be a favourite of mine. The imagery conjured up in Crazy Trips is wildly vivid and hugely reminiscent to what dabbling in mind altering hallucinogens feels like. Sammy B-Side rejoins BVA for the finale of Be Very Aware: Spit the Shoulder. Another track with a lucid, creative atmosphere bound together by intricate wordplay and more of that signature scratching style. A strong finish to a highly accomplished piece of music.
As track 17 comes to a end, its clear to see that BVA has dedicated a tireless amount of time in making the album as down to earth and honest as possible. None of the tracks strike me as being there for no reason. The release is meticulously crafted, with each collaboration and solo effort earning their place as some of the finest work in BVA’s sprawling back catalogue. A spiritual journey through the mind of one of the best rappers in the UK. Not to be missed.
‘Be Very Aware’ Is out now on High Focus, and available on CD, Limited edition Vinyl or Digital
Review by Louise Brisbane
Brand new video lifted off the forthcoming BVA solo album ‘Be Very Aware’ Dropping on High Focus 14/02/2014
Produced by Leaf Dog
New official video for Dirty Dike – Future Posse Cut One Thousand Feat. Stig Of The Dump, Dr Syntax, BVA, DatKid, Verb T,Jam Baxter, Edward Scissortongue, Mr. Key, Fliptrix & Leaf Dog. Produced by Pete Cannon.
From ‘Return of The Twat’
Meditation Featuring Vinnie Paz is the third single to be lifted of the Brothers Of The Stone album which is out now on High Focus Records
What is it about Britain? It seems like this country operates on two separate planes at all times. There’s the obscene wealth of the city bankers, the celebrities and media types. But then, on the other hand you can find deprivation, poverty and all the things wrapped up in that. Thankfully, for every banker there’s someone trying to make their own unique mark on the culture. Three guys that have been cutting their own path through the concrete jungle for years now are Leaf Dog, BVA, and Leaf Dog’s younger brother Illinformed representing the South-West with zeal. Brothers of the Stone sees them join forces to give Britain a real reason to smile (rather than the collective national cooing over a fucking Royal baby), as well as lay down some of the finest beats to this side of the pond.
Maybe it’s just that I’m a sucker for quality soul samples, but Brothers of the Stone deliver a fully formed piece of contemporary class. The High Focus crew have been carving out an admirable niche in UK Hip Hop for several years now, and their lyrical wizardry is rightly an established staple of the High Focus sound. But their skills in crafting an original melody from obscure soul and jazz songs. The clash of old and new fits their pioneering take on an old sound perfectly, much like Rodney P and the reggae-fueled socially conscious hip-hop of Riddim Killa and Live Up.
Fellow High Focus contemporary Fliptrix joins the three for the albums best sample track Burning My Soul, but by far Brothers of the Stone’s best choice of guest is New York legend KRS One. The cross Atlantic blend fits the up tempo feel good instrumental of Futures down to a tee, while the beat keeps it bouncing around your brain hours after it’s finished. Not that this is unique to Futures, the album is driven by the beats. Tunes like Take Control and Meditation, featuring Jedi Mind Tricks’ own Vinnie Paz, have such an impact because they’re layered over the slick beats of Illinformed.
Lyrically they are on top form, keeping their tongue firmly in cheek for the most part without ever straying too far into ‘preaching’ territory. That doesn’t mean they don’t have some real messages, but who wouldn’t enjoy a metaphor as ridiculous as “Life’s a pussy, you just eat it, then you beat it and you cheat it”.
You could argue that it’s merely an extension of Leaf Dog and BVA’s earlier trio Three Amigos with Naive, but this time around they have a sharper bite to match their already impressive bark. They make a great trio, and fucking great hip-hop. MC’s Leaf Dog and BVA bounce bars of razor sharp wit and typical British humour off Illinformed’s exceptional collection of beats. What really makes the record stand above others is it’s unrelenting pace, delivering line after line of concise lyrical dexterity. As always the two emcees exhale bars with an inimitable style, BVA delivers a razor sharp vitriolic performance, spitting disgust at everything from haters to pushers.
So Brothers of The Stone isn’t just your ordinary hip-hop, it’s bursting with an intelligence and passion that you sadly won’t find in many other recording studios in Britain. Leaf Dog, BVA and Illinformed might not have the verbal one-two of other trios but their vocabulary and wit more than compensate. There’ll always be some that say their lack of bravado hides a vulnerable side to the three-piece, but why does that have to be a bad thing? The boys have each cut their own path through the UK hip-hop scene and stand proud as a result. Not that it’s likely the three will pay much heed to the haters; in the words of Leaf Dog himself, “take your best shot, you won’t break me”.
‘Brothers of The Stone’ is out now on High Focus Records, and is available on CD, Limited Edition double Vinyl and digitally.
Check out the video to stellar track They See You, taken from the album.