Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | The Elementz

Intro

Early Doors:
1979-1985

False Dawn:
1985-1990

Underground Years:
1990-1995

The Renaissance:
1995- 2000

The Future:
2000 & Beyond

Artists &
Discographies

The Elements - Profile / Demo Review [Dealmaker Records]

The Elementz are breakbeat duo Zoutr and Liati hailing from the City of Nottingham, UK. Together they have been producing and performing in various forms across the UK for the last 9 years. The jump off came in the form of Nottingham's heaving Jungle Circuit during the mid 90's where the two broke loose DJing and then Promoting various shows around the city. Having rinsed out on the 1's and 2's for many years, they started taking the production more seriously and went back to their roots. "We moved forward a lot when we started buying up Funk records", says Liati, "I started off just getting the ones I knew to skeez the breaks - the ones I heard on all the classic hip hop beats like Scorpio, Apache and Amen. We started discovered bands like The New Jersey Kings and The Meters, that's when I really caught a vibe, I got to feeling the soul of the whole album, not just skipping through to find a hook or a break to put through the sampler".

Growing up on music ranging from Soul, Punk and Hip Hop, to Reggae, Version and Electro helped The Elementz find their sound. Film scores were also a big influence to both. "I love those early soundtracks when analogue synths were just breaking thru, you could get that funky sound with Quincy Jones and Roy Budd doing scores on Oceans Eleven and Get Carter - they still sound heavy today and The Elementz sound carries that stamp too. We try to build real emotion with our music. Were creating a soundtrack for life here."

With three Elementz beats already on general release in 2003 (See the discography below) and their debut album in production, 2004 is looking busy. And that's before you consider their live venture. Zoutr expands, "The Elementz Live consists of five REAL musicians. We got live bass, drums, guitar and percussion. The show is backed up by the MCs and vocalists featuring on our studio beats, plus the DJs / Samplers - Its heavy, we turn up the funk when it goes live"

Across the three tracks I have heard this production outfit certainly have the skills to pay the bills. Their sound could probably fit well with others from Nottingham, but at the same time they have taken their disparate influences and made something of their own from it. The beats are gritty, feature well chosen samples, but also fit in synths in a complementary way rather than layering new sounds over old and leaving a stark contrast which frequently doesn't sound right. The guys, no doubt, have not only a compositional ear, but have their noggin's on when it comes to choosing lyricists to work with and right on their doorstep they have some of the UK's finest to hook up with. Voyage for example features Scor Zay Zee who is undeniably dope. He's got a fantastic flow that communicates so much. Deep observational lyrics referencing tramps on the street, the dole queue and other realities and dropped in this track which asks questions about worldwide poverty and contrasts that with the power and wealth held by certain sections of society. Voyage is one of those tracks that just gives you a great feeling despite the darkness of much of the lyrics. The opening is a light electronic twinkle and flute which builds until the live and sloppy drums kick in. The main sample chosen is exquisite, sounding strangely familiar this snippet of horns from a possible movie theme evokes moodiness and tempts your head to swing.

Love This Shiz is a much more up-tempo affair and features Shiva and Soldier of the Robbin Hoodz Project. Yet more new heads, but again like Scor Zay Zee are the cream of Notts. Shiva & Soldier drop lyrics related to what they love, but also drift away from this topic. I guess they are expressing some of what is wrong with the scene, but despite these things that they mention they still love this shit, like all of us. The MCs have a tight flow which is impressive considering the speed they are spitting at. The backing is a frantic synth loop over a basic beat. The track has a bit of a older feeling and is very sparse. The production sounds a bit thin, but the hypeness of the MCs keep the track moving along at breakneck speed.

Cumulus is a extra funky instrumental which is driven by the the powerful bass riff. Heavy drums compliment the bass and are augmented by some tasty breaks as well. Spacey synths drop in and out and throughout as with any track designed as an instrumental the arrangement changes up every few bars. Elements are added one by one - stabs, vibraphone and the off Ahh to form a busy track with a lot going on. Never the less it all hangs together and the high sweeps only add to the effect. This is some big beat sound and gives the Elementz the room to display their multitude of skills. A heavy rocker.

The Elementz have their LP ready so look out for a lot of noise from these guys in the near future.

Discography:
2003
• The Elementz Featuring Scorzayzee of Out Da Ville - Voyage (Dealmaker Records)
• The Elementz Featuring Shiva and Soldier - Love This Shiz (Dealmaker Records)
• The Elementz - Cumulus (Dealmaker Records)

The press says:
"The Elementz are rapidly turning into Nottingham's version of Aim, with a growing live band. 'Love this Shiz' shows Shiva and Soldier competing with Busta Rhymes in terms of lyrics spat per second. Cold. The Elementz contribution to the UK Duty Paid album titled 'Voyage' is even better. It features Scorzayzee, Nottingham's self confessed "Ian Botham of rap" flowing to a Crouching Tiger-style beat."
Words: Roger Mean of www.leftlion.co.uk

"Nottingham is a city which boasts some of the UKs finest Hip Hop talent available, and trust me, The Elementz are flying the flag - HIGH !" Love This Shiz features Shiva and Soldier from Robbin Hoods Project locking it down over one serious headbanger of a beat. Love This Shiz is a club banger for shizzle - 5/5."
Words: Willie James - Hip Hop and Soul Reviews (FreshNottz Magazine)

Watch out for The Elementz next release on Dealmaker Records dropping in April:
• The Elementz Featuring Karizma of Out Da Ville - A. Jupiter AA. XXX

Coming soon: The Elementz first Studio LP Featuring: Proffesor Major, Empress, Scorzayzee, Karizma, Percy Dread and some very special guests.

Contact The Elementz direct at: ELEMENTZUNIVERSE@hotmail.com