Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | Tommy Evans - Northern Hospitality / >Arro

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Tommy Evans - Northern Hospitality / >Arro - Trials Of Life 2004 [www.realbeats.com]

Tracklist:
01 - Northern Hospitality - Dirty
02 - Trials Of Life 2004 - Dirty
03 - Northern Hospitality - Radio
04 - Trials Of Life 2004 - Radio*

* CD only Not on Vinyl.

My man Reality? seems to the main driving force for Hip Hop in the Hull area. There's one of these types in each regional area. People like CRF in Manchester and maybe Riz in Glasgow. These are the people with the drive and energy to create a scene. Without them there would be little to show for everyone's bedroom efforts. Undoubtedly they have skills and and I guess this is why they do so well. Reality? for example has his own website realbeats.com, runs his own nights and after putting out some mix and compilation CDs now is moving in wax. The first to drop is a nice slab. It is half one of these showcases for UK vocal talent over US instrumentals, but also features a nice re-working of a classic UK beat as well. On the opening of the one sided 12" we are hit by the sounds of Tommy Evans getting busy over Luda's Neptunes produced club-banger Southern Hospitality instrumental and the second track features >Arro of Leeds Miniature Heroes (now just shortened to Heroes I believe).

In Northern Hospitality Tommy Evans paints a picture of Yorkshire from a light-hearted yet authentic point of view… Smoothly doing it with Tetley and displaying that no nonsense John Smiths mind state… Giving us a peak at established northern past times, such as whippet racing, cricket, bingo, darts, and of course that old favourite; wife swapping. From girls who wear too little, to guys who drink too much, Tommy delivers us a truly Northernised version which certainly does the job of reminding me about home and is sure to tear up dance floors as the original did.

>Arro - Trials Of Life 2004

On a more contemplative tip the second track is supplied by >aRRO who takes us on a journey through the eyes of an up and coming emcee trying to make it in this game we call Hip Hop. This takes the form of a reworking of the UK classic Trials of Life originally by the Guttersnypes. Originally released in 1994 on Liberty Grooves this track has been one of my favourites from time and Reality? felt that this beat simply had to be heard by the new generation of UK Hip Hop Fans. Because the original was so firmly imprinted on my mind it is hard to accept a new version, but >Arro has done a good job and people that don't have the baggage I do should thoroughly appreciate this.

Both tracks are taken from the forth-coming www.realbeats.com mix CD – Reality? Presents - "The Remix is King" - which features more exclusives from the cream of Hip Hop in the UK and a few extra surprises and treats along the way.

Visit Reality? on the web :: http://www.realbeats.com