Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | Wordsmith - More Than Words Can Say EP [Son]

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Wordsmith - More Than Words Can Say EP [Son]

Trackist:
1. More Than Words Can Say ft. Genesis & Sabrina Roberts
2. Sun God
3. The Hardship
4. Nomad
5. Fed Up
6. Grand Deception ft. Sabrina Roberts

Wordsmith is a young Brixton based bard and for his first release he has hooked up with Son records and has released what should be recognised as a complete effort which follows the blueprint for dopeness to the t. The plaudits heaped on this so far have been deep praise for this MC, but much of this is actually deserved. It is a full six vocal tracks qualifying this for EP status, and each one of them a peach in their own way.

The first track is banging mid-tempo Hip Hop with some of the best sampling of classical strings I have heard employed. Whereas I felt that Feapit's Lord Blatchford really didn't work with its medieval feel, here the samples are flipped and make for a banger for Wordsmith to get busy over. Beat Butcher is the man behind the boards and he shows he know how to flip a switch or two. The title track More Than Words Can Say also features Genesis, Wordsmith's part time rhyming partner who is just as capable of smashing a few bars and this is where the two MCs set out what they perceive as going on in 2004 and explain their love for the Hip Hop art form.

Shrill pianos and rolling percussion rills play over a steady kick and rimshot snare and rumbling bassline for Sun God, the Jazz influenced production coming curtesy of the main producer for this EP Tom Caruana. He's prolific, but he can always create something that works for his chosen MC. Wordsmith demonstrates his widespread knowledge through the variety of references in his raps, he is always rooted in reality and can open an eye or two.

Wordsmith delivers a documentary on wax, his lyrics for The Hardship are well constructed and paint a very grimey tale of poverty and reality. Crackheads, robberies, trigger happy youts, the darkness of the slums, rising death tolls, low life expectancy, slave wages, stepping in trepidation, desperation, drugs, lack of education, a fucked up generation, it is al in here in vivid technicolour. Wordsmith asks you to raise your hand if you know about the Hardship. This is darkness on wax, the haunting strings adding to the emotional feel of the track. Don't mess with this unless you really what to know what has turned Wordsmith's head.

On Nomad Wordsmith tracks back to his earlier days and tells us how he got to where he is now, a bit of a life story if you like. Wordsmith is trying to elevate and keeps well focussed. This is a touch more clubby than the other tracks being a bit more up tempo. The repetitive guitar sample and rocking hi hats move the track along and Wordsmith demonstrates that he is capable of speeding up and flowing some different patterns whilst spitting his slang.

Fed Up is a short 90 second burst of an angry rant. This is Wordsmith's own form of catharsis as he gets everything off his chest. It is the prelude to someone going mad and possibly going on a rampage. If you meet this character make sure you are nice to him, otherwise you'll be getting mirked.

Grand Deception throws everything into the mix for the final track. Sweet strings and flute, deep live electric bass as well as the soulful vocals of Sabrina Roberts in the chorus. It is another emotional track and after listening to this EP you should have an insight into Wordsmith's mind, his politics and his outlook on life. In this track he paints a picture of how life can offer so much, but it is a deception which leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

There is a full crew feel about this release with not only Beat Bucher and Tom Caruana on the beats, Genesis and Sabrina Roberts with the extra vocal help, but there is also musicians Joe Sam on Bass, Alex Banks on guitar and Flute from Dutch Courage to add to the line up as well as having all the cuts provided by stalwart DJ LG. Having been blown away by this release I am definitely hanging out for the forthcoming Boiler Room Collective LP, the Boiler Room being Tom Caruana's recording place, with Grand Deception to be included in that releases track list.

Wordsmith has rightly been noticed by many and everything looks good for him. Wordsmith has delivered six heavyweght tracks and is probably as tight a debut as you are likey to hearThis release got to number two in the HHC UK chart and has been getting bit of play from peoples across London, to put it simply it is another heavy release from Son and you had better go check it OK?

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