technical:
Spoon
2007 will herald the dawn of a new species within the UK hip hop scene. Composed of five members; four rappers and one producer, Rhyme Asylum have been gaining notoriety in the underground scene at an unprecedented rate over the last year or so.
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the UK hip hop scene is rife with politics, one-upmanship, and high levels of competition, not to mention a distinct lack of financial incentive
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Formed organically through meetings at the infamous Deal Real ciphers, Rhyme Asylum have attracted as much attention and debate on British hip hop forums as any other act. As well as being one of the most gifted lyricists of this generation of UK rappers, Possessed; RA’s most recognizable member is a Jumpoff World Rap Championship finalist, and now unquestionably one of the most revered freestylers in the UK. Alongside him RA have to their name an array of talented and diverse MCs. Skirmish has a projection and mic presence that is seldom an attribute of a British MC, Plazma is a youthful and barbarically on-point spitter possessing an effortless flow and razor tongued wit, and Psiklone is a highly imaginative rhymer with an unparalleled grasp of dark humour and warped reality. No super-crew would be complete without a producer to match, and in Leatherface, RA have an insightful and traditional beat-maker that tends perfectly to the stylistic needs of its four lyricists.
UK hip hop stalwarts such as Jehst, The Foreign Beggars, and Roots Manuva have flown the flag for British hip hop over the past few years achieving encouraging record sales and airplay, and have been largely responsible for raising awareness of the scene to those outside of its relatively small and tightly knit factions. The UK has also seen a number of high profile collaborations with American artists such as Dudley Perkins, Kool Keith and DJ Shadow, but has yet to penetrate the US scene with any real vigor. With the international publicity gained from Possessed’s Jump Off exploits, Rhyme Asylum stand a good chance of breaking new ground if their music fulfills its evident potential – standing alongside artists such as Non Phixion, Jedi Mind Tricks, and Canibus.
Unlike many UK hip hop acts, Rhyme Asylum seem determined to ensure that every release is not only credible, but marks a distinct progression, both for the group and the scene itself. They are currently working on their debut EP which is guaranteed to whip up a frenzy in hip hop forums, and promises to wrestle The Antiheroes’ ‘Middle Finger Salute Vol. 1’ mixtape for the top spot in the lyrical league.
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Alongside the Freestyle Masons, Rhyme Asylum are often prided as the future of UK hip hop by many of its die-hard fans
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Having featured on Whatever the Weather’s ‘Fog Horn Vol. 1’ mixtape, and Conflix’s ‘Character Assassins’ mixtape series, RA have benefited from a great deal of Myspace traffic, and have received praise from notable figures including Disorda (of Suspect Packages), and Diabolic; one of the world’s most respected lyricists. Alongside the Freestyle Masons (of which Possessed is also a member), Rhyme Asylum are often prided as the future of UK hip hop by many of its die-hard fans, and can expect to face similar hurdles to those experienced by their predecessors. Their success is by no means a guarantee. They have the talent (in abundance), the tenacity, and the level-headedness to make their mark, but as any successful British hip hop artist will tell you, there is a lot more to ‘the game’ than simply being good enough. As is with many small communities, the UK hip hop scene is rife with politics, one-upmanship, and high levels of competition, not to mention a distinct lack of financial incentive. As the Foreign Beggars have demonstrated well, the production/ release of tracks, and interaction with the hip hop community must be carefully balanced with regular touring of the ‘student circuit’ to achieve effect promotion. If Rhyme Asylum are to meet their potential and take on international markets, they must first become the dominant rap group in the UK scene. Should this ever be achieved, it will be a proud day for UK hip hop, and will signal a raise in the proverbial bar by not one, but several notches.
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Sinan Jeffries
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Rhyme Asylum