Moorish Delta 7 New Empire EP Moorish Delta are back with their new EP after a long time away, and have they used this time to improve their skills? Well no, not really. I used to be one of these people who defended MD7 and what they were trying to do, however this EP has started to make me think differently. The first track ‘The Art of Survival’ has got a news broadcast at the beginning which makes Birmingham sound like a fucking war zone. The beats are fairly no frills, with a piano loop that keeps on throughout the whole track. The rapping is fairly nice, they all have good flows but the subject matter is all a bit thuggish about Brum being some immense shit hole. I mean I’m sure they are speaking from experience in the most part, but I do find some of the subject matter hard to believe. ‘Status’ has proper annoying production that sounds lifted from the MPC of Puff Daddy. I’m not liking the production but I do again feel that all the MC’s are good rappers but need to target their subject matter better to have a greater impact on me. This however is one of those tracks that will get people into UK hiphop, not at a deep level but you gotta start somewhere. I really wouldn’t be surprised if this was played in the clubs or on Westwood. ‘Silent Screams’ has a sort of Wu type production going on, which is not the worst thing to ever happen but it should be more original. It’s a damn shame really, because a really am loving the lyrics and even the subject matter on this one. Its all about the mundane life and the general struggle of trying to get your self out of the poverty trap. Not by any means a shit track but you have to have the right combo of beats and lyrics and this track just doesn’t. ‘No.1 Sound’ has much better production than the other tracks, and in general has a more well rounded feel. The track is like a package rather than the half empty others, and I’d would have really liked the EP if the combination of beats and lyrics was like this track. Its just a damn shame that they haven’t quite got it right yet. I would not really say that this EP was worth my money. However like a previously said, some people may see this as the sort of thing the UK needs, so some will like it. I will back down on my defensive stances of MD7, but I’m hoping they will prove me wrong in the future. Because I must confess they do have a certain character but it needs to be focused. - 2Hip | profile © ukhh.com 1999 - 2000