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A needed sequel to a SUCCESSFUL (yup successful) solely UK HIPHOP UNDERGROUND compilation which is internationally distributed and available on TWO FORMATS.... yup CD and wax.... so wheres the excuse that heads in other manors cant get hold of the tightest tracks in a way their stereo can handle? Straight thrown out the window sitting bruck on the rubble right next to the stigma that the scene aint got skills, love n' big support, diversity...... So we end up sitting in front of a product packed to the brim with tracks which demonstrate niceness from all fronts....attitude - support - 13 tracks - many exclusives - all quality - homegrown - n' bringing some tight examples of how the UK has decided to bring hiphop into this. A statement of intent. So through part two its always staying true...heres the breakdown. First up - Last Men Standing - features Ukhh.com's very own Brighton-based Koaste who stands up with his "Call to Arms" n' rips some lyrics which will hit home with any cats who hold knowledge of the scenes progressors from past and present.... a roll call for the mad heads. His mighty track comes speaking for us here and there to unite and push the UK hiphop community forward - this acts as a refreshing statement with which to begin the compilation which serves to highlight tracks from regional corners over the UK. The production (from Genesis) is nice n' deeply driven by a bass loop topped with tight understated cuts from DJ Enema (Flaredycats). The only problem I feel comes cos the vocals seem distant within the mix - the audio quality is a bit sketch.... but theres no doubting the package quality nothing but wicked skills on the go. Impressed???.... all knowledgeable heads will listen time n' time n' still grin as they catch a reference to everyone imaginable. Hahaha.....listen to the chorus and REACT on that. After this comes an exclusive recorded specifically for this compilation - the Nextmen n' Rodney P bringing "I'll Try". The Nextmen coming fresh from getting some mad props from all sides of the water for their new album n' Rodney P well its Rodney P innit... the man with the mostest delivery. This track is - as you would expect - slickly produced with deep bass, extra crisp snare shots, tight cutting, mutated piano wandering about behind everything. The lyrics come dealing with the love side of matters with Rodney spitting in his usual styles...bigtime London - slightly yardie... you know the coup. Lyrically it aint all that - "I wanna a honey with a tight hymen to buy me diamonds who loves the way I'm rhymin" .... but it comes off well and is a tasty track. Next up is a new man to me - Doc Brown braggin' off about his "One Plan". I gotta say that I need to hear more from this mans cos I'm feeling both his clear wicked delivery and lyrics.... both flow tastily. Lyrics delivered with proper LOUD twang to embellish every rhyme with punch. The track basically brags on outlining the way he thinks he's gonna take over this UK hiphop game ("My mum said never be a quitter and never be outdone by someone who comes shitter"). Production wise it just really serves to show his flow to its fullest - and it does. This is a pucca track and I personally think this shows him well - as an intro I need to search this geezer out some more cos he's got mic PRESENCE and style. Now.... sorry I've gotta say sorry in advance.... this track I'm going to describe is fuckin' ridiculous. Somethings gone wrong in my head - I've definitely short circuited some cerebellum. Theres something wrong - I've played this track on rotation for hours... drove my bird fuckin' mad until she could recite the lyrics n' strum the chords herself. And I dont fuckin' know why.... this is a dangerous breed of tune for definite - to me it aint an exaggeration to say you better beware cos even the smallest exposure could cause a death to your copy of this record. Your wax worn to molecule - ground into the platter - DANGER DANGER DANGER watch them Brothers McBain cos they're ridiculously skilled. I dont care if you lot dont feel this shit as much as me.... probably not cos I dont know why this has got catch in my brain. Let me break it down - analyse. Hold up cos I gotta go sit in the big red leather chair n' sooothe it to the psycho analyst. Basically this track is simple.... simple simple simple simple. Taskforce showing you the mood of their "Music from the Corner" with a different darkness to this pea souper of a track. The track is straight atmospheric - but from what? - the simplest guitar loop jangling along with a small break and the FX of some crows hawking n' vultures circling in the background....THEN a change up chord in the loop for the chorus - fuckin' devastating mate. But you know what I'm gonna mention right?? LYRICS - yes four minutes of bare raw abstract words straight coming to dark up your mind. Grim grim downtempo wickedness... no mercy cos these organ merchants are dealing with your brain n' lets give Chester the last word on this matter cos "your about to feel deaths kiss and get your name on Gods guestlist, cos I'm wretched and my breath smells like rotten flesh, gatekeeper of death, from the creche to the grave, to the clouds or the flames, be you god or satans slave". Listen UP n' hope you feel this track as much as me - FUUUUCK this is pucca poetry giving a nightmare on wax. The Planets are old soldiers to these Raw Material compilations having featured on the first one - but they also gave one of the most complete EP's a while back so its class to hear them not disappoint here with a nice track - good insightful lyrics all vividly described complete with a nice chorus. People who haven't heard their EP or checked them in depth before - check the review here at ukhh.com. The MC's come with good clarity in their diction - you catch everyword so its good that they dont waste words and maintain their quality throughout the track. The beat on the track is totally dominated by a slightly gospelly-ish two note synth chord - which is ok but not the highlight for me. A feelgood track - quite distinct from the previous Taskforce offering - clever placement from the Stonegroove peeps. The thoughts are mixed on this next cut - a Lee Ramsey (from Out Da Ville) tune called "Follow the Crowd"....and in all honesty my gut isnt feeling it that much. Its a good track - some of lyrics are nice but its a bit mumbled at times and this leads to the impression that things are bit repetitive. Next to the rest of the tracks on this compilation - I think its the weakest. I dont really like the reptitive production too much. And the chorus is plain annoying.... yup over the course of these words - I've convinced myself. Its a good proficient song with some good wordplay but that chorus n' beat gets on my tits. Next up Pentalk "Get On Down" with something proper impressive - something with funkyness imbedded inside the fibres of the track. It sort of comes with the Jurassic 5 type of vibe inside itself with its style of crew interaction. Tasty flows - good clear diction ... a spine cracking slow header nodder slightly prone to inducing minor shoulder involvement!!! MSI & Asylum provide Raw Materials with a grimy track "Ashes to Ashes" with godfather tinkling piano and an achingly slow beat. This is a foreboding track with some nice verses - some are a bit weak in terms of subject and after a while you wait for the production to change up. It doesnt so after five minutes of the same loop it gets a touch wearing - but fairplay to them its a good braggadocios tune. Just dont drive after listening or operate machinery - a hiphop Mogadon of a a beat. Hahaha..... Karl Hinds - "Don Gramma" is a wicked concept track. You know the coup by now on this track right? A UK translation of Big L's Ebonics track - whereby all the slang gets broken down across a sci-fi squelching synthline and smooth break. Lyrically its very good - this geezer can rhyme and deliver the goods... and its fuckin' funny n' all - "your getting nish means your getting nothing, styling it that means your fronting, if your trying it means your bluffing, your girls butters that means she's ugly, for queens heads means money, a fit girl means a honey". 'llow this American shit I wanna hear some British shit.... running tings proper! Braintax brings a strict head bopper with production laced by Ben Grymm - "Exodust" deals with worldwide problems n' environmental issues. I LOVE THIS TRACK - here we go! The beat rolls nicely with a lush loop ... it all grooves along with Braintax's typically clear delivery cruising across the top. It feels good to listen to this - so good you can let it pass you by - BUT if you listen carefully to what the mans is dropping - bare lyrics .... tasty rhymes. A wicked apocalyptic message within a smoooooth musical framework. Lovely - all heads listen up. I dont know nothing about Blufoot who produces "The Last Days" featuring the lyrical dexterity of Mystro. But I should cos this toon is rockin' - small hi-hat rattling n' multiple layered stabs underpin speed delivered rhymes. But although the rhymes come thick, fast n' filled with content/punchlines n' whathaveyou it seems Mystro comes with the ability to enable the ear to pick up more that what you immediately recognise... a sign for dark rapper innit. The production isn't overwhelming cos its pounded to the background by the sheer volume of lyrics - but I aint gonna complain cos the man can flow for sure!!! The next track is a variation on a track I've heard in a different guise from Krispy. This remix of "Other Side Of The Mountain" is stripped down and simplified.... not much to say here. Nice rhymes - as you would expect from such an established duo - and subtle but quality production creating a good vibe. Head nodding goodness - some nutriment for the Raw Materials 2 sarnie. And so NOW - 12 tracks deep we get to the last instalment of RM 2 ... coming with tired neck muscles and ready to chill out n' light a spliff. And yup .... we get some hippy stylee hiphop to let loose and send us to kip. Beyond There featuring David Badjah bring a tune called "A New Beginning". Super frosted chilled hiphop .... light production with small touches to soothe. A class song - good rapping over beats reminiscent of Aim's style of track construction. It meanders along and wanders around dazed in a fog on a grassy hillside... pleasurable listening for definite. Overall - this is a wicked wicked compilation. It highlights on point skills by representing all echelons of UK hiphop and in doing so provides a product thats needed by any hiphop head - homegrown or not, you aint got no excuse - this is quality. This is a release with proper backing - big distribution, all formats - and its making a statement for the UK today through giving large lughole capacities to tracks from the likes of Karl Hinds, Koaste, Doc Brown, Mystro, etc. If you dont believe me then check it - and THEN question why your local wax dealer aint catching or supporting the other UK hiphop records out there right now. Other peoples are bringing the neccesary Raw Materials - the rest is up to you.... PEACE.
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Various Raw Materials Two
LP