Tag: HU$H

BL1GHT – Self-Titled review

BL1GHT is a newly formed duo consisting of HU$H & Tech N9ne. One is a rapper/producer from Los Angeles known for his work in the EDM scene under numerous aliases & the latter being amongst the biggest independent hip hop artists of all-time. Now I’m not really sure exactly how these guys’ paths crossed, but my morbid curiosity for this eponymous debut EP of theirs got the best of me given how much of a N9na fan I’ve been since high school. Especially off the strength of albums like Anghellic, Absolute Power, Everready (The Religion), K.o.D. (King of Darkness), All 6’s & 7’s, Welcome to Strangeland and Special Effects.

”Let Lost Happen” starts the EP by going into a brostep direction as BL1GHT tell the listener that “false starts isn’t how they play” whereas the next joint “Noise Baby” sounds like a rehash of your generic EDM track from 2011 with it’s repetitive structuring. We go into a more glitchier sound on the lyrically aggressive “Move Back Right Now” before fusing elements of dubstep & trap metal with “Smiley”.

Meanwhile on “Wear U Down”, the instrumental for some reason sounds like the theme music you’d hear whenever a Blacklight: Retribution match would end as BL1GHT rap about the way they show love while the penultimate track “41 Days” is much more melodic & the lyrics are more depressing. The closer “Suffering” is a lot similar to “Smiley” in terms of the production with the duo rapping about wanting their opposition to suffer.

I have nothing against dubstep or EDM as an entire genre, but boy was it a struggle for me to sit through this entire EP for 22 minutes. The chemistry between the duo seems to be hamfisted rather than natural because as a performer, Tech N9ne is just washing HU$H on every song. On top of that, the latter’s production isn’t as invigorating as someone like Burial’s

Score: 1/5

Truemendous – “Huh?” review

Here we have the 5th EP from Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom emcee Truemendous. Introducing herself in 2015 off her debut EP Whoremonal Moodswings, she continued to build momentum with the trilogy P.S. This Is Your Mother Calling began & bridged by P.S. This is Your Father Calling. The final chapter P.S. This is Your Aunty Calling eventually caught the attention of High Focus Records, who signed Truemendous & looks to introduce herself as part of the roster in the form of Huh? a month after Gisele Shaw became the new RPW British Women’s Champion.

“That Don’t Mean” starts us off showcasing unique flows over a Pitch 92 beat speaking of being self-aware of an imminent breakup & that taking breaks is ok whereas “Meerkatz” takes the cloudy trap route instrumentally asking how one’s broke when they’re always at work. “O.T.Y.L. (Only Time You Love), Pt. 2” produced by Illinformed is a boom bap sequel to a 2016 loosie that greatly improves everything regarding the original version prior to “Sweetheart” talking about giving a fuck less regarding anyone else’s superstitions.

Continuing the final leg of Huh?, the song “Sumtymes” goes for a west coast vibe to the beat speaking of everything being too much yet she manages to cope with it prior to Telemachus getting behind the boards 1 last time during the woodwind-heavy “Out My Face” telling a group of people she dislikes to back away from her quickly as they can. “Hmmm” closes up shop with some synthesizers questioning those acting out of pocket behaviorally & not saying shit as often as she once did.

Preluding her forthcoming debut album The Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson, the High Focus Records debut of Truemendous confidently marks the finest example of the very same storytelling expertise or varied range & unrivalled flow that helped give her the honor of being the label’s First Lady in the midst of the whole entire world shutting stopping as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Production’s a big upgrade compared to her earlier stuff & she really saved her strongest performances for this special occasion.

Score: 4/5