Jack Jetson – “Strange Cinema” review

This is the sophomore effort from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom emcee Jack Jetson. Introducing himself in 2012 off his debut EP High 5 & subsequent debut album The Adventures of Johnny Strange under Real Life Drama Records, he would go on to follow these up with his 2nd EP Lo 5preceding Eric the Red from the Creatures of Habit & NLP signing Jack to his own label Lost Scroll Records in addition to having his brother Illinformed produce Strange Cinema in it’s entirety.

“Go Get It” sets up shop by working in this triumphant boom bap instrumental talking about wanting to rule the world similarly to 魔ま人じんブウ of the ドラゴンボール franchise whereas “Strange World” takes a soulfully dusty approach to the beat speaking of pushing white bricks & nice whips. “Time Flies” continues the sampling of soul music throwing some strings in the equation to discuss life shit leading into the crooning “Overdose” talking about shaving haters off like Britney Spears infamously did.

Former 3-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE Hardcore Champion, 3-time TNA World Champion, ΩCW Heavyweight Champion, 8-time WWE Tag Team Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion, HOG Tag Team Champion, 2-time ΩCW Tag Team Champion, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion & The Crash Mundial Parejas Campeon Jeff Hardy gets referenced at the backend “4777” prior to Sean Peng & Smellington Piff joining Jack to talk about what “Paradise” means to them.

“Kandinsky” radiates a gospel-influenced boom bap atmosphere comparing himself to the abstract art pioneer Wassily Kandinsky just before “Flashing Lights” jazzily talks about being more elusive than camouflage soldiers hiding amongst the trees. “Creatures” has an eerier jazz rap flare to it talking about the earthquake upon the island of his mind’s eye “Spells” featuring Smellington Piff reunites the pair 1 last time referencing the late IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座, WWE Intercontinental Champion & 4-time WWE Tag Team Champion Owen Hart.

The song “Vices” comes off feeling more of like a 62 second breather talking about seeing double while “G.O.D.” gets back to kicking some jazzy boom bap flavor asking if anyone’s ever seen a higher power in the flesh. “Gone” soulfully talks about leaving a place that he’s always considered home until this point while the delicately sampled boom bap crossover “High Ona Hill” recalls him rolling through some valleys off pill, “1 Day” wraps things up soulfully promising himself he’ll make it out of this funk he’s been in.

Rather than having Leaf Dog coming back behind the boards like The Adventures of Johnny Strange, it makes more than enough sense from my perspective to have his brother handle all of Strange Cinema’s beats since the follow-up rivals it’s predecessor 5 years earlier as well as further establishing Lost Scroll Records amongst the biggest forces in the UK underground. Illinformed’s boom bap production is more jazzier & soulful compared to Leaf’s, reserving the guests for only a couple of his NLP brethren so Jack Jetson can primarily shine by himself lyrically.

Score: 4/5

Brothers of the Stone – “Return to Stoney Island” review

The Brothers of the Stone are a boom bap trio from London, England, United Kingdom consisting of Real Life Drama Records founders BVA & Leaf Dog alongside the latter’s brother Illinformed. They would make their eponymous full-length studio debut in the summer of 2013 under High Focus Records, getting back together almost 5 & a half years later now that half of The 4 Owls have been expanding their RLD imprint making a highly-anticipated Return to Stoney Island for an official sophomore effort.

“Smokey Smokey” begins with a boom bap instrumental talking about not knowing who to trust whereas “Can’t Touch the Flow” works in a crooning sample flexing that they always keep it raw to the core musically. “Duckits” featuring M.O.P. finds the quintet coming together to drop off 4 hardcore verses over a jazzy beat leading into “Everything” soulfully talking about feeling fucked up lost within their minds & the inability of remembering what normal was.

Smellington Piff appears on “Fanning the Flames” hooking up an orchestral flip to talk about everyone knowing their names while “Reverse Forecast” samples these strings for a moment remembering their homie Keith who had unfortunately passed away. “Overseers” featuring Inspectah Deck talks about holding the art form down like museum pieces until “Capital I” soulfully advising the world listening to do it themselves since you won’t know without trying.

The title track featuring Young Z gives off an eerie boom bap atmosphere starting the 2nd half saying fuck the world until they’re gone while the soulful boom bap crossover “Feed for the Greed” talking about those getting punked by the greedy. “The Desert” gives off a bluesier tone to the beat showing off their storytelling abilities of being trapped in a sandy area while “On a Roam” flips an accordion so they can talk about getting in their zone.

Rome Streetz appears for “The Ending” nearing Return to Stoney Island’s final moments sampling a violin with some kicks & snares sprinkled in the fold acknowledging all these MCs being aware of their demise while the bluesy “Can’t See Me” talks about trying to make it home as well as shooting signals at the dome. “Stone of the Brothers” featuring Eric the Red jazzily wraps things up pissing on major labels in the middle of their witchcraft rituals.

Elevating the same formula the Brothers of the Stone used for their self-titled debut for High Focus during my adolescence, Return to Stoney Island maintains the same enjoyability of it’s predecessor & some might even say that this new full-length could be an instance where the sequel’s better than the original. To their credit: The guest list is tighter, Illinformed’s sample-heavy boom bap production feels nostalgically reminiscent of 90’s east coast hip hop & the chemistry between BVA & Leaf Dog remains strong.

Score: 4.5/5

Eric the Red – “Caught Red Handed” review

This is the full-length debut album from Bristol, England, United Kingdom emcee Eric the Red. Known for being the brother of Illinformed & Real Life Drama Records co-founder Leaf Dog of The 4 Owls, he would also become 1/3 of the Creatures of Habit & 1/4 of NLP in addition to forming his own label Lost Scroll Records on Halloween 2016. His compositional solo EP Basement Blues dropped in 2016 & the In My Element beat tape followed, teaming with Illinformed in getting Caught Red Handed.

“Redrum” opens up with a jazz rap intro talking about his liver getting fucked up from drinking too much alcohol whereas “Eyes Open” featuring Datkid & Paro of the Split Prophets brings the trio together so they can aggressively play the upper hand. “Mr. Paranoid” goes for a boom bap vibe instrumentally talking about his own personal experiences of paranoia leading into the crooning “Lift Off” speaking of going around the galaxy & nebula.

Bill Shakes joins Eric on “Lah Lah Lah” ruggedly suggesting to run far if both of them come walking down your street & after the “Raid” skit, “Omen” embraces a bluesy boom bap atmosphere talking about him watching shit unfold from the blinds when they weren’t expecting it. “Limbo” keeps the kicks & snares in tact speaking of being in a state of intermediate uncertainty showing some occasionally jazzy undertones while “Sleepless Nights” soulfully gets in his bag as a storyteller describing an evening around his parts.

“Burning” featuring Leaf Dog links up over a violin observing the state of the world while “Mankind” talks about never knowing what you’ll find awaiting your fate. “Track & Walls” dedicates itself to hip hop’s oldest element in graffiti writing while “Year of the Snake” blends jazz rap & boom bap suggesting maybe it’s time for him to break out because of what he initially perceived 2018 to be. “Analogy” ends the LP incorporating heavy organs talking about returning with a new similarity.

In My Element proved to be a solid introduction to Eric the Red’s artistic dexterity since he fully produced that project all by himself, but Illinformed has already built up an impressive repertoire behind the boards throughout the 2010s & unsurprisingly helps his brother surpass that tape. Illinformed remains amongst the most consistent beatsmiths in the jazz rap/boom bap fields of the decade & Eric lyrically goes a lot harder than he did 7 months prior.

Score: 4/5

Babylon Dead – “2000 B.D.” review

Babylon Dead is a boom bap, political hip hop & ragga duo consisting of Bristol, England, United Kingdom emcee Jman alongside London producer Illinformed. One of whom has a couple solo albums under his belt already with Auranography & Free Dank whilst the other has become known for producing “Chalice” featuring Chip Fu off Jedi Mind Tricks’ only album without Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind’s involvement Violence Begets Violence. These guys initially got together for The Mould Tape’s outro “Gettin’ Mouldly” & have signed to the Glastonbury, Somerset imprint Real Life Drama Records for a debut album.

After the “Enter” intro, the title track sets the tone of what’s to come with an orchestral boom bap beat talking about meeting your demise if Jman shanks ya whereas “Raggo” embraces a significantly dustier approach instrumentally speaking of taking over the whole scene. “Judgement” hooks up more kicks & snares talking about maintaining the equally militant mind state the late Peter Tosh had leading into “Empire” shows a pyromaniac side to them both.

“Duppy” samples some strings making political commentary on serious long-term issues such as decades of police brutality while “Veteran” sticks with a boom bap vibe talking about the rest of the world not being ready for the movement Babylon Dead are about to start. “Acab” stands out for being amongst the earliest origins of the “all cops are bastards” phrase condemning officers for abusing their power & after the “Enemy” skit, “Voodoo” gruesomely talks about death having no fear for anyone or anything.

Starting off the last leg, “Fuckery” comes out the gate incorporating these funereal organ melodies observing the very thing he sees when turning on the television these days while “Hostage” continues to warn the game of it’s eventual takeover Jman & Illinformed are plotting. “Greed” eerily talks about being at war for that very reason & the current year of 2000 B.D. itself but after the “Message” skit, “Funeral” cooks up a ragga outro publicly rejecting a desire to have a service of remembrance if the pairing winds up dissolving for whatever reason there could hypothetically be.

My favorite album in the ragga subgenre of dancehall will always be Buju Banton’s 4th album ‘Til Shiloh & although I wouldn’t put Mad Lion’s sophomore effort Real Ting above it, it does have moments that’ve become somewhat overlooked. Babylon Dead nonetheless has introduced themselves by giving Real Life Drama Records a top 5 entry in their whole catalog portraying a happy marriage between Illinformed’s boom bap & ragga production and Jman’s politically charged lyrics.

Score: 4/5