This is the 3rd full-length album from Australian producer Kut One. Emerging within the underground in 2019 off The Icons split EP, he would then go on to drop a debut LP Live Wires during the pandemic & follow it up over a year later in the form of a sequel. But in light of hip hop’s 50th birthday today, it only makes sense for Kut to celebrate by making the Live Wires series into a trilogy.

“Get Some” by Change, King Magnetic & Tom Sav is a gritty, piano boom bap opener with the trio telling anyone to bring all the smoke to them whereas “Stay Sucker Free” by Jamal Gasol works in some kicks, snares & strings talking about cutting all the cornballs out of his life. “Good for Nuthin’” by Daniel Son, Estee Nack & Saipher Sozë is an easy highlight for me as we get 3 deadly verses over a synth-laced boom bap instrumental just before “Mount Up” by Guilty Simpson stands out to me as well sending warning shots accompanied by an apocalyptic backdrop attached to more kicks & snares.

The eerie atmosphere throughout “Skip the Nonsense” by The Bad Seed is cool as he obviously encourages to take the high road when it comes to all the bullshit, but then “Never Settle” by Rim of Da Villins delivers another great cut from the sample-heavy beat to the lyrics getting it on his own. “Listen Up” by Pretty Bulli has a gloomier boom bap approach talking about having a couple screws loose leading into the spacious “No Room to Grow” by Craig G tells us that’s how he’s feeling.

“It’s My Word” by Rasheed Chappell begins the final leg of the album with a somber backdrop mixing kicks, snares & occasionally some hi-hats on top of it to talk the facts prior to “Been a Long Time” by Verbz officially tying everything all up with an incredibly pleasant instrumental catching up with everyone telling us how it’s been with him in the last several years up to this point.

There’s no question that Kut One has already cemented himself as one of the underground’s biggest beatsmiths to come out of Australia & whether the Live Wires series will continue on with a 4th installment or we get a new series in general, the latest of the trilogy is on par with the predecessors. The production is sonically diverse grounded in boom bap & a tight list of performers with the highs being noteworthy highs.

Score: 3.5/5

Kut 1 is a producer/DJ from Melbourne, Australia who came to my attention a couple years back when he dropped the split EP The Icons with Neek the Exotic & 9. He eventually dropped a full-length debut of his own called Live Wires last spring & now 20 months later, we’re being treated to a sophomore effort picking up right where the last album picked up.

“Guerrilla Season” by Recognize Ali sets it off with a faint soul sample flexing his rapping prowess whereas “Get Mine Regardless” by Jamal Gasol, Rome Streetz & Saipher Söze somberly details shining through the struggle. “Minute Details” has some cool piano embellishments even Kadeem sounds like he barely has a pulse, but then “It’s a Lifestyle” by Supreme Cerebral has an icy instrumental talking about making money & drinking Rosé.

Meanwhile on “Who Do I Trust?”, we have Agallah over a much eerier beat tackling the concept of trusting nobody but yourself just before “Raised Around Wolves” by O.C. dejectedly talks about how seasons change & some things simply don’t. “Best Served Cold” by Thamson.P weaves in some synthesizers to go at the studio gangstas’ throats leading into “All Love” by Ruste Juxx heinously talking about eating his competition up. “Take a Picture” by KXNG CROOKED sumptuously speaks on being real with the shit whereas “That’s a Muthafuckin’ Fact by Flashius Clay incorporates a harp talking about being invincible on the mic.

The song “Make a Dolla” by Sadat X gets back on the boom bap tip calling out those who claim their hustle is great while the penultimate track “Sodom & Gorrah” by Sleep Sinatra brings in some nefarious horns talking about burning every joint down. “Chopping Block” by Ciecmate & Big Foot finishes the album by showing a back & forth chemistry on top of a beat that sounds like something taken out of a horror flick.

Not as great as The Icons was, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this at all because Live Wires 2 is in fact a solid album from front to back. Much so like the predecessor in my opinion. Despite a small handful of guests missing the mark in terms of performances, I think he’s stepping up his production game quite a bit.

Score: 3.5/5