BVA – “Peep the EP” review

Glastonbury, Somerset, United Kingdom emcee & Real Life Drama Records co-founder BVA preluding his sophomore effort with his 2nd EP. A member of The 4 Owls as well as the Brothers of the Stone & the 3 Amigos, his solo debut B.V.A. (Be Very Aware) arrived in 2014 under High Focus Records roughly 3 years succeeding an eponymous debut extended play. However, the Leigh Brothers being enlisted to produce Peep the EP in it’s entirety caught my attention coming fresh off a Return to Stoney Island.

“Friends” produced by Leaf Dog kicks off the EP with a boom bap instrumental talking about it seeming like we’re going for broke sometimes & checking the notes as a result of that whereas “Brothers” blends some kicks, snares & grand sampling techniques to discuss making ducats with all of his homies. Illinformed jumps behind the boards on “Mary” beginning the 2nd half telling the story of an attractive woman whose appearance has become 50/50 over time while the soulfully jazzy “Chris” talks about not needing someone like the very character down for whatever.

We’ll we’ll just have to wait & see if BVA can surpass B.V.A. (Be Very Aware) in terms of a future LP from him down the pipe whenever that comes, but Peep the EP for only 4 tracks to me was more enjoyable than the 2011 self titled EP. Both of Leaf Dog & Illinformed’s portions of the boom bap production feel a lot stronger, with Leaf refraining from accompanying his Real Life Drama co-founder like he did for 3 songs right when the 2010s began & BVA getting more conceptual than he did with the last couple times he’s dropped material all by himself.

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

Leaf Dog – “Dyslexic Disciple” review

This is the sophomore effort from Brighton, England, United Kingdom producer/emcee Leaf Dog. Known for being amongst the best UK hip hop groups in recent memory The 4 Owls as well as the 3 Amigos & Brothers of the Stone, he eventually branched out on his own in the summer of 2011 by dropping the solo debut From a Scarecrow’s Perspective under High Focus Records to moderate reception although I enjoyed what he was going for with it. Fast forward almost 6 years later, the Dyslexic Disciple has returned a month after Zack Sabre Jr. became a 2-time RPW British Heavyweight Champion.

After the intro, “The Rain” begins with a self-produced boom bap opener talking about fulfilling prophecies with the words he’s rhyming never playing the fool until he made himself one whereas “Big Egos” basically takes jabs at artists who become full of themselves due to success. “Know Myself” gets on some introspective vibes lyrically admitting that there are times where he doesn’t even know who he is just before “Today” talks about living right from this very moment forward.

“It’s on You” works in some grungy sampling chops asking what one would do when they start to feel like this music shit was never meant for them leading into “Glass Eye” produced by Illinformed talking about things seeming to be better when he looks back at it. “All in 1” ends the 1st half of Dyslexic Disciple reminding the UK hip hop movement that his squad carved a new lane in the underground while “Pro Cultivation” featuring Smellington Piff comes together to talk about weed for the stoners including myself.

Meanwhile on “My Scene”, we have Leaf Dog welcoming everyone to the part of his native country where he’s trying to build a career for himself from the bottom up & saving pennies to get by a new day prior to “Window” jazzily catching an individual who was watching the Leigh Brothers again since he made it clear that this wasn’t the 1st time it happened. “Linguistics” hooks up a classy sample shouting out all the misfits listening while “Good Times” featuring Dabbla joins forces for a soulful anthem to play during celebratory occasions.

“Last Laugh” featuring BVA finds the Real Life Drama Records founders still giving the system’s many faces middle fingers while “The Reminder” featuring BVA & Kool Keith unites the trio so they can talk about owning hip hop to this day. “The Legacy” by The 4 Owls featuring Bill Shakes, Cracker Jon, Dirty Dike, Eric the Red, Jack Jetson, Jehst, King Kashmere, Klashnekoff, MysDiggi, Phi-Life Cypher, Remus, Smellington Piff, Sonnyjim & the Task Force sends it all off with a 7 & a half minute High Focus posse cut.

Noticeably more expansive than From a Scarecrow’s Perspective was when I had finished middle school, Dyslexic Disciple marks Leaf Dog’s return to the mic for the duration of an entire full-length & one that surpasses it’s predecessor on all fronts. He only handles a little over half of the production here than he did last time, but it feels more sonically expansive than the previous LP was & Leaf’s pen has gotten sharper since focusing on producing for other artists amassing a stacked list of local collaborators & veterans to be right beside him.

Score: 4.5/5