Blak Prophetz - With FX b/w The Maddest Style [Fatt Jointz] |
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After some time away from the scene the Blak
Prophetz are back on the scene with a slamming 12" which features two heavy
duty tracks. These guys have been putting stuff out since the mid 80's, whether
it be their own material, or bringing other people through. Over the years they
have worked with Kid Capri and Marley Marl over in the US and have put this time
to good use learning what makes a good track. Neither track is particularly avant-garde
or experimental, but both are solid straight up club tracks designed to get
rumps shaking. Production has been described as Premiresque in almost all
reviews and Willie Bee and Sure Shot admit the influence in their press
material. As such it is formulaic, but as with
Premier, there is always room for another well constructed and thought out
track, so long as it is good enough. The crew have decided to try and widen
their appeal and so have played it a bit safe, they know what appeals and have
constructed something that fits the purpose.
The first track of the two is
With FX. Sure Shot lays down the vocals, whilst Willie B is the scratch DJ. Together they
have been a production team for a very long time and obviously work well
together. With FX has a crispy beat with a nice shuffle and simple, but
effective keyboard to compliment the production. It is a simple enough beat, but
Sure Shots mellifluous flow just sits on there and eases the track along. Can't
immediately say where the special guest GClef The MadkomposA from Soul Kid Klik
fits into this, but he is on there. Lyrical topics relate mostly to their
history and pedigree within the scene with references to the big names they have
worked with, to gentle self approbation and the way they go about producing. The
chorus makes use of the Rakim sample. 'E.F.F.E.C.T., A smooth operator operator
operating correctly', a sample which I used back in '94 is for my first foray
into Drum & Bass and is a touch clichéd now!
The B side track
Maddest Style is a harder affair. The beat reeks of MCP. Ultra simple
patterns and a seductive few piano notes make this rock in the way all classic
beats do. Having spent so many years in the US and mixing with all the people
they did there are undeniable Americanisms and influences going on here. The
most obvious of which is the accent. This isn't put on though, it is just the
way these guys sound, so look beyond that and realise that you are listening to
some of the pioneers of UK Hip Hop, who surprisingly haven't lost heart and
packed it all in, but are only now producing some of their best
work.
So the Blak Prophetz have finally decided to
return to the scene and it did take a while. Never the less, they have not lost
their touch and although they are not breaking any boundaries they are
delivering power packed Hip Hop which finds its origins in New York and embodies
the spirit of the early 90's. If you see this in the racks, give it a spin, and
remember that these guys have a legitimate excuse for the US accent being
present.
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