Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | C-Mone

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C-Mone - UK Chant 12" [Son Records]

Tracklist:
A1. UK Chant
A2. My Boy
B1. It's Bad
B2. Girl Next Door

C-Mone has her first full solo debut release out now. She's moved on from the Big Trev stable that generates so much Notts talent and has hooked up with Son Records for the wider exposure that her talent so notably deserves. The link with St. Annes is not totally broken though as her production is provided by Nick Stez and so still has that unmistakable Out Da Ville feeling.

The opening track UK Chant is the most complete of the tracks as it offers everything from a strong well arranged and somewhat funky backing track and of course C-Mone's lyrics. Some strings are spliced across a slamming beat with ticking Hi Hats. As the title suggests this track is a general description of what life has been like for C-Mone, apart from being observational it also shows how one has to rebel in order to survive. Stez gets several name checks for the production, in the chorus and on the outro there are some cuts that to be honest don't sound too live which are performed by Styly Cee.

The second track My Boy is more laid back track which is on a story rap tip, something which C-Mone can really excel at as ably demonstrated on her Joyrider track with Son's own Styly Cee earlier in the year. On My Boy C-Mone gets down to the nitty gritty of her relationship and rather uniquely keeps the rap on topic all the way through without veering off on to filler topics. By the third verse we get to her the outcome of changing up boyfriends and the radical changes it brings in her personality. The message is 'live life your way'. The production has much of a 70's soulful groove and is nicely put together. Its one of those samples that just needs looping and then you have a great backing.

Whilst the first two tracks were blinding, the B-side of the four track EP was a little below par, but still sounding well recorded and mixed etc. It's Bad is just, that baaad, but the thing about this is that it soon sounds a bit repetitive. High strings loop throughout and it is perhaps their continuous presence that ads to this feel. C-Mone as ever sounds real good, but doesn't totally flow with the beat. The final track Girl Next Door flips up the production style again. The tempo is raised for flutes and once again strings over which C-Mone reminisces and raps about the being the girl next door and her dreams of the future.

Overall then, a heavy release, but not all the tracks were doing it for me 100%. It is just a bit of a different production style that is going to take a small amount of adjusting to. Get this for the A side alone and prove me wrong about the other tracks as well. C-Mone has a Long Player in development and I expect that to be full of well thought out verses just like this.

http://www.sonrecords.com
http://www.c-mone.co.uk
http://www.villerecords.com