Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | JTWR - Put Your Hands Up CD [Sony]

Intro

Early Doors:
1979-1985

False Dawn:
1985-1990

Underground Years:
1990-1995

The Renaissance:
1995- 2000

The Future:
2000 & Beyond

Artists &
Discographies

JTWR - Put Your Hands Up CD [Sony]

Tracklist:
1. Put Your Hands Up Dirty
2. Put Your Hands Up Clean
3. Pop Idle

John The White Rapper is only 19, but has lived a pretty diverse and varied life to date. A resident of many different children's homes JWTR has a multitude of experiences to draw on. He maintains that whilst many of today's UK Hip Hop artists are 10 years older than him and drew their influences from the likes of Run DMC and Gangstarr, he first got into the sounds of Dr Dre and Snoop, 2Pac and latterly Eminem and so is taking his music in his own directions. Whilst he has only been rapping for 12 months, he has been writing poetry since he was 8 and so is not as new to this as it might seem. The teenager is living testament to the old adage of getting out there on your own and simply making things happen via hard work, rather than waiting for it to be handed to you on a plate. He has formed his own Drop Out Club label along with 17 year old producer Jack Frost and earlier this year put out his first single Backlash which featured UK veteran MCD. In October he came back with the Harry Love produced Make A Change which garnered support from all the usual sources. Since then things appear to have been a whirlwind and John has performed alongside Skinnyman, Killa Kela, Herbaliser, DJ Format and warmed up for Public Enemy. Has even been Sony Music's first major Hip Hop signing in the UK and his latest release Put Your Hands Up is the first fruits of that deal.

Put Your Hands Up is a swipe at the older generations failings towards him and young people in general. The lyrics are clever, witty and arrogant. He reverses arguments and stereotypes and says that problems we see today and down to how our parents raised us, or more poignantly couldn't be bothered to. His darker observations belie wisdom and maturity, but then throughout his life John has always had to grow up fast. The CD I have contains Radio and dirty versions. The production is uptempo and has a variety of instrumentation mostly from a heavy guitar, but there are also celestial synth sounds for a change, and bongos that play along with the clashing snare and open hi-hats and with such a changeable and complex backing JTWR is able to put a lot of different inflections and emotions into his delivery.

We're the yout of today mate,
The generation you raised mate,
So you can't complain mate

Hoods up, shirts untucked, hats back to front
We're good for nothing so and so's
We play loud music, we wear baggy clothes
Why do you tell me, I already know

To close off is Pop Idle, a track which appeals to me in which JWTR has a pop at all the manufactured bands and the dire commercialism which panders to the lowest common denominator. It is a piss take, but at the same time points out how so many people are brainwashed by this. Everyone gets touched by Johns vitriol including Atomic Kitten, the Blazin' Squad, Will & Gareth etc. He also has a few words for Garage MCs. The Chaz N Dave Bontempi backing coupled with JTWR's delivery give this track a comedy vibe which whilst it is funny now may become tiresome quick. John no doubt has vast skills, he just needs to be careful where he takes his talents and make sure he doesn't become open for ridicule.

John has been touring hard over October and November so there should be plenty of heads primed for the JWTR album which is due to hit the streets in early 2004.

Press Quotes:
"As the UK go Dizzee mad, JTWR could be the next teenager to break through" Hip Hop Connection

"Already causing a teenage riot" Touch

"Uncompromising, uncomplicated exuberance of youth" Update

"Offensive, abusive and provocative, there's nothing sugar-coated about JTWR's lyrical outbursts. At 19 John is a virtual newcomer to the UK music industry but has set tongues wagging with his sharp wit and honest observations." Beccy Lindon - M8

"Grade A rapping." Knowledge

http://www.sonymusic.co.uk
mailto:[email protected]