Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | Pedigree Chumps - Egg Chips & A Pint Of Mild CD [Tonedef]

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Pedigree Chumps - Egg Chips & A Pint Of Mild CD [Tonedef]

Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. 4 Fuckups
3. Old Fools Old School
4. Got The Trots ft. Universon
5. Bar Brawl
6. Wife Swap
7. Trollop Tales ft. Filthy Rich & Jnd
8. Fat Cunt ft. Filthy Rich

As we know Manchester's funniest rappers are Noz and CRF with Noz handling the majority of the production and both taking care of the vocals. Now they are joined by DJ Pressure who lays down all the cuts and scratches. They have returned to CRF's own Tonedef label after dalliances with Aerosolik and Sin Nombre and have just released their latest action packed eight track EP. The Pedigree Chumps cite all the classic NY Hip Hop artists as influences and you can hear this come through in their music which remains true to the core ideas of Hip Hop, but at the same time the Peds manage to create their own sound and have a feel that is unique and quite different to anyone else. From the start you can see that these guys are a bunch of jokers as they merrily throw mirth and jokes into everyday life situations. These guys are totally down to earth with no illusions of grandeur and it seems they would be a good laugh to go down the pub and have a few pints with.

The EP gets going with an Intro which is one of two tracks produced by Jnd. This is suitably anthemic with its highs protruding through the air and the chanted egg and chips phrase lets you know who has arrived. The first full track 4 Fuckups gets busy with a middle eastern type flute and a simple rocking beat with nice acoustic sounding samples. Noz and CRF prove once again that they are worthy wordsmiths and capable of spitting fresh rhymes at breakneck speed. Many o these consist of describing ailments and other forms of human dysfunction.

Old Fools Old School opens with a great piano riff and the way the bass and horns are worked in has turned out well. Further into the track variety is delivered by some harpsichords and their unique sound. The lyrics essentially pay homage to many of the old skool artists who have paved the way for Hip Hop to grow to where it has got to today. Got The Trots moves things up pace a bit as the old NT drums get a re-working along with some orchestral woodwind. This is where the Chumps come into their own as there is nothing they like more than telling us about their experiences after a hot vindaloo and what it does to their ring pieces.

The opening spaghetti western tones issue in Bar Brawl and immediately set the tone for what is to follow. After getting pissed on JD the Peds are ready to lamp each other and anyone else including the bar tender with broken chairs or stomping their booted feet onto someone's head. These lads get rowdy after 7 pints and don't need someone to step before they start breaking noses. Over a soulful backing Noz and CRF return to their comedic personas and on Wife Swap give us a funny take on the whole swinging scene and shagging horny old housewives and even wives with three legs and saggy tits. These guys have no standards and will take on all comers. Occasionally these guys are able to repulse me with their dark urges and fantasies.

The penultimate track Trollop Tales is another one that is produced by Jnd and is supremely relaxed after the other offerings. A gentle orchestral sample provides the backing for the lads to tell us stories about all the different girls they have stashed away in different parts of town. Fiilthy Rich features on this one and drops a sweet sounding verse and for the first time Jnd drops a few lyrics quite competently for someone who I mostly know for his productions.

As the EP comes to a close we are treated to a classic dis track aimed at the local people with weight problems. Fat Cunt. I feel sorry for whoever the girl is that this tirade of disses in the first verse is aimed at. 'she's got so much back fat, it is like a back pack'. Filthy Rich Guest on here and drops another great verse and the last verse ids devoted to all those junk food guzzling fat freaks who have munched so much they can virtually no longer walk.

So, Northern Humour has descended into the UK Hip Hop world, and I for one find this quite amusing, but perhaps not as satisfying as something on a deeper level. Regardless, this is a great break from any political activism you may be undertaking, so take some time out to lean back and get drunk and rude with the Pedigree Chumps.

C.R.F. Discography :: http://www.cbmag.co.uk