Author Archives: OneFáris

Apr 17 2025
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Jordy, Scorcher – Know Me For Music

What happens when one of the best up and coming rappers in the country links with one of our legends?! Jordy has steadily been climbing to the forefront as one of the more prominent rappers in the country, though I was introduced through his appearances on the Filthy Fellas football show, which coincidently I first came across through Scorcher, fast forward in a full circle moment, the two collaborate on Know Me For Music.

Whilst responsible for the recent Grime resurgence, Scorcher has been one of the original hybrids who was able to effortlessly run through tempos and displayed just as much prowess in the rap realm, and this is no different. Jordy has been consistent, crafting out his own audience and organically developing his artistry, though I can’t say I’ve heard everything from him, the features with the likes of Louis Rei and freestyles that I have come across, he’s definitely one of the more talented no frills artists about, and along with Scorcher, doesn’t disappoint. Kicking off Good Measure with the hook and his distinct tone, he’s a true to himself artist and that’s evident with his verse, it’s wordplay with substance, which allows Scorcher to delve into that introspective space for the second verse. My personal favourite is the latter, Ain’t Settling For Less. This time Scorcher starts it off, with a verse that’s reminiscent of his Dear Diary days and though I hold Scorcher in high regard, Jordy steps up, including one of the hardest lines I’ve heard with, “A n***a sayin’ that he made me..that’s too jarring, cos If I bite the hand that feeds me, I’m self-harming”. Though there’s not much to dissect, the one complaint is that it’s only two tracks (Three on Jordy’s bandcamp), as their contrasting individual styles and content compliment each other and makes for an unexpectedly palatable pairing.

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Apr 17 2025
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Westside Gunn – 12

One of the more influential conductors within Hip-Hop of recent, Westside Gunn is probably someone I’ve listened to and just appreciated more so than review, however, with Wrestlemania 41 approaching, the timing couldn’t be more right to give my take on his latest release, 12.

Having broken ground (and ceiling) as part of the Griselda collective, his influence is visible throughout Hip-Hop and culture overall, an abstract artist, he’s able to construct projects that feel like audio Basquiat pieces, with raw textures, unconventional sounds and bringing unrefined talent like Stove God and Estee Nack to shine. With 12, you can expect that to highest degree, from the intro, a 50’s doo wop style singing “Who is the goat?”, going straight into the gritty Boswell, with it’s intense sample and his verse sat between Stove God and Nack, his distinct tone bridging the two’s abraded vocals. Track 2, the more sinister sounding Adam Page, proving he’s not lost a step nor looks to be doing so any time soon, complimented with it’s wavy hook. The beauty in his artistry is the next track, Veert, though a much more smooth and soulful sample, yet he’s able to orchestrate a just as menacing display, a theme continued with 055, Stove God further cementing his presence before West delivers another classic-sounding verse. He’s known to have an ear for production, but the sequencing is more proof of his attention to detail, introducing Brother Tom Sos on the more lo-fi Health Science and the contrasting Gumbo Yaya. Tracks like East Miami and the aptly titled Bury Me With A Stove, display Gunn’s ability to draw on the most unconventional canvases, with Estee Nack returning to revel. The rap game’s Sid Vicious continues to powerbomb on (another fan favourite) Outlander, a solo effort that emphasises his standing and position in the game today, before closing out on the Conductor produced Dump Out, another glimpse of Stove God Cooks’ unique flows and lyricism, before delivering an introspective and impactful verse of his own, honouring the incarcerated Donald ‘Sly’ Green, further dedicating the project with it’s documented outro. Including the cover art, the organic picture outside of Carbone’s in the big fur with the fitted, yet another solid effort from the Buffalo legend as he proceeds to dominate a field that he’s responsible for establishing.

Having carved a lane to now dictating the scene, Westside Gunn has continued to not only bring the art of hip-hop to the forefront, but elevate it’s authenticity through the mediums of music, fashion and now his Fourth Rope wrestling imprint (including the “the fly weight” python, gold and diamond encrusted championship belt), an impact that can be continuously seen today in various cultural facets from the music industry to high-end runways and even WWE broadcasts.

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Apr 17 2025
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Ye Ali – Ye Ali & Chill 4

There’s no stopping the budding hitmaker, since last year’s Private Suite 5 release, he’s dropped the collaborative THJ Radio Vol.1, the explanatory titled Rap Sanga, even a dance project, WYA? I’m not mad any more and another R&B offering with the fourth instalment to his Ye Ali & Chill Series.

The grammy winner continues to elevate R&B with this 8 track project, leading with the catchy Leave The Party, where he blends his soulful prowess and ability to rap, into the harmonious Catch Feelings. As he continues to evolve as an artist, he’s definitely looking to glide through genres, displaying some more raps on Her Side, but like the singing, he’s able to effortlessly experiment with flows and cadences, as evident on Hopefully, a smooth merge of the two. Track 5, Concept, though feels like an interlude being the shorter of songs, with it’s uplifted chords and nostalgic synths, contrasts the sexy IV Way, a darker and more sultry sound in comparison to Track 7, (another fan favourite) Come Inside, though similar, it feels more weighted, and is another display of modern R&B with those old school elements. Further drawing on those elements, he closes out the project with the percolative outro Secret Oasis, concluding another solid offering with Ye Ali & Chill 4.

At this point, it’s too easy for him, but what’s pure about his artistry is that where most are focusing on their branding, his is being built of his attention to the music across the board, something that makes Ye Ali not just prominent but provides longevity.

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Apr 17 2025
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Larry June, 2 Chainz & Alchemist – Life Is Beautiful

After last year’s release Doing It For Me, Larry June and Alchemist follow up The Great Escape, linking up with the underrated wordsmith and Atlanta legend 2 Chainz.

Though familiar territory for Larry and Al, this 11 track album celebrates the victory of that great escape, however, the addition of 2 Chainz adds a whole new and unexpected level of depth and texture, cementing that success. Kicking off with Munyon Canyon, an interesting listen as audiences may be accustomed to the sound and feel, then 2 Chainz enters and we get to hear him on a tempo that real fans have longed for (since his work with Statik Selektah). This combination is further emphasised with the second track, Colossal, where Alchemist gets to draw for the darker and grittier sound more complimentary to 2 Chainz, allowing Larry June to now follow suit. This is the overall theme, with the three weaving through their essences that seems to effortlessly intertwine, evident with tracks like I Been and LLC. As someone that has wanted an Alchemist & 2 Chainz project, this is quite the audio treat, leading up to Bad Choices, with the album thus far feeling more in vein of the previous Alchemist & Larry June collaboration and the title track Life is Beautiful providing a solid bridge to the next half of the album, where it feels more in style for 2 Chainz, another example of Alchemist’s versatility and attention to detail beyond great production. Track 6, Generation ushers in that more concrete element and Chainz hits the ground running, with Larry June just as comfortable gliding through. The luxurious sounding Any Day finds the perfect blend for all parties, allowing them to accentuate their raw lyricism freely, followed by Epiphany, where by now the unorthodox pairing of Larry June and 2 Chainz feels natural, with Tru Organics like the title, a great mix of the their respective brands. Despite some expectancy (with two of the three having collaborated recently), Life Is Beautiful manages to dispel any predictability whilst maintaining the level of quality, ending with the cinematic Jean Prouvé, smoothly closing out the album as Larry June and 2 Chainz establish their presences once more like a post-credit scene.

I had some initial idea of how this project would sound and maybe was bias to wanting to hear just a 2 Chainz & Alchemist project (which still can happen), however I was pleasantly surprised with how this turned out, as there’s always been a level of opulence with Alchemist and Larry June, so who else better to rendezvous with, than the grandioso 2 Chainz Toni himself to remind us, Life Is Beautiful.

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Sep 11 2024
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Louis Rei – Inhale EP

As one third of the pioneering collective WSTRN, Louis Rei has seen formidable success, with the breakthrough In2 (the last real British summer smash) and the sounds that followed played an underrated part in the current state of the British scene (and one could even argue the global acceptance of the current Afroswing momentum). Consisting of three individual talents, the group allowed them to experiment further on their unique styles and their versatility gave us an array of vibes to enjoy. However, even before that, I had known of Louis but nothing to do with music, so then when I heard a righteous soul expressing through poignant raps and wavy melodies and made the connection, I saw this potential. Though happy for his catapult to success with the group, through solo tracks he would simultaneously release on his soundcloud (including the fan-favourite Relax), I would hear more of his artistry, and with his introduction being through the group and a more light-hearted upbeat sound, I could see that seeping through, like there was so much more he wanted to say. He’s been a top ten rapper in the country for some time, cemented with his standout feature on Nines’ album. How he carried himself online, as he made transitions in real life, with his Rei of Light segments and rare freestyles that cut through and helped be the mortar to the foundation that is this EP, Inhale.

Being in the game for close to a decade and only just releasing his debut EP, I can imagine how it must have felt to harbour all those emotions and experiences, though titled Inhale, it must have felt more like an exhale to finally deliver this. A concise 7 track project, it starts with Who Am I, setting off the theme, he’s able to give insight into the whirlwind, behind the smoke and mirrors, as a man and a father before anything else. Truth Be Told, he’s flowing venomously over the heavy drums (with it’s 50 Cent – Window Shopper sample), “I was on the main road, then I went mainstream”. You have to trust the universe’s timing, because I don’t think this project comes to be without this maturity, with tracks like Shiesty featuring Tiggs Da Author, which blends into the introspective Reign. Credit to the musicianship (with producer Oh Em Why), it’s such as well crafted project, no reach or compromising the craft, down to the outros. Still, might be more of the forthcoming sound to expect from him, as he paints a personal picture over another notable sample, a statements being made as he’s not wasting a bar throughout this. The retrospective OK, nicely brings the project towards the end as he channels Makavelli for this inspirational number, “I’m really out here tryna change the world one day!”. The EP embodies themes of struggles and adversity and overcoming with a strong sense of spirituality that is bound by the musicality and the outro, Our Father’s Interlude. A very strong message that will undoubtedly resonate with many, serving as the curtain closer, it really emphasises the overall feeling and though brings the EP to an end, actually opens space for what’s next.

It’s been a minute, but we’re finally here and what a re-introduction from one of the West’s chosen ones, a refreshing breeze of artistry and substance, as he continues to evolve. The universe makes no mistakes, through the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, the wins and the losses, It’s all connected.

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Sep 05 2024
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Drake – No Face

I saw Drake’s trajectory when I first came across Brand New, then Wayne entered the fold and we witnessed a LeBron like ascension, in my opinion there aren’t many students of the game better than him, and this pinnacle is evidence. He once said himself, “I signed up for greatness. This comes with it”, and it sure has, as he’s found himself having to go against some of the most formidable adversaries, his biggest being his time at the top. Whether it’s contractual obligations or personal choice, but the qualities of his artistry that made the purists raise him up have been scarce (if not missing) of recent, and whilst serving the mainstream, their support isn’t as solid. Highlighted in the battles with Joe Budden, Pusha T and of course Kendrick Lamar, all three he won on numbers, but the cultural currency is far more valuable, and there he’s lost each time.

But as the perimeters in the business of battle evolve, there’s usually a next move and while dumping 100gigs of content in the internet is borderline desperate, as the fickle game eats it up, it’s genius as his relevancy continues. What I do like is, there’s no pictures or promo, just art. Maybe as a kid I would be excited by this or buy into it all, but I skimmed through the recent three pack and it was more of the same, however, yesterday, No Face found it’s way to my ears, and it’s like when the undertaker would get up. It’s not comparable to Not Like Us, but separately, for the first time in a while, it sounds like Drake.

Let me start with, I hate the chorus. If I was in the studio, I would have pushed for something else, because the performance of the verses are top notch, it starts with a flow reminiscent of The Language and HYFR, but it effortlessly transitions into the current version of that, with those little details and nuances he adds that make this stand apart from the other efforts. We got glimpses of it in the battle, but for whatever reason he wasn’t in the same space as this. Even the production (40 definitely worked his magic on this), Drake’s had the luxury of choice over the years and when he’s experimented (working with the likes of Yachty), it still hasn’t felt as whole or authentic as this does, with it’s precision drums and sinister synth.

In throwing out all these different sounds, obviously there’s something for everyone, and this might be what worked for me (minus that hook), though he doesn’t need to do that, but it definitely makes things interesting again. I’m just glad to hear those elements still exist and look forward to the potential album on the way, hopefully, it’s what he wants to make and whatever the genre, be it to this level.

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Sep 05 2024
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Milli Major – Skeem Set Pt. 2 ft. JME, Scorcher, SeriousXSyikes & Crazy Titch

Milli Major has been holding Grime down for a while now, with an array of content from a short movie, music and events, but ultimately the uniting a host of acts within the genre has to be applauded, with Skeem Set Pt. 2 being another great example of his position in the game.

Few can bring together legends like JME, Scorcher & Crazy Titch with the addition of SeriousxSyikes, if any, over the hard-hitting production, we get a stellar performance from the face of Grime, JME, a verse that could be put up in the V&A with the picture he paints. Followed by man of the moment, Scorcher, further cementing his return to the field with his ballon d’or winning presence and intent. Milli Major glues the track together effortlessly with another heavyweight effort, anchoring for authenticity, allowing SeriousXSyikes to step up and take advantage with his energetic performance, before the Grime icon Crazy Titch, with an exclusive feature from behind bars, in typical Titch fashion, sounding like he hasn’t missed a step.

As Grime continues it’s recent resurgence, with many returning to the elevate the space, the likes of Milli Major have been playing a key part in maintaining it’s legacy and future. With more on the way from the Bloodline representative, rest assured, order is set to be restored.

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Sep 03 2024
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Tyrese – Beautiful Pain

The model with one of R&B’s most gifted voices, transitioning into an actor starring in cultural classics and blockbuster franchises, in the recent media climate tends to find himself spoken of more for the transparency of his personal life than his art itself. However, his recent series of events felt more calculated to me, from the viral national anthem rendition (which I think he knew people would assume was Marvin Gaye cosplay and give him the platform to speak on the Teddy Pendergrass movie), to the roll out that followed, and though it’s a shame that this is the time we’re in where an artist of his stature feels he has to do that, if you can deliver quality in the height of such interest then you can maximise interest.

Now, I don’t know if that campaign did maximise interest, but I do know that with Beautiful Pain, he’s delivered quality. It’s loosely themed around his recent divorce drama, being a very personal album and that emotion is the catalyst throughout, the bad and the good. I didn’t know what to expect entirely, but the intro set the mood, the cheers emphasised his status and the sexy saxophone solo with the falsetto said R&B. First couple listens the content may feel heavy but as it continues, the art takes over and as an expression, it’s executed to the highest level, the songwriting, structure and sequencing, it’s a solid offering, complete with the legendary features, there’s songs that will exist outside of the album, like Bedroom Bully and Unbelievable (ft. Kenny G & Eric Dawkins). This album is a success just off Tyrese’s ability to take a tumultuous experience and artistically vent through this, (again) the bad and the good. I believe he will reap the benefits from this project, with fans undoubtedly looking forward to more of this grown man music. Perfectly titled, through the ups and the downs, powered by love, he shares his Beautiful Pain.

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Sep 03 2024
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Ruff Sqwad – Flee FM

As Grime continues to bubble underground, the legends return to stand upon the foundations they built and renovate the building, with no room more unsung than the Ruff Sqwad mandem.

Still a relatively young genre, over the years, (aside from the mainstream directing their spotlight at the more current trends in music), Grime has struggled with it’s identity and sound, though it’s actually evolved and this entire industry is still running off Grime’s momentum, it just hasn’t had the same level of representation amongst the heavyweight UK Rap and their baby, Drill. Whilst there have been a host of previous and new talents flying the flag, Flee FM sees the heart, mind and soul of the collective reunite with seven solid tracks to cement Grime’s resurgence.

Slix had established himself as a presence on and off the mic, with his fly flee style and entrepreneurial spirit, he’s since been working behind the scenes helping the youth as part of his foundation, along with musician Rapid, though a force with the flows, he’s made a name for himself as one of Grime’s greatest producers, so this blend of old and new production is important to the genre’s growth, along with David is a King, formerly known as Dirty Danger, one of the most underrated musicians to come of the country, with remnants of his advanced compositions in today’s sound, he’s elevated as a person and now an official Sound therapist, that energy and purpose matches the others, making this a concise effort (with it’s radio set transitions) that perfectly blends elements of nostalgia with a much needed direction.

Serving as a reminder, (they haven’t lost a step, if anything, they’re more seasoned), it’s exciting to see what’s next from the collective, with so much room for more, as well as individually, like Rapid recently linking up with Scorcher, these moves will no doubt be influential to restoring that feeling again.

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Aug 27 2024
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Scorcher – Behind Barz Freestyle

As the current scene “appears” to flourish, it’s no secret that the standard, identity, authenticity and thus overall feeling is sub par, and whilst even the real ones are able to venture, there does lack a sense of direction, and that makes this return of the people’s champion even more so monumental.

It’s been a turbulent few years for the British legend, one of the Grime’s graduate Rap hybrids, the Leader of the new school, once the clear chosen one to ascend the culture (to where it currently is now), has continued to stand tall amidst adversity, and a man first before an artist, found himself on a hiatus from the art.

Though there has previously been music released, during these times, including the fan favourite Down, plus more recent freestyles, but the presence on the field was missing, and a few decent touches and key passes later, this freestyle has him win the ball back and lead the attack in stellar form.

I had originally quoted some of the lyrics that backed my point, but truth is, there isn’t a wasted bar throughout this freestyle, some things are being said, if you’re listening.

Fresh off a headline show, he’s back to lead the charge with this new collaboration, and there’s definitely a new surge of energy flowing, as his verse here is powerful for the right ears, and actually what the game’s been missing.

Recently collaborating with fellow Grime legend Rapid, that energy combined has now added a much needed component to the genre’s progression. With a project for sure in the works, I look forward to this new chapter. As the game finds itself lost at times under new tactics and infringements, you need the best players and strongest personalities to anchor the ship, dictate play and bring glory back to the people.

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