Tru Factz & Lewis Findlay - Contender (Single)

Direct link: https://darkpoetryrecords.bandcamp.com/track/contender

Tru Factz & Lewis Findlay - Released 24 June 2015

Levels Syndicate - A-Macc X Chrissy Grimez - They Ain't Working #LVLZAVP

DIRECTED BY GALLUS ONE
LEVELS SYNDICATE RECORDINGS 2015
A-MACC AND CHRISSY GRIMEZ - THEY AIN'T WORKING
MUSIC VIDEO. COPYRIGHT 2015 LVLZAVPRECORDS

LEVELS MEMBERS NOT APPEARING
PHILLY BLUNTZ
HENDY
SKOLA
A.D.Y
2TLOCK
POLONIS
RAPTURE4D
DVSTY
MIRRORS
ORRY CAREN

Werd releases upcoming album artwork.

Alien [PE:2] is a conceptual album by Werd (SOS) coming 2015.
Artwork painted on canvas by Werd's brother Alistair Devine (Edinburgh).

*Isn't actually about aliens

Stanley Odd - Monsoon Season

'Monsoon Season' the new single taken from Stanley Odd's third album 'A Thing Brand New'.

ZeBaDee - From The Heart [Music Video]

From the heart is a track taken from ZeBaDee's EP '' Back 2 Beginnings''. This track is about separating the man from the artist. You can follow ZeBaDee on Twitter @RikiBurnside

Madhat McGore - Numbers Mixtape [Werd Reviews]

‘Wait, seriously… You’re actually going to hit me with a review that’s written by somebody he works with often and also happens to be a close friend?’ Yes, f*cking deal with it. Apart from ‘Scotland Stand-Up’ there is a lack of reviewing and discussion within hip-hop and rap in Scotland. How many blogs and online platforms can you think of just now? Yeah, thought so… Now read on people. I promise it will be as impartial as possible while avoiding mentioning a single track I’m featured on...

Madhat McGore: you know him already. If you don’t then I’m assuming you are either new to rap music in Scotland or are in one of those cliques that’s so cliquey that your clique’s got a cliques. It’s a common trait in this genre that people stick to their mates (this reviewing isn’t helping that image I admit). Furthermore, others seem to judge based on a couple songs that became popular online without looking in-depth at the artist and his catalogue. I’ve seen it happen, I’ve done it myself. It’s far too easy to dismiss certain acts and put them in a bubble, thankfully this release is the sharp pin we can wave towards those judgemental bubbles. 

The release: Already known for his high energy and rapid delivery over beats, this is exactly where we begin. Madhat clearly has a signature sound. I would think only a complete idiot could confuse the artist with another in Scotland or the rest of the UK. But, this also comes with a negative angle. Madhat can sound the same on various tracks, or similar production tricks us into thinking we have heard it before. It was only when dubstep hit the mainstream that he really took his place both on tracks and certainly raised his profile with live performances. While solo rap and hip-hop acts can struggle to get a crowd reaction and lift energies, Madhat showed many how it should be done. Now that dubstep is leaving our attention span the rapper remains spitting over harsh sounding beats and baselines. But have we heard it all before? At the start of the tape this is how you might feel, but hold off a second, let’s look into the concepts and lyrics within the first 5-6 tracks and dig a little deeper...  

First off it’s not Madhat we hear to begin with, it’s DJ Livewire introducing the release. Right away that indicates who this is for, it lets us know the audience is not the local scene but the larger UK scene as a whole. The intro track itself is standard for the artist, harsh beat, harsh voice and harsh words for both the listen and any other acts that might be tuning it. ‘Hands up, or I’ll take off’… Madhat doesn’t need to do these free tapes anymore, or live shows in the local scene. There’s a bit of anger here sugar-coated in confidence. Furthermore, ‘Bridge a Gap’ gives an idea of what he was attempting to do with the local scene and the UK perspective of it, while seeking more in his own life. ‘Going In’ produced by Show N Prove is also a continuation of the narrative, but in a more impressive and catchy way. Deezy’s distinct voice brings something more to this also, which leave us questioning why he isn’t pushing himself more. 

Skipping a few tracks in ‘What Can I Say’ really stands out, like really. Madhat is perfect on these kind of tracks, loud and imposing, yet chilled overall in feel. The beat adds to this, sounding faster than it should due to the relaxing nature of it. This reminds me in a way of ‘Simple Things’ released years ago. Sometimes talking about everyday life and the enjoyable parts is when Madhat connects with the listener. It’s all good killing a beat with a sick flow, but this is when Madhat stops rapping and makes a song for non-hip-hop fans. That is perhaps an angle he should look into more often when branching out. It is the polar opposite of tracks such as ‘Chances’ where we hear deep personal emotion and self-doubt. A run of tracks produced by Dale A Thomson gives the tape an escape with its brilliant hooks / angelic vocal samples. It’s really noticeable how the mood of the release has changed from track 10 onwards, now we’ve calmed down, we start to pay more attention to lyrics.

As I’m over half way into this I’m starting to notice I should be in the car, not listening behind my desk. It contains far too much energy for a solo listen indoors. ‘Quality’: And it is. Now that we’re this far into the release we have fully tuned in as a listener, now we find ourselves not listening to him, but with him. I mentioned it should be played loud, or in a car, but now I’m listening to the track named ‘Fast Car’ I want to be in the Meadows with a zoob and fruit cider…

‘Sitting With Bottles’… Produced by Jigz… why I have heard this before? Oh wait I’ve not, I’ve also used this same beat by Jigz on the Vagabonds album with Wardie Burns haha. I actually love that, that’s what mixtapes are and do. Re-use production and create different tracks, I’m loving the fact that Scottish hip-hop has grown to such an extent this is happening internally too. The following track ‘Stand There’ is a stand-out track. Madhat’s emotion has changed, a little depressing with a beat that shouldn’t suit, but does so well. I am honestly very impressed and into this second half content, Show N Prove returns with an incredible remix of Oasis’s Wonderwall which Madhat excels on. The last track I will mention is simple, and for good reason. A ‘Pure Grim Love Story’ is a brilliant piece of story-telling which drags the listener into a real audio experience. I can’t do it justice. Listen, and make sure you are sitting down towards the end…

Conclusion: This isn’t his best work, far from it. It touches his brilliance but repeats much of it’s content and message over a few times. Perhaps it could have been shorter, but it is a mixtape after all. Everyone following the music in Scotland knows he hasn’t hit his potential either. But remember this is a FREE MIXTAPE. Nothing more than keeping up the buzz before the main album drops. That said album should be incredible, personally I have heard tracks from it over the years and it blows everything else away. Yes, this is a review of the mixtape, but while writing it I really want to phone Hatter up and tell him to get his f*cking album out. Madhat has the potential to bring Scottish hip-hop into the UK scene in a way not done before (ironically from an artist which backed Scottish independence). While the Scottish scene has become over-saturated and messy we need acts such as this to fly the flag in a professional manner. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea in the local scene, but he doesn’t need to be, he out-grew it long ago. It’s about time everyone was fully aware he isn’t seeking your approval, he’s far past that. Now Madhat is getting to the stage he’s planning his direction and style for a larger audience. So listen to this, mainly the second half of the release is where you should pay key attention and I guarantee you will find something new to the Edinburgh artist. As he plays with styles and his image it’s apparent this is still only a preview, clearly the best is yet to come… I mean, if ‘Pure Grim Love Story’ didn’t make the album… what did?

Thank you for reading.

Pea-suit. Werd x

Photos used by TDSLR Photography. All rights remain.

https://twitter.com/Madhat_McGore

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Madhat-Mcgore/202669713111698

Dj Ritchie Ruftone - DMC 2015 - Round 7 [MC2 Routine]

Vote for Ritchie here: http://dmcdjonline.com/watch.php?t=watch&v=MjYz
Support the realest Scottish DJ / DMC champ.

Rewind: Shogun Ft Dark Rumors - Back Up (2005)

Collaboration between Shogun and Dark rumors 2005

[MV] Bright Sparks - Addiction

Shot in Oita, Japan..



Taken from "Licence to Trill EP" available for FREE download at: https://brightsparks54.bandcamp.com

Delighted Peoples - In Heaven [Music Video]

The debut music video from Edinburgh-based four-piece Delighted Peoples - mixing a wide range of influences to produce a beautiful and claustrophobic, dystopian vision of the the sounds you see on your skin when you breathe in.

Join them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DelightedPeoples