Wreckless Music

30 NOV 09
Artist: Wreckless Music EJAY

Title: I Cry

Link: here OR Download
-----------------------------------------
I would imagine that one of the worst things about being a rapper is finding decent music to test your raps against. I know I've heard some real stinkers (and I'm not talking about the rappers here, just the music) and - for my money - there are very few unsigned rappers who haven't come a cropper once or twice over this thorny problem. When I reviewed his first track submitted to me - Gemini (September 2007) - I was deathly afraid that we were not going to see eye to eye on this particular issue. Since then, however, Wreckless Music has upped his game considerably and Old Times (October 2008) ended up as one of my Tracks Of The Year 2008 so he's obviously doing something right. Moreover, unlike a great many unsigned rappers, I don't breathe a weary sigh when I see one of his tracks on my review list.

Always a good start.

Teaming up this time with Jinn Thao (aka JT Instrumentals) who seems to be doing quite well in terms of fans and listener stations but is a new name to me. Considering that Jinn cheerfully admits that he makes his tracks 'on the cheap' it still manages to sound surprisingly good although, for my money, I could have done with a tad more definition on the kick drum considering that its front and centre for much of the time. Jinn Thao's music is, by his own admission, piano driven and that's a difficult act. Simplicity, as always, is the key and this is one thing that Jinn does extremely well; this is one of the sparsest hip hop tracks I have ever heard.

Doesn't stop it working though, and working a treat too. Now, you have to realise that I don't really like the softer side of the hip hop world with all it's incredible 'twee-ness'. Such a charge could never be leveled at Wreckless Music, it's the quality of his lyrics and his delivery that mark him out from the usual wannabees. Mind you, he's still deep in lurve and that's never a pleasant experience (at least not in song) but even so, his lyrics are better than most girl-boy scenarios. Now I admit that I am biased and that normally I would run away from a track like this but I do understand there are lots of people who like this style, and this IS a class example of it at least.

Recommended soft hip hop.

Steve Gilmore

SG Reviews - The Blog

SG Ringtones

Hear the new DOUBLE CD 'Inter Alia' at any of these sites:

Soundclick * MP3 Unsigned * Acid Planet * Mixposure * PopSpace * Imeem
29 AUG 09
Artist: Wreckless Music (Ejay)

Title: Words Kill

Link: here OR Download

-----------------------------------------

If you despair of never being able to find any decent hiphop around, then look no further because I have the answer. When I first met Alabama based rapper Wreckless Music (Ejay) it was with Gemini (September 2007), a track I didn't particularly like much outside of the vocal treatment and the rap. I finished off the review by saying 'There again, early days yet...' and that has proved to be the case because over the past two years Ejay has turned into a class hiphop artist with a style and flow he's made his own. He's had two Must Have's from me in that time; Old Times (October 2008) arguably his best track so far, and Times In My Life (May 2009), both tracks showing off what makes him so different.

For me the main thing with this genre is that it makes sense to me, both in terms of content and musical context. It has always been a hallmark of this rappers output that his lyrics are always interesting, insightful and usually carrying serious messages, for me the very epitome of what created hiphop in the first place. Since those far off days of 2007, Ejay has mastered both the art of getting the right music to back him (the production on this is courtesy of Sik Beats, and is of very high quality) and getting that music and his rap to marry together seamlessly. Admittedly, there is still a hollowness to the vocal sound but, to be honest I've become used to that from this guy.

Words Kill is a cautionary tale about discretion, especially in public - and yes the Internet is very, very, public. Again, Ejay rises to the challenge by leading the listener through a very vidid episode happening on the Washington DC metro between a family of four in front of his eyes, capturing the scene with incredible detail and a delivery that fits like a glove. It shows that Ejay is an observant and cogent eyewitness to his life, and this track illustrates just how different this guy is to the normal 'get rich and famous' routines that infest all levels of hiphop. This, my friends, is the real deal.

Knockout hiphop. MUST HAVE for fans, Highly Recommended nonetheless.

Steve Gilmore SG Reviews - The Blog SG Ringtones Hear my new CD 'Retrospective 2001-2008' at any of these sites: Soundclick * MP3 Unsigned * Acid Planet * Indiehitz * Mixposure * PopSpace * Imeem

25 MAY 2009

-----------------------------------------

Artist: Wreckless Music (EJAY)

Title: Times In My Life

-----------------------------------------

When you see credits like 'Author: Kazper, Rob-J, E.J.A.Y. & Trucky Entertainment' you got to be aware that we are venturing into hiphop and rap territory. Surprisingly enough, a lot of the hiphop on Soundclick is listeneable, and some of it is as good as it gets this side of the economic divide. Wreckless Music has thrown a couple of doozies my way (Ed: I think he means good tracks) since I met him with Gemini (September 2007). Like a lot of indie hiphop there are rough edges to this artists work, but certainly not enough for me to really give him a hard time.

Fact is, his last track Apologize (March 2009) is a classic example of why I find this particular hiphop musician a cut above the normal 'peep my ****' crowd. Put it like this, at the time of writing this review there are over 1.3m tracks in the hiphop charts and this bad boy is at #378 which, by my reckoning, isn't bad at all. When reviewing Apologize I said 'certainly one of the best Wreckless tracks I have heard so far' and it seems Times In My Life is following through with something just as good, showing that this upturn in his game isn't a flash in the pan. Luckily, there is none of the roughness that kinda/sorta marred the Apologize track, but it does deserve the Parental Advisory - a lot of cussin'...

Mind you, judging by the story, there is plenty to cuss about.

Musically, Times In My Life is very strong, it's mix of beats, orchestral flourishes and a central vocal motif is exactly what I look for in a hiphop track as is a strong chorus, and this has a beauty. Interestingly enough, it's taken Wreckless a bit of time to get here but there is no doubt that he is on a bit of a roll at the moment because as well as being a terrific song, it has a killer rap - courtesy of the man himself. Like a lot of this musicians tracks, it will take a bit of time to really get it - especially the rap - but it's well worth the effort. If he keeps getting better with each track as quickly as this, 2009 could be a very good year indeed for Wreckless Music. Certainly made me sit up and listen that's for sure.

MUST HAVE hiphop rap. Seriously.

Steve Gilmore

SG Reviews - The Blog

SG Ringtones

Hear my new CD 'Retrospective 2001-2008' at any of these sites:

Soundclick * MP3 Unsigned * Acid Planet * Indiehitz *
Mixposure * PopSpace * Imeem
Nothing interests me anymore right now.