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Blaktrix - Strappado Styles Ep CD Only 2005
Optimas Prime - Try Before You Die Vinyl 2005
Blaktrix - Trust Ep Vinyl 2006
Blaktrix - What Shall Be Ep Vinyl 2006
UKHH.com Presents 'CTRL: ALT: THE BEAT' 2006
Ras Kwame - Homegrown CD 2006
V/A - The Construction Series Vol 2 2006
Sir Beans OBE - Miles From Home EP 2006
Blaktrix - Blix Tape Out Soon!
Just as Charlton Heston discovered with those damn dirty apes in 1968, be we homo-sapien or simian, some of us are more equal than others. And as Orwellian as this is - a direct reference in fact - some might say that by Blaktrix saying he’s the British Ali - and other MCs Huffing and Puffing and his house still not blowing in - that this MC is more equal than others.
People forget that equality is merely the social post-modern enlightenment (and I use post-modern temporally) for the left-wing white middle classes that have not personally suffered or directly contributed to the inequity of The Man (precede with whatever devil respectively). We, who have taken it in the arse from these sorts, as a collective entity, have always strived for social equilibrium but also understand the importance of the individual and its need for personal retribution.
Now, I’m not saying that all abusers of power should be turned into soap and buttons even if they can positively contribute to a society, but if they are shit at something and a total penis, they should probably go to the toilet and rethink their career aspirations. And I’m not saying I’m good at what I’m doing, the porcelain is freezing my arse as I write this, but Blaktrix is.
He can articulate a sentence like a truck and spits as if he is on the end of Bob Carolgees hand where most UK MCs are as literate as my arse in the morning and we all know that farts are nature’s timekeepers.
It is invariably impossible to like or dislike Hip-Hop generically unless your understanding of music is as infantile as Gary Glitter’s sexual preference, Blaktrix exists within Hip-Hop, unmistakably so, his Trust EP could be a scene in itself featuring the likes of Dead Resident Jr Disprol, label bosses Optimas Prime and Humurak D Gritty (championed by everyone
from Semtex to Guru to Dizzee) but he’s not bothered by either collective terminologies:
“I was 7 when I wrote my first verse and it’s still better than most of the shit I hear these days and fuck a scene… this is music and it can go anywhere, I’m just trying to get mans thinking, trying to make good…. you may not like hip-hop whatever, but you know it’s good… undeniably good and that’s what I’m after.”
And it is undeniably good. I, like The Dude Lebowski, hate the Eagles, yet Night & Day samples them and is the standout track. And nobody without severe mental deficiency can say the rest of the EP is comparable to any of the shit-hop and panto-grime that is flooding my eardrums like the new-breed British Summertime.
“Mans is getting mad love and it’s undeserved, you hear TaskForce and they’re getting nuttin’, Dem mans don’t come close to TaskForce, it’s embarrassing…There’s nuff DJs playing their bredrens and it’s fucking with next mans shit. I won’t bow to no one, I want DJs to play my shit because it’s good.”
Both of his releases have been good enough for the BBC, The Friday Night Fight is in rotation as was Indian Rope Trick from Strappado Styles, which was a repeated winner on Ras Kwame’s Homegrown. If you’re one of those people who’s not into hip-hop, Blaktrix is a banger, if you are, he’s an illegal Mexican firework. DJ Magazine called Trust a classic and I’ll do the same.
“Read the reviews, I haven’t seen it get lower than a 4 out of 5. But I can do better, I want all 5 out of 5s.”
By the time he releases What Shall Be in March he’ll want 6 out of 5. And, as mathematically impossible as this is, he will do, just as soon as I get my head around this topsy-turvy magazine where men rule over apes.
Trust EP is out now on Dial-Up Records
www.optimasprime.com
Words - Simian Roberts
REVIEWS Blaktrix continues to pile the pressure on all competition by releasing his mix CD “The Blixtape” not long after dropping two EPs. This theme would suggest that an album is on the way and judging by his past product and of course this one, there’s going to be plenty that Blaktrix will have to offer over an LP! The fact he holds down 23 tracks on this mix CD just shows he’s no flash-in-the-pan artist and can happily tackle ranges of tracks and as importantly, subjects.
Mixed by the superb Optimus Prime deejay Munki, “The Blixtape” takes plenty of exclusive beats, a few choice picks from Blaktrix’s ever growing back catalogue and of course the customary jacked beats. The first thing that instantly impresses is how well the back catalogue stuff fits in, with “Right To Reply” from his Trust EP standing out as easily one of the best tracks on the whole mix. Another mild revelation are the ragga vibed beats on this EP which echo Trix’s husky smooth flow so well that I definitely feel he could work this angle more. Fact is though, whatever beat he’s spitting over, this is an emcee with a special gift for moulding over a beat and cloaking it in his unmistakeable style.
The use of Jimi Hendrix’s “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp” is a prime example of the talented production that Blaxtrix has behind him. This coupled with his warm and somewhat easy style, produces a unique output which is destined for big things. Who’s going to have the balls to hold him back? The true Welsh devolution is here, taking Hiphop back to the realness!
whatever beat he’s spitting over, this is an emcee with a special gift for moulding over a beat and cloaking it in his unmistakeable style
- 2Hip BLAKTRIX
‘Trust EP’
(Dial Up Records)
www.dialuprecords.com
New six track EP from Blaktrix is well worth checking out. Solid UK rap by a man whose is getting love from various cats including BBC 1Xtra. ‘Right To Reply’ is a deep assault on the way society has gone. Positive intelligent lyrics delivered in a laid back confident way. The beat produced by Rola is well tough too. The next tune to impress is the Junior Disprol collaboration entitled ‘Night And Day’ which injects funk over the infamous Soul 2 soul break. On the flipside Humurak D Gritty turns up on ‘Knowledge Of Self’ where both MC’s get grimy over a real nice break. ‘Them Or Us’ takes it deeper and the last cut ‘Lean’ is a little left of centre but works well as a live bassline shifts the track well. This is original UK hip-hop music that is well worth checking.
Review by Tricksta
STRAPPADO STYLES
Blaktrix Strappado Styles EP
The first solo release from Cardiff based emcee Blaktrix is sure to make an impact on anyone who hears it. Even learning what the title means is an education to those not familiar with medieval torture techniques, but the real impact comes from track 2! From the moment the intro finishes and the strings of ‘Ronin’ drop in, you’re unlikely to forget this release any time soon. Brilliant from start to finish, ‘Ronin’ is banging from both emceeing and production point of views, which some seriously emotional stirring business going on.
The EP suffers from quaking in the shadow cast by dropping the best tune at track 2, but that’s not to say the rest of the release is simply throw away. ‘Indian Rope Trick’ ft. Humurak D Gritty sees two of Cardiff’s finest emcees dropping venom over a finely crafted beat which fits the title superbly and ‘So Long’ shows Blaktrix spitting some really clever lyrics about a break up with a lady where it gets a bit messy.
A few too many skits being the only real complaint about this release shows that I’m being petty. If Blaktrik continues along this path and improves on the way, then we’ll be expecting great releases to come for sure! Until then, I’ll be playing ‘Ronin’!
DJ Mag - trust ep - 'a classic ep'
Blues n Soul - What Shall Be Ep - 'proof not all best british hiphop comes out of london'
Ras Kwame Homegrown talent winner (3 weeks in a row)
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