RepLife - The Unclosed Mind

Daniel Gray-Kontar might not be a name you're familiar with, but as "Replife" he has recently made somewhat of a shockwave on the Futuresoul/hip-hop scene. He first came to my conciousness as a guest on the sublime Politik album (MdCL & Bembe's recent project).

A little digging around then uncovered a project he'd recently completed for the ever wonderful "Futuristica Music" label. Production comes from big names on the London scene including Dego & Keidi Tatham, Atjazz, MdCL, Arch-typ RLP, Don-Ray, Kinetic & a few others...

Similarly to the Badu album, when the beats are such high quality, it takes a hell of a talent to still own the project & come out on top (especially for me, a producer, who tends to be more interested in the beat than the words). But Replife does this with ease, style & grace. The man has a delicate flow, poetic, rhythmic & melodic that draws you to his voice & what he has to say...which is a lot, we have one enlightened dude here.

So all in all this is an unbelievably fine hip-hop album that should appeal to the hip-hoppers & the future-soulers in equal amounts, but most of all, for those of us that just love good music, there's enough here for you to love for a very long time. To think this man packed in rapping years ago, it would have been a tragedy if he hadn't made this album. Thank you Daniel.

Another Five Star album *****

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part 1

Well, what can you say about this one.

I'll start by saying that this is categorically one of the finest albums ever made. Anyone who's had a passing interest or an unhealthy obsession with Erykah over the years will no doubt know her best for Baduism's minimalist smokey soul sound. And to be honest, I thought that album was so perfect that I didn't buy another badu album until this one.

I happened to stumble across her myspace page one day early this year when a bit bored & was totally blown away by the track "Honey". This 9th Wonder production is so phenomenal that Erykah should have rightfully taken her place at the top of all the charts. Somehow though, that didn't happen, and the track only features on the album as a hidden bonus track at the end. I have to say I was disappointed when I saw this, but only until I actually played the album...at which point "disappointed" was not a term I could use to describe how I felt.

Starting with an intro produced by Roy Ayres ("Amerykahn Promise") and moving on to the brilliant "The Healer" (Madlib on top form with the beat) & through to "Me" (with SA-RA on the beat). And the quality continues. All the productions are top class and with a lesser artist, might find themselves dominating the sound, but with the commanding & wonderfully unique Erykah on the mic, there's no mistaking who's album this is.

So in short, an absolute triumph in underground soul. Can't wait for Part 2 (out later this year).

Miss this at your peril! Full Five Star Rating *****

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