Posted on March 15, 2019
Image from ragofoot.bandcamp.com
As exposed by the media, Western Europe is on the fringes of chaos (which was typically the case throughout its history). Concurrently with the decade, countries like Germany and England have been experimenting with American music genres, some of them being Hip-Hop, Jazz, and D’n’B music. In the case of Hip-Hop, artists like Skepta and Stormzy had taken the influence of American Trap music and sauteed it with their own regional tastes.
These artists took not only the quality of sound from the genre but also the heavy storytelling and a gritty vernacular. With the face of Skepta plastered over U.K’s garment, another collective of young and resilient musicians came onto the scene to give their nearly-forgotten cities a representation so desired. Two of the most prominent artists to come from the depths is London’s own Rago Foot and Peckham’s own figure, Pinty.
Right at the end of 2017, Rapper Rago Foot released an EP entitled Another Man On A Zig Zag Mission. The EP was enriched with lowly compressed and glitchy, ambient production. For once in a while, there is a musical project that was purely the sound of London. The distinguished production all reciprocated the feeling of the sultry London grey skies. What added so much depth to this project was Rago Foot’s introspective lyricism. Rago would speak through the perspective of a wandering colored male, pondering the themes of urban crime and poverty.
“But recently so many people made me feel nauseous. SO much so that I made to grab the microphone and make them reassess their life options.”
While Another Man on a Zig Zag Mission was curdling under the begrimed streets of London, a proliferate from the south of Peckham was appearing into the scene as well. Released under the prestigious label Rhythm Section International, a Rapper who goes by the name of Pinty released a project that became his sole focus for the past three years.
His album, City Limits, is as technical as it is poignant. The production is inspired by D’n’B production, with Pinty’s strong dialect enveloping the smooth grooves. Produced with those significant cloudy chimes, the track Tropical Bleu involves Pinty immaculate rhyming technique.
“Damaging him and her, I heard. Left in a state and do you know what occurs? It’s like this God knows how much we sin. Sewer rat race fam, I will win.”
These artists hold a distinct inspiration, spending their lives working from their bedrooms to the nearest studio. When they hold shows, only a minimal number of people show up. When they make their tracks, they use up what little money they have. It’s their cold approach to their inspiration that truly shows their urban grit and discipline. Grit and discipline that only places like Peckham and London can produce.
Comments