Music Reviews
Artist:
ASM & SkreinTitle:
Pre-Emptive NostalgiaWebsite:
http://www.myspace.com/astateofmindproductionz
What makes the A State of Mind and Skrein collaboration stand out is not their ‘conscientious rap’ credentials or ‘positive vibes‘, that’s not new, what marks them out is their music. Its simple soulful hip hop - three Mcs throwing the mic back and forth. It all hawks back to times gone by (hence the nostalgia) but manages to keep just enough freshness.
The backing tracks are understated throughout; we get gentle piano hooks, low level bouncy beats and soul samples, but it’s really all about the lyric flow. The ASM rappers Funky Poet and Green T are of half German and half Canadian, half German descent respectively while Skrein is born and bred in North London - each brings their own distinct style but somehow they work well together. FP and Green T have long perfected their turn taking rap style and Skrein’s gritty reptilian vocals add another layer to the mix.
The era which ‘Pre-Emptive Nostalgia’ points back to is that of A tribe Called Quest, who they sample on ‘Oh My’. While ATCQ mastered a range of sounds ASM & Skrein don’t quite achieve that on this record, the beats vary but it all sounds a little similar - not too much of a problem now but we wait with interest to see what they come out with next.
