For those able to cast their mind back half a decade, the track title will be instantly recognisable to Blak Twang’s traditionalist fans as those sung my Jahmali on one of Twang’s biggest tracks.
For some, that track, ‘So Rotton’, was a blinding light on the front of a UK Hip-Hop juggernaut that, along with ‘Kik Off’ and ‘Trixta’, launched Twang, AKA Tony Rotton, outside of the hardcore few in the scene to a broader audience.
Unfortunately, maybe just for me, it was also one of the last tracks that catered for the tastes of those who had followed him since ‘Dettwork Southeast’ and ‘19 Long Time’, both of which suffered problems with release.
Coming back with the heavy basslines, a new label in Rotton Products Records, and a return to form, the double a side of ‘Help Dem Lord’ and ‘Thumbz Up’ relinquishes Twang’s crown as one of the scenes rap royalties.
‘Help Dem Lord’, with a First Man produced beat, combines pulsating bass thuds and choral samples over an ambient, dark melody, Blak Twang speaks out in typical fashion about the need for direction and education in a dog eat dog world. The flow is trademark Twang (think ‘Red Letters’ as opposed to ‘GCSE’) spitting with ease inspirational lyrics that touch on areas from Live Aid and trigger happy ‘protectors’ to corrupt governments and the music scene.
Whilst the club banger ‘Thumbz Up’ comes from the other angles of Rotton’s extensive repertoire. Aimed directly at the club heads, the lyrics drop from the aiding, to the hating. Three minutes of battle lyrics peppered with talk of the back catalogue and why this man demands, and warrants, a little gratitude.
Both tracks are to be accompanied with videos, ‘Thumbz Up’ already rotating’, with ‘Help Dem Lord’ coming soon.
The release, which drops on 30th July, will precede two more Rotton releases in the coming months; the ‘Mayor of Rotton City’ mixtape, set to drop in August ’07, with the album ‘Speakin’ From Xperience’ pencilled in for the Autumn
If you’re a Twang fan, or at the least a passing admirer, the least you should be doing is buying the single, if you’re slightly more stalker than streaker, you could do a lot worse than picking up all three.
Rating:
6/5 (not an error, just an oversight in previous reviews)
Label:
Rotton Products Records
Useful Links:
http://www.blacktwang.net
http://www.myspace.com/blaktwang
http://www.rottonproducts.com
Word By: Andrew Milner
