These days, the only time I hear from the taxman is for the ever-dreaded tax returns, constant raping on my wallet to fund the life we lead. Imagine then, my surprise, when a group by the name of the IRS actually gave ME something back.
Intelligent Rhyme Styles, Impossible Rendered Simple, In Record Stores, Intricate Rhyme Schemes, I Recommend Strongly, I’m Rarely Sober, It’s Really Something…however the acronym is expanded, the only thing for sure is their debut album, The World Is Theirs, is not going to be seen as a waste of time, money, or government-stolen/acquired funds.
The 17-track collection of straight bangers follows nearly a decade of scene presence, and pitches the 5 members, King Kaiow, Ed Strong, Random Deviation, Superb and DJ Guide One, directly into a format of eclecticism and professional lyrical murder, creating tidal waves from the ripples created by their 2004 EP Cryogenic and the MySpace download prelude, the World Is Nearly Theirs.
It’s not long before the bases start to be rounded. The title track an aptly essenced Inland Revenue scathing number, escorted by Monkey See Monkey Do, a savvy outline of the consumer and celeb culture we represent, comparing it to the primitive lifestyle of our ancestors.
As if to dispel any assumption that the IRS are propagandists, Big Day In somehow makes a day in which the guys ‘ain’t got shit to do, may be hang around and swig a brew’ during still sound interesting. Gorilla Shuffle is another fine example of the humour and social knowledge showcased herein, as deftly traversed as any other subject matter.
The stand out tracks are likely to vary from person to person, such is the high calibre of the material. The weaker tracks however aren’t worth debating, purely because not one of these has the pungent stench of Polyfilla. King Kaiow’s bumptious King Has Arrived and Talkin’ Warheads are however the two that draw my attention the most readily. Similarly, not one of the artists is a weak link, each compliments and correlates the others like a single Trojan unit, launching an onslaught on the scene.
Whilst guest production appearances on ‘The World Is Nearly Theirs’ mixtape came from Chemo, Complex, Manage, the IRS opted for a more in house experience and allowed producer Ed Strong to shine on the keys.
With a lot of expectation placed on the LP, not one of the critics should be disappointed with the outcome. With only a few months remaining in the year, this should be top 5 in the UKHH genre at the least. If it’s not, someone is lying to you.
The World Is Theirs is available now from HMV and Suspect-Packages.com, on the Merciless Records label. Look out for the video of Day With The Devil, a Jumping for Peanuts and Lewisham Film Initiative stop-motion animation number sure to continue the excellent feedback seen so far.
