Black Britanyaa
From East London, Daddy Ash and Segsta offer The Windrush Volume 2, a blend of everything that could possibly fall under the genre of hip hop. Representing their own generation as well as their parents’ heritage, the long term friends might have created a somewhat subtle album, but it is far from background music.
Describing the album as “just how it should sound – music that you’d live for; music that you’d die for†the youngsters certainly emphasise the pride they have taken in their work.
Flutes in the background of Wha Gwan are surprisingly complimentary to the incredibly British voices of the lads. Sounding Middle Eastern, there is already an element of exotic on the album.
If it hasn’t already been made obvious by the lyrics, a woman intercepts in the chorus chanting “celebrate†in an almost ritualistic fashion - exactly the intention of this album; a festivity of all things hip hop, no matter where they have derived from.
Lonely Roads adds Spanish acoustic guitar and often refers to women as “senoritas†whilst Illegal Aliens blends Ska and Reggae with playful lyrics on the perception of black men in England.
The greatest element of this 15 track offering is the fact that no two tracks are the same. In fact, the artists are not aggressive and are not boastful, like so many other artists in this category. Black Britanyaa creates music which is calm and far from intrusive, which not many can pull off.
They are not afraid of heavier music and are certainly not afraid of silence as proved with Junglist Moment - which does exactly what it says on the tin – and Libation II (The Prayer) where a good ten seconds of the track are empty, with a welcome back message, similar to that of a radio transmission. When the rhythms return, they are magnificently relaxed and understated, which in a hip hop record, makes more of a statement words possibly could.
This album is not about how many platinum albums they have. Because they have none. It’s about music and about heritage and is a fantastic tribute for black musicians worldwide as well as a great step forward for British hip hop.
Rating - 4/5 Skip to - Lonely Roads
By Karen Asbury