The Forcefield Kids - Razorblades

Hear The Track Here

I must say it was a distinct pleasure coming across the UK hiphop collaboration of Stain(ed) Art and Sleepy, a couple of guys from Newcastle who impressed me no end with their first release Little Miss Star (January 2009). They added to that when I reviewed No Signal (March 2009) showing me that this was definitely a combination to watch. It's a given that I am now a confirmed Stain(ed) Art fan having reviewed him n dozen times over the past couple of years, along the way getting a taste for his very distinctive - and highly literate - rap lyrics. Sleepy I hadn't come across at all until he joined up with Stain, but his well put together beats don't do anything flashy but they do compliment Stain's highly recognisable style - which I suppose is the whole point of the exercise.

To be sure, having reviewed three of their tracks, they definitely have their own sound and style and if you are familiar with English spoken word musical arrangements, then there is much here to listen to. Although rap is rap, the way that The Forcefield Kids approach it (or Stain at least) is definitely from a UK angle, there are echoes of all kinds of traditions in his style, lyrics and performance. He is, after all is said and done, keeping the true hiphop values alive - albeit with an English flavour. Rap, in its infancy, was a highly lyrical, visionary, moving force. It was political and personal in the same breath, and the messages it carried resonated throughout a generation.

It's an everlasting shame that it didn't last long enough to REALLY change peoples minds.

It did however inspire huge numbers of people to turn their hand to it. Some with the objectives of getting famous and filling your boots with swag, and some with the original intention of informing and educating. The Forcefield Kids definitely fall in the latter category and that, I suspect, is why I like them so much. Again, the combination of Sleepy's music and Stain's lyrical flow is probably an acquired taste - especially for Americans used to their own hiphop sounds - but that shouldn't stop you checking out this excellent rapper and his equally adept beats producer. Oh, and as usual, clock (Ed: he means look at) the lyrics on the webpage for finer understanding of what makes this special.

Highly Recommended UK hiphop.