The lastest news from the High Focus crew comes in the form of a new collective known as Brothers Of The Stone consisting of emcees Leaf Dog and BVA backed up by Leaf Dogs younger brother Illinformed on the production. The trio have recently finished their début album which is self titled and consists of 14 concrete hip hop tracks, featuring some of the most prolific emcees reigning from the UK and overseas. High Focus were kind enough to send us a copy of the album so we can sample it and let you all know how potent the product is, so why wait? Grab a 10 bag and let's indulge!
They See You is track 2 on the album and features an uplifting positive head nodding beat backed up with soulful vocal samples, Leaf Dog is first up on the track to lay down his lyrics about his excitement of finishing work and lighting up that first spliff with his unique story telling ability. BVA soon follows up with a murderous delivery compact with boom bap bars rapping the track up nicely. Check out the official video for They See You below.
Skipping a few tracks we land on number 5 titled 'Imagine' in which Illinformed whips up a beat featuring soft piano keys mixed with a jazz sax creating the perfect platform for Leaf Dog to reflect on. You'll hear Leaf ride the beat on his own, reflecting on many 'What If' situations which in one way of another led him down the path of becoming a key player in the uk hip hop scene.
Next up is "Future" which cannot go without a mention featuring two New York legends KRS One (Verse + hook) and Beast1333, two emcees who always provide a verse oozing knowledge and positivity! Leaf Dog and BVA also lay their rhymes down focusing on their early influences and experiences of pursuing hip hop and getting their foot into the door. Illinformed yet again creates the perfect beat for all these emcees to get busy with, full of potent progressive and summer vibes, without a doubt one of the most solid tracks on the album.
Cartoon Days features an official video for the track where you'll see and hear the trio take it back to the old school days with the help of an up and coming emcee Jack Jetson featuring along side BVA and leaf dog. The tracks content is purely on a cartoon tip as you can probably tell, however the depth of the lyrics and complex metaphors will have you rewinding for days.
Check out the official video for Cartoon Days by Brothers Of The Stone below.
“Meditation” is the next track to bless your ear drums and with the legendary emcee Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks it's set to be a banger. Kicking off with Leaf Dog spraying bars compact with knowledge and references to humbling yourself and remaining positive through all of life's trials and tribulations. Vinnie Paz is up next to drop his aggressive pen game executing each line flawlessly, BVA is third up to follow suit keeping the momentum flowing with his calculated delivery.
Skipping BVA's excellent solo track 'Both Wicks' (we have to leave some surprises for you guys!) we find outselves on the second to last track 'Drug Vultures'. While both of these emcees love their chemicals and plants they're well aware of the actions some of these Drug Vultures commit from blaggy dealers, climbing walls to Spliff Politics - you'll hear it all. Just when you think you've reached the end of the album, we're hit with a final track titled 'Underground' which features some raw talent from the RLD collective. Including Eric Da Red, Tommy Dockerz and Smelling Piff! Each of the emcees drop nothing but homegrown classic boombap bars laced over an extraterrestrial beat guaranteed to give you neck ache from the headnoddin'.
We hope you've enjoyed the review and stay tuned for more reviews on the High Focus crew along with many other underground heads! If you haven't already got yourself a copy of Brothers Of The Stone's debut album then head over to the High Focus website below and grab yourself one! Click here to head over to the High Focus store.