Brotherman The Tapes Vol 1 Review
With previous releases such as Heart Of Dem it's very hard to defend why Brotherman is slept on. This guy has it all. He's clever, alert and conscious to the real shit in the world, as well as being able to ride a beat with style, producing a smooth delivery on every track. He's got that kind of soothing voice that makes you want to listen and when you do he's got the substance to back it up.
Whether its by being taught or learning himself, Brotherman seems to boast an air of intelligence and delivers an educated voice. His background in poetry undoubtedly helps him to cover tricky subjects with ease, using vivid interpretations, beautiful imagery and a bag of wit to get results.
His new EP titled 'The Tapes' is a 6 track album well worth the free download.
This opening song starts off as an aspirational track with Brotherman assessing his current status as an artist. Although a short song, it aptly moves on to discuss how we all fit in, specifically children growing up and earning their education. It reflects on how we are numbers, just figments of elitist success, acting merely as small bricks within a ruling wall. Piece of the Pavement should be listened to by any rebellious school kid who inspires to be more than just another "Stone in the Ocean" or "Piece of the Pavement." This is a smooth benchmark including some nice vocal work, displaying not only Brotherman's ability as a thinker and rapper but also as a singer.
Brotherman - Piece of the Pavement
Like many songs titled 'Memories' you'd expect nostalgic content, reminiscing on both the highs and lows. Although this track divulges in his past collaborations with other artists such as Jehst and Yungun, it's more of a poetic jumble of rhymes and references to UK hip hop. Lyrical shout outs include props to the authentic beats of Mr. Thing and other relevant artists of his era. It's a real relaxed expression of how he embraced all those memorable sounds. He also adds references surrounding how some fall at the hurdle of hype and become lost within a tainted music industry, showing that making music isn't always rosy.
If you thought that this track was going to be a tale of personal romance you should stand corrected. This is a strong and vibrant track displaying his undevoted love to freedom and equality. Influenced by the success of preachers such as Martin Luther King, I'm in Love is tasteful tune full of heart and prosper. If Memories was a shout out to music then this is a full blown appreciation to those who stood up for what was right, applauding bravery and celebrating justice. I'm in Love is a powerful production packed to the brim with uplifting tones. It's the perfect way to pay tribute to the achievements of unity.
In the House is possibly the first archetypal 'hip hop' track of the album. Brotherman slightly switches up his style to a more rugged and gritty stance. Brotherman continues to bring quality rhyming patterns and thoughtful combinations. The verses on this track clearly displays his talents as a wordsmith.
"Fuck a spray can and an ink pen, we're talking stickers." This tune is sick. The beat heavily plods along with Brotherman sharing an insight on how he pushes his act via stickers. Whether it's literally slapping stickers on venue walls or it's meant as a metaphors on leaving his mark, it's hard to tell, but what is conclusive is that this song will have you moving and speaking the chorus. It's a proper bopper.
The last track is probably the most experimental on the album. The beat is loose and light, it's got that Mos Def - Umi Says vibe to it. Brotherman takes full advantage of the abstract production matching it with an array of clever word linking rhymes. It's probably the calmest and most chilled song on the album, providing a fitting curtain on what is a brilliant 6 track EP.
