BVA Be Very Aware Review
High Focus have been nothing but pioneers of the UK Hip Hop scene for the last few years releasing nothing but potent, organic, unique rhymes and beats from all of their signed artists. 2014 is nothing but another year to keep progressing their movement and the first album to drop is BVA's debut solo album titled 'Be Very Aware' - a very fitting title. You might recognize BVA from a wide array of groups such as The Four Owls, Brothers Of The Stone and the notorious The 3 Amigos, but this time we'll here what BVA brings on his ones.
BVA's been a busy man organizing Be Very Aware with production being handled by seasoned vets Leaf Dog, Illinformed and Amdek conjuring up a total of 17 neck jerking tracks! Not to mention the impressive feature list with Fliptrix, Cracker Jon, Verb T, Dirty Dike, Kashmere, Rag N Bone Man and Smellington Piff riding rhythms alongside BVA.
The album kicks off with a quick skit featuring a nature sample with comparable traits to BVA and then shortly after blending into 'Rain or Shine' featuring his signature crystal clear flow and clever wordplay! BVA goes in on the beat and airs to the scene what sets him aside from everyone else, can't help but co-sign every word. Hype Man continues with a similar theme but this time focusing on emcees who've allowed their head to swell to monumental sizes! "Frontin" goes at full speed to expose or the sly characters who'll run their mouth in numerous ways and later fail to back it up!
This Love Is Love is the first single to drop for the album featuring an official video and BVA pushing positive vibes and expressing his love for the homegrown scene! This track should pretty much be the anthem for our scene glamorizing nothing but the realness of the music and not doing it for a cheque! check out the official video below.
BVA | This Love Is Love | Prod: Leaf Dog
“Where’s the mic at” is the turning point of the album where the killer collaborations begin to kick in, featuring Leaf Dog riding the beat alongside BVA, you can except to hear flawless chemistry between the emcees, aggressive heavy hitting rhymes and hypnotic production! Its A Mad World is nothing but straight up boombap vibes with head honcho Fliptrix, Cracker Jon and of course BVA attacking the beat at full force, dope cuts have also been supplied by Sammy B-Side!
Skipping "Gifted" and "Can't Hear You" for no reason, they're absolutely banging so go get your copy to hear them! We find ourselves on "Weapon Of Choice" and the hook explains the subject matter best "What is the method you use to get wrecked and confused?". You'll hear BVA's weapon of choice is Mary Jane, followed by Dirty Dike's alcohol and Kashmere going on a lucid trip with acid!
There's plenty more tracks on Be Very Aware that'll get your head noddin and reaching for your 10 bag so we'll cover one more, "Let Me Relax In My Cave" is track 12 and features an insane hook I can't help but join in with at inappropriate times. Smellington Piff then opens up with the first verse and his pound for pound flow and marijuana inspired bars, BVA hits us with the second verse continuing the lyrical bombardment and boombap onslaught! Without a doubt one of my favorite tracks on the album.
Be Very Aware is nothing but a sold well rounded release for BVA's debut, jam packed with headnoddin' bars, clever wordplay, flawless beats and and the very essence of the underground hip hop scene! It drops tomorrow (14/02/2014) and is available via High Focus for £8.99 on CD and £17.99 for all you vinyl heads! Click the official artwork below to grab a copy for yourself!
