Genesis Elijah Private Moments In Public Review
Private Moments In Public is a quadruple EP, the latest project released by Genesis Elijah. By now he needs no introduction, but just incase you've been hiding in a cave for the past decade preparing for revolution or awaiting the release of detox here you go (you can skip this if not); Genesis Elijah has been a consistent force of quality in the UK hip hop game since the early 2000s. Not your everyday road rapper but not one you’d categorize as a ‘conscious’ MC either, he’s always stayed true to himself discussing gritty issues relative to his past without blurring over details, whilst not falling into the trap of glorifying the harsh realities of negative aspects of life. With over ten full length projects and at least one certified UK classic in less than ten years, man has an impressive work rate to say the least. You knew he wasn't done and sure enough his latest project delivers the quality we've come to expect. Let’s get into it.
A Private Moment (Intro) kicks off the quadruple feature. The soft strings combined with the wavy keys and vocals gives it an almost dream like underwater effect. A trademark of his, Genesis Elijah is heard talking normally to someone, this time about the end of the project and his own feelings on it. The second track Rise (Produced by Nutty P) is a well-placed hype track, 8 bitty synths over the rasping bass line throw you into the deep end the variety of styles Genesis can flow over. Intelligent lyrics delivered with DMX like intonation kill this track. The female vocals on the hook also add a nice dimension.
Genesis is his grown man shit in Doing Great feat Gorgeous George (Produced by Pastor Dutchie). This track gives us an insight on his frame of mind and the journey he’s taken. The drums sound dope on this optimistic beat by Pastor Dutchie. Gorgeous George talk/sings the simple effective hook, telling us he’s on some real, be yourself shit. A skit of a group of heads in the studio creasing accompanied by the keys adds depth to the structure. This Year (Produced by Hirolla) ….. bruh he snapped. “Build with gang members, usually the captain, discussing Marcus Garvey and the rise and fall of black men” on some trill shit. The beat is an epic banger with motown undertones over which Genesis basically goes in. Not gonna attempt to describe this one more, it’s fire, go check it.
I rate the screwed hook that Out Cold (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) starts off with. Pastor Dutchie’s beat on this is on some dark eerie shit that Genesis laces a seamless flow over; reminiscent of Freddie Gibbs. Shit bangs. A fairly short track on a grittier vibe than most of the other so far, adding more depth to the project. Official video below!
Genesis Elijah | Out Cold (Prod by Pastor Dutchie)
Warrior (Produced by Anabolic Beats) is a description of Genesis Elijah’s warrior like mentality. The airy vocals on the hook hang in the mind while the overall vibe is a motivational one. Could do some rocky like training sessions with this in my ears. This will resonate with people with strong willpower. Big track. You might think You feat Miss Emmy (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) is the standard ‘one for the ladies’. You’d be wrong. This is a deep conceptual track, and I don’t want to say too much more. Have a listen. The liquid hook with Miss Emmy providing vocals is hauntingly emotive. Good track.
First off I’m glad to be seeing Pastor Dutchie all over this quadruple EP, he ups the levels with each track. The Return feat Fliptrix (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) (Cuts by DJ Sammy B-Side) ; the beat is a madness. After a dope honest verse from Genesis Sammy B-Side’s mad cuts kick in, adding mysterious dimensions to an already epic beat. Fliptrix then comes in with one of the best features I've heard from him, and those same cuts finishing off the track make this one of the standout tracks of the project for me. Another Moment (Interlude) (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) breaks up the feature nicely and gives us with another trademark view into Genesis Elijah’s candid moments, accompanied again by the strings wavy keys & vocals from the intro.
I rate the beat on When It Was Good (Produced by Lindow Wicker) highly. The cuts on the hook & bridge sections are incredible. Over this dope plucked string beat Elijah flows effortlessly about the good old days, and his continued progression into the current scene. A more lighthearted track whilst still going in, this mellow piece sits nicely in the middle of the 20 track feature. Used To (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) follows on from 'When It Was Good’ perfectly. As in the previous track Genesis is riffing about the old days, but in a different light. Started from the bottom type of shit, except in a far more sincere genuine way than the Drake equivalent (no shade). Pastor Dutchie’s beat is on some chilled mellow ish, but noticeably more upbeat with nostalgic keys. Real nice vibe on this one.
Genesis’ chronological storytelling continues in Other Side (Producer by Pastor Dutchie). After telling us about different aspects of his past he details where is now and ambitions for where he wants to reach. Pastor Dutchie’s beat is fire, the synthy keys kicking off the track pull you in and a nice deep keys section in the last third of the track adds sonic depth. Peep the official video below!
Genesis Elijah | Other Side (Prod by Pastor Dutchie)
All I Want / 33º (Celebrate) (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) “Hatori Hanzo I got a point to make” jheeeez dope track ere. All about celebration. Pastor Dutchie’s ambient beat provides a dream like vibe matched by the vocals on the hook. The spoken word piece at the end is deep. What? Another official video!
Genesis Elijah | All I Want (Prod by Pastor Dutchie)
Fathers Day (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) 10/10. Deep ish. Genesis talks about fathers and their impact in everyone’s life, whether present or not. Great samples from different speeches give another dimension to the narrative, and the beat fits perfectly. Nothing more to say, check this one out. In Hold My Hand feat Sabrina Bell & E.S.T. (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) Genesis talks about the challenges of holding down a relationship with someone that you really care about. Sincere track with real nice vocals from Sabrina Bell on the hook. Not your average poppy track for the ladies or angsty track for moist guys lol. Pastor Dutchie’s beat flows nicely on from Father’s Day, his production blends this entire album together nicely.
LMMH (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) I’m writing this at 4am and can’t figure out what LMMH is, can’t be 'love in my heart', maybe 'love makes me hate’ or suttin? Anyway. Rate the hook on this one it’s kinda catchy, Dutchie's beat is tight too. The last minute or so is a joke skit. Cool track. Underground King RMX feat Fallacy, Joker Starr, S. Kalibre, Rob Kelly, Reveal, Theme, Cappo, Ramson Badbonez, Iron Braydz (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) Jheeeeez this is mass destruction!! Remix of one of my all time favourite tracks from Genesis, Underground King from the free 2012 EP 'I Aint Even Charging Bruv 2’. Lyrically this compares with 'The Return ft. Fliptrix’ for the best track on the feature in my opinion. Hardest track for sure; 9 minutes of PAIN they all go in on different styles whilst maintaining the level. Pastor Dutchie’s beat carries it perfectly. 10/10.
The Last Moment (Produced by Pastor Dutchie) is the last official track on the feature. We finally get to hear Elijah go in over the beat that has been a theme throughout the EP. On some real ish about his everyday life, this is fully a private moment in public. Rate the lyrics on this one highly. Rounds off the EP perfectly, and a good way to loop you back to the beginning for a reload. Good Song (Bootleg Remix) (Bandcamp Bonus) the first bonus track is a cheeky bootleg remix of Blur’s 'Good Song’. On some lighthearted ish, this is a nice chillin track. I’m guessing due to legal reason it couldn't be on the official version, I am glad it was left on as a Bandcamp bonus. Good rap. Money On My Mind (Bootleg Remix) (Bandcamp Bonus) is the second bonus track and last track of the EP. Another Bootleg remix, I rate this way more than the original haha. The lyrics & delivery go in. Not a fan of Sam Smith but this is a cool track still.
This is one of my favorite & most complete projects from UKHH of recent years. Not to say that the scene hasn’t been on fire recently, but this is really something that stands out to me as completely honest & sincere, no gas or bullshit, whilst still being dope music with good replay value. You can go grab this 20 track quadruple EP (with over 10 features from some of the biggest names in the UK underground as well as instrumentals from over 5 different heavy producers) from Genesis Elijah’s Bandcamp for FIVE POUNDS. Shit is insanely under priced. Go get it now before he realizes he’s undercutting himself and ups the price. 5 POUNDS. £5. Only FIVE £S. Go.
Reviewed by Dr. Ed.
