Toy Control Gambinohs Exclusive Preview
Earlier in the year here at the Underground HQ, I reviewed one of my favorite areas of the underground hip hop scene; the Glaswegian hip hop label Southside Deluxe. Within that collection of verbs and nouns was a nod to a new up and coming Scottish crew - Toy Control. Described by one of the founder members and UK hip hop stallwart Bohze - "Its a different mix of personnel guaranteed at each show and each release. And a real desire from each member to raise the bar for each others sakes, and for the greater good." - Mistah Bohze
Toy Control are a crew of hip hop heads, a conglomerate if you will, that have taken the growing scene around them and with true underground grit, forged their talents and passion into one immovable force. Excited by their promo video and first few releases, I had anticipated big things for them in 2015, and now being so deep into the mince pies and brandy, had thought that UK hip hop must of put it's feet up by the fire along with it's stockings. How very bloody chuffed I am then to be proved wrong! Sitting in my inbox this morning, santa had come early and the fat bastard had dropped me off something rather special.
Gambinohs holds no punches and it doesn't bite it's tongue. It isn't polite, it isn't for the faint hearted, and it makes no apologies for that. What it is though, is raw, ruthlessly energetic and brutally honest. Not only that, but once you get passed the (for want of a better word) 'vulgarness', these MCs have more than something to say and a bloody impressive way of saying it. Mista Bohze takes the production reins and pumps out something speaker bruising in true head-nodding Southside Deluxe style. The guitar licks and funk within the beat drive this track forward, like you the listener are walking briskly down a sunny graffiti covered street and heading to buy yourself a brand new piece of wax. In other words, it friggin bangs.
As well as production duties, Bohze kicks off the vocals too and tells his version of the story round the hip hop bonfire. Bohze has one of my favorite vocal deliveries on the scene and this track is no exception. He displays syllable skill and relevancy and still manages to squeeze in humor and humility. No mean feat in a track that is essentially a 'fuck you' to lazy, irrelevant MCs. Next up is a voice i've become very familiar with recently. Loki, fresh off the release of his phenomenal album G.I.M.P, takes the microphone like someone wielding a golf club in a street fight. The intelligence that oozes out of every line really does put the pen game of most others in the scene to shame.
Each MC here brings his A-game. Even after the stunning first two verses, when Physiks takes the beat the audience can't help but drop their jaws and listen. His stunning syllable juggling double-time opening lines bring yet another level to an already diverse offering. I've never heard Physiks before, but he compliments Bohze and Loki well and i look forward to hearing more from him. He goes on to finalize the vocals with style, and hands the reins over to Bunty to complete the track with some brilliant cuts.
As late in the year as it is, i'm going to have to add this as one of my favorite releases. Quite simply stunning hip hop, and in these days of deafening mediocrity, a proud example of just how loud the underground UK voice has become.
Invokal - Verbalist Journalist
Gambinohs drops on December the 22nd on the Southside Deluxe Website. There is lots to listen to and download in the mean time including the tracks below from Toy Control. Check out the official Southside Deluxe by clicking Here.
Toy Control | Glasgow Hip Hop Collective
