Gasp Fear And Self Loathing In Glasvegas Album Review
During these days of creative hip hop highs, great music seems to seep out of every crack, nook and cranny of 21st century streets. Just when you think you've heard every accent and dialect going translated into hip hop sway and swagger, another voice bursts onto one's eardrums and happily proves us wrong. The UK has a long history of diversity and experimentation within vocal presentation and syllable acrobatics and every area and corner of our culture has contributed. Some of my favorite releases over that last few years have come from north of the wall. With the likes of living legends II Tone Committee, (later Sentanalez) and DJ Krash Slaughter around and new school scene changers such as Loki and Physiks all coming from over the craggy boarder, Scotland has done more than enough to state its claim. Coming from Glasgow is someone that has impressed us repeatedly recently with his multi-media approach to hip hop. Someone that regularly fills up our site owner Leon's playlists - Gasp. We're going to take a look at his new album 'Fear & Self-Loathing In Glasvegas'.
Gasp seems to be one of the most prolific artists going, barely a few months pass before he's sliding by in the newsfeed with a brand new release. As adept at music videos as he his on the mic, he constantly proves that hip hop music, far from being simply 'a product' - is art. For this latest album he has enlisted the skills of four producers to create a four section album which takes the listener over a four day weekend of wordsmithery and poetic protest. Superb soundscapes coloured with slick and smart lyricism, all while brandishing the heart that is stitched firmly to his sleeve.
Split into four days from Thursday to Sunday, the album starts off strong and kicking off the production duties is Physiks. The tracks in this first section are atmospheric, becoming musically and meaningfully morose. They are intelligent and interesting throughout and give time and space for Gasp to juggle syllables like an evil clown that lances the listener's lobes with his lethal lyricism. As a wordsmith Gasp takes his art very seriously, but there is a side to his lyrics that knows not to take himself in the same way. He appears happy to expose the ridiculousness of the bravado in the culture by simply choosing to focus on his linguistics. And it shows.
Section two, Friday, puts Konchis at the helm and the sound becomes more wonky. With head nodding and soul screeching production Gasp continues to slay every bar with wit and word wars. The tracks here feel like they're straight out of a dingy basement with fossilised walls battered and bruised by bass. Some of the tracks here are aggressive with their passion and the beats carry them well with their heavyness and attitude. Gasp drives the album onward with his beautifully brutish bars and continues to shout loudly to the world just what hip hop means when it steams up from unsettled Scottish streets.
Bunty Beats takes on the 'Saturday' section. Taking the reins and diggin his spurs in, he brings the album back to hip hop's roots and give it a welcomed golden era feeling interval to kick it off. Classic rolling vibes and toe tapping production here give Gasp the chance to flow in with punches and punchlines aplenty. His chosen subject matter is raw and brave throughout the album and this section is no exception. Emotion is the grease that oils the gears and as the road disappears underneath us we cover a great amount of ground. Bunty Beats has given the MC more than enough to work on and the pair make a duo that is a force to be wreckoned with.
Closing up the album with 'Sunday' is a producer we're familiar with here at Underground HH HQ. Scatabrainz is an artist we reviewed last year with his brilliant trip hop EP released on the Southside Deluxe label. Back here in a superhero partnership with Gasp, he has taken up the challenge with vigour. Beats in this section are less atmospheric than his solo EP but what he reduces in sensitivity he replaces with rolling hip hop grooves. It still oozes in his infamous quality and the two together create a brilliant section to round up the release.
There are few MCs as clever and in depth as Gasp in the art they produce. Lyrically he is way above the curve and his superb flow is testament to the size of his back catalogue. This album stands as a precipice in his wide range of art. All four producers have handed him the cream of their hip hop milk and he has more than done them proud. This is sure to be one of the 2016 highlights for those who follow lyricism or intelligent and experimental hip hop. And a proud feather in the cap of not only Scottish hip hop, but in the cap of UK hip hop culture full stop.
Invokal - Verbalist Journalist
