Leeds Hip Hop Scene

Seems Christmas has come early for me this year.Last week some tubby old guy in a red suit came up to me in the skuzzy little ‘after hours’ bar that is The George. Very quietly he slid a CD under my beer mat. I did not react, continuing my hand of Black Jack, but I could still see the shabby old man in my peripheral vision make towards the exit. I quickly turned to look upon the door but it was too late, there was no one there. Could it really have been my secret Santa? No matter, the importance laid in the gift that was given, a supremely advanced copy of Breaking The Illusions debut album Mixed messages.
I ran to my car, it was cold and I was alone. I hit eject on CD player, out popped Woody Guthrie, in went BTI, I hit play.

Now before I get into what came next, let me just say this. Until this point Breaking The Illusion, to me, had just been an incredible live act. I’d seen most of the tracks on the album performed countless times and chuffin loved em, but I’d always had my doubts about how effectively they’d crossover to the studio. Non the less as I sat there in my car down the side of the Town Hall I held a breath of excitement and hushed into a wait of anticipation.

First track to hit my speaks is “Big” and dag-nabit it feels just like I’m at the gig. It’s the same track they always open with and it sets the scene perfectly. I turn the dial to full and my cruddy car speaks farts out the next bass heavy groove. The album has a distinctive sound and surprisingly I find myself drawing comparisons to El-P on the production front.

A group of students lumber past my car dressed in all manner of inadequacies. They lurch their heads down to see my face with a “what’s this guy doing sat in his car in the middle of the city at 5am blasting out these future classics” kinda look on em. I return the glare in a kind of, “How do, have you heard this shit!? Wanna come join my party!?, especially you in the silver skirt with your arse half hanging out - you look up for a laugh” way. Still alone and tales of Mechanical dongs and ego driven door folk are among some of the more familiar topics keeping me company throughout this 14 track offering. I’d say the main focus on the lyrical front is quite sub-political. Iraq is parodied as a holiday destination for troops, Tom (Stewart (BTI)) also tackles the bling culture and in his very unique view of the world shares his thoughts on drugs and woman.

Fifty minutes and 26 short skirts later and the last track (Nobody Likes you comes to a close. The album ejects and Woody Guthrie is retuned for the journey home. I reflect, humming away to “run away with another man, run away..” and decide that Mixed messages will stay in the car, but I’ll have to take Burt Bacharach back to my room to make space. I also concluded that Breaking The Illusions power house “Girlwatcher” is my new favourite track of the minute. It’s just kicked “Sweet Talk” out the water as far as I’m concerned. It’s like Chemical Brothers meets Death From Above with Tom on vocals.

Final words, I fully expect this album to make chart success, it’s simply marvellous! And whoever you are dodgy Santa guy, thanks for the exclusive.

Mixed Messages is due for release early 2008! Support local Hip Hop!!

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