SCENE & HEARD The second act on the night was SHOBIZ. The backing track to his opening number is something that is very circumstantial. What it brings to “Intro- Just Do” is pick up the pace on it and give it a bit of the dapper. It does have a gritty rhythm and the lyrics don’t avert from the subject matter that they are about. It is as positive as it is philosophical here. The second track from him is called “Reassured”. This sees his performance become more animated and snappier. The current affairs mentioned in the lyrics show a keen eye for observation. The sound that is mixed in on this is interrupted by a pause midway through the set, which is part of the performance, but the chords that it strikes are well matched to this one. Some AfroCaribbean influences on the mix to “Robots Gone Wild” give it a real sense of flavour. The pace to the rapping shapes it all nicely. It comes in on the back of some nice beats and verses that are well tracked here. There is also a strong sense of authority to it. “Lagos” then leads in from that song without dropping a beat. It questions authority but without the angry rapper approach of most artists. Instead it is more about intellect and resolving things through discourse. The direction to it is very specific and it is well tailored here. Incorporating a sample of “Since I Left You” by THE AVALANCHES the fast dropping of the lyrical covers the subject of domestic violence. It forms things nicely inside this, and musically he masters the lyrics. It has an even presence that keeps it appealing.
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RHYTHM & RHYMESTORE Sweeney’s Thursday, 7th February 2013
Then he showcased some tunes that are under consideration for his upcoming EP. “Just Won’t Learn” has an elevation to it. That is caused by the piano, drum and bass giving it a real gloss. It is very steady and things are caught finely. The lyrics also seem to have figured everything out about it and that sees a relevance brought to it that shows true reckoning here. There is a scatty way to “Doing It” that makes it rather fancy. The scratching and mixing to it carry a flurry to the beats that is pretty fly. It then locks in the lyrics here and tables a commendable effort that is very well styled. The synth in “Games And The Bosses” shows some real class. The switch to it is gifted with a real sense of bounce and it flies off this. It is refreshing and captivated with colour. The determination in the lyrics guides it and there is a real appreciation in the making of it all here. With “Better Late Than Never” there is a good vibe that is tight and locked down into the sound. It spins off some very good hooks and the whole lot of it shows something perpetual in the lyrics. This is a very crisp number from beginning to end and the live delivery really has something to it. Currently working on an EP that is in the works and due for release in April, you can check his music out on the following link: www.soundcloud.com/ShoBizOfficial