Authentic Bros are a UK based duo on
a mission to spread the message of peace, awareness and unity
through a unique and cinematic soundscape of hip-hop inspired
grooves and high-tempo, metaphor heavy flows. Debut single ’For
You’, sees the Birmingham based brothers concoct a rhythmically
rich and varied tapestry of multi-cultural beats that fuses the
lush harmonics of r’n’b with the explosive power of
contemporary hip-hop to stirring effect. With influences ranging
from reggae to electronica, grime to the more traditional climbs
of Persian and Arabic music, it is plain to see that this debut
has the potential to be worlds away from any preconceptions one
may have about UK hip-hop, or even hip-hop in general.
Guns, bitches, whips and unnecessary violence
are refreshingly left at the front door and instead, the brothers
concentrate on a broad cross section of issues brought about by
a strong interest in World Politics, social inequality and unchallenged
major injustices on a World scale. It is the concept of ‘true
light’-the exposure of real issues that need to be confronted
by today’s youth before it’s too late- that spurred
Authentic Bros to write lyrics and the time and dedication poured
into this ideology seems to be paying off. With unique flows from
both brothers that switch instantaneously from conventional rap
to double-time grime-style flowage, and choruses that bring into
play harmonious and emotive vocals that elongate around the melody,
there is a tangible and captivating sense of energy compounded
into the sonic waves that are unleashed before the listener. The
up-tempo beats showcase a strong song-writing capability, utilising
linear macro-structures that are played around with through intricate
and innovatively developed instrumentation. This instrumentation
drips with a dark and industrial edge that is set off within an
Eastern dynamic and beats tend to be built up graciously, then
stripped down before ‘dropping’ to communicate the
full force of their message to listeners.
Lead single, ‘For You’, showcases
the softer and more emotional side of the duo. Developed, no-doubt,
as more of a commercial break-through track, the harder hitting
beats and souped-up flows are reined back to unveil a more restrained
and more lavish offering. Utilising an infectious warping melody
that streams blanket-like over a metronomic beat that in-turn
is complimented by an elaborate cluster of subtle claps and snares,
the laidback and cinematic soundscape will have you drifting off
to sun-scorched landscapes akin to the Majorca-shot video accompanying
it. ‘Same Rules’ is a different proposition altogether,
exploring the darker and more energetic facets of the Authentic
Bros ideology. Exploding from the outset, the track chugs with
an industrially-tinged bass that is set upon by a clutch of curtailed
synth melodies and sharp smatterings of Eastern wood and hand
percussion that both surround the bass like electrons hovering
around a nucleus. With a rousing chorus, delectable harmonic backing
vocals and forceful verbage that cleverly (and subtly) exposes
the current political climate, the duo carve out a real epic that
will wake-up and touch any passive listener. On the final offering
‘True Light’, the hard-hitting traits of the previous
track shine through as both brothers contribute focused and switch-heavy
flows overtop of drawn out synths, drum’n’bass inspired
snare arrangements and deep, reverberating bass oozes.
Although ‘For You’ conveys
strong social and political messages through the use of intricate
rhymes and intellectual prose, the package in which it is wrapped
up in is far from the ‘dead’ beats typically found
in message-conveying hip-hop. Instead, its beefed up production
values, powerhouse beats, quirky melodics and catchy choral passages
fuse deliciously with the evidently emotive and energetic flows
to create an offering that combines the commercial dynamic with
the underground rawness to create an entity that will appeal to
a broad cross-section of the public. Do not sleep on this one!
(KS)
For
fans of: Immortal Technique, The Gift of Gab, Braintax, Outlandish
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