Style 43

So here I am again, listening to yet another release from the Triple Darkness collective. This time it’s Melanin9’s LP, “144,000” and for those of you who heard the “Paintbrush” single, you’ll know what to expect: gritty street commentaries over some truly ominous beats, spliced with some dope jazz loops courtesy of Jon Phonics.

Lyrically and sonically this is definitely on a par with the “Anathema” album which Triple Darkness released as a group earlier in the year. Cyrus Malachi and Nasheron are on hand again to lend their skills to the cause and so you could be forgiven for thinking this is Triple Darkness’ sophomore project. But we are told this is a solo affair and to be fair, M9ine really does shine throughout. Although I’m not sure if ’shine’ is the right word to use, given the darkness of the whole album.

Chemo and Beat Butcha’s beats act as a potent backing for M9’s lyrical offerings, while Jon Phonic’s gives us some respite with his more laid back approach to beat making and the balance between the two makes this album a breeze to listen to. M9ine’s many references to ancient mysticism and Nuwaubianism, serve as a reminder of the comparisons that are often drawn between Triple Darkness and the Wu-Tang. This is confirmed even more so in this project, with a guest spot by Detroit Wu-Tang affiliate Bronze Nazareth.

For me this album, and really the whole Triple Darkness crew, represent a change in the direction that UK hip hop is going. For a while I thought grime was going to seep in and contaminate all aspects of what has become a world renowned and respected platform for the talent that’s being produced in the UK. But cats like Melanin9 and his conscious collaborators are proof positive that there are still people out there representing the true heads.

“144,000″ is released on 10th November and buying yourself a copy is a no-brainer in my eyes.

http://www.myspace.com/m9ine

Review by Fyshh