Style 43

It’s been a bit quiet round here recently, for one reason or another, and realising that we’re nearly a quarter of the way through the year already, we figured we’d better pull our goddamn fingers out and get back on it before 2011 starts looming.

Luckily for us (and you) we’ve got some good stuff to come back with, kicking off with the new album from Fliptrix, “Theory of Rhyme”.

The South East Londoner has already built up a pretty expansive following since he dropped, “Force Fed Imagery”, in 2007, as well as smashing a number of guest spots and live shows, plus receiving airplay on 1Xtra and loads more stations across the UK and abroad. And now he has created one of the most accomplished albums I have heard since last year’s “Encrypted Scriptures” and “Rádio Do Canibal”, from Jyager and BK-One respectively.Fliptrix’s rhymes range from the technical to the storytelling, and are always blessed with a consciousness and a high-powered delivery. For bangers we have the immense, “Turn of Phrase”, produced by 184 and “Monday to Sunday”, produced by Runone, who also backs up another four tracks on the album. They include the sublime jazziness of “Dream Coat”, and the laidback piano loops of “Head Held High”, both of which are helped along by the production flair of Mr Molotov.

Verb T is also banging them out on the boards, with an always welcome artists’ anthem, “Graffiti Won’t Die”. He also drops verses on a couple of joints, including “Life We Lead”, which is set to one of three lovely Jon Phonics beats. With seemingly no end to the guest list, Jehst gets involved with a guest verse and a sweet beat, on “Get Involved”, and Chemo does his thing on, “Madness”, which features some nice bars from Kashmere.

There are 16 tracks in all, with not a letdown among them. The PR info we got, claimed this LP is “a rich and diverse tapestry” and while that sounds like it was written by Dan Brown, it is not far from the truth. Lyrics reign supreme in Fliptrix’s world and those needing proof, need look no further.

The album will be available digitally on iTunes, Amazon etc. from the 18 March and you can cop hard copies from www.fliptrixmusic.com, www.myspace.com/mrfliptix, where you don’t even have to pay P&P. Nice.

Tags: Fliptrix, hip hop, Jon Phonics, Runone, Verb T