Skrein - one of UK Hip-Hops unsung heroes. (The Eat Up - Skrein)

Member Name: mcicp19

Product:	The Eat Up - Skrein
Date:	17/11/08 (327 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb production, great raps, great album.

Disadvantages: None for me.

'The Eat Up' is the 2007 debut album from North London rapper Skrein. Described by Dented Records website as having an 'explosive stage presence, intoxicating rhymes and an unmistakable voice', Skrein really is one of UK hip-hops greatest unknown talents, but Dented Records seems to specialise in this, having other such UK acts like Dr Syntax and Stig of the Dump on their label. Skrein made his name collaborating on various UK artists records such the Foreign Beggars 'Asylum Speakers' release.

I really don't know much more about the man but if you get to see Skrein live go see him, the sounds exactly the same live as in the studio, if not better, and genuinely looks like he's having fun when performing, I thought he was one of the better rappers I've seen live.


The Album

1 - Intro


2 - Where It All Started

The first solo song I ever heard by Skrein and still by far my favourite song by him, this is just one of my favourite songs in general. Basically (as you may have guessed) this track is all about how Skrein first discovered hip-hop and his journey began. The beats, produced by Dyversity, are some of my favourite in rap, such a laid back sound while still really jumping out at you, the lyrics really speak out to me and always make me think about when I first discovered my love for rap music, which funnily enough was a similar time to Skrein.

http://www.last.fm/music/Skrein/_/Where+It+All+St arted

10/10

3 - Reign in Blood ft Foreign Beggars

I don't like the this track, the beats really aren't up to much, while the rhythm of the song forces the artists to rap in a style that for me just doesn't bring out the best of any of them.

4/10

4 - *Skrizzle*

Love the beats on this one, the base lines wicked, a song about all the different people who call Skrein's mobile phone trying to cause him problems, the raps are pretty funny, this ones well worth the listen.

7/10

5 - Bastard Like ft Dubbledge

This track has laid back, melodic beats, while the raps are about women, more specifically the type of girl who enjoys being treated bad, and how stupid that is, people like this are mad though aren't they, both mc's have decent rap's, I do like Dubbledge.

6/10

6 - Crazy Tone (Skit I)

I don't rate skits/interludes or even comment on them usually but this is very funny and worth listening to.

7 - Stop the Clock ft Foreign Beggars

A really jazzy sounding song, some really nice piano, the lyrics are pretty funny, but it's a really short song coming in at 1 min 57, as each mc has such a short time to rap they really pull out some strong rhymes, Skrein tops this track for me.

7/10

8 - The Weary Traveller ft DJ IQ & Grazelle

With some of the nicest sounding beats you'll hear on any rap record this track is one of my favourites on the album. Grazelle's singing is just beautiful, I managed to catch Skrein live at a Beer & Rap/Dented Records show in Newcastle and he had Grazelle with him and I can say she sounds just as good live as in the studio, Skrein was wicked too but anyway, his raps are perfectly suited for this track, just a great track all round.

10/10

9 - How's it Feel ft Plan B

When I first heard this song it was about 3-4 years ago on a Plan B mixtape before he had released his album, I didn't even know who the other guy on the beat was at the time and promptly forgot about the track until I bought this album, the song is about two guys, one a thug and another a wannabe getting trained how to be street gangster basically, the song has an interesting twist at the end, quite a bleak song but I do like it.

8/10

10 - Mother Earth

Much like 'The Weary Traveller' this one has some really nice sounding beats, very polished production, you don't often hear British rap music sounding like this, this song is like a love song to Earth, comparing emotions and the natural world together, such a laid back sounding song, a good one to sit back and relax to. Love the outro to the song with big Stig on.

8/10

11 - Raise Ya Glasses ft Stig of the Dump

Love the beats and piano on this track, its a really bouncy, uplifting, and just plain fun song, a proper head bouncer, love Stig's (the drunkest Geordie rapper you'll ever find) raps, basically about having a laugh and a beer, a subject close to my heart, Skrein turns up with his own unique rhyme style, he has a great verse on here with a nice comedic twist at the end. One of the best tracks on here, which can also be found on Stig's 'Homeless Microphonist EP'.

10/10

12 - Listen!

A fairly traditional style rap track, the lyrics are Skrein talking himself and his crew up, something every rapper in the world does but that's not a bad thing, the beats are vey well produced and the raps work very well.

7/10

13 - The Eat Up pt 1 ft Shameless

The title track is a decent song, the beats are almost blues sounding with a hip-hop baseline on top, Skrein's raps are tight and delivered with perfect timing, some very English lyrics in here. Again love the outro by Geordie rapper Stig, believe it or not but there are people who talk like the voice he put's on in the North-East.

8/10

14 - Pineapples and Pistachios ft Tau Rai

An ultra laid back song, I do like it and all but it's a little boring, one to listen to every so often to help you relax, and I do enjoy and raps that mention De Niro and Pacino.

6/10

15 - Crazy Tone (Skit II)


16 - Mine for the Taking ft Dr Syntax, DJ Skully, Verb T & Farma G

The beats are fairly decent, some 2 step rap beats to allow the mc's raps to really stand out, the song may have benefited from having Syntax and Skrein as the last two verses instead of the first two as they are in my opinion mc's of a higher calibre than the other two, to be fair I don't know much about Farma G and do like Verb T.

7/10

17 - Drug Opera

A song about being on drugs, surprisingly, it's not a track singing the praises of class A drugs, more just looking at the reality of the whole thing and what you go through on drugs, a very well written track, love the beats, definitely a head bouncer, if you've ever taken harder drugs you can probably relate to something in this song.

8/10

18 - The Eat Up pt II ft Doc Brown, Supar Novar & Metropolis

Using the same beats as pt 1 this track is a platform for all the rappers to just let go and show of their skills. I have to admit I don't know anything about the other rappers on the song but Skrein but they do sound good, not quite as good as the first version but still a good song.

7/10

19 - Ghost Town ft Dubbledge

As you may have guessed this track heavily samples The Specials classic track 'Ghost Town', beats which work perfect for some quite simply ridiculous double time raps from Skrein, very impressive rhyming, then Dubbledge goes for a more standard speed, love his verse but I prefer Skrein's, love this track.

9/10

20 - Outro

Now the outro features a minute long musical ending, a few minutes of silence then a very funny track which makes me laugh everytime, the beats are as laid back as any of the songs but the comedic level of the lyrics is turned right up.

7/10


Overall a 8/10 from me for the album, Skrein has a very interesting voice, unlike anyone else I can think of in rap, it works so well for me, the album is superbly produced and has some amazingly laid back songs on it, this isn't your usual aggressive rap album, recommended to all hip-hop fans, although if you only listen to gangster rap this may not be for you.

Further reading

http://www.myspace.com/skrein
http://www.dentedrecords.com/artists/11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrein

Summary: One of the most laid back hip-hop albums for years