The Very Good Agency

Yaheard? Lightheaded & Braille

Whats up everyone! So a couple weeks back I introduced you (hopefully!) to an album called The Find by Ohmega Watts. Well, this week we’re gonna take a look at an album he released with his group Lightheaded, as well as a dope album by one of his Lightheaded friends, Braille.

I discovered this music after I listened to Ohmega‘s album and taking some serious notice of some of Braille‘s rhymes. After a bit of research I was more than pleased to find they were actually part of the same group, along with another MC called Othello. Wrong Way is the second album from Lightheaded, and was released way back in 2005. Full of up-tempo b-boy jams and summertime beats; the three artists create something that has you nodding your head and reminiscing about the golden days of hip hop. Drawing influence from the likes of People Under The Stairs, Gangstarr, Jurassic 5 and Ugly Duckling (circa Journey To Anywhere), the three MC’s rhyme with conscious and positive lyrics over some seriously good Ohmega Watts production.

The album wastes no time in starting the party, the second track, “Timeless”, comes in with a funky horn loop over a cracking drum beat, before the MC’s start with the timeless (no pun intended) hip hop mantra “Clap your hands everybody, if you what it takes……”.

The MC’s feed off each other and rap collectively as well as dropping tight verses individually, this is a truly classic party track that is impossible not to love. The whole album is awesome though, its another one that you can easily listen to from start to finish. Notable standouts include the title track, “Wrong Way”, as well as the samba-influenced “In The Building”, and the chilled out groove of the “Surprise Cypher” remix.

The production on the album is easily as solid as that on The Find, track after track of head-nodding party beats and cuts, catchy hooks and feelgood melodies. Ohmega‘s skill on the boards is undeniable, and he raps just as well too. What stands out is that these guys are all very different when it comes to their rhyme styles, yet they flow together amazingly. Braille, Ohmega Watts and Othello have the ability to create dope positive hip hop with seeming ease, its certainly a chemistry that would be envied by many artists.

Lightheaded – Soul Power

For me, Braille‘s rhyme skills really came to the fore upon hearing the Lightheaded joint. He has an instantly recognisable voice and a flow that suits the feelgood party beats that I know I love. With four solo albums and two with Lightheaded, along with running his own label (www.hiphopismusic.com), Braille is obviously a very committed and hardworking artist. As a Christian, his beliefs are often expressed in his songs, although never in an in-your-face kind of way, more of a positive and uplifting kind of way. His second album, “Shades of Grey”, is a strong showing from the Portland-based MC; and again features contributions from his pal Ohmega Watts.

“It Won’t Last” kicks off the album in style with a funky acoustic guitar riff and toe-tapping beat. Braille is joined by Othello and Pigeon John, who all rhyme together on the hook. “Hip Hop Music” follows, and keeps the beat rolling with Braille coming with insightful lyrics about the stereotypes surrounding hip hip artists. Scratch master Rob Swift, of The Executioners, adds cuts to top this track off, making it one of the best on the album. Ohmega joins the party on “Statements Part 2”, where the two MC’s rhyme together about Lightheaded and an older project they did together called Return to Sender; a track that would sit comfortably on The Find or Timeless.

The album cruises through solid tracks “Keep On” and “Let Go”, before moving to “Poetry in Motion”, which features synthy piano and dope cuts and samples from Muneshine on production. The Lightheaded crew then reunite along with Sharlok Poems on “Soul Rock” in another feelgood hit. Braille finishes off with one of the albums best tracks in “Shades of Grey”. Dropping with a big orchestral build-up, Braille bursts in and delivers some of the best lyrics of the entire album. He breaks down the realities of life, particularly his, and through the use of some beautifully complex lyrics he discusses the importance of staying positive and striving to always make the most of what you’ve got in life regardless of your situation, to always make do with your shades of grey;

“Sipping on my sorrow while it’s washing it away,
trying to add color to these shades of grey,
and trying to make sense out of all this confusion,
embrace my reality and unmask illusions, holograms,
i advance on a quest with many questions,
distracted for a second but I know that I’m destined,
counting my blessing, renewed everyday,
and I know I’d never grow without these shades of grey”

These are both great hip hop albums, no question. Hip hop music made for all the right reasons appeals to me greatly. I’m sick of hearing artists who find it necessary to continuously big up the bling-bling “money-cash-ho’s” type ideology. These guys, however, never come close to that; you can really tell that the MC’s are serious and passionate about their craft. They flow with effortless finesse, delivering track-after-track of music that pays homage to the early days of hip hop, where rolling party beats and conscious lyricism were the order of the day.

Braille also has a new album out, The IV Edition, which is well worth checking out.

You can check out more of Braille at:

www.myspace.com/braillebrizzy

www.hiphopismusic.com

and hear some of Lightheaded‘s tracks at:

www.myspace.com/lightheaded where they’ve also announced that they’re working on a new album.

That’s all for now,

Peace

…Crack

Tags: Collaborations, hip hop

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