“Alright Den, It’s Guna be a Mad Ting”. The SK Level has finally been reached, Ignorance Is Bliss is here, Skepta’s fifth studio album. This album comes the back off a single / feature streak in 2018 which unquestionably kept Skepta very much in every conversation alongside his masterstroke branding moves which you can read about a bit more here in my #ThrowawayThoughts. His prior album Konnichiwa was dominated by the singles and in my opinion, doesn’t sit the test of time as a classic. In this, I expect more cohesiveness and less waste.
1. Bullet from a Gun*
I can fully remember being sent this single while running which abruptly made me stop so I could take it in. For the next 20 minutes or so it was on a loop and has been ever since. Skepta’s clarity has always been his standout characteristic and in this timestamp opener each line is venomous (very much aided by minimalist video).
“You gotta face your demons
Don’t matter how much money you earn”
2. Greaze Mode ft Nafe Smallz
Skepta loves the “It Ain’t Safe / Mike Lowery vibe” bounce, doesn’t he? not that I can front if it ain’t broke don’t fix, it’s his signature now. The Nafe segment is going to need to grow on me, on first listen they don’t blend well together. Two high energy slappers though let’s see how long the GREEEEAZE continues.
3. Redrum ft Key
These oriental strings are MURDA and Skepta is going for straight headshots with this album so far. This greazy kingpin moshpit riddim is an excellent blend of Grime and Trap, let down by the mediocre feature from Key! (Maybe its time to jump on the keys rudeboy).
“It’s not everyday guns and shanks
More success piss everyone off”
4. No Sleep
Wow, this is some unconventional SK level ish. I really love that Skepta is making sure we know that the production on this is his. There is almost Dizzee Boy in da Corner esque vibe to it. This song also helps to give an insight into the lowkey nature of Skepta’s character, cool vibe.
5. What Do You Mean ft J Hus
The HUSTLAAAAA BABY adlib is missing from this song but I love how Hus’s mellow melodic style fits perfectly on this conventional rap beat. Although luke warm, well-crafted features like this are setting Hus up for a summertime shutdown. I’m surprised they didn’t go for a “No Bad Energy” type vibe though.
6. Going Through It
I can tell by songs like this Skepta is a deep thinker, very much made clear by the sound clip where the girl says get out your head. I’m not really feeling the song though.
7. Same Old Story*
This is very much the nostalgic Grime production I like. On this song, there is a very gradual build-up and basement style sounds. A strong follow-up from “Going Through It”, here Skepta is dipping into his relationship pain to give us a relatable story of someone who has baggage.
“Man, I wore so much Ed Hardy, how could I forget?
That love kills slowly”
8. Love Me Not ft Cheb Rabi and B Live
No idea who is doing the crooning at the start but it’s very Travis Scott-ish. The chopping up of the vocals into this Dance vibe just doesn’t work for me though. This just brings me back to the era when Grime rappers were trying to reach for the charts, not murder on the dance floor for me chief. Come off this relationship vibe now and give us some greaze again.
9. Animal Instinct ft Lancey Foux
I have checked in and out of Lancey’s music and have been impressed by the weird left field pockets he finds. But how many times!? (“Wish You Were Here” tone) is Skep going to mention his ex-girl? DYED 2WICE is a much better feature than this mess.
10. Glow in the Dark ft Lay-Z and WizKid*
I never knew Lay-Z had the vocals like this I’m assuming it’s the same brother from Lord of the Mics. This is the densest song after “Same Old Story” a conscious “higher vibration” statement which most “Grime MC’s” lack the ability to tap into.
My mum gave me the seeds I’m sowin’
My dad gave me the tools and the water to keep them growin’
So when they tell us to go home, fam, I know where I’m goin’
11. You Wish
We are back in the Greaze at last, it does feel like same old though maybe it would’ve been good to have some other producers on this.
12. Gangsta ft Boy Better Know
Featuring Boy Better Know and no Wiley? hmmm, it makes sense though in light of their prior beef
13. Pure Water
I have rinsed this way too much already, it’s a riddim though it could’ve replaced “You Wish”.
Ok, let me start this out by saying Dave still has the strongest project I’ve heard this year. Skepta has delivered a project which to me started great but is just a cool refresher with nothing groundbreaking. I do like how the project is very much UK from a production standpoint stripped back from the US presence of Konnichiwa with the likes of ASAP Narst and Pharrell Williams. When I compare it to Konnichiwa track for track there are less single bangers but on the flip side, it is more cohesive to listen to. I don’t see this being talked about much later down the year when all the projects are weighed up in all honesty
I want to see Skep push JME and BBK now this was a cool listen now let’s bring the gang along.
Top 3 Tracks: Bullet From a Gun , Same Old Story and Glow In The Dark
Rating: 7.2/10
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