:: Ya Don’t See The Signs

Mark B

Bustin’ out of London, In-ger-land, Mark B & Blade have delivered one of the freshest and most anticipated hip-hop CD’s of the year. The Unknown is the album and Ya don’t see the signs is the first fat cut from the excellent album. Being from the UK, their hip-hop credentials are essentially the focus of the release, with big shout-outs and statements of authority, as is usual in the scene. However, it is neither misogynous, nor boring. Rather it’s exciting street music - dirty, funky and real. The single they’ve chosen to release is not the album version, rather a roughed-up cut, with a scrawling guitar through the track, that I don’t think is as good as the album version (also on the single). The album version is funky, funny and gives a good indication as to just how good they are as artists. Brilliant rhyming, scratching and a great sample prove this to be one of the standout hip-hop singles of the year.