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| Release: | Futureclassic |
| MyHHHdb | |
| Media: | [Audio CD] | | Released: | 2005 [ Listen to HHH from this era on Spotify ] |
| Recordlabel: | Soul Kitchen Sound |
| Info: | Production by DJ Balance, DJ Kay, MoO the Beatfanatic and
Surreal.
1. Intro
2. Rebirth of Skill
3. Each step
4. Scratch and spit
5. Sk Freestyle
6. Moment in time
7. Outro |
| Rating: | This release is not rated yet Sign up or login to submit your vote |
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Add a review
| | Review: | Written by Dreamz
Friday, 17 February 2006
Surreal - Future Classic EP
(Independent)
In order to lend this review some legitimacy (read with
subtle sarcasm) I will write about the first time I heard
about Surreal. At a Mars Ill show manchild told me to make
sure to check for him and his straight-laced golden aged rap
music deeply rooted in the year 1994. He has recently opened
his life to Christ and had been part of the two man crew,
Double Helix, a stronghold in Florida’s underground rap
scene. In the Tampa area Surreal made a name for himself,
crushing many a head in the battle circuit. They also
dropped their dope debut album titled “Soundproof”, alerting
many heads to the infant-like purity and freshness of their
music.
After the show I began scouring the internet for any news of
his release “Godspeed,” but struggled to come up with much
information, and it looks like it might take a while until
it will finally be released because of label confusions, but
will hopefully appear in oh-six. In the meantime he has
released a nice little project to give the impatient public
a foothold to rest on for a while until his album drops
while providing his newlywed wife with the funds she is
unable to make during her pregnancy.
The ep is titled “Future Classic” and is a mature body of
work, although a little brief with 7 tracks. The intro is
comprised of some laid back vibes and keys over which
Surreal welcomes his audience and spits a few bars in his
trademark cadence that is thickly structured as well as his
inviting deep voice that is authoritative. It reminds me a
little of Common’s intro on “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.”
Surreal’s got a voice and words, usually matched to
melancholy and emotion-laden jazz that demand a serious
listening. Surreal’s delivery has an effortless quality to
it that Nas possesses. The second track, “Rebirth of Skill”,
hosts a swinging trumpet sample and a bouncy bassline. The
hook displays some fine vocal cuttery featuring Busta’s
“Woo-Hah. “Creation is God’s science--that’s why I’m
dropping it”--dope.
The second full track might be my favorite, sporting light
drizzling piano drops and a sweet trumpet-sequence that
breezes over a crunchy break. It is on mellow, heart-felt
tracks like these where Surreal comes through strongest. His
usually smooth intonation becomes a little edgier and
sentimental as he speaks on the resurgence of his spirit
through Christ. One of those goose-bumpy type joints.
Moving ahead, track 4 is another interlude, even though it
clocks in at 6:04. The track itself is fitted out with some
banging drums, cuts and the bassline Ant sampled on
Atmosphere’s “Party for the Fight to Write,” but gets a
little boring and longwinded after a few listens.
Number 5 is the “Spitkicker Freestyle.” Another little
interlude that I assume is not entirely “free” as Surreal
kills the beat too effortlessly for it to be completely
off-the-top. It’s really nice for a shout-out type joint.
Next up is “Moment in Time.” It is, similar to “Scratch and
Spit”, a song full of feeling with a guitar-run and vibes
that tune out the stress of the present, giving you a solid
four minutes to enjoy the moment with Surreal who’s “been on
the grind all week, now I can finally breathe, kick-back
relax, disconnect get some rest. Turn off the TV and the
internet so I can introspect…” Beautiful.
You’ll have to buy this ep to find out what’s in the outro.
So pick up this ep to sneak a peak of the future (or the
glorious past).
3.5 of 5 stars | | source: Sphereofhiphop.com, added: Aug 12, 2006 |  |
| Review: | Written by SSRC
Wednesday, 07 December 2005
Surreal - The Future Classic EP
(Indie)
It’s always a treat to listen to a new artist and know from
the first listen that he is going to be something special.
Before I had a chance to hear Surreal’s EP I was listening
to the Muneshine LP and the last track “Imagine That
(remix)”. Surreal was the guest emcee and he flowed over the
smooth beat with ease. This had me searching for more music
from this artist. Next up was the Ohmega Watts CD and the
track Saturday Night Live with Surreal and Sharlok Poems
sharing mic time over a banging beat by Mr. Watts. Again, he
made me stop and listen with his commanding flow. On the
strength of those two guest spots my interest was peeked and
I looked forward to see what Surreal had to offer on his
debut EP Future Classic.
Calling your EP a Future Classic is a bold move and I don’t
know in time if this will be considered a classic but it
will go down as a real tight EP. It starts off with an Intro
that has Surreal talking about this piece of music over a
jazzy backdrop. The jazzy flow that fills your ears is an
introduction of things to come. Next up is his first single
‘Rebirth Of Skill’ that is exactly what the title says. Over
some horn samples and a drum kick, Surreal reminds us that
the key elements to a tight song are skills on the mic and a
dope beat. The next track is ‘Each Step’ with a nice sax
loop and a hard hitting drum. Surreal spits about his life’s
direction and what keeps him going each day. No gimmicks or
wild sounds to keep your attention, just straight up rhymes
and a rugged beat.
The fourth song is a turntabilist track called ‘Scratch and
Spit’ that has the DJ speaking with his hands crafting a
track with vocal samples and scratching. It’s really a
history lesson or Hip Hop 101 as the vocal samples talk
about the art of Hip Hop and the scratches show it in
action. It’s always nice to see the DJ getting a chance to
shine on an album in 2005. Next up is a freestyle taken from
the Spitkicker compilations. Listening to it I am not sure
if it is actually a freestyle or written but it sounds fresh
none the less. ‘Moment in Time’ is the last official track
and it keeps with the sound of the EP, another head bobbing
track from Surreal. This song has the emcee pondering life
and taking a break from the busyness of the daily grind. He
is able to take you to a place where you feel like you
sitting across from him as he shares about his life. The EP
closes out with an Outro with some shoutouts to his crew and
friends.
At less than 25 minutes this is a real short snapshot of
what Surreal has to offer. He represents himself well in
this short time and looks to be someone who is going to do
big things in the future. I have nothing bad to say about
this piece of work besides the fact that it was too short.
The music he made was dope and really has you wanting more
for this talented emcee. It looks like he has a full length
album coming out in 2006 so keep your ears open and eyes
peeled and pick up this EP so you can tell your friends you
knew about Surreal before he blew up.
3.5 of 5 stars | | source: Sphereofhiphop.com, added: Aug 12, 2006 | |
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