'Revenge of the Blowfish' - Squid Ninjaz (album review)

Drawing comparisons between Squid Ninjaz and Wu-Tang would be easy, lazy journalism – but I’ll do it anyway because it seems so apt: there are lots of them, they’re dirty and grimey and there’s the whole martial arts thing too.

The production comes from Metabeats mainly although Dogruffbeats, Lousain Hekla and Imakemadbeats all pitch in too with beats. Sparse, crunchy and dusty and ultimately very heavy backdrops back up the Squids – the LP’s strength.

Opener ‘8 Bars’ features fifteen MCs who all come in full on ill lyrical mode. However, as the album goes on the allusions to violence and misogyny wear pretty thin – if you can stomach it to begin with. I appreciate their quest to bring “raw raps” but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t necessitate so much sordid imagery. For some heads – this is just what you’re looking for. For me, it’s not. Having said that, all these MCs have skills – they all rhyme the rhyme well – it’s just the relentless content that’s the problem.

Single ‘Luna Disco’ is a dope track and I can’t front on that!

‘Revenge Of The Blowfish’ will be out on December 7th on Squid Ninja Records.

Free Willo Wispa, Black Milk, Yogi, Shade 1, Mr. Drastick, Squid Ninjaz Tracks

Some UK heat for y'alls:

New Black Milk dub by Willo Wispa - these two seem to be made for each other and the track 'Panda Pops' is just eased brilliance. Can't tell you much I'm looking forward to his forthcoming recorded and released output.

Yogi and Shade 1 have dropped 'We Aint Ya Typical', some west coast sounding ishmish, via Twitter - good stuff.

Mr. Drastick sent over a new track 'Nothing To Lose' which is labelled as a Sade remix - now that I can't vouch for (although I recognise her voice on the chorus) because I struggle to be a fan of hers - one of my Dad's favourites that I couldnt get with. Anyways, Drastick's track is pretty dope so sample it for yourself.

Chrome Kids dropped a load of Squid Ninjaz tings - a Stagga remix of Joe Blow's 'Hour Glass' and two Cervantis tracks - 'Supa Human' and 'Yellow Rocks'.

That's all for now thanks.

'Face Boglin EP' - Lousain Hekla/Cervantis (free download)

Lousain Hekla/Cervantis and Squid Ninjaz have this for you: 'Face Boglin EP'. If you fancy a bit more audio sickness complete with Harry Potter and Dinosaur references and pig noises then go download this for free. It features four full tracks of Welsh based illness over some pretty spaced out beats.

If you like what you hear be sure to check out the rest of their website, if you carefully there are more free things to download.

Do You Know: Squid Ninjaz?

Squid Ninjaz is a small record label from outta Barry Town, Wales. They've put out a few good releases lately and things are certainly looking to progress for them if they continue their upward movement.

Their last release was Joe Blow's cleverly-titled and art-worked 'Smoking Skills' which was released on 12" as well as on mp3 download. 'Blunts in the Ashtray', the final track on the EP is one I've been bumping with regularity and 'Poetry in Motion' produced by Associated Minds man Metabeats is an awesome track with a great video. The EP also features Cervantis, Junior Disprol, Qred, Hekla Kosh, Stagga (Optimas Prime) amongst others. You can cop this lovely piece of work straight from their website for a few quid.

Cervantis also released the not-too-dark but still-quite-dark 'Cloakroom EP' on the label (it features Cesto, Metabeats, Diverse Concepts and Joe Dirt) and Squid Ninjaz (as a group of artists) released 'Pug Ugly' which in their words is "a dark twisted soundscape of complex lyrics and beats featuring Metabeats, Joe Dirt, Ral Duke, Joe Blow, Cesto, Cervantis and Skamma".

There are also a couple of other releases from these boys to try and all can be ordered from their website. You can also go and be their friend on myspace, I'm going to do it right now.

Squid Ninjaz - 'Yellow Venom Styles'
Cervantis - 'Luna God'
Joe Blow - 'Blunts in the Ashtray'