This album is probably the most highly anticipated UK hip hop release to date and has been hyped up by K-Lash beyond the average degree of shameless self-promotion.

The Black Russian started his independent musical assault with ‘The Sagas of Klashnekoff’ which introduced hip hoppers to quality singles such as ‘It’s Murda’, ‘Black Rose’ and ‘Jankrowville’. Next up came ‘Focus Mode’, a mix CD compilation which gave his more prominent lyrics a fresh edge with jacked beats.

This left his fans chomping at the bit for new material, and when Klash started to promote his latest offering, entitled ‘Lionheart: Tussle With The Beast’, fans were crying out for this fierce, gritty and real life inspired rap album to hit the shelves. The wait is almost over, but does this album offer all that it promised to? The answer is a resounding yes.

The Hackney based rapper has teamed up with Nottingham native Joe Buhdha, who has proven himself as a talented producer to watch out for through his tight and diverse production abilities.

The duo are poised to take matters to the next level and transcend their grassroots support with this collaborative record – K-Lash’s much-anticipated debut, and Joe Buhdha’s first full-length endeavour.

After the pointless intro runs out, Klash’s lyrical abilities are used to full effect on ‘The Revolution’, as he calls for equality and criticises his generation’s lack of social responsibility. The slow beat, stabbing strings and rolling drums give Buhdha instant appeal.

The introspective ‘My Life’ is filled with piano loops, an emotive female vocal accompaniment and a Klash-led autobiographical rap of the trials and tribulations of street life.

‘Terrorise The City’, a synth-laden monstrous heavyweight of a track, is one of the more pleasing offerings, switching the album sound to a club-banging level. The track provides an impressive guest in Kool G Rap - the former Juice Crew member - alongside previous Terra Firma compadrè, Kyza.

‘Question’, as the title suggests, asks questions of the listener as to whether they are doing what they need to to make it in life, while ‘Make Ps’, featuring Skriblah, shows that the ex-Terra Firma boys can add moving lyrics over a softer track, a cut that talks about respecting yourself and being humble.  

The Black Russian is known for his honesty and this cannot be reflected more than in the track ‘Rest Of Our Lives’, which is the sequel to the emotive and honest ‘Black Rose’. The deeply personal track talks of how he found his mother begging for her life as a knife was held to her throat.

By far the best track is the synth-strewn ‘Two Guns Blazing’, featuring 45 – a club track that breaks apart the album’s sound, standing out as a monster UK hit.

To sum up, believe the hype. This album does the UK scene proud and raises the bar for up and coming artists. The Kool G rap cameo, the hold-no-punches rapping of K-Lash and the superb production abilities of Joe Buhdha makes this album a must for any UK hip hop fan.

Terra Firma may have split up but this album shows that the UK scene is ready to go global. Watch this space.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Top Tracks:

14) Two Guns Blazing

5) Terrorise The City feat. Kool G Rap and Kyza

11) Rest Of Our Lives (Black Rose Part 2)

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