(#UncivilRights)

It seems no matter how many MC’s/Groups/Acts I cover, I’ll always find myself discovering more. Such is the case today with this duo that has evidently been making waves in the underground for years now, and with their April 2025 release, we have a banger that can’t be ignored! Let’s talk about it!

This is the collaboration effort between MC ‘Ill Tone’ and Producer ‘Shade Cobain’, and together they are ‘Blacktivity’, and on this one, they drop 15 tracks with a rare album length of 50 minutes for a long and defined listen that I guarantee you, you won’t forget!

While I was listening to this record, I have to say, this reminded me of a combination of Public Enemy and Gang Starr. You have the politically and emotionally charged lyricism reminded me of ‘Chuck D’ and yet the same bombastic, heavy, and Golden Era instrumentation and production of DJ Premier from his time with ‘Gang Starr’, and when combined, you get a memorable sonic experience!

I love how the music itself (done by Shade) has so many different influences to it from: 

– Rock

– Old School Hip Hop

– Funk

– Soul

– Jazz

– RnB

– Classical

– Ambient

And every song has its own flavour and personality. Depending on the song, you’ll have different tempo, characteristics, styles, and feel to them!

For example, the track ‘Are You With Us’ which features that predominantly ‘Rock’ vibe with those electric guitar string patterns on loop with that robust and heavy drum pattern to match! Feels like something you’d hear off ‘It Takes A Million’ very in your face and strong audio statement!

But then you have tracks like ‘Scared as Hell’ which probably features the most melodic tune of the whole album. Very dreamy and subtle. Those light notes on loop with that warm and inviting drum pattern that help emphasise on those Ambient/Lo-Fi/Jazz influenced instrumental. 

Although the actual lyrics of the song are deep and personal, the beat itself is so moving and breathtaking that it’s an exact opposite of the track I mentioned above! 

These two examples are to illustrate the variety, ability and versatility of Shade Cobain. A man who including this has already released 3 bangers this year and it’s because of stuff like this!

Whether you want to mention his master craftsmanship behind the beats, or his attention to detail or his artistic flare or his diverse sonic pallete one thing is for certain when it comes to top underground producers he’s definitely upper class!

Now, onto the MC Ill Tone. The man who turns every breathe into bars of gold (in weight and volume) he’s not just a wordsmith he’s a Messanger for his people, his society and for the state of things as we know them today.

Again, with the comparisons to Chuck. He’s a man who acts to inspire and educate first, fame and success second. You can hear it in the way he talks, the way he crafts his bars and the way his soul is embedded with each and every word that comes out of his mouth.

Every track on this album is a different scenario, experience or fable. With the intro track for example setting the scene for what to expect and with Ill making sure the whole 50 minutes was an opportunity to open the worlds eyes to the events, historic errors and tragedies and the state of things today.

As someone who isn’t apart of this race of people I can’t imagine the situations that are forced to be dealt with on a day to day basis for some of these people but listening to records like this and others similar make me appreciate that we have artists who are willing to make music to share and spread such a message!

As far as style goes, Ill his sharp, intelligent, deadly with his pen game with immaculate precision and strong powerful flow and wordplay that makes his verses impossible to deny and ignore.

I can’t believe this is my first time hearing this duo but believe you me it won’t be the last. This is one of those albums that will stick with you for weeks afterwards and make you really think about the state of the world. 

If you haven’t already, don’t sleep on this any longer and check this one out! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6TENfRtwxQ8NRGZfvXBWWR?si=3xDCehfJQpyQTw0k42dztA