You’d have to be living under a pretty isolated rock not to know who Sam Buck is! His reaction series and his collaboration with 1000 Forever have done more for the culture than most artists themselves can say to have accomplished! Spreading awareness and attention to an array of different MC’s and producers, and we get a small example of that with this first volume! So without further ado, let’s get into it!
This breakout mixtape curated by Sam Buck consists of a whole roster of artists, as the list will include:
-JUS
-Jacob Matthew
-Tetsuo
-Ill Java
-067RED
-Loveable Rogue WILT’S
-DJ Lucas
-b333ps
-Adam Killa
-Danny G
-Ant Kelly
-AU
-Here$ Johnny
-Eric Frm Salem
-FAWKEM
-Big Sleepy
-Phonos
-aryeh
-Sketch Turner
-Nick Shea
-Dewone
-Kool AD
-J.Z
And this is still surely just a fraction of names he’s promoted over his time, but even so, a genuinely impressive list of MC’s and producers that represent the essence of the underground culture.
Although it’s not specifically stated on the info for the album, I think it’s clear that this is meant to be a celebratory release. One to highlight and showcase the various acts the industry has to offer, and I think that’s a very important aspect to remember.
Why? Because the traditional things I’d normally nitpick don’t apply here. Such as fluency or cohesiveness (across the project).
This ain’t meant to be a conceptual mixtape with a story to tell. It’s first and foremost Sam bringing to the forefront a collection of individuals that impressed him and wants to shine light on, and so in that light, this shit is dope!
What I love about this tape is the level of variety; literally every single track of the 16 is different. No song is the same, and they all provide a unique chemistry, texture, and atmosphere!
For example, we have tracks like -Dark World, which has one of the more chaotic elements I’ve heard on the record. With those scattered key progressions, combined with those heavy, distorted bass and a drum beat running through the track that feels overwhelming (in the best way possible).
Not to mention the absolutely unhinged performances by both -DJ Lucas and b333ps, who leave tradition in the wind and replace it with verbal anarchy that feels intrusive but sharp at the same time!
Or we have tracks like -Temptations, that consist of those dual-layered vocal harmony loops, plucked strings in two different notes, as well as some super skeletal drums that make this track feel loud and abstract! It’s a lot more smooth and harmonious than the other track with Tetsuo and Jacob working together to create a surreal experience that is definitely memorable!
A track that surprised me was -Greatness Is Spelt JOHNNY! Because it consists of two of my favourite artists in -Here$ Johnny and Eric Frm Salem as they work over this delicate soundscape with those classical vocal arrangements in the loop as well as those soulful keys and light jazz drums!
For such an angelic track, I find it wild you’d have such an aggressive act as Johnny, but he shows us why he’s one of the most adaptable rappers in the game and can work on anything!
The song -Aerosmith is another track that also impressed me! It has this folk-like instrumentation with those groovy synth chords with those piano keys subtly reminiscent in the background to give this track that extra layer of artistry that the MC’s go OFF ON! 067 and FAWKEM are a dangerous duo!
Eric is a powerhouse as usual, and the MC’s are absolutely ridiculous!
The track -Bucked Up Universe felt like Sam’s very own Justice League team of artists! They make this track into a mainstream masterpiece! This feels so larger than life that it’s insane not to fall in love with the sounds!
From those sharp violin to those light background to those plucked strings that subtly go off in the background! With such little layers they somehow create a beautiful score that feels lavish in execution!
And the names that come to feature on it is absolutely insane! My favourite verse has to be Tetsuo! He always goes NUTS!
Again, I don’t want you to go into this album with a mind set of structure and concept. Those things are important yes, but not in a case when it’s clear why this album was made and so with that in mind I feel this is one of the best examples of someone truly pushing the culture forward!
P.S I gotta give a specific shoutout to the song -Au Jou. This is definitely one of the most WILDEST tracks I’ve ever heard in the underground PERIOD! It’s vulgar and ridiculous in the most infectious way possible! With the beat being that famous techno song ‘Bla Bla Bla’ an absolutely unique song!
Everyone from the beat makers to the production did justice to this record. Considering this is a ‘Name Your Price’ EP there should be no excuse to check it out, trust me an investment into this speaks more for your brand of service to the culture then not getting it! So link below and do yourself a favour!
https://sambuckedup.bandcamp.com/album/bucked-up-universe-mixtape-vol-1
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