Frenchy’s Fracas

General Description
Artist/Band: The Brand New Heavies
Album Title: Get Used To It
Year: 2006

They’re Back, N’Dea’s Back!
 
How I Got Into This Music
Not sure.. Tired of giving Hieronymus Fox all that credit, heheh.. Could be I just discovered these guys meself, dunno.. I mean, it’s been quite a while - 1992, or something. But it was at the hight of all the British Acid Jazz stuff: where the Brits were redefining an American institution - Soul and (real) R & B.
Anyways, their self-titled debut album (three different versions) was a blast and their hip-hop flavoured Heavy Rhyme Experience still is one of my favorite albums of all time.. Then Miss N’Dea Davenport left and things just weren’t the same for me. And I guess I kinda got bored with the stuff that came later on. But when I heard that Davenport was back on this latest album, I just had to have a listen.
Album credits at artistdirect.com || Google Search: Other reviews of Get Used To It

Tracks that got my attention:
We’ve Got
Funky stuff, nice..

I Don’t Know Why (I Love You)
Ohmygod.. That voice.. Sends chills down my spine..

Sex God
Kept getting images of Gwen Stefani, ugh..

Let’s Do It Again
This is what they do best: ultra-funky-disco, lovelovelove it!

We Won’t Stop
Gutsy track, those vocals are excellent

All Fired Up
Strong dance track, drummer/vocalist Jan Kincaid still got the smooth flow..

Love Is
Reminds me of one of the solo singles of N’Dea

Conclusion
Nostalgia’s such a harsh mistress.. I’m glad one of the most soulful bands got together again in their most successful setup. Don’t get me wrong, the other guest vocalists were great performers, but.. They were just that: guests.
For me though, I’m kinda done with this type of music, so it doesn’t get me all fired up as it used to. It still is a great labour of love, anybody not hearing that coming through the tracks should have their ears checked (and their Soul too). These are great musicians and I’ll be eager to see them live again, coz that’s where they really shine.

Rating: (I moved on, I guess..)

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General Description
Artist/Band: The Brand New Heavies
Album Title: Heavy Rhyme Experience, Volume 1
Year: 1992

The original funksters on a hip-hop tip!
 
How I Got Into This Music
Ahh.. Just recovering from the fact that the album’s already more than 10 years old.. There, that’s better.. Where was I? Oh..
Anyway, The Brand New Heavies (BNH) is a band that reveres the old funk style of yesteryear and they play the funk smooth, groovy and sexaay.. With talented female vocalists like N’Dea Davenport and later on, Siedah Garrett, BNH created their own little niche within the whole British Acid jazz scene from the eighties and nineties (remember the Talking Loud record label?)
BNH’s fan base in the US consisted of a large number of rappers and rap music lovers, the funky music being exactly what performers would love to sample. So then came the idea to make an album which would be a collaboration between rappers and the real music from BNH, instead of sampled stuff.
History was made..

Tracks that got my attention:
(well, all of them actually, but still..)

Bonafied Funk feat. Main Source
Some tracks are like destined to be the ideal opening track for an album. This is one of them. Lazy bass, tight raps from the Main Source crew and a great chant chorus.

It’s Gettin’ Hectic feat. Gangstarr
I’m sure this collaboration inspired Guru to do his Jazzmatazz albums and DJ Premiere (extraordinary talent) started working with Branford Marsalis on the Buckshot LeFonque albums. You know you get quality when Gangstarr’s on the set!

Who Makes the Loot? feat. Grand Puba
Honeys spell “Grand Puba” when they wanna spell “relief”
Modest as ever, Puba hits the vibe perfectly! I know for sure that this track’d still work on a dance floor
Coming like a bull, so you better yell “Ole!”
heheh..

Wake Me When I’m Dead feat. Masta Ace
One of the best rap tracks ever performed and produced!
If this was an opera, I probably sing Figaro
Black kid from Brooklyn, but don’t call me nigger, no..
Never heard anything else from Masta Ace, but the speedy style that remains clear for the ear combined with the great bass loops and drums.. Damn!
According to the Jetsons, there’s no blacks in the future

Jump N’ Move feat. Jamalski
OH YEAH! Speed-ragga rapper Jamalski tearing up the mic on a groovy dancehall-funky hybrid track. You just have to slow down the pitch to get a clear listen to the lyrics as a whole. Man, this one would get a eighty year old granny to swing her new hips to dust..

Death Threat feat. Kool G. Rap
A East Coast/West Coast gangster style funk with the nastiest of macho lyrics ever! When I want to shut down the PC part of my brain, I play this track.
You don’t think you’re going under?
I got a bullet with your name, your address and your phone number
Nuff said!

State of Yo feat. The Black Sheep
Incredible track with great guitar work and of course, the mellow laid back raps of The Black Sheep. Remember Fatman Scoop’s hit “Be Faithful” (2003)? It included a direct sample of Black Sheep’s “This or That”.
Trivia should be my middle name..

Do Whatta I Gotta Do feat. Ed O.G.
Least favorite track, but still works fine..

Whatgabouthat feat. Tiger
Seventies cop TV show funk combined with rough and rugged West Indies style raps from Tiger: excellent!

Soul Flower feat. The Pharcyde
One of the best rap collectives of the nineties together with BNH make a great combo and an perfect track!

Conclusion
All-time favorite album, no doubt! Well, at least one of them, obviously.. There aren’t many albums you put in your player where you already know for sure that you’ll be enjoying at least eight tracks of it..
There never was a follow-up, that’s a shame. BNH are still doing their stuff, you should go and see them live, coz there’s a special magic that occurs when you see these guys on a stage. Perfect album!

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