There are a handful of MC's in the UK rap game that have managed to stay around longer than 5 years at the top of their game and managed to stay relevant in a game,where many give up or loose their fan base by selling out in order to create pop hits which don't work, but none of the aforementioned have happened with Ill Mill as the general has consistently fed the streets his South London brand of raw gritty reality.
Coming fresh off the release of the third instalment of his highly acclaimed and successful 'SALUTE ME WHEN I PASS' series Mill has dropped an epic street album 'One of the realest Mack Millie vol. 1' and its another South London Street classic reminding you that he's still one of the UK's most thorough MC's as well as one of the most heart felt and brutally honest,few street Mcs actually show you the other side of the coin as in-depth as Mill which should work well for new listeners.
Hosted by two of the UK rap games finest hosts Mykal Million and Dice (Hoods Hottest) this Street album starts with a very informative intro then its straight to work with the triumphant sounding 'Mack Millie Freestyle ft Ohmzin' with Mill spitting ("Breath easy,Mill does it easy,SMS forever you pu**ies better believe me, I'm trying to get my face on the cover all over the TV,trying to make a million off rapping because the roads dead,I don't sign on,I only move Zd's,I got a line peculating so I break bread, I'm in position my mission to get the team up cos I'm a baller on the pitch without a referee") in his own original flow which he has perfected over the years and now gotten to a point where he sits each bar on the beat like a pro which is something a lot of MC's need to pay attention to as these days a lot of MC's freely subscribe to the flow of the week.
With this album the General shares the spotlight and exposes the talents of fellow Syndicate members (the rawness of Ohmzin,Big Simz,Fee Fee,Ben Diesel,Dee Dee and Shak are felt throughout as well as the different styles of ragga used by Jah Yute work well with Mill as well as features by Dion,Calvin wilson, Komla,Snakes and a few more,all playing their part a n offering up some stellar performances such as the Menacing 'Paint the town red ft Ohmzin,Big Simz ,Tokes & Hardo ' and the Bouncy Mo town sampling 'I'm back ft Ben Diesel' as well as the dark tones on 'Real Rap ft Danger' ("Its nothing for ammunition we afford that,so dont end up in that position or get your jaw clapped")
Other tracks to look out for are the Soulfull 'The game ft Komla and Supreme (BS5) and the Insightful yet addictive 'Tell it right ft Dion' and Insight fullness is what Mill does best on this album covering a wide range of subjects not just the streets and street life as Life,Death,Money,Love,Religion and relationships are all touch upon and with a genuine sincerity check out 'Didn't care' for the best example of this as on this solo track Ill Mill explores his childhood and relationship with his parents ("My mother taught me good,my father wasnt there,I used to cry at night,I couldn't see the tears") and the state of the nation ("There's plenty scared recessions got the country shook, Blaire's gone,Gordon's come but yeah he's got the same book") which is pretty much what sets this apart from a lot of the releases out now as there is no auto tuned bulls**t,no fake radio/pop attempts just real hardcore music for the streets from the streets but at a more mature level than most.
With that said one thing missing from this as a 23track set was a lack of outside features from London artists as this brings a different dimension to Mills music as in the past his guest spots have always been pure madness but with a team as consistent as the syndicate that isn't a problem as this is really for the team and Mill has made sure all the teams in place and sounding hard as ever even stinks who is currently drops a really emotional gritty slice of prison life live from over the phone in prison with him spitting ("You couldn't imagine what I been through,they moved me to another wing on basic,minus reduction stage 2,the same name keeps coming up so that's next ni**a on the menu")
If you like real street Music from a real Street artist in a time when everyone's faking then his is definitely for you!
A BANGER OF A STREET ALBUM
9/10
