We can’t stop listening to Levelz emcee Fox’s new Shiddleywiddleyskangdangshiddleywoi EP! Out now on DRS’s Estate Recordings, we’ve had this on repeat for time and figured we just had to let you guys in on it!
Mancunion emcee Fox is not exactly new to the UK music scene. Raised in Kingston, Jamaica before moving to live in Britain during his late teens, he now sits somewhere in his forties: continuing to tear up the mic at club nights and raves alike whilst also finding time to work with young people in his local community.
Holding a long-standing affiliation with Estate Recordings, as well as working alongside Mancunion sound outfit Red Eye Hifi and rising collective Levelz (who he’s just returned home from touring with), Fox is a bit of a legend on the local scene. Clearly a busy man, on top of all his existing commitments he’s also found time to put out this stellar EP.
Shiddleywiddleyskangdangshiddleywoi sees him team up Chimpo, who puts forward his own unique take on the UK bass style whilst Fox says it how it is with a mix of singing and rapping. With flavours of reggae and dub tracing throughout on the production angle; tracks such as War, Animal Kingdom (feat. Fallacy) and Heineken High stick to a hyped-up club-ready vibe whilst Proper Scran, Story Never Changes and Trouble Come A Callin lean in on a more soulful tip.
Whilst not every track is a hype one, what does remain constant throughout the release are his socially-conscious lyrics. Whilst criticising the era of Big Food on Proper Scran, or calling out the failings of the class and justice systems on Story Never Changes, Fox seems keen to catch our attention and get his message of love, understanding and tolerance across.
Combining his unquestionable talent for music with his other passions, this EP truly stirred us. Not only is it a great success in terms of execution and delivery, there is a depth to this seemingly innocuous EP that is likely to resonate with you far beyond the vibrations of a big, fat club soundsystem.
Listen below and pick up your own copy over here.
Words @geena_pellant
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/81606219″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
