Subkonsious and A-Macc, better known as part of the Glaswegian rap collective Deadsoundz, release an 11-track mixtape paying tribute to their English and American influences while staking their claim to Glasgow’s hip-hop throne.
Producer Toni Smoke carefully recycles beats from the likes of Plan B to compliment the duo well; when compared to the rappers on the original source material, the quality of technical ability and delivery is not compromised by the undoubtedly impressive Scottish pair.
Moments like ‘Still Don’t Care’s opening skit recall the omnipresent influence of Eminem on not only Subz N Macc but rappers worldwide of their generation, while the beat choice shifts the listener nicely between the mixtape’s themes.
‘Crosses’, ‘Just Don’t Know’ and ‘IncoMMplete’ are stand out songs accompanied with genuine emotional delivery to them as they tackle the more serious and vulnerable side of EleMMentZ concerning depression and mortality.
The former cleverly samples a Jose Gonzalez acoustic track of the same name, converting it into a rap ballad, which easily holds the most pop potential on the mixtape; it is not difficult to imagine ‘Crosses’ being a mainstream hit in the hands of more commercially viable, non-Scottish rappers.
Despite these moments of quality, as a double-act, it is difficult to see the two rappers as more than an extension of the same person and character, with fairly similar voices and tone as they approach the tediously predictable toilet humour and weed references.
While they do not follow the social-awareness/political formula that has become a staple of the country’s hip hop in the past year, and their self-professed intentions are to pay homage to the traditions of hip hop, the braggadocio attitude they employ feels forced and needless within a Glasgow scene lacking the hostility and competitiveness of New York or Los Angeles.
‘One Up’ is a welcome change with guest spots from Loki and Lumanes bringing fresh personality to the sound, as does final song ‘CCXLVII Cypher’, which serves as a posse track and an exposition of the ability of featured MC’s like Texan rapper and frequent Scottish collaborator Infidelix and the English Beanz.
Subkonsious and A-Macc are true to their words as they confidently flaunt the spirit of hip-hop on both sides of the Atlantic, by touching it’s traditional cornerstone topics of bragging and weed, although they feel more convincing when displaying vulnerability in ‘Crosses’ and ‘IncoMMplete’.
Ultimately, within the context of Scottish hip-hop, it feels detrimental to create an atmosphere of hostility and competitiveness when it is a difficult enough task for acts to break beyond the regional limitations, by using each other’s success as a positive springboard; EleMMentZ accomplishes its personal goals, but does not feel like a significant move forward for Scottish rap.
Words: Liam Gingell
