THE ART OF …
Every rapper wants to ‘change the game’. Every rapper wants to ‘be different’. Every rapper wants to be an ‘artist’. Every now and then tho, a sneak peak art piece pops into the world, and the potential that shines from that small little sneak peak of art, reassures us, that yes, some rappers will change the game by being different..and by being different I mean themselves.
The sneak peak from Knovell Capote’s debut solo mixtape, The Art Of, hardly surpasses the mass filled mixtape currency that rules the underground hip hop scene, however, it does shed light upon a style that once flourished in the golden era of hip hop. Cosigned by the hip hop great M1 from Dead Prez, featuring US heavyweight Young De, top UK emcees Genesis Elijah and Tuberculosis as well as homegrown talent from Provokal and producer Calski, Knovell Capotes raw and energising wordplay paints pictures so obscure each person will interoperate them differently. Flirting with hard hitting punchlines on Creature and Know me, Knovell also delivers 90′s R&B-esque / hip hop lines on Unthinkable and Pretty Girl Rock remix easily.He displays his conscience views on the economic failure politics have ridden the world with on Dollar Circulate, keeping in mind he voices his views over one of the greatest instrumentals by 9th Wonder. Finishing this audio collage, the inspiring remix to Lupe Fiasco’s The Show Goes On and the very personal track You. Somehow Knovell subtly divides his mixtape into three separate collections of art, and yet they all paint the very same picture.
The Art Of is reminiscent of how emcee’s / rappers used to deal with every day issues, through song. When listening one would not be able to confine Knovell Capote’s style to a coast, or a time of hip hop, nor define the type of artist he is. It is without doubt, Capote has the spirit of the 70′s and 80′s, with the hustle of the 90′s and commercial viability of the last 12 years. It is in amazement that we will watch to see which route the young wordsmith will take. Nonetheless tho, The Art Of, is expression at its best, an insight into a mind that has been shattered, rebuilt, rejuvenated and revived.
The Art Of .. is exactly that, the art of .. what ever words you can think of to describe how you felt. A piece of art that shines so bright one has to wonder, what will Knovell Capote paint next?
