Ty | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Mild-mannered British rapper Ty lacks the ragga flow and quick patois of most rappers from the Big Dada label; hes more the big brother, with clever, mature themes that commonly go far beyond the usual shot-callers involved in rap music. Born Ben Chijioke in London to Nigerian immigrants, Ty began recording during the mid-90s, and appeared on tracks produced by IG Cultures New Sector Movement, MC Mell O, DJ Shortee Blitz, and DJ Pogo. He also hosted a hip-hop night called Lyrical Lounge, and worked with the Ghetto Grammar poetry workshop. His Ty debut came on Big Dada in late 2000 with the single "Break the Lock." His first full-length, Awkward, appeared early the following year and earned kudos from dozens of musical sources. His sophomore album, Upwards, dropped on Big Dada in late 2003 and received numerous end-of-year honors. An American release came the following spring. Closer, released in 2006, featured collaborations with heroes De La Soul and Arrested Developments Speech, while 2010s Special Kind of Fool -- his first release for BBE -- involved input from over a dozen guest vocalists. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 5 Title: Awkward Released: 2001-01 Tracks: 16 Duration: 56:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rev. Cloud Speaks (01:15) 2 Mind Made Up (04:24) 3 Walk With Your Ego (03:30) 4 Trippin’ Over Words (04:34) 5 The Tale (03:35) 6 The Nonsense (03:57) 7 She’s Not Feeling Me at the Moment (01:42) 8 Jealousy (04:01) 9 Hercules (03:14) 10 Zaibo (04:45) 11 You’re So… (04:31) 12 Move (03:32) 13 Front Free (04:12) 14 Break the Lock (03:44) 15 Shake Your Tings (02:09) 16 Ghetto Perspective (03:46) |
| Awkward : Allmusic album Review : British MC Tys vocal delivery is smooth, soulful, and relaxed with clear diction, a self-deprecating sense of humor, and little indication of anger or braggadocio; the accompanying beats are tasteful, crisp, melodious, stylistically diverse, generally laid-back, and sometimes mixed to resemble funk more than typical hip-hop; the literate lyrics mention Brian Eno and address topics such as sexual politics without resorting to misogyny or mean-spiritedness; and Ty even recalls the school bully without fantasizing about violent revenge. In other words, Awkward is an early contender for politically correct hip-hop album of the year. That doesnt mean that its a bad album, however, since theres no rule that an MC has to drop offensive lyrics to be good. Ty has enough technique to make it seem like hes rhyming even when he isnt, and while some may consider the album too mellow and perhaps even somewhat bland, it does have enough musical variety to keep it interesting, ranging from Eric Appapoulayes rock guitar on songs such as "The Nonsense" to the guest French MC and African music influence on "Zaibo." | ||
 | Album: 2 of 5 Title: Upwards Released: 2003-09-29 Tracks: 13 Duration: 58:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ha Ha (04:11) 2 Mpho’s Lament (skit) (00:18) 3 Wait a Minute (03:22) 4 I Want 2 (04:47) 5 Awkward Boy (skit) (00:24) 6 Oh You Want More? (04:00) 7 Rain (06:29) 8 The Willing (05:14) 9 Look 4 Me (04:15) 10 Groovement, Part 1 (03:51) 11 Dreams (04:49) 12 Hot Spice (03:25) 13 Music 2 Fly 2 / Inner Love (Samba) (13:06) |
| Upwards : Allmusic album Review : Compared to fellow British rappers Roots Manuva and Dizzee Rascal, Tys introduction into the recording ranks, his 2001 debut Awkward, came with a small impact. That low profile suited the mild-mannered rapper, whose lyrics, delivery, and production embodied traits -- thoughtfulness, modesty, introspection -- rarely celebrated in rap music, whether commercial or independent. A Ty track can celebrate his lyrical skills (of which he has plenty), reminisce over his shy-kid childhood as a Nigerian immigrant in London, or intelligently discuss a range of social concerns. That he spits lyrics that give pause while maintaining his groove and floating cutting-edge productions are extra feats, ones that made Awkward a left-field success for British rap. His second album, Upwards, is a contender for many 2003 end-of-the-year lists (although its American release came five months later). While not the unadulterated success that Ty truly deserves, Upwards is steadily interesting, it grows more bewitching with each listen (traits common to a mature artist), and its occasionally brilliant. Early on, the single "Wait a Minute" has an interesting topic (lack of communication in romance) but a broken-beat hook that quickly wears out its welcome. Ty relaxes soon afterwards, knocking the excellent lopsided rhythm on "I Want 2" out of the park with an appropriately unbalanced flow and some of the best rhymes of his young career. "Oh You Want More?" is an uproariously confident track for such a modest rapper as Ty, but he deserves to drop the line, "So take lessons from the boss/ Been humble with the skills, now I intend to floss a little." Ty switches tone quickly, though, dissecting on "Rain" the type of situation -- a nightclub shooting -- thats often glossed over by rappers, and expanding it to include an earnest, intelligent complaint about the prevalence of guns. Stylistically, Upwards is just as compelling. Drew Horley, Tys added production partner, helps give the productions an additional breadth and bite that didnt exist on the first album, like the carnival flair of "Oh You Want More" (that illustrates Ty isnt so serious with his games of the dozens) or the stuttered grooves of the album (and scene) highlight, "Groovement, Pt. 1." Critics often compare hip-hop artists to all-timers like De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest, but Ty deserves the comparison; hes a distinctive voice who never lets his social concerns diminish the vitality and warmth of his recordings. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 5 Title: Closer Released: 2006-10-16 Tracks: 12 Duration: 55:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Watch That (Knickers, Y-Fronts And Jockstraps) (03:46) 2 Everybody (04:33) 3 This Here Music (05:13) 4 The Idea (03:54) 5 What You Want (Taylormade) (05:30) 6 Closer (04:42) 7 Oh! (04:24) 8 Aim for Your Goals (05:00) 9 Sweating for Your Salary (05:09) 10 Sophisticated and Coarse (04:35) 11 L.O.V.E. (No Matter What) (04:03) 12 Hustle (That’s Why We) (04:48) |
| Closer : Allmusic album Review : With his third album, Ty earned the right to be called consistently brilliant. Awkward was the best debut in British rap since Roots Manuvas Brand New Second Hand, and his second album Upwards grabbed a Mercury nomination for adding a futurist sheen to Tys imaginative, penetrating raps. Closer may not change Tys game at all, but when an artist is functioning at such a high level, theres nothing to criticize when you hear more of the same. Coming out of one of the best studios in England, Drew Horleys Lab, Closer boasts the most compelling sound in rap circa 2007, thanks to the production roles shared by Horley and Ty (together theyre known as Lizzies Children). Ty begins the record with "Dont Watch That," a typically bumping bashment track that details the many travails of fame -- but rest assured, he hasnt gone all Mike Skinner on his fans. "This Here Music" could have been a highlight on A Tribe Called Quests The Love Movement, and guest Speech from Arrested Development channels his inner Q-Tip well. The D.A.I.S.Y. Age sound only continues with "The Idea" featuring De La Soul, but the Ty is more restless than merely regurgitating his influences. "What You Want (Taylormade)" is a perfect broken beat jam, while "Oh!" finds Ty confronting the 1994 Rwandan genocide (which must have hit close to home for someone with African parents). By the time Rich Medina closes the album with a smooth spoken word piece called "Hustle (Thats Why We)," its clear that while Closer may not be as consistent as Upwards, its highlights are just as impressive. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 5 Title: Special Kind of Fool Released: 2010-04-19 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:09:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Cry (04:28) 2 Wait (04:14) 3 Heart Is Breaking (05:39) 4 Little Star (04:07) 5 Something Big (04:36) 6 Emotions (04:17) 7 Phantom of the Opera (04:47) 8 Get to the Sky (05:52) 9 Happiness (05:29) 10 I’m Leaving (05:05) 11 Me (04:51) 12 I Get Up (04:49) 13 Falling (05:11) 14 Special Kind of Fool (03:57) 15 Endtro (01:49) |
 | Album: 5 of 5 Title: Kick Snare and an Idea Part 3 Released: 2014-01-20 Tracks: 10 Duration: 48:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Its All Right (05:30) 2 Knock Knock (DJ Spinna Beyond Real remix) (04:10) 3 Knock Knock (Lil Dave remix) (04:10) 4 Like You Never (Simon S remix) (04:50) 5 Well Well Well (Osage remix) (06:56) 6 Like You Never (Baby Dooks remix) (04:16) 7 Its All Right (instrumental) (05:30) 8 Knock Knock (DJ Spinna Beyond Real remix instrumental) (04:10) 9 Like You Never (Baby Dooks remix instrumental) (04:16) 10 Its All Right (a cappella) (04:17) |