MOG Reviews Roachee – RoachMaterial Vol 1
One of grimes veteran MC’s is back, with an EP too. That would be Roachee, and his latest release ‘Roach Material Vol.1’. What this means for grime fans, is grime. In 2011, grime is needed more than ever so with that in mind the EP is a relief to hear. It totals up to ten songs and includes an intro.
The EP begins with Roachee briefly announcing himself and his return which is essentially a freestyle where he tells listeners what to expect, and where he’s been of late. It’s a short, but needed introduction into the EP.
The first song, ‘Filthy rich’ is based on his own take on the term. It’s an interesting concept, as the ‘filthy’ part doesn’t mean what you’d assume…which is lots of money. Instead Roachee is talking about the filthy ways to make money, such as robbing and dealing. It’s a clever take on the phrase and serves as an insight into his street life, which includes lots of weed, women and beef which can be summed up purely as grime in a physical form.
This is followed by ‘The fuckerys started’ featuring Dirty Danger who provides the chorus. The first thing to note is the instrumental, which is less grimy than before – but still remains in the genre. However, everything remains as Roachee claims “It’s officially hungry season, Roachee and Trim you better run when you see them” which just about sums the song up, as cemented by the title.
The anthem ‘Sith lord’ follows which is one of the EP’s best tracks. Here grime meets dubstep in the form of The Prodigy’s ‘Firestarter’ which has been remixed, with heavy drums and bass added. The chorus says it all “Sith Lord, black on black, rats and cats, pits and staff’s trackies and hats” which gives you a flavour of the song. Like ‘Filthy rich’, Roachee describes his wild lifestyle and bleak surroundings which is sure to impress grime heads.
Similar themes continue with ‘Dark round here’ which features Stutta. Again, the beat is grime, the lyrics are grime and it all fits together quite well. So far, in the middle of the EP it’s clear that Roachee has stamped his mark back on the grime scene and has proved why he’s still rated highly.
Song six, ‘Why?’ rivals ‘Sith Lord’ for the best instrumental of the release, and this time Roachee and Stutta are joined by Rival, and Rude Kid on the beat. Here the trio denounce fakers who are in grime for quick cash, selling out and ignoring their fan base. In 2011, it seems very relevant as Rival says “Asking about are you going to bang though? Those MC’s get me mad though because they’re the ones to get booked for a damn show”. Roachee gives his own view, that grime is still alive – but also claims it needs new ideas and good music. ‘Why?’ is different to the majority of the EP and offers a little diversity.
The next collaboration, ‘Evolving’ brings a return for Dirty Danger and once again Roachee’s word-play and lyricism leaves lasting impressions. “It’s not a holiday camp, my next door neighbour’s are horrible tramps and other road men and the living conditions are atrocious, but that’s where the home is” is probably the line of the track and as ever, gives an insight into Roachee’s life. Dirty Danger on the other hand, provides another good chorus which seems his main priority on the EP.
The Ruff Sqwad line up continues, with ‘Bin Laden’ – this time featuring Rapid and Fuda Guy. The three do well over yet another grimy beat and this time Roachee supplies the chorus. Like usual, his subject is all about street life, which seems fitting for a grime release after all.
The EP ends with ‘Life’ where he once again denounces sell-outs. It’s like ‘Why?’ all over again, this time with Roachee going solo. As he puts it, “Some of the mandem are broke, so I’ve got to share like a Facebook status, certain man ain’t got a bag to their name and you’re out their splashing champagne on the ladies”. He has a point, and after this the EP ends.
Final Thoughts: Roachee is back, that’s for sure. It’s refreshing to hear hype mixed with lyricism and a bit of originality, so this EP is definitely worth it for grime fans. Right now, it’s also no secret that Roachee is up for clashing Scorcher at the next Lord of the mics. Hopefully this can happen, as it would be a shame for Roachee not to get a clash. After listening to the EP it seems he’s hungry enough for it and more than ready. In brief, ‘Roach Material Vol.1’ is something for grime fans who want a return to the old sound, with nothing prioritised in between.
Best Song: Sith Lord
Best Line: “It’s not a holiday camp, my next door neighbour’s are horrible tramps and other road men and the living conditions are atrocious, but that’s where the home is”
You can download Roachmaterial Vol 1 from the link below
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