‘Cardboard Castles’
is the third studio album from Slam
Poetry king George Watsky who shot into the public eye
after appearing on HBO’s ‘Russell Simmons
Presents Def Poet’. He shot to internet fame through his breakout viral YouTube video ‘Pale Kid Raps Fast’ His album was released on 12th
March 2013 and topped the iTunes Hip-Hop charts in the UK and Canada and the
mainstream US chart.
The California
born rapper has clearly taken production value and commercial potential into
account when producing ‘Cardboard
Castles’. He’s collaborated with five other producers including Daniel J. W!shington and Aaron Carmack and ‘Fireworks’ is proof that he’s so much more than a poet.
The
quirky, innovative use of rhythms and backbeats merged with firework sound
effects illustrate his unique flair as a rapper. His comedic streak proves his
intelligence and distinctive lyrical charm “Tell me that I’m not a rapper. Tell
Rudolph he can’t pull sleighs”. The simplistic instrumentation allows his
rapping to take its rightful place at the forefront of his music. But even when ‘Strong as an Oak’ makes use brass
instruments, an acoustic guitar and other instruments rarely used in the
rapping world, Watky’s zany,
metaphorical lyrics are never overshadowed.
His clever
plays on words “`Cause I’m strong as an O-A-K…everything is A-OK.” reflect his
passion for music and want to show his individuality as a Hip-Hop artist. The
bright, laidback style of ‘Strong as an
Oak’ makes Watksy’s work shine with all the charisma, humour
and charm of a Gym Glass Heroes track
as he tells the truth about what it’s like to be broke. George’s speedy skill is captivating and as catchy as a common
cold and his range of influences becomes clear as the track is completed with a
jazz section.
‘Moral of the Story’
follows the overriding theme of ‘Cardboard
Castles’; building and maintaining your own world despite the hardships
life throws at you when perusing your passion. No Hip-Hop album would be
complete without a track about the artist’s success and struggles. Watsky’s artistic determination is
obvious and this dirty club Hip-Hop style song is dramatic and pounding; “I’m
gonna get there if it takes a day or fifty years…even with the Himalyas in my
way…”. It proves how fluid his imagination is and how much his music is a
heartfelt, honest testimonial.
The
contrast between ‘Ugly Faces’ and
some of Watsky’s more serious material
is astounding and his use of wit is on par with some of the world’s biggest
stand-up acts. His flawless blend of sound effects, rhythmic changes and the stand-offish
spoken word shows how much he has focused on production. George’s ability to tell a compelling narrative cannot be faked and
‘Skit #1’ is an alternative example
of this ability through a comedic conversation between George and an 8-year-old
boy about a bully in his class and acts as an interlude.
Watsky’s musical talent as a slam poet,
artist, rapper and storyteller is clear throughout ‘Kill a Hipster (Save Your Hood!)’ which features Chinaka Hodge. The narrative utilises
several elements of Pop culture including cyberspace and a new branch of Starbucks
and invasion of hipsters destroying a neighbourhood.
Kate Nash’s
sultry, bitter vocals in ‘Hey, Asshole’
may come as a collaborative surprise, but the blunt, ironic backbone of this
track makes its wonderfully commercial and perfect to be released as a single,
which it was on 19th February. It’s a real standout song with a
string hook from two equally unique artists and makes use of Watky’s mile-a-minute pace as well as ‘All I Need is One’. It’s a Pop-influenced
melody and flows perfectly into a snippet of an exchange with the young boy
again. And if there was ever something that’s naturally amusing without a
social filter it’s children.
‘Tiny
Glowing Screens, Pt. 1’ and ‘Tiny
Glowing Screens, Part 2’ are lyrically candid “When the sun burns out,
we’ll light the world with tiny glowing screens.” and confront the issue of
technological advancements. George has made use of his fame to take a stand and
make a point about something he feels passionate about; a fear of the future.
The 26-year-old has thrown his opinion into the public eye but with his
eccentric edge, “I’ve seen a person
go to shows and raise a lighter app. But if you’re at my concert don’t ever try
that crap.”
Part 1
starts in a very minimalistic fashion with just an acoustic guitar until it
dives head-first into an end that mirrors a fuzzy T.V. But Part 2 is so
haunting and emotional and conveys that you can’t underestimate the power of a
voice and single instrument. It still makes use of tongue-twisting lyrics, a
rapid flow and takes the listener on a skimmed narrative journey through the
modern world and proves Watky’s diversity
of material.
Energetic
and innovative, ‘Sloppy Seconds’
reflects George’s wisdom beyond his
years and the novelty of an everyman character and his reasonable normal life
in the music industry; “Cold pizza. Tie die shirts. Broken hearts.” It also
demonstrates his dedication to his craft. His wise-crack lyrics in this track
are refreshingly honest and show that he’s really breaking barriers and
sobering ‘Dedicated to Christina Li’
paints a picture of George’s High
School days. It’s a heartfelt reflection of his regrets from the past and the
concept of death, “The lights that burn shortest are the lights that burn
brightest”.
‘Skit #2’ is another
spoken exchange between George and
the young boy and it indicates the completive, unapologetic sincerity that
children have, “You might not like the things you used to like”. The
down-to-Earth use of narrative humour in ‘The
Legend of Hardhead Ned’ featuring Dylan
Saunders expresses the power of gang vocals, along with Watky’s raw talent and imagination.
Title
track ‘Cardboard Castles’ begins as
an acapella, harmonic masterpiece and highlights the importance of persevering
with what you love, having no regrets and dreaming big. The steady tempo and
optimism of ‘Send in the Sun’ couldn’t
be more different to ‘Dent in the Moon’,
which begins with another random, entertaining anecdote from the 8-year-old boy
“I kicked a ball and my shoe flew off…and somebody kicked the ball and it hit
me in the face.” It also features the silky-smooth tones of Rozzi Crane, Rock influences and has all
the swagger of a Justin Timberlake
track.
George Watsky presents his listeners
with a genuine enthusiasm for what he does despite the constraints of his
awkard appearance. He really breaks the chains of the rap and Hip-Hop industry
in an incredibly intelligent way and has an instinct to spot the extraordinary
in the ordinary. ‘Cardboard Castles’
is versatile, playful and undoubtedly inventive.
4/5
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