Reviews
Doomtree
Doomtree’s False Hopes series are beginning to rival Atmosphere’s Sad Clown releases. They began as ways of simply getting the music out there and morphed into ways to tide fans over between solo releases, but they never scrimp on the quality of their output. Having wowed the hip-hop world with their debut full album in 2008, it went a bit quiet on the music front, until the announcement of this record coming out on the night they performed their fifth annual Blowout show in their Minneapolis home town.
As with previous False Hopes, it gives the rappers and producers license to switch around their pairings to great effect. Paper Tiger kicks things off with the boom-clap ‘We’re Working Hard’ which amps the listener before a single line has even been rapped – a testament to the production of Papes – before leading into the Lazerbeak-made ‘Coup For The Kings’, featuring the lyrical talents of P.O.S. and Sims who lays down the gauntlet to lesser rappers, comparing them to mannequins and sharpeis in wool sweaters.
As per usual with the Doomtree collective, they never settle on one sound, offering something for everyone with Dessa slamming down over a filthy fuzzing low-fi P.O.S. beat and Pissed Off Stef himself going over a light, piano-led beat discussing the tight-knit small-town feel of his hometown. The more hardcore-leaning Mike Mictlan brings the energy thundering back with a beat made by Rich Rok, the only non-crew member involved in the release, whilst Strange Famous signee Cecil Otter utilises his poetic talent on A Rickety Bridge before showing off his talent as a beatsmith to round off the eight-track record with his instrumental Carpe Diem.
Suffice it to say that even though this isn’t an album, the fifteenth in the False Hopes series takes on all comers and stands tall on the other side, arms aloft. “Don’t sweat the technique fellas, Doomtree’s better” states ‘Coup For The Kings’ – never a truer word said. Shine the crowns.
Words: Sam Hesketh
False Hopes XV is out now on Doomtree Records.
