Upwards

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though still languishing in the deepest depths of Urban music's underground, Upwards confirms that Brixton rapper Ty deserves to be just as recognised as label mate Roots Manuva. Following on from where the easy flowing R&B and London-centric humour of his 2001 debut, Awkward, left off, he further refines the antidote to UK hip-hop's grim reality. The smouldering funk and quick-witted rhymes of "I Want 2" and "Groovement" continue to deliver his dysfunctional life and infinite wisdom with a sly nod.

But just in case anyone mistook his debut's lighter touch for a lack of serious talent, Upwards expands his repertoire and leaves his peers looking decidedly two-dimensional. The electro thud of "Ha Ha" and "Look for Me"'s sub bass voodoo chant set his astute wordplay to uncharacteristically hi-tech rhythm tracks to be as arresting as his vintage grooves are soulful. And if any doubts remain as to his musical smarts, "Do You Want More?" vanquishes them by shaping a strident hip hop march out of a plinky fairground tune. Likewise, his superior lyrical intellect makes "Music to Fly To" the best spoken word lament about modern life since Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". With lines such as "September 11th/all of a sudden people are paying attention to a problem that didn't begin on the 10th" he provides food for thought rarely found in rap from either side of the pond. --Dan Gennoe

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Customer reviews

review by: parrotfashion date: 2005-06-02 rating:
I'm nice like cola and ice
What's not to love? A rapper who, on the opening track, namechecks Oona King (!) and replaces the 'm*therf*cker' you come to expect from hip-hop with 'oh my goodness'. Beautiful, sunshiney, funky beats and sounds sampled from all over. Ty is from Brixton but raps about the world as he sees it without ever resorting to ghetto posturing, although you sense his life has been pretty unusual. And, as if you needed another reason, Roots Manuva makes guest appearances.

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review by: date: 2004-10-18 rating:
TY has put the work in
Great CD, head and shoulders above anything in the IUK Hip Hop scene. an intelligent, funny and serious look at life all in the same album. Quality production coupled with witty lyrics, TY deserved his Mercury nomination. Also check out his 'Awkward' album.

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review by: ollie_mk1 date: 2004-08-09 rating:
Great Hip Hop
I saw Ty live in Regents Park yesterday, he played a lot of stuff from this album. Even better was the fact there was a live band doing the beats. I have listened to pretty much the whole album now and I'd say its definately a keeper.

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review by: J-Schmoove date: 2004-05-19 rating:
Refreshing Boundaries
Not being a big fan of UK Hip Hop [Apart from Roots Manuva], I was a bit skeptical at buying this album. I went for it anyway after hearing the original mix of 'Oh You Wnat More' which also features Roots Manuva on it. The first time I listened to it I was pleasantly suprised at what I heard. Being british hip hop I thought the beats would be poorly produced but from start to finish this album ranks up there with a lot of other excellent hip hop albums I own. Ty keeps it real and a lot of his joints relate to everyday life on the dark streets, but adds a few comical aspects to them. Not only does the album sound good but an added bonus is the remixes featured at the end of the album. 'Oh You Want More?' is remixed twice, the refix [The joint that is released] vibes on an indian style and the best joints on the album are remixed too.

If you are a bit skeptical about UK hip hop I urge you to buy this album as I believe it borders on the lines of U.S. Beats, UK lyrics. You won't be disappointed.


review by: date: 2003-11-18 rating:
a few quotes
“This album is a modern day classic. Why? Three words. Entertaining. Enlightening. Enduring…. At the risk of being boring and predictable, I’ll spell it out for you – this is a C-L-A-S-S-I-C.” – Blues & Soul
“One of the outstanding collections of hip hop music you’re likely to hear this year.” - Echoes
“Set to become one of the must-have long players of 2003” – IDJ
“One of the albums of the year? I’d say so” – Undercover
“Upwards pushes for a top 5 place in end-of-year lists. Reaction should simply say, Ty – thank you.” - DMC Update
“Ty is in a league of his own” - New Nation
“One of the best” – The Voice
“Hot like an oven” - Knowledge
"Clocking in at just under an hour, 'Upwards' eschews the usual advances of overblown noodling, rubbish skits, lessons in self-indulgence and duff filler in favour of lacing the listener with that old fashioned remedy of hot track after hot track." - Hip Hop Connection, Album of the Month
"A breath of fresh air" - The Sunday Times
“Big Dada… are too damn good for this mediocre age. For the last few years, they’ve been releasing the most consistently fascinating British records of our generation, and Ty’s Upwards is the latest. A crush of psychedelic nu-skool and mashed-up visions of an alternative black history of British pop… consider Upwards an album that doesn’t just reconfigure itself every moment, it’s a record that makes you rethink how pop works. Shame on the rap game when it lets Ty stay underground. This man’s a star” – Bang
“Upwards is exactly what it says – uplifting” – Ice
“Ty heralds a whole new landscape in urban sound” – Touch
“Ty’s got a voice that it’s difficult to get sick of” – Hot Press

PRESS FOR “UPWARDS”
“Both reflective and exceedingly honest… not a lifestyle album, but one about life, love and friendship” – The Voice
“Lyrically he is light yeers ahead of most of his peers, and the prodcution is a technicolour fusion of electronic and organic elements.” – Music Week
“A genuine wise man of rap” – DJ
“Rare groove, ragga, soul, UK garage and straight up rap collide on this very British, very good hip hop album. Ty’s aimed for the stars and he’s hit the sun. Dope, geez.” – Loaded
“Instantly accessible, endlessly rewarding and absolutely essential” – BBC DNA Collective
“Hip hop without any overblown ego telling you how it is. It’s refreshing to hear an artist whose main preoccupation is not telling you how much they have and how they deserve it more than you do” – Future Music

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