Review: Five Steez & Mordecai – Love N Art

Love N Art by Five Steez & Mordecai is an album that shows appreciation to the music genre of hip hop/rap. Love N Art features 9 tracks of jazzy and soulful boom-bap rap/hip hop meant to inspire hope. The album has that jazz boom bap sound prevalent in East Coast rap. Anyone can almost easily tell this is their most honest and personal project to date. Who knew rap from Jamaica could be this jazzy and soulful? This Jamaican rap album is a hidden gem. Listen and stream this album is you get a chance to.

Five Steez & Mordecai show their appreciation to the music genre of hip hop/rap on their song Give Thanks. They give thanks and credit to their fans who helped supported them over the years. Something rare in rap you don’t hear in rap often these days. Production is from the beautiful music courtesy of Mordecai.

Five Steez & Mordecai give thanks for this music and all the people they get to groove with. Because of them, they have a movement in their native country of Jamaica. So keep doing what you’re doing.

These lyrics showcase the duo’s incredible songwriting capabilities and sharp penmanship. Their lyrics paint such rich vivid imagery. Notice how the duo uses such advanced vocabulary such as “murderous” and “formulate”.

I remember writing rhymes to get feedback
now, I don’t need that – get my level right
Mister engineer, make sure my voice is clear
How we sounding out there, hands in the air
Let me see you, the stage lights blinding
My DJ mute the track, the crowd wilding (yeah)
Kick an acapella before the next cut
Sum’n they never heard before, some fresh stuff (uh)
Now at a crucial point, give ’em usual joints
They favourites, get their hands waving
The tracks mixed in like it’s the radio playing (yeah)
But this is the underground, how you like the sound? (huh?)
Some crowd interaction is happening
Spit an extra verse while they just clapping (C’mon)
Right after, my DJ bring the track in
End with a bang and leave, they call me back in

I appreciate the support (fi real)
Salute the soldiers that hold down the fort (First Coast)
Like Port Royal, this is First Coast
I stay loyal to the code, every verse dope
A murderous flow, whether it’s herb that I smoke
Or Bourbon I po’, or neither the reefer nor the liquor
I paint a picture, make the colours richer
Not just another nigga for the cops to shoot
In hot pursuit, I’m not that youth, I drop the truth
And show you that anything is possible (yeah)
If you believe it, then you can reach it
Just be strategic, study like a genius (uh)
Work on your weakness, always pree the deepest (yeah)
Formulate procedures, remove the leeches
Take care of your son, daughter, nephews, nieces (One love)
One love, I’m out, yo, pieces

These lyrics paint such rich vivid imagery.

Or Bourbon I po’, or neither the reefer nor the liquor
I paint a picture, make the colours richer
Not just another nigga for the cops to shoot
In hot pursuit, I’m not that youth, I drop the truth
And show you that anything is possible (yeah)
If you believe it, then you can reach it
Just be strategic, study like a genius (uh)
Work on your weakness, always pree the deepest (yeah)

Days N Times explained how we need the sun rays to shine in these days and times. The song was about staying focused and motivated.

In these days and times, we need the sun rays to shine in these days and times. Hustle hard and smart. That’s the way to grind. Life is what you make it but there are some things you can’t control. Just work around that and let your plans unfold. Whatever you do, make sure you have your soul because peace of mind is a bag of gold. Reputation is all that you have. So live good because it all will come back. Still, times are treacherous and get the best of us. Think positive thoughts in your state of mind.

You might take a gamble and you press your luck. But maintain focus. Stay on the right path. Things going to work out as the time pass.

These lyrics gave us an insight on the duo’s artistic vision with lyrics.

Making money from thoughts that I’m spitting
Music for your soul, offering wisdom
Made my name through my artistic vision
Simply following my strong intuition
Known for spitting deadly darts to the rhythm (Uh)
You’ll know from my catalog if you listen (Listen up)

I try to see humanity
The world is diverse, we all need equality
Food, clothes, shelter, a new home is special
Some are refugees, some plain homeless
Some fostered in homes that are broken
In this game of life, love is the token (Love)
Love is why the right queen gets chosen
Why a young prince is molded to take the throne and
Be like his father was but the system distorted us
You can call it lust, now, we all corrupt
Caught up in our selves, with our greedy ways
And I say we, ’cause even me, I need to change (Uh huh)

The duo was was reflecting on life and hoping lessons were learnt in their song Some Day. The duo is trying to get it right and be the best they can be to the best of their ability. Aiming to prosper in life what their goal is.

These lyrics showed how the duo was was reflecting on life and hoping lessons were learnt when they rapped about their dreams, goals, and ambitions such as preparing for the big break any day now.

As the world turns, every day my herb burns
Reflecting on life, hoping lessons were learnt
Trying to get it right and be the best me
Made New Year resolutions so let’s see (Let’s see wha gwaan)
Aiming to read more, get back in top shape
Got EPs in the works plus a hot tape
Preparing for the big break, any day now (Any time)
Still an underground king so I stay proud
Crazy sense of humour but I don’t play round (Uh uh)
Even when they pull their guns, I never lay down (Never)
I treasure life cause it’s all that we given
I might get upset but give thanks I’m living
Just heard about a death, a next man facing prison
I represent when I’m spitting on these riddims
I could talk about my struggles but I’m a champion
Instead of wailing on this song, I’ll be dancing

Some day, I know we gonna see happiness
Some day, I know I’m gonna be real rich
Some day, I know I’m gonna meet the right chick
Some day, build my house brick by brick
Some day, I might be the rapper with the hits
Some day, lounging, blazing at the Ritz
Some day, cruising, leaning in the six
Some day, paparazzi taking our pics

What’s the price of success? Do I even want fame?
I just want to carve a lane and make a little change (Yeah)
I’m a simple dude, I’m trying to sip some brew
Get to mingle with the ladies, maybe pick a few (Uh huh)
Watch the moon and the stars from the vista view (Yeah)
Travel and tick the things off my list to do
I spent many days dreaming, now, I stay scheming
If I’m not creating, it’s a lame weekend
I’ll take a vacay when I achieve my goals
It’s not a highway, no easy roads (Uh uh)
But it’s alright, I know about the long nights
Feeling out of place like you took the wrong flight
I’m chasing the dream with my eyes wide open
Living it day by day so I will die knowing

Dreamer explains how sometimes when you have dream that you put them on the back burner. But no matter what, you have to go after what you believe in. The song uses modulation that played in A minor timbre.

As a child, you have dreams. Sometimes you put them on the back burner. But no matter what, you have to go after what you believe in. Blinded by the dream since the screen to the dons that seen. It’s not just about the fascination. Keep your dreams alive and thrive.

Five Steez & Mordecai show their appreciation to the music genre of hip hop/rap on their song Love N Art (What I Feel). The song uses a soundscape of jazzy and soulful boom-bap rap/hip hop. Their flowing is so sharp. The message of this song is to know what your worth is. Those are their words of advice in their song. Know what your worth is. Each man and woman must play their role and their part.

Them and this music the only thing that go great together aside from family. It’s the only thing that they love. Music is something the duo thinks about everyday. The duo have made so many sacrifices just to pursue this career in music. Love and art are the same thing. Love, art, and music are the same thing. Working to perfection through their craft with these words is what the Jamaican rap duo does best.

I rate this album 5/5*****!!

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