producers: know 1, nemec, black trumpet

On the Angle album, there was a kid on there called Know 1 (or as he was called in the Angle cover: No One), who did some of the beats, that were so dope, that they had us make a mental note of his name. And we are glad to review a record that has him step forward and gives us the almost entirely handled by himself solo EP "Lousy Person". Almost entirely due to two beats not being done by him: "Years Past" was done by Nemec and "Tylenol" by Black Trumpet, who looped live sounding drums.

But the lyrics were all done by him, and that's the biggest change to the Angle album, as on here his lyrics have to be just as good as the beats. And lyrically we are treated to somewhat typical underground cat speaking verses. What means that'd include the personal mixture of reflective cuts (like "Paradox Of Thought"), of talking about hip hop and emceeing, some more depressed or self mocking uttering, as well as often enough interesting concepts that come from a left side. So for example on "Tylenol" Know 1 is talking about ish going wrong with all those pills and powders. Or on "Chain Of Command" the hook goes "it's just me, writing a poem, about a man, writing his story, about a man writing his theory about me". The lyrics happen to be more direct though, as Know is talking about himself as 'me'. And the flow that he picks to spit his words is of an almost sing songy style, that is fitted in more offbeat progressions over the tracks.

On the beat tip, "Chain Of Command" is interesting with the horn and the dub clicking, that further shows that Know has some cool ideas when it comes to draw together the elements that are to make his beats. And it's again the instruments that are getting him props for "Lost And Found". He then changes the cut some time into the track, that adds a real dope break. So once more he is coming with the good stuff, confirming that it was right to keep that mental note of his name. Also due to the beat on "Paradox Of Thought" being straight up butters. The drum is as always moving beyond the simple. But it's also the horn during the hook, as well as the simple emptiness of the rest of the track, that makes this cut so good. While of a total different style, "Something I'm Not" is ill too, and finally he's totally catching us off guard, when "What It Is" appears as an extremely smooth and relaxed, if not melancholic jazz piece, that combines another horn with incredible drums, and doesn't miss to change things up too.

So once more we gotta give this cat a lot of props. And despite us really liking what he does, we still think that what he'll have in store in the future will be even more amazing, with him fine tuning all the ideas that are circulating in his head. What we however are also thankful for, is that the lyrics that we are treated with on this record are not spoiling the whole impression. As it would have been more than unfortunate if all these tight beats would have been coupled with lyrics that would have made us become more than uninterested in listening to this.