Review: Ramson Badbonez - Death Mask
London lyricist Ramson Badbonez has been deeply ingrained in UK Hip-Hop culture ever since his teenage years, developing a reputation for being one of the most ferocious emcees in the country. Badbonez’s stellar reputation was then propelled further after releasing The Official Mixtape Volume 1 alongside producer Harry Love, before his notoriety reached new heights following the release of his long anticipated debut album, Bad Influence in 2012 with Boot Records. It was unsurprising that soon afterwards, Badbonez signed to the UK’s most prominent Hip-Hop label, High Focus Records as a result of both his talent and dedication. The first of Ramson Badbonez High Focus releases was A Year In The Life Of Oscar Slouch, introducing new-found listeners to his gritty storytelling ability with a captivating theme underpinning the release, depicting 12 months spent wandering London. Since then, Badbonez has become revered for his conceptual projects; his previous two records Jason Bonez & Mic Day The 13th inspired by the fantasy serial killer Jason Vorhees of horror epic, ‘Friday the 13th’.
Currently on his 12th full-length album, produced by long-term collaborator Mark Fear - Death Mask reveals a more personal side to Badbonez with forthright, true to life perspectives. The striking opening single Sarcophagus see’s Badbonez contemplate why artists receive the most celebration after death, with lyrics like “Everybody’s always claiming how they love a rapper when they’re gone and buried…They don’t get recognition ‘til you’re dead and gone.” Following this, Badbonez asks more insightful Questions as he deciphers a societal decline through his own eyes. As the project progresses, Badbonez continues projecting meaningful topics. Take Valley Of The Kings, in which Badbonez explores Egyptian conventions, or Magnify which queries the direction in which the advancement of surveillance technology is taking us. There are also uplifting concepts, such as Skin Deep in which he beckons listeners to “Teach your daughters the importance of to be cautious, and that true beauty is Skin Deep” with a beautiful hook sung by female vocalist Nesha. Other singles such as Science Class and Sky Walker elevate the mindstate with intelligent perceptions, considering the past with the present. All the while, the inescapable topics of life and death resonate on anthems including Energy and Eternal - in which Badbonez converses with “Spirits talking to me or walking through me,” altogether personifying his beliefs concerning spirituality. The album climaxes with an upbeat boom-bap banger called The Wrath, in which Badbonez lets loose for a final time.
Capable of portraying the street life without copy-catting the cliches of wannabe gangsters, Ramson Badbonez opens minds with heartfelt topics that display a unique understanding of the world from his own personal accounts. Overall Death Mask is as thought-provocative as it is mesmerising, exhibiting undeniable intelligence with universally relatable topics. An essential purchase for fans of hip-hop with real substance, due for release February 28th, 2020.
Pre-order RAMSON BADBONEZ - ‘DEATH MASK’: HERE
Words by Evo @ethanevo