‘Deftly Golden EP’ - Conscious Route X Forest DLG/Chemo/Telemachus
Artwork by Alex Holman
Edinburgh-based MC, Conscious Route has delivered his latest, 6-track EP, ‘Deftly Golden,’ produced by Forest DLG aka Chemo aka Telemachus. The EP opens with the straight hip-hop of ‘Trojan’ ft Kryptik before ‘Portals’ brings a deeper lyrical feel as Conscious Route unleashes a flurry of political wordplay calling out prejudice, racism, government, and more. Local Healers step up with a strong lyrical assist on the relaxed, jazz-inflected ‘Chordz’ as Chris Greive blesses the track with some live trombone before Micall Parknsun drops through to trade lines on the brooding ‘Villified.’ Joe Publik is the final guest on the EP with the insistent, string blessed bragging rights of ‘Code Red’ cuts by iconic UK turntablist, DJ JabbaThaKut on the track. The EP closes with ‘Driver,’ as Conscious Route flows across a drum and bass back-drop, with some deft wordplay that speaks of his lyrical confidence. This EP maintains a strong hip-hop edge even as it drifts across styles while Conscious Route shows why he has become such an established name in UK hip-hop. The EP has already received support from BBC Introducing with “Trojan” gaining track of the week and more recently “Portals” spun on Phoebe I-H and Shreen Cutkelvin Scotland show.
Conscious Route is a rapper, MC, poet and singer-songwriter who was born in London before moving to Edinburgh over a decade ago. In 2020, he unleashed the collaborative ‘Lost Routes’ album, alongside producer True Note, which went on to receive a 4-star review in The Scotsman upon its release. In addition to this, three of his more recent releases, ‘Trojan,’ ‘Orphans,’ and his feature on ‘Dragons Jaw’ by Post Coal Prom Queen, were all named as track of the week on BBC Introducing Scotland. The Sensory EP, a collaboration with producer Toni Smoke, also saw 2 tracks receive worldwide airplay on Rapstation 365 radio station, played by UK’s DJ Shorty on London Chip Shop show, then re-spun by the legendary Chuck D in the USA. His Lost Routes Flip tape was supported by Tom Robinson’s BBC 6 Music ‘Fresh On The Net BBC Introducing’ mixtape show and he has again seen his music named among the Herald’s top 100 Scottish tunes of the year. He also recently released the Pyramid EP with shortlisted Scottish Artist of the Year, Scott Bathgate. Conscious Route's release reached the international stage once again with airplay in USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe. BBC Introducing Scotland, presenters Phoebe I-H and Shreen Cutkelvin supported it on their show and calling it, “the ultimate collaboration.” Since then, Conscious Route’s music, including his last single, ‘Portals’ with Forest DLG, continues to get support from the BBC – with ‘Dragon’s Jaw’ making it to BBC Introducing Scotland’s Best Track of the Week show.
Forest DLG (AKA Telemachus, FKA Chemo Productions) is a producer, musician and sound engineer who grew up in South London, where he would tune into late night Choice FM and underground pirate radio to hear the Hip Hop, Jungle, Dancehall, 2 Step and Grime being transmitted. He soon entered the UK rap scene, under the pseudonym ‘Chemo,’ where he began producing and sound engineering. As chief engineer at YNR and High Focus, he shaped some of the UK’s finest releases. Now working as the sound engineer at KMJ45 Studios, he continues to be behind some of the most well-known names in the UK, including Rag N Bone Man, Ocean Wisdom, Youngs Teflon, Durrty Goodz, Verb T, Four Owls, Jehst, Roots Manuva and more.
