#stringsandbling

                          Strings and Bling Album Review

Another warm Durban night, another one down.

Another album for the young Prince of African Hip hop, another one down.

I cannot shake the feeling that Nasty C is on the pinnacle of discovering a new plateau of African Hip hop.

We immediately receive the sense of alertness on the theatrical intro, ‘Blisters’.

Blisters is a young thug’s confession.

With spirituality at the centre of his make up, the 21 year old rapper from Durban displays a level of awareness of his spirituality that is quite ahead his youth and peers. Nasty C’s ability to fully express himself as if we were afforded a peak into his prayers and conversations with God is quite extraordinary.

The self-title ‘Strings and Bling’ is the standout joint for me. Sitting right after the intro, the insatiable strings places us in 1982 Cuba where a young Pablo Escobar dreamed of power on top of the sprawling hills of Medellin.

Nasty C is Pablo against the hard-hitting kicks and this is his land! Even in the midst of an overwhelming bellow for peace and “khumbaya”, it is clear that Nasty is still battling and struggling with the fulfillment of his plea. Can the money and the riches fulfill this plea? Or will it do the opposite?

The album is broken apart into surges, or what Kanye West would say, streams. Jungle and No Respect pulls you deep into the jungle, with hard-hitting percussion and rap bravado. Nasty C gives ‘No Respect’ his full attention with crushing bars and provocative adlibs.

A minute and a half into vigorously exercising our neck bones, we sink into the smooth and infectious ‘Legendary’.

Nasty C has settled into the comfort of his creative authenticity. He runs through various flows as a new school rapper would, although never sacrificing his element of originality.

King is the epitome of a perfectly executed display of ego trippin’. Asap Ferg gives a stellar sixteen, giving the track that global roar that Nasty C needs.

The belly of the young Durban native’s sophomore album evokes the constant and in-discreet idea of love. ‘Mrs Me’ is an exaggerated commitment to love whilst ‘Casanova’ presents a conflicted admittance to being a young playboy.

Each song on ‘Strings and Bling’ is a necessary ingredient for the well-being of the youth.

Touching on subjects such as mental health which is a tragic reality within our very communities and the rest of the world. This album delves into the mentality of a chosen messenger. Nasty C begins a new conversation in South African Hip hop.

A conversation that begs the question, what are you willing to do for Love? To obtain it, to maintain it and to share it, without losing your true sense of self. Strings and Bling is a classic love song baring all the scars and triumphs of prevailing love.