To The Starz –  Blow Flyy ft Jason “Soul” Howe (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Hip-Hop and therefore rap and all the other sub-genres that it spawned has always had a love of the hedonistic lifestyle. Commerciality may now be more of a driving force for the music being made on those tough streets but it never lost its sense of wanting more, craving success and the glamour of the lifestyle that it brings. Some might see cliche running through the song but this is a genre which has always known what it wanted and this is just a mission statement rather than playing up to well used stereotypes. Okay, it is playing up to a stereotype but players will play…and why not?

But at least Blow Flyy and Howe are more honest about their aspirations, aiming for a successful career and a nice life rather than the bling and party that has become the cliche. This is a song rooted in ambition and achievement rather than the shallow party life that is often what is really at stake.

Jason “Soul” Howe delivers the  message over skittering percussion and solid beats, it runs on a minimalist R&B groove, as much as it does a rap delivery and whereas many people making music in this urban field are happy to rest on the musical laurels of past glories, To The Starz as its name suggests is more about looking forward. This is the music of the here and now, no looking back.