Record Review - Time Waits For No Man (45)

Whirlwind D - Time Waits For No Man - BLN011

A) Time Waits For No Man - produced by Phil Wilks cuts by Specifik
AA) One, Two featuring Rola & Specifik

White 7" vinyl

The Nicest Guy In Hip Hop© returns with another vinyl offering. This time it's a double-header 45 on the ubiquitous B Line Recordings label and my, my, it's certainly a grower.

The A side, Time Waits For No Man, is a broody, bass-rumbling, bluesy snorter with a sharp, snappy, snare-led break in a mid-tempo style and fashion.
Mic Master Whirlwind D dispenses with the boast-rap - something he has done more and more as of late; an evolving sign of resulting maturity, perhaps - and offers an ode to the perils of procrastination ("Time's up, you gotta act now or retire").
B Line honcho Specifik gets biz on the wheels in the chorus which is always a highlight of a good hip hop tune as far as I'm concerned. This practice is very much in vogue at present and any MC that is prepared to give the dj some shine is well worth some of your time.

Master Ace gave us examples of what to expect when posting high, D is merely trying to help us onto that same path but with a much more reserved British demeanour. Take heed.

 The flipside features a duet with Rola on the mic, who is arguably Bristol's most omnipresent legend (ex-Numskullz crew). The first thing that hits you when listening to this initially is the dirty, funky, porn groove that conjures up images of heavily-mustacheoed men in white overalls carrying over-sized toolboxes whilst flirting with lonely, clothes-phobic housewives.
Yes, the beat oozes that lazy head-nodding niceness that sounds great on the radio. This time around there is a heady aroma of street skills and bragginess spoken over 28 bars each (no real chorus as such) ("Conceived with a mic and a mixer in the womb, fed lyrics from a young age with a dual-speed spoon") which is a departure from the A-side and shows a variety rather than a monotonous stuck-in-the-same-groove tedium that curiously some artists think is what makes enjoyable listening.
Again, more super, superb scratch from Specifik who gets to do his thing after the lads have said their piece.

Overall another banger not only for Mr D but for B Line as well which further cements their proven track record for top quality UK rap product which should have them picking up the crown previously held aloft by Simon Harris' Music Of Life label.
The only snag about 45s is that musical sacrifices have to be made. In this case two great songs but no room for the instrumentals. However, like a can of Lynx deodorant from Poundland, it's a small price to pay.

Available now from http://blinerecordings.bigcartel.com/product/whirlwind-d-times-waits-for-no-man on limited edition WHITE vinyl. Add it to your collection while you can.