Kut One – Live Wires 3 [LP]

On Live Wires 3, DJ and producer Kut One does a deep dive into the sound of hip-hop’s grim-faced roots and unfeigned trenches, spinning beats stripped of pop and polish in favor of grit and grime. He guides us through ten bumpin’, standalone tracks that spotlight his asphalt-heavy beats while giving both established and upcoming emcees a chance to shine. It’s a blend that’s dark, dense, and straight-up — just what fans have come to expect from the Aussie sound provider.

Opening the album with an eardrum-popping bang, the track “Get Some” puts King Magnetic, Change, and Tom Sav in a lineup to give us a taste of the cutthroat world of guns and ammo that so many claim to know but few actually do. From opening the track by recalling wielding firearms at an early age ( “8 years old, I shot a Glock and I’ve been tweaking since…”) to leaving bullet holes in bodies so big “…you could drive a fucking car through”, the trio empty their clips straight into the listener’s ears. Not missing a step, Kut One‘s feverish, rock-guitar-driven beat amps up the intensity of this visceral opening track.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6Zb9Ok4YRCxjt5hxXAXwiI?si=b5b43a51752a4964

Steering us forward, the second track, “Stay Sucker Free“ has Kut One conjuring up an ominous, crime-flick atmosphere as the audience absorbs Jamal Gasol‘s street-survivalist wisdom. The Niagara Falls rep unpacks the struggle of staying true to who and what you are while trying to make your way in an unforgiving world. As the track’s heavy thudding drums and haunted flute loop ratchets up the tension, bars like “Contemplating sitting outside your house for the right moment/ All from a favor, you ducking me like a rodent/ My anxiety bad, being the man that let you owe him/ Matching energy played out, but sometimes you gotta show em” drive home the weight of the song.

Moving deeper into Live Wires 3, we come across “Good for Nuthin” and “Mount Up,” two standout tracks showing just how good Kut One is at finding the right emcees to pair with his menacingly melodic beats. On the former, he brings together street-savvy lyricists Estee Nack, Daniel Son, and Saipher Soze to drop fire verses over chest-pounding kicks, gun-clap snares, and layers of sleek, otherworldly synth sounds that drift in and out of the mix like a haze of smoke. Each emcee paints a picture of the flurry of thoughts that flood the mind when you’re scrambling to survive a life that’s governed by crime and money. As for the latter, Detroit’s own Guilty Simpson slides in with his signature no-frills flow and “chest out proud” cool for a track that’s as rugged and rough as the Motor City itself. Guilty‘s razor-sharp lyrics and deliberate flow carve out his refusal to bow down or conform to a system that prefers to see him penned in. As always, his words pack a punch and lay it all bare: “I’m a servant of my passions/ Back then, they was really fearful of a black man/ … they want us eating out a trash can/ Mad cause I’m tapped in.” And his diehard will to win loudly echoes in the lines, “I wouldn’t submit/ Now I got em looking for shit/ Trying to make it what it’s not/ Until we get it shaking in the spot/ My hitters getting famous out of pot/ And never give a statement to a cop”.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4EWXXnMCZgnc7A6OjCjW6a?si=66c607c1544a4e59

“Skip The Nonsense” storms in as the album’s fifth heater, showing off The Bad Seed‘s unapologetically savage wit and elaborate lyricism. Kut One‘s production cooks up a wild-eyed mix of horror vid strings and brusk drums to make the perfect backdrop for Bad Seed’s scorching rhymes: “Tuck the .40 deep in my waist/ Paraphernalia/ Chase you tail ya/ Catch your body in Australia/ Cocaine flow, pure white, Iggy Azalea/ Bad Seed wash up rappers, how he a failure?” Spinning out from the blistering heat of Bad Seed‘s rhyme storm, we tumble into a dark alley track called “Never Settle“ – a raw-as-it-gets, boom-bap melody powered by the ballsy verses of Brownsville villain Rim. The track drips with grit-filled mettle and stands tall as a soundtrack for those who bow to no challenge.

Having reveled in the potent beats and rhymes of the previous tracks, we arrive at the doorstep of “Listen Up” – an airtight meeting of minds between Kut One and Buffalo-born and bred wordsmith Pretty Bulli. Another pavement-splitting standout on Live Wires 3, this cut throws around hardened drums and phantomlike samples as Bulli fires off defiant rhymes like a Ruger. Her voice and delivery are ice-cold, perfectly fitting the stripped-down “anybody can get it” vibe of the track. Our leading lady breaks down her winning approach inside and outside of the rap game – letting nonbelievers know that she isn’t interested in fitting into anyone’s mold or being pigeonholed. When she closes her choruses with the bars “I don’t think they understand me fully/ Well let me introduce myself, I’m Pretty Bulli” she puts everyone on notice that she’s on deck, locked and loaded, and set to keep the pressure on.

https://open.spotify.com/track/16eKHggOAJTzdbX2zfMohc?si=b655926f61454810

Moving on we connect with Queensbridge’s own Craig G, who pulls back the velvet curtain to reveal the music industry’s superficial side in the track “No Room to Grow“. Kut One‘s production marries a punchy drum break and ethereal keyboard samples as Craig G unravels the illusions of inflated streaming numbers and rented glamour that has the rap world in a chokehold. From there, Rasheed Chappell ushers us into his stark and dark portrayal of street life with the song “It’s My Word“. Working with a grimly cinematic, spine-tingling soundscape, Rasheed sketches raw scenes of survival, violence, dreams, and ambition – taking listeners on a tour of every dark and hopeful corner of the city streets that shaped him.

With its final track, “Been a Long Time,” the album brings us into the world of UK-based emcee Verbz. Tapping into his poignant lyrics and effortless flow, we get a candid look into his life journey – a trek that has been filled with personal trials, tribulations, and triumphs. At the heart of this joint is a message about viewing life as a marathon filled with hurdles and curves that shape who we are as we chase our dreams. The album’s last verse starts with the lines “Been through the highs and the lows, but my eyes on the pros/ Tied to my woes, I ain’t one that’s ever likely to fold/ Climb and I grow, more life to my guys on the road/ Trying to shine, we all diamonds in the dirt, shit’s cold” – a perfect summation of what it takes to not only survive in this world but to thrive as well.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1irChiPvQnuJ5uHYugCFYY?si=28c79c1675534ae7

Live Wire 3, in addition to showcasing Kut One‘s beat-making magic, also spotlights his skills as a producer who knows how to pair the right beat with the right emcee. It acts as a vital lifeline, connecting the listener to the sound and feel of hip-hop music’s “every ghetto/every city” roots – weaving in themes of social commentary, personal journeys, and relentless drive. Kut One and his ensemble of skilled collaborators demonstrate their commitment to their craft, unafraid to shed light on the less glamorous aspects of their lives and experiences. The set toes the fine line between tradition and innovation, criticism and acceptance, ambition and reality – all while delivering truly dope music. Without a doubt, Live Wire 3 is a must-listen album that you won’t want to overlook.

Stream & buy Kut One’s music on…
( Amazon | Apple_Music | Bandcamp | Deezer | Spotify | Tidal | YouTube_Music )

https://open.spotify.com/album/5epvvsuaUEMF0O9Pz5xItW?si=s2KE512pQvWODAGsROcKFw

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