Sokleva of Rooftop MC’s released his solo album ‘Fist of Stones’ recently. Check out this very interesting review by producer and a member of the GospelCentric review team Diplo. He gives us a track by track analysis of songs in the album. Here we;
1. Seasons ft Okey sokay & spaceship boy
I wasn’t expecting this on any level from Sokleva, delivering dope rap lines on a typical dance-hall beat. The delivery on the medley was on point, the dynamism of the chorus gives a whole new feel (nice one at it because it makes it sound fuller). Even though I couldn’t make out the part of the song where Spaceshipboi came on, maybe he and Sokleva just sound alike (lol). The song has a very feel good vibe with it, instrumentation was well orchestrated, it gave room for vocal expressions always putting the focus on the voice, this for me was a very important feat well achieved considering the song needed all the attention it could get. Lastly that line …”they don’t come close like a bunch of vic-o’s had me falling off the chair..very illegal sokleva, very illegal.. lol, my heart still hurts from the punch of that line. Great job.
2. Helicopter flow ft LC Beats
I really looked forward to enjoying the rap on this but the grimy instrumentation made it hard to focus on the voice. Usually, in 808/Crunk/Trap productions, the vocals usually enjoy superb clarity sitting in the instrumental, this didn’t really allow that. Though positive highlights too can be spotted in the song, the feature of the Yoruba flow brought life to the vibe, the chorus possesses a catchy trait. As usual, Sokleva delivers insightful rap lines, it was just hard to focus on it when the low end frequencies are trying to fry your ear drums.
3. GGM feat. Nolly
I was looking forward to when Trap beats would be laid with the gospel by a Nigerian artist and today I am happy I got to experience it (lol). The essence of this song is grime and everything about this song carefully executes the concept, Sokleva coming in with the rap at the beginning was just exactly how the song needed to kick off, the transition to the piano, the syn-th? Very energetic! The build up of the chorus just provokes the emotion inside of your belly. The vocal chops and transitions in the song are very impressive. God’s really got me bruh!
4. Category feat XL2Letters & Gamie
This was already fire to my ears from the intro, the hip hop piano starting off set the mood already, then when the percussive brass came on, it was orgasmic. The power in the voice of XL2 was really needed to kick start the song, the way he flowed on the song made it look like school was in session, although I felt more power could have come in handy in the last 6 bars but great job nonetheless. 2nd verse, hmmm! Gamie! Gamie! Gamie! Lets give him the class captain of this particular song, he took the song to the morgue, no offense but he killed everyone on this. The chorus embodies a very under stable poetry which would be the first point of call for the average listener. Good song
5. Shine
I am a sucker for percussive instruments in any genre of song, how this song combined salsa rumba conga pattern in a reggeaton beat is very very commendable. I didn’t even believe the combination myself until it all came together. Sokleva can be very proud of this particular song, if he isn’t I can be proud for him. The rhythm is sweet (yes! I said it, sweet), the melody he created out of this is just pure inspiration, and it was obvious he really enjoyed making this one. This easily could be my favourite song on the compilation, this is something I would love to listen to after a long day or in a very tight traffic when everything is going so tense, the vibe will soothe the nerves. This is wonderful monsieur
6. In the Up ft Protek
This is a classic lyrical prowess type of record, they don’t make them like this no more. I believe this song speaks for itself. The most highlighted feature in it for me tho has to be the hook with the telephonic filter effect, I think it was awesome. Need I mention that both parties delivered their lyrics right, just the right amount of chill that was needed.
7. Hot
“I’m a vet with the bars”….I think we all can agree this is legit 100% sokleva was obviously just putting out his vibe on this. The character of the chorus allows you understand just how much swag he’s putting out. When I heard the chorus, the first line that stuck was in the chorus “jesu mi shi relevant…” that alone can be a trap gospel on its own, lol. Once again the engineering of the low end frequencies didn’t really impress me.
8. Haya
When I heard this song, I was vibing very hard to it. This competes with shine for best song on the compilation for me. Once again, how does Sokleva come up with this melodies he sings? The chorus alone got me seventy seven times everyday. The delivery of the rap was very sharp, eloquent, traditional and easy to follow. The way this songs engages the listener is incredible. The bass line has to be the best part of the instrumentation. Kudos! I’m so dancing all day to this, nuff said…the song speaks for itself. Its been a while we had a gospel dance song that has this much vibe in it even with so few elements in the instrument, I guess the vocal medleys and the instruments combined flawlessly all the while stressing the magnitude of the gospel, wow!
9. Not bad Enoff feat. Soul
I believe no other person could have combined perfectly with Sokleva on this song than soul, the transition between the two of them is slicker than a Steph Curry fade away. The melody is top notch, the way sokleva delivers his rap on this joint, very simple, words weren’t struggling for accentuation. The transition of the Organs way into the song was a classic piece, im very impressed with this outcome here. Soul’s reggea kinda voice is a blessing, good kleva saw that. The synth solo that came in on the third hook can do no wrong at all, great ad libs by Soul.
10. Baba God ft. Provabs
Owanbe of life. The way this song builds up makes me want to go wear my ankara and turn up for the lord. Good afro melodies, the kind of song you will move to (unconsciously even if you don’t want to). The way the rap flows come on the vibe is just perfection, adds essence to the pattern of the song.. The chorus makes one want to do the limpopo dance (like Kcee, lol)
11. Shakara
I really don’t know how I feel about this song, maybe because it’s so different from all I heard from the first track but then again so is the dynamism of sokleva. I feel the song would have been more entertaining on another catchy instrumental. The instrumental takes the song back to the early 2000 kind of hip hop, I thought we were past that? Might be useful to put into consideration that Sokleva is the person that will combine a retro sound with a house pattern and still make an afro rap on it, so….explore the full depths of your sound bro
12. Lift him up
A classical hip hop record with poetic delivery that portrays representation of an inanimate thing as being humane, though very short I really feel like the essence of what he had to say had been said already. Good job
After a long delay in reviewing this compilation due to the simple fact that I didn’t know what to expect but with ensuing listens, I started to understand the perspective the artist was trying to illuminate on. Taking into consideration the poetic expression, the melodies, featured artists and other variables, I can gladly say this is a very versatile album that embodies a lot of creative uniqueness. GOOD JOB SOKLEVA!
