Track Listing

1. Ha Ha
2. Mpho�s Lament (Skit)
3. Wait A Minute
4. I Want 2
5. Awkward Boy Skit
6. Oh U Want More?
7. Rain
8. The Willing
9. Look 4 Me
10. Groovement Pt1
11. Dreams
12. Hot Spice
13. Music 2 Fly 2
14. So U Want More? (Refix) Feat. Roots Manuva (Bonus Track)
15. Wait A Minute Dwele Remix (Bonus Track)
16. So U Want More? (Revox) Feat. Roots Manuva (Bonus Track)
17. Groovement Parts 1 & 2 (Bonus Track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101393 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though still languishing in the deepest depths of Urban music's underground, Upwards confirms that Brixton rapper Ty deserves to be just as recognised as label mate Roots Manuva. Following on from where the easy flowing R&B and London-centric humour of his 2001 debut, Awkward, left off, he further refines the antidote to UK hip-hop's grim reality. The smouldering funk and quick-witted rhymes of "I Want 2" and "Groovement" continue to deliver his dysfunctional life and infinite wisdom with a sly nod.

But just in case anyone mistook his debut's lighter touch for a lack of serious talent, Upwards expands his repertoire and leaves his peers looking decidedly two-dimensional. The electro thud of "Ha Ha" and "Look for Me"'s sub bass voodoo chant set his astute wordplay to uncharacteristically hi-tech rhythm tracks to be as arresting as his vintage grooves are soulful. And if any doubts remain as to his musical smarts, "Do You Want More?" vanquishes them by shaping a strident hip hop march out of a plinky fairground tune. Likewise, his superior lyrical intellect makes "Music to Fly To" the best spoken word lament about modern life since Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". With lines such as "September 11th/all of a sudden people are paying attention to a problem that didn't begin on the 10th" he provides food for thought rarely found in rap from either side of the pond. --Dan Gennoe

Blues & Soul
This album is a modern day classic. Why? Three words. Entertaining. Enlightening. Enduring.

Echoes
One of the outstanding collections of hip hop music you're likely to hear this year

Customer Reviews

Upwards Moves Forward
I got the opportunity to see Ty preview some of the tracks from
this album at the Big Chill, which included a full live band and
special guest singers. When you listen to tracks like "Groovement"
and "Wait A Minute" they aren't only hip hop tracks but they take
influences from every musical direction. Lyrically Ty raps with
a sense of rhythm and deep understanding for human nature.
Without resorting to "show biz hip hop antics" Ty speaks like
it is. What moves me so much about this LP to even take the
time to write a review is that it sounds fresh every time I put it
on. It's an lp you can relate to if you like straight hip hop, soul
jazz, funk, Afro-Latin dub reggae cause in some way all those
things are in there. Plus "Wait A Minute" is worthy of having
some super remix for the more uk underground scene - ala
west London sound.

I'm nice like cola and ice
What's not to love? A rapper who, on the opening track, namechecks Oona King (!) and replaces the 'm*therf*cker' you come to expect from hip-hop with 'oh my goodness'. Beautiful, sunshiney, funky beats and sounds sampled from all over. Ty is from Brixton but raps about the world as he sees it without ever resorting to ghetto posturing, although you sense his life has been pretty unusual. And, as if you needed another reason, Roots Manuva makes guest appearances.

Refreshing Boundaries
Not being a big fan of UK Hip Hop [Apart from Roots Manuva], I was a bit skeptical at buying this album. I went for it anyway after hearing the original mix of 'Oh You Wnat More' which also features Roots Manuva on it. The first time I listened to it I was pleasantly suprised at what I heard. Being british hip hop I thought the beats would be poorly produced but from start to finish this album ranks up there with a lot of other excellent hip hop albums I own. Ty keeps it real and a lot of his joints relate to everyday life on the dark streets, but adds a few comical aspects to them. Not only does the album sound good but an added bonus is the remixes featured at the end of the album. 'Oh You Want More?' is remixed twice, the refix [The joint that is released] vibes on an indian style and the best joints on the album are remixed too.

If you are a bit skeptical about UK hip hop I urge you to buy this album as I believe it borders on the lines of U.S. Beats, UK lyrics. You won't be disappointed.