BYOB - debut album 'Everything In Moderation' released on Loaded Records, 25th October
BYOB, 21 (real name Ashley Hamilton), hails from South London and exudes an incredible energy that dominates his debut album, 'Everything In Moderation' out 25th October 2010. Sounding more like a mix tape than one artist, the only consistency here is the quality.
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Part of the new wave of British music artists, he is signed to Loaded Records and is a new breed of UK artists who are fearless in mixing styles, sounds and genres.
With influences including Bloc Party, Lil Wayne and The Prodigy, it was inevitable that the album would showcase variety and the energy is infectious throughout, buoyed by BYOB's surefire wordplay and lyrics. This record is to dance what the slacker genre was to indie-rock, taking bedroom electro and putting it on the big stage. It sits there very well indeed.
The album opens with the punchy "Best Shoes", a dance track that secured national radio support, followed by the tongue-in-cheek would be anthem "Chillin" and "Peaches". This is the first but not the only time on the album that BYOB hijacks a classic and adds his own signature twist. He delivers a re-work of this 1970's Stranglers hit; fusing the traditional with some fresh ideas. Grime has always been married to smart pop music and this is no exception.
Watch Peaches video:
BYOB shows his versatility with the D&B tune "Young Living", the mellow "Sunshine Highway" and the iconic dance track "Save My Life", a triumphant collaboration with J Majik & Wickaman (Crazy World). The ready hooks ensured Radio 1 support and helped BYOB to the next level.
Other notable tracks include "I like It" and "Out To Play", and the debut underground release "Prescription". Brimming with hooks, the subject matter stopped this breaking radio, but the video became the most watched on YouTube upon its release.
"A rap about prescription medicine to the tune of 'Walk Like An Egyptian' has to be the work of either a genius, a candidate for sectioning or a musical magpie with ADHD…" - Artrocker
The album is a example of what happens when UK musical talent meets hyperactive creativity. A skilled producer and an equally adept showman, on 'Everything In Moderation', BYOB is serving up a conveyor belt of would be hits.
Listen to tracks:
"BYOB the artist has already made some famous friends with the likes of Lady Gaga choosing last year's 'Best Shoes' to walk on stage to, and he's not afraid to plunder some of pop's best moments for his post-millenial electro grime/rave" - NME
"BYOB has stormed onto the UK hip-pop scene with his blend of frantic drum 'n bass beats, vocoders and trance-like synth stabs…" - Disorder
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