Money for Belly - Flow Patrol

Someone it just takes a special touch to create that crate-digging sound

Off the wax, and then burning candles on the tracks

Flow Patrol Rawdrafts

Introduced excellently...

            A perfect track for Summer. This one has us soaked in the vibes of summer, easy living, and of course that delicious rhythm of classy subject matter. Flow Patrol once again has a top notch beat from one of the many producers he has worked with. The beat is quite simple, an exchange of piano loops that sounds so damn good, laced with some drums and you are ready for Flow Patrol.
           Another killer set of bars. He definitely keeps it classy on this one, using words and rhymes of a true gentleman. Some of my favorite rhymes on this track immerse you in the world of summer, putting me at ease.

And the love birds movin to the suburbs

Smother one another with Southern summers

In search of runnin (butter?) with the (cover?)

Have (recover/her cover?) in the hummer 

Updated as of 7/27/12 it is actually, "head for cover in the hummer". 
Did I stutter?

This is a fabulous piece of rap right here. Now, as is usual with Flow Patrol, not all can be deciphered. I have tried my best. This really sets the stage for the rest of his content on this track. When we think love birds, obviously a young couple, married perhaps. If they are young and moving to the suburbs they are most likely quite a successful couple. A typical upper middle class family. When he mentions the hummer that is another hint at wealth. And yet there is some tragedy behind the recover/her cover line. If recover, then perhaps there is too much stress in the characters life, perhaps this marriage, life, situation in the suburbs isn't what he wanted. If it is her cover, perhaps he protects his daughter/wife through wealth, another thought. So not everything is perfect, but that question at the end is put so confidently and has such power behind that. 

12 shots its a rock and drop to the curb

It ain't soft when its served

That line is quite clever. 

But the reservations gracious 

and the conversations spacious

the lobster's superb

Those lines put you into that classy summer feel, thoughts of fancy restaurants, elegance encompasses all attending, and the sophistication can be seen heard, and just felt. 

Righteous, you might just entice us with your license

to kill beats and cheap thrills.

Phony entertainment is all I can think of on this one. The fact that someone can just scam so many people, and when Flow uses the term license, he paints the idea that this person is allowed to entertain regardless of their skill. Hence he mentions cheap thrills. Could be wrong about all this, but these are just the thoughts that flow.
           Also it should not go unmentioned to Rawdrafts for producing this beautiful melody. Another classic feel good beat for my collection.

Jet Lag - Flow Patrol & Dirty Def

           The Jet Lag EP was released not long ago, just on the 20th. I finally hit up Flow Patrol's page on SC, and finally saw the project out for myself and the world to enjoy. This track was one of my favorites. When Flow Patrol is paired with a dark classy beat much like "Realism", or "VB Rasb3rry", you get this magical vibe, I'll get into that in a second however. Flow Patrol and Dirty Def made a small masterpiece right here. Painting a black-and-white image of society's wealth, evils, class, and elegance, these two men do work to bring you a real movie through sound.
           Flow Patrol always has a lot of words to absorb so often times it may be hard to discover a topic or theme. However, he always picks some beautiful words to fit the vibe of the music. When he picks the words, "I be on air France", it just sounds classy. One of my favorite qualities of Flow Patrol, if he talks about wealth or success he does it: with skill, behind a good beat, and with class. And as always, he has no trouble staying on beat with the drums. A smooth ride that I would gladly enjoy, "on air France".
           Dirty Def made a beat perfect for this MC. Giving the general vibe sound old and grim. That sweet sincere loop of strings that carries very well. And those vocals that murmur creepily in the background, are a wonderful touch to the mood of the music. Something about this instrumental sounds elegant, and serious. It sounds very much like something you would hear in the James Bond Films. A year back I reviewed Ye's "Diamonds", and that sample and "Jet Lag" would go hand in hand through a 007 film. A very nice touch to the EP, and that is just a sixth of it.

With all this said, hope you find this song suited somewhere on a nighttime playlist. I know I have!
As for the EP, check it out here: http://dirtydef.bandcamp.com/album/flow-patrol-dirtydef-jet-lag-ep
           

Realism - Flow Patrol

         Track was perfect for another rainy run today. The combination on this is perfect, two young artists collaborating to make something ill! This really gives me that classy boom bip feel to it, the sampled dialogue is pretty nice, and that killer piano tune is quite nice. This jazzy feel gives you a good way to picture everything Flow Patrol says, which is quite a damn lot.
          Flow Patrol absolutely destroys it. When I first heard him I was blown away. All you can do to appreciate his style is just listen more, which is a favor to yourself. It is quite the treat we have been given all this free music, and then you look at the shit hop you have to pay for today. Not that all is good or bad in either scene of hip-hop. The jumps he makes are great, and he does a good job of using some solid vocabulary to take us on some journey. The fact that he spits out so many words and most rhyme in some way gets him a lot of respect from him. I'd like to focus on the 2nd verse's first couple of bars.

My flows opposed to the orthodox I'm on top of the box

And that shows I show off? Of course it's not.

No long talks at talk shop I'm on the inbox blocking

The whole flock won't stop till I'm forced to drop stocks

I ain't a pop rock star no shock jock riddling gridlock with Hitchock

This shit from the birds is fist full of bitches to list off

I'm drinking spritzer with the twist off tops

And liberal with shit talk lock in Fort Knox

And caught with a box of gold blocks 

I'm at a spot under which I've fought and lost

But it costs not another dollar that I've got

They chose us so pop off I'm lost real talk

Like the prism divised I'm torn as a divisor thought

No cross, the ones we lost dictate the rise in cost

No hate but lives is lost reinstate your pride in talk

Of the late and greatness I have fought

Absolutely incredible, still can't even decipher that very last line. Regardless of comprehension, this is a masterpiece the whole damn thing rhymes, he makes excellently broad arguments, putting his 2 cents into everything. He cleverly gives us images of success, and he puts good meaning into all of this. There are so many good things to look at in this verse. Whether it be the "drop stocks" line in which he establishes himself as an honest successor to the "flock" which pokes fun at other successful artists, as they listen to their recording companies. This is much better delivered than just saying you are better and have more power. In this manner Flow Patrol shines as he shares his views in a truly unorthodox manner, as not many could deliver a verse like this today. Man, this verse holds the skill that Life's A Bitch material would, and that is not downing the value of that classic song of a classic LP. While maybe "Life's A Bitch" is more nostalgic, sentimental, and possesses a more proper tune to reminisce to, both works contain high lyrical value. 

          Jamie made a really nice beat as I said. That horn sample is incorporated perfectly, and the vocal sample is some really addicting loop that I can't comprehend. Perfect for walking through the town on a dark night, gives you that serious feel, track carries a lot of power with it. As soon as the drums come in your step gets heavier and man you just feel badass. Man, what a trip dude.