Butterscotch Espinosa aka Nicky Spesh – “Middle Aged Rap”

Posted By: Rick JammPosted date: September 27, 2012in: Reviews, VideosNo Comments

From the age of seventeen Nicky Spesh has been producing and performing his own material. He started out as part of the GM Beats collective, a London-based crew who learnt their trade mixing hip hop, jungle and garage on pirate radio back in the day. Over the years he has performed live at a number of high-profile venues across London while developing his talents as a battle rapper. Spesh won the Lyric Pad MC Battle in 2004 and has appeared live on BBC 1Xtra and made an impact rapping regularly at Yo-Yo’s at the Notting Hill Arts Club and The Theatre Royal, Stratford East.

In 2005 he released his debut album to critical acclaim The World I Know (Soul Prolapse 2005). He has also produced for Ellie Lawson and Est’elle and composed music for Sky 1 and Channel 4. Nicky Spesh has also recently been making forays into London’s spoken word scene in an effort to further improve his lyricism, becoming a UK Slam Champion and the Word Up Slam Champion of Champions in the process.

“Middle Aged Rap” from Butterscotch Espinosa aka Nicky Spesh features some of the most clever wordplay in true Brit style. Lots of imagination, cryptic messages and creativity, that’s filled with danceable beats and just plain fun. Something that’s gone missing from the rap world in recent times. In the 90’s, this was the kind of music that you’d listen to with your friends, together for a beer and pizza session, just tripping out and having a good time.

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“Middle Aged Rap” is candy-coated cheesy pop madcap rap from the UK, that tackles some serious underlying themes head-on. Like, for example, how old is too old in the technological era, before you get booted out of your job or are considered dysfunctional?

As we’ve often debated on these pages before, Brit-Rap has a hard time breaking ground with the USA ‘brothers-in-the-hood’ rap fans, who take their ‘gansta rap’ rather seriously. Across the pond, Hiphop is considered a way of life, or a culture more than just a music genre. But Butterscotch Espinosa doesn’t really seem to give a blue dime about any of this, as he gets on with the job and lays down some of the most zaniest, craziest, and catchiest rhymes, while putting his message across.

“Middle Aged Rap” is currently the brand new single, but we also listened to “Rihanna Roulette (Nicky Spesh Remix),” “Sacrificial Portal” and “Throw Down The Bucket,” which is my personal favourite, while checking out Nicky Spesh’s musical CV.

If you are into this kind of tongue-in-cheek rap music, this is as good as it gets. Utterly unique, old school, synth and guitar driven dance beats, completely different from the usual pimp and chain samples we often hear on the hiphop charts.

How does Butterscotch Espinosa aka Nicky Spesh come up with all this stuff, you ask? Not quite sure, but listen to this while you’re in front of the mirror, clipping the excessive hair from your ears and nostrils. It will give you a nice kick up the butt, while you consider why you’re too young for a pension and too old to work!