Resonate Artist Of The Week: Vagrant Real Estate & CLBRKS

We’re highlighting one of Scotland’s finest hip hop purveyors - Vagrant Real Estate. Aberdeen’s award winning producer has teamed up with CLBRKS. Their collaborative album ‘The Iceberg Theory’ drops tomorrow [9th September] and is packed with vivid imagery, lush gospel samples showcases CLRBKS impeccably distinctive flow.

Vagrant Real Estate is a producer and DJ who’s been backed by the likes of Complex UK, Ministry of Sound, DJ Mag and the BBC. He has self-released a number of projects with both local and international artists. Today we highlight his most recent independently funded and produced project "The Iceberg Theory" which has recently sold out on vinyl during pre-sale.
Crafted remotely through the last year between London and Aberdeen, The Iceberg Theory spans seven tracks where CLBRKS weaves stark confession with booze-soaked braggadocio. Following the concept of American writer Ernest Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory, he drops allusions to surface elements and allows the listener to interpret as he oscillates between cashmere vests, Greek mythology and The Chappelle Show, always leaving his underlying themes unspoken. The project features appearances from UK Hip Hop heavyweight Ramson Badbonez (High Focus Records) rising London-based stars Renelle 893 and Kish!, as well as Scottish MC Jackill, highlighting the cross-country collaboration of the album. Building on the wealth of references in the lyrics, renowned British visual artist & illustrator Emily Catherine (Your Old Droog, Mach Hommy) provided the painted artwork, pairing CLBRKS’ varied allusions with nods to Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and The Ambassadors by Holbein.

CLBRKS & VAGRANT REAL ESTATE - STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN FLOW

For us, throughout this album, there is a superior level of production which is often hard to find in music and that credit is purely down to the skills of Vagrant Real Estate. His ability to layer complex syncopated beats, soulful samples all without detracting from CLBRKS flow is really quite masterful. Saying that, he showcases the complete opposite end of the spectrum demonstrating power in simplicity. Closing track 'Isn’t It Pretty To Think So’ almost brought us to tears. Strings, soothing saxophone, call & answer melodies, delicately picked guitar riffs - it’s nothing short of outstanding.

Of course this album is as much about CLBRKS as VRE. Preloaded with one of the most distinctive flows in the game, CLRBKS joined alternative British hip hop label Blah's ranks. He evokes such raw originality that he stands out from what can seem a congested marked as an MC. This was thanks in part to his early days, which saw him relocate from the UK to Tanzania at the age of 3, then on to Ghana and Uganda briefly, before returning to the UK shores in 2013. He's already achieved international acclaim which have sealed collaborations with Morriarchi, KIINA and of course Vagrant Real Estate.

You can pre-order the digital album exclusively on Bandcamp here.