Lower than Bjork, higher than Pulled Apart by Horses…
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[5.43]
Alfred Soto: A monstrous garage bass lines in search of worthwhile prey, not the impala called Solo 45.
[4]
Micha Cavaseno: More a testimony to the genius dancefloor rudeness of Preditah’s playful grime/garage/bassline hybrid than any of Solo 45’s bars. Solo remains out of all the Meridian family (who’ve split into the respective Bloodline & Boy Better Know camps) one of the least dexterous and creative MCs, and his hook is too lifeless outside of the rave context where his hook is meant to shine. Real shame, as I can think of a few non-friends of Skepta who’d love to have a beat that propulsive.
[3]
Scott Mildenhall: At four minutes this is a bit of a stretch, but the main concept of Solo 45 shouting “FEED EM TO THE LIONS” is a thoroughly enjoyable one. Whether it’s Arthur Brown going “I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE” or Big Narstie exclaiming “BATISTUTA! (Bicycle kick!)”, when pulled off, there is always room for this kind of semi-straightfaced comedy aggression.
[6]
Megan Harrington: They say, “Don’t write about drugs you’ve never done.” And I’ve never done any MDMA or derivative substance, but the wubby bass on “Feed ‘Em to the Lions” sounds just like I hope my pupils would look like swelling from a hit of ecstasy.
[7]
Brad Shoup: Dinging the hook for not roaring is just the sort of thing I’d pull, but I’m actually focused on that one line about his swole arms. Like, you’ve got a Vengaboys/”Day ‘n’ Nite” synth melody thing going on, so just give me your whole Christians-in-the-arena workout plan. How many Carpocratians can you bench, brah?
[5]
Ramzi Awn: I’m pretty sure I put this beat together on my Samsung Galaxy the other night. But I definitely didn’t lay down these vocals. Why do I all of a sudden feel the urge to leave a high school party in a Hummer?
[5]
Iain Mew: This is all about the power of the bass wobble + the title line, which only gets better with repetition. The rest of the track is expertly constructed as a series of run-ups for that, and it needs little else.
[8]