Rizzle Kicks

Introducing Rizzle Kicks. These two cool kids from Brighton, UK, have been around for a while, circa 2008, making music that's both cutesy and witty. Upbeat music that makes the listener feel similar - lively and a little immature at times.

I stumbled across these guys through a Facebook upload of their smooth relaxing tune 'Miss Cigarette'. This was a good first encounter with the duo - it's classic Rizzle Kicks. Harley sings a sweet hook over a 60s reminiscent sample, while Rizzle raps in his casual tone that makes you feel like he's talking straight to you sometimes. The catchy song isn't just one that gets your head bopping but it also makes you giggle when you realise they're singing/rapping about cigarettes, likening the habit of smoking to being in love with a girl who is 'bad for you'.

Babe honestly/

It appears you're bad for my health and a quick way to poverty/

They've definitely done a good job with this one. A smart and catchy song with an old skool sample of sorts caught in the middle there somewhere - just what I like to hear. The video was also done pretty well, the guys are easy to watch and the editing/directing is done perfectly. The whole combination of the song itself, the boys and the video left a very positive impression on me.

I went on the watch a bit more of Rizzle Kicks, a few more amazingly put together videos - 'Down With The Trumpets' and 'When I Was a Youngster'. Going on, I can't say I was disappointed, but I don't think I got any more impressed with the duo as I was initially. The songs are all sweet beated with a memorable hook sung by Harley over a piano/big band sample, with Rizzle doing a prrrrrretty good job of spitting verses that alternate in flow and are full of clever ideas.

There's no denying these two young dudes have targetted a specific genre and they've done a good job in delivering an album full of thumbs up worthy songs ('Stereo Typical', 2011). The album and small releases they've done on a few mixtapes show that the pair are a talented one. Harley's voice is comparable to Pharell Williams at times - smooth in delivery and mysterious nearly. He gives off a cool relaxed vibe in the videos I've seen, almost like he's chilling out and woops, there's his cue to pop in with a la de da. Rizzle's rapping is actually pretty legit. It took me a while to realise but he's got some dope flow; it's never the same and he delivers seamlessly. I definitely get the vibe that he 'runs the show' to an extent - I saw a few interviews and he does all the talking - but in a way, it suits him to be the frontman whereas Harley's casual vibe suits his laidback attitude in both interviews and the videos.

I have only two concerns. One is that you get a feel for their age as musicians in their videos. Big ups for doing so well at such a young age, but you get a feeling they're still adapting to it all. Rizzle is very outgoing and forward, but it's almost too much at times. Maybe a little too much over acting in the vids? This isn't too much of a bad thing, they're music is so impressive that I can almost guarantee they'll be around for a bit longer, and no doubt, they'll learn how to get better at presenting themselves. More concerning for me is that there isn't much variety between all the songs and it gets a bit too similar and super familiar after listening to more than a few songs in a row. Not dissing the dudes at all, I love it, but they definitely need some variance to keep their audience on edge. I was excited to come across 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You', featuring the lovable and talented ginga Ed Sheehan. It was definitely different to the rest of their stuff because it wasn't as preppy.

All up, I definitely suggest you take the plunge and get some Rizzle Kicks in ya playlist. It's that kind of music that puts a wee jump in your step, and it's fantastic chill out music. It's best scrambled into a massive playlist, so you don't get too much of it one after the other, because it does get a tiiiiny bit repetitive. But otherwise - go for gold! It's that feel good stuff that's worth a whirl.



Miss Cigarette - Rizzle Kicks

So many people say why are you with her/
And I’m like; she’s a damn good kisser/
She feeds my addiction/
She leaks something different/