“Antique Soul” is the sound of one of the finest beat producers in the UK hitting his stride. That man is Smoove and this is his second full album release – his first having been snapped up by the legendary Acid Jazz label.
Ask anyone on the funk or breaks scene who’s dropping a rocking beat and “A Man called Smoove” is the earnest reply. So far so good. A Nu-funk legend is dropping his latest album – should be good.
But it’s not just good, it’s career making good and the reason why is that in John Turrell, Smoove has found his vocal match.
Throwing down somewhere between Otis Redding and Animals frontman Eric Burdon, geordie Turrell is the epitome of blue-eyed soul. A working class family man with a voice that takes him and everyone who hears it to a place so far away from everyday life – it’s like a door to a different world is opened in your ear.
Known mostly for uptempo, northern soul influenced, funk and beats jams, on this album Smoove finds someone who can roll with him on those lofty highs but then provide the gravel voiced soul for the comedown. Songs like “Darker Dayz” and “Without You” mean that this is an album with depth from a soul that can be as twisted and dark as it is joyful.
Not that you’d know that from sitting in the pub with them. Then it’s two lads with warm accents and infectious laughter who light up a room and make everyone wonder who the hell it is that’s turning a drab local boozer into the funniest place in the world.
Their first collaboration was “I Can’t Give You Up” - a track that was never meant to go beyond a 500 edition run of a 7” on an obscure german label. When the last copies of that run reached the heady heights of £166 on ebay with Northern Soul and funk fanatics in a bidding frenzy the boys knew they had found something a bit special in each other.
The BBC’s funk afficionado and occasional hellraiser Craig Charles certainly thought so. He has heavily supported tracks from Smoove & Turrell on his radio show and has even put pen to paper to write the liner notes for Antique Soul.
Smoove – even his mum now calls him that - describes this album as having an “old dusty feel to its production mixed with fresh contemporary edges”.
“I wanted a retro feel while keeping hip-hop production values in my beats. It reflects the different styles I play in my DJ sets - soul, latin, funk, jazz, easy listening, northern soul and hip hop. I’m a real crate digger and only play vinyl in my DJ sets. I found an amazing track by 70’s songwriter Lynsey de Paul that we sampled for You Don’t Know. Normally samples take forever to clear but someone played it directly to Lynsey and she loved it. We got everything cleared the same day ”
The lyrics that Turrell brings to the game reflect his own life experiences, from his relationship with his wife and family to his binging habits over cigarettes and alcohol. But while he deals with everyday subjects, his lyrics are never mundane, finding beauty in the ordinary and elevating the everyday to poetry.
John Turrell is a singer and lyricist who defiantly wears his heart on his sleeve whether it involves belting out his angst on dance floor fillers like “I Can’t Give You Up” or bearing his soul on the deep and funky “Darker Dayz”. Brought up by family members on a diet of Steely Dan, Free, Joni Mitchell and Cream he takes influences from all of those but as he grew older it was the soulboy delivery of Bobby Brown, George Benson and After Seven that started to inform his musical education.
Coupled with a vintage crate digger like Smoove and that delivery is turned into a funk weapon of the highest order.
So with the album finished the next thing was to find a deal. A copy was sent to Jalapeno Records who made an offer within one hour of hearing it.
The lads have gone from strength to strength both on the UK scene and across Europe. Previous to there album being snapped up by Jalapeno they have released a limited 7” single “I can’t give you up” on German label “Club Tikka”. The single soon found itself in a bidding frenzy on Ebay with copies reaching a startling £166, surely not for a new 7” I hear you cry!
Craig Charles BBC 6 Funk & Soul Show put pen to paper to write the sleeve notes for the album “Antique Soul” and also invited the whole 7 piece band down to Manchester to perform a live session on his Radio show. It doesn’t just stop there the boys have also been called in for a live set on The Janice Long Show (BBC Radio 2) and on the legendary Clive Anderson “Loose Ends Show” (BBC Radio 4). To top it all off the boys also won single of the week on Marc Radcliff’s BBC 2 Show.
Smoove and Turrell have released some outstanding singles this year, working with some of the best remix artists in the country and beyond.
• “I Can’t Give You Up” includes club remixes from A Skillz and Lack of Afro.
• “You Don’t Know” was smashed for the dance floor with remixes from Kraak and Smaak and Featurecast.
• “Don’t Go” was a limited 7” of the 80s classic. Smoove and Turrell style…some serious funk.
And now Smoove and Turrell are gearing up for their next full single “Beggarman”. Not only will there be some heavy, heavy remixes from the likes of Crazy P and Basement Freaks. They have also been hard at work filming their first video to co-inside with the release, shot in their home town of Newcastle. To top it all off the video is already being played on rotation on Deluxe TV in Germany.
John Turrell has recently found him self collaborating with other high profile artists like Ashley Beadle, Omar, Kraak and Smaak and has also won the male lead vocalist in the “Fantasy Funk Band” on BBC 6 Music which is being recorded and performed live at the legendary Maida Vale Studios for its 70th Birthday Celebrations.
The boys are currently on tour in Europe and in the UK, having just rocked Kendal Calling Festival, Glastonbury and the Big Chill Festival over the summer. Things are looking extremely good for Smoove & Turrell and it’s not even the end of the year. Watch this space!
'Sure to be one of the best albums of 2009 - This should be the future of Soul music in my book!' - DJ Andy Smith.
Given It All
Smoove & Turrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How it feel, man, nobody got my back
For real i'm out jugging
I ain't thinking 'bout no fucking deal
I'm out jugging
I ain't thinking 'bout no fucking deal
Look down and I pour up, for real
I just wanna stack some bills
Yeah
I'm done with my bitches, man
I swear they all dumped (yeah)
I need a new roster from the bottom on up
I think I'm 'bout to spend a
Hundred on a Benz truck
Right now, I'm in Amiris with my FN tucked
New flavors in the air
I can't wait 'til they touch
I'm rich as hell, lil' bitch
I don't really care to fuck
No-whip-ass nigga
But he went and got some buffs
It sound like the Hellcat
But the motor in the trunk
Wrap him up like a hog then
Throw him in the trunk
My nigga in the feds now
Sleeping on the top bunk
Why you lying to your bitch? You
Know you the top punk we got automatic shit
It be three shots at once
Yeah, BLM cool, but let a nigga play dumb
You can be black, white, or blue
I bet you still get slumped
Yeah, we got a hundred guns
But you will still get jumped
Got a fridge full of pints
And I can't sell one
(Fa-fa-fa) We be aimin' at the head
You can't even roll over in
That lil' ass bed
Real dog shit stacked, lil' boy
Money spread i'm only here for the head
Your legs ain't gotta spread
The 57 bullets came and hit
Him just like Edge
I can go in the safe like
"Who ain't got red?"
I was in middle school, gun right in my bag
Chrome 25 with tape
It would have got on your ass
I eat gourmet meals, I'm a king and a boss
Niggas don't serve shit
All them dope stories talk
We can put a nigga on or
We can knock a nigga off
If I feel like it's worth it
Then your life is the cost
Niggas talk like hoes
They be thinking that it's cool
They'll kill your girl and you mama
If you touch Baby Smoove
This exotic so strong
I'm the highest in the room
I got unlimited drank
I could drink a raw deuce
Shit, my neighbors engineers and
Some doctors too
They don't know what I be on, shit
We got doctors too
I was really in the field
It ain't hard to get proof
You a lame ass nigga
So it's hard to get juice lil' nigga
Your apartment ain't the size of my garage
We got all type of guns, nigga
Just for homicides
Man, you niggas pushing thirty and
Y'all still need a ride
Know I'm really twenty-three with
A four car garage get a nigga stood over to
Make sure he ain't alive
Still remember when she left out
The day my sister died
My mama said she was sleep
So I thought she would arrive
But I knew it wasn't right off
The that way she cried
They gon' send it to my phone
Before it's out at Revive
Man, these niggas out here
They just cap all the time
I got like thirty shots that's
Gon' come out my nine
Boy, what you gon' do when
They come at you flyin'?
Fa fa
Fa mmm, Franchise shit
(Michigan Meech)
The lyrics to "Given It All" by Smoove & Turrell convey a sense of frustration and resilience in the face of adversity. The singer expresses feelings of being alone and unsupported, engaging in their own pursuit of success without relying on others. They focus on making money, accumulating wealth, and distancing themselves from negative relationships. The lyrics also touch on themes of street life, violence, and the consequences of criminal activities. There is a sense of pride in the singer's lifestyle and accomplishments, while also acknowledging the hardships and losses they have experienced.
Throughout the song, there is a mix of bravado and vulnerability. The singer boasts about their wealth and power, while also reflecting on personal tragedies and expressing a desire for genuine connections. The lyrics reveal a complex character who is simultaneously hardened by their experiences and seeking solace in material success.
Overall, "Given It All" showcases the struggles and triumphs of an individual navigating a challenging environment, determined to rise above circumstances and build a better life for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
How it feel, man, nobody got my back
It feels like I'm all alone, nobody is there to support me
For real i'm out jugging
Seriously, I'm out hustling and making money
I ain't thinking 'bout no fucking deal
I'm not concerned about signing a record deal or making mainstream success my priority
Look down and I pour up, for real
I look at my troubles and I drown them with alcohol
I just wanna stack some bills
I just want to accumulate wealth
I'm done with my bitches, man
I'm tired of dealing with women in my life
I swear they all dumped (yeah)
They have all abandoned me
I need a new roster from the bottom on up
I need to replace them with a fresh group of people, starting from scratch
I think I'm 'bout to spend a
I believe I'm about to invest
Hundred on a Benz truck
$100,000 on a luxurious Benz truck
Right now, I'm in Amiris with my FN tucked
Currently, I'm wearing expensive clothes and carrying a concealed weapon
New flavors in the air
There is a sense of excitement and freshness around
I can't wait 'til they touch
I am eager for new experiences or opportunities
I'm rich as hell, lil' bitch
I am extremely wealthy, addressing someone disrespectfully
I don't really care to fuck
I have no interest in engaging in sexual activities
No-whip-ass nigga
You're a weak and ineffective person
But he went and got some buffs
But he went and bought expensive sunglasses
It sound like the Hellcat
It sounds like a powerful car, referencing the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
But the motor in the trunk
But the engine is located in the trunk, suggesting a modified or customized vehicle
Wrap him up like a hog then
To violently restrain or contain him, similar to tying up a hog
Throw him in the trunk
Put him in the trunk of a car, suggesting kidnapping or disposal of a body
My nigga in the feds now
My friend is currently serving a prison sentence
Sleeping on the top bunk
They are incarcerated and assigned to a top bunk bed
Why you lying to your bitch? You
Why are you deceiving your girlfriend? You
Know you the top punk
You know you're a weak and cowardly person
we got automatic shit
We possess firearms that can fire multiple shots in rapid succession
It be three shots at once
Three bullets are discharged simultaneously
Yeah, BLM cool, but let a nigga play dumb
Yeah, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement is fine, but if someone tries to deceive us, there will be consequences
You can be black, white, or blue
Anyone, regardless of race or occupation
I bet you still get slumped
I guarantee that you will still be defeated or attacked
Yeah, we got a hundred guns
Yes, we possess a large number of firearms
But you will still get jumped
Nevertheless, you will still be physically assaulted by a group
Got a fridge full of pints
I have a refrigerator filled with pints (possibly referring to purple drank or codeine)
And I can't sell one
And I'm unable to sell any of them
We be aimin' at the head
We are specifically targeting people's heads, suggesting lethal violence
You can't even roll over in
You can't even move or shift position in
That lil' ass bed
The small and uncomfortable bed
Real dog shit stacked, lil' boy
Referring to a stack of real money, emphasizing the singer's financial success
Money spread i'm only here for the head
I'm only interested in making money, not pursuing romantic or sexual relationships
Your legs ain't gotta spread
You don't need to engage in sexual activities
The 57 bullets came and hit
57 bullets struck and affected
Him just like Edge
Similar to how the wrestler Edge would attack opponents
I can go in the safe like
I can access the safe and its contents
Who ain't got red?
Who doesn't have money or wealth?
I was in middle school, gun right in my bag
When I was in middle school, I had a firearm concealed in my bag
Chrome 25 with tape
A chrome-plated .25 caliber firearm wrapped in tape
It would have got on your ass
I would have used it against you
I eat gourmet meals, I'm a king and a boss
I indulge in high-quality, luxurious meals, symbolizing my status and authority
Niggas don't serve shit
People don't provide any real value
All them dope stories talk
They only talk about fictional or exaggerated drug-related stories
We can put a nigga on or
We can help someone succeed or make them irrelevant
We can knock a nigga off
We can eliminate or kill someone
If I feel like it's worth it
If I deem it valuable or important
Then your life is the cost
Then your life is the price that has to be paid
Niggas talk like hoes
People speak with deceit and falsehoods
They be thinking that it's cool
They believe that it's acceptable behavior
They'll kill your girl and you mama
They are willing to commit acts of violence against your girlfriend and mother
If you touch Baby Smoove
If you threaten or harm Baby Smoove
This exotic so strong
This highly potent strain of marijuana is extremely strong
I'm the highest in the room
I am currently under the influence of drugs and feeling the effects
I got unlimited drank
I have an unlimited supply of alcoholic beverages
I could drink a raw deuce
I am capable of consuming a large quantity of a 20-ounce bottle of a soda or alcoholic drink
Shit, my neighbors engineers and
My neighbors are highly skilled professionals, possibly referring to drug manufacturing
Some doctors too
Some of them are even doctors
They don't know what I be on, shit
They are unaware of my current activities or lifestyle
We got doctors too
We also have medical professionals on our side
I was really in the field
I was truly involved in illegal activities or dangerous situations
It ain't hard to get proof
It's easy to find evidence or confirmation
You a lame ass nigga
You are an uncool and unimpressive person
So it's hard to get juice lil' nigga
Therefore, it's difficult to gain respect or admiration, young man
Your apartment ain't the size of my garage
Your living space is much smaller than my garage
We got all type of guns, nigga
We possess a wide variety of firearms, my friend
Just for homicides
Specifically for committing murders
Man, you niggas pushing thirty and
You guys are almost thirty years old and
'Yall still need a ride
You still rely on others for transportation
Know I'm really twenty-three with
Just so you know, I'm actually twenty-three years old and
A four car garage get a nigga stood over to
I own a four-car garage, demonstrating my wealth and success, causing others to have respect for me
Make sure he ain't alive
Ensuring that someone is dead or no longer a threat
Still remember when she left out
I still recall when she left
The day my sister died
On the day my sister passed away
My mama said she was sleep
My mother claimed she was asleep
So I thought she would arrive
So I believed she would come
But I knew it wasn't right off
But I had a feeling something wasn't right from the beginning
The way she cried
Based on the way she cried
They gon' send it to my phone
They are going to send it to my phone
Before it's out at Revive
Before it becomes available elsewhere, possibly referring to gossip or information
Man, these niggas out here
These individuals out here
They just cap all the time
They constantly lie and deceive
I got like thirty shots that's
I have approximately thirty bullets that are
Gon' come out my nine
Going to be fired from my 9mm handgun
Boy, what you gon' do when
Boy, how are you going to react when
They come at you flyin'?
They come at you with great speed or intensity?
Fa fa
Repeating a sound or melody
Fa mmm, Franchise shit
Repeating the sound 'mmm', emphasizing the connection to Franchise
Michigan Meech
Referring to Michigan-based rapper Meech
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc.
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