Ultra_eko - Alternate Realities
Ultra_eko is a music artist from South London where he currently still resides. Ultra_eko creates hip-hop music, though his sound blends other genres together to create something that is not always so easily summed up as pure hip-hop. Today we take a listen to Ultra_eko’s new fifteen track album, Alternate Realities, which was released on November 16, 2020.
Alternate Realities kicks off with “The Second Chapter” - and boy does it kick things off strong. This track features some quick-hitting and catchy flow that pairs well with a catchy hook. Expert percussion and bass choices really make this track bounce in a hype-inducing way and the lyrics introduce us to Ultra_eko’s poetic writing style. “Keep Busy” follows and this track hits like an alt-rock song with the lead guitar stealing the show in the instrumental portion of the track. Ultra_eko’s vocal performance in this song also feels less like rapping as the melody has a very urgent feel to it, really driving home an 80’s-Indie vibe that I found particularly enjoyable. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” is the third track on the album and the synth/keys work on this song pushes the instrumental track forward; this element fused with the beat provided an excellent platform for Ultra_eko to rap over and this is another track where his quick-hitting flow stands out. The fourth track is “A Bloody Struggle”, a song that feels extra personal in terms of lyrical meaning. “A Bloody Struggle” mentions being “out in space” but cleverly brings us back to the grounded realities of Earth. These first four tracks give us an introduction to the varied style that Ultra_eko utilizes, blending genres masterfully.
“Girl from Round the Way” is the fifth track and serves as a further expansion of the genre-bending skills of Ultra_eko. Jazzy guitar work and an Indie-inspired backing track provide some smooth and enjoyable vibes, though the lyrics here are again grounded in harsh reality. “Pingu” is up next and I feel like this track featured the most creative rhyme work on the album, reinforcing Ultra_eko’s poetic lyrical style while also keeping things fresh. “Halo” follows as the seventh track and features more of a club vibe than the previous tracks and when the percussion kicks in, the song is infectiously danceable - especially during lofty and hooky chorus. This song was one of my favorites on the album simply because of its pure club energy that was easy to get down to. The interestingly titled “Cash Money Moolah” is the eighth track on the album and the instrumental portion of the track features a jazzy R&B style vibe with a guitar that bounces off the vocals in an incredibly fun way. These four tracks continue the momentum of Alternate Realities while further showcasing some of the various styles that Ultra_eko presents in his music.
“Where You At?” is ninth on the album and shows us yet another side of Ultra_eko. This song has some filthy bass on its darker styled instrumental while Ultra_eko’s flow hits like traditional SoundCloud rap; this combination gave off a more raw feeling than most of the rest of Alternate Realities and this unique track is yet another testament to Ultra_eko’s skillful artistry. “My Old Man” is tenth and is a return to a jazzy vibe, perhaps with a hint of reggae. Throughout the parts where Ultra_eko is rapping in this one, I swear he doesn’t stop to take a breath which serves to help convey his thoughts on the titular “old man” - thoughts told in a way that feels like a story. “WTF Wifi Wifey” is another uniquely named track and this one has big dance energy. Featuring some techno hints in the backing track, “WTF Wifi Wifey” is a complete package of quick-hitting flow and catchy melodies; this would be my go-to choice track to introduce people to Ultra_eko and his crazy creative music. “Always on My Mind” is the twelfth track on Alternate Realities and is another hard-hitting personal song. This song has a heart-striking chorus that is both catchy and incredibly personable, striking all of the right chords.
Thirteenth on Alternate Realities is “Day Tripper”, the longest track on the album at four minutes and twenty-one seconds. Opening with an 80’s-inspired drum fill and spoken word vocals, this track is the ultimate throwback, featuring rock vibes that traverse through genres such as psychedelic, new wave and post-punk. “Day Tripper” is a real work of art and its rock-inspired nature shines extremely bright among the various musical styles Ultra_eko has presented thus far. “Usurped King” follows at fourteen; this track fittingly begins by mentioning “the beginning of the end”, the perfect way to kick off the second-to-last song on the album. This track follows up “Day Tripper” in a way that feels like it directly continues the same energy the preceding track featured. The grand finale of Alternate Realities is “Ashes to Ashes” and this track really glimmers as a closer. Listening to this track helps the messages of all of the previous songs hit home while also standing as a massively enjoyable song on its own. Overall, these last three songs illustrate the fact that Alternate Realities closes as it began: on an incredibly high note.
Through listening to Alternate Realities, it is easy to get a sense that Ultra_eko offers an incredibly unique sound to the music world and the hip-hop genre. The album contains a plethora of brilliant tracks that really showcase Ultra_eko’s talent and is truly something special; the way he weaves his song through various genres like a skilled artisan is truly something to behold. We have Alternate Realities embedded below via Spotify and you can also find the album on Apple Music and SoundCloud. Be sure to check out this awesome artist’s Instagram and keep an eye out for UItra_eko’s upcoming remix album as well, “Into the Multiverse”, which is due out in February 2021!
