Album Review: Rob Arthur

Rob Arthur by The Robba is an 11-track album of synth heavy rap songs dripping in The Robba’s very unique sound and style. The Robba is infinitely talented, taking credits for beats, guitar, rapping, singing, mixing, mastering and even making the music videos. His new and 5th instalment of alternative rap albums drops on 10 February 2020 and is available on Bandcamp and all digital retailers.

The Robba has always reminded me a little bit of Beck when he raps, kind of quirky and wacky, unconcerned with hip-hop posturing. A little bit like The Streets in the way he fuses catchy choruses and rapped verses together with a personal honesty that manages to avoid resemblance to the mainstream hip-hop norm. His flow is reminiscent in a lot of ways of Eminem in the way he puts words together and breaks syllables apart. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out Eminem is a big influence on him.

I’ve been listening to The Robba for around 13 years and have reviewed many of his previous albums. The new album Rob Arthur definitely shows growth in the production quality and song crafting confidence that comes with over a decade of experience. The new album has incorporated a lot of elements from The Robba’s dub step project Dynabee, with his beats containing the heavy thumping kick and snare and warbling synths associated with the genre.

The album opens with the song Bitch I’m Back, which is appropriate after a hiatus following his last album. This flows into Are You With Me, about consuming weed and alcohol. This song is like a cross between metal dubstep and hip-hop. Other highlights on the album are his song 2020 featuring Hannah Jane. The drum n bass sounding So Damned and Shadow Banned. The kooky Rhyme About You and How You Spell Robba are catchy additions to the album which has 11 really strong songs making it difficult to single out stand outs, when every song stands out.

If you appreciate underground non-commercial alternative Hip Hop with world class production, The Robba is just what the doctor ordered. For a soundtrack to a good time, you can’t go wrong with the new album Rob Arthur by The Robba.