Ramson Badbonez – “Jason Bonez” (EP Review)
Here is the 3rd extended play from London, England, United Kingdom emcee Ramson Badbonez from the Task Force. He would eventually sign to the Hove, East Sussex imprint High Focus Records in 2013 & made his debut for the label with the highly received A Year in the Life of Oscar the Slouch that same winter. Coming off the DJ Fingerfood-produced Hypnodic however, he’s introducing us to a character who takes the name of Jason Bonez almost a whole entire year since the latter.
“Mr. Voorhees” opens with this sinister boom bap instrumental produced by Dr. Zygote & Jazz T comparing himself to the main antagonist of the Friday the 13th franchise whereas “Lock Your Doors” hooks up some foreboding horns mixed with kicks & snares advising everyone to bolt the entrances of their homes. “Black Heart” stylistically keeps it rugged recalling his mother telling him what made him lonely leading into “The Witch is Pregnant” spitting a freestyle over an organ-inflicted beat.
To get the 2nd half of Jason Bonez going, “Killing Fields” heinously talks about leaving doubters bleeding for all of eternity while “Machete Madness” continues to take us inside the shoes of a serial killer donning a hockey mask & cutting up bodies. “Rain, Drains” maintains a spooky boom bap vibe to the beat talking about doing all the dirty work by himself but after the synth-driven “Get My Head Fixed” suggests to do either that or find the nearest exit, “Bloodsplat” finishes with a jazzy boom bap outro getting bloodthirsty.
Maintaining the skillful standards that A Year in the Life of Oscar the Slouch for example has set, Ramson Badbonez follows Hypnodic up with the most horrorcore-themed project of his entire career without making it sound gimmicky like some artists in that particular subgenre of hardcore hip hop. The production’s more boom bap-oriented than Hypnodic’s was & I love that he holds down the verses all by himself instead of getting a bunch of guests, conceptually likening himself to one of the most iconic franchises in all of horror cinema.
Score: 7/10
