Despite Being Recorded in 2012, Dubbledge’s 3rd LP “Ten Toes Down” Prod. by Telemachus Tackles Some Relevant Issues (Album Review)

This is the 3rd studio LP & Potent Funk Records debut from Watford, England, United Kingdom emcee Dubbledge. Emerging in 2005 off his debut mixtape The Fist of Jah, this was followed up in 2007 with both the 777 extended play & full-length debut The Richest Man in Babylon under Low Life Records. He would later drop the sophomore effort 1 Inch Punch! a couple years later after the demise of Low Life in addition to forming the quartet Problem Child alongside Dabbla, Illaman & Sumgii. However, he & Telemachus are unearthing Ten Toes Down a whole entire decade since they began working on it.

The title track blends rap rock & boom bap proving he can still get straight to the point when it’s time to start smashing shit until the rock elements get swapped out in favor of electronic music so every last person who think’s they’re a “Soopa Gangsta” can get scoffed at. “Itchy Itchy” takes a few minutes to send a shoutout to all the crackheads out there & after “Tear Dem Apart”chaotically tries to see what his competition’s made up, “Takin’ Libs” ends the 1st leg guaranteeing those who link up with him will have a ball.

“Chess” begins the 2nd half by hopping over an energized boom bap instrumental comparing life to a strategy game in that you’re either a pawn or a king while “Mad Dogs” featuring Kyza, Micall Parknsun & TBear finds the quartet coming for profits. “Lend a N***a a Pencil” might have the quirkiest beat of the bunch talking about being a bad MC & once “Awkward” suggests to think twice before switching up, “Your Mum” ends on a funkier note comedically depicting haters as disappointments to their mothers.

It’s pretty surreal to think Ten Toes Down was largely recorded during my freshman/sophomore year of high school because if this is the last time we’ll hear Dubbledge on the mic for an entire body of work since he’s been looking to become an author, I’d say this or The Richest Man in Babylon are the most entries in his discography. Many of the subjects he addresses are very relevant to the present day & Telemachus’ production is more varied than anything Edge has done over the course of the 2000s.

Score: 8/10