	

Take Home Tes
already a mainstay in the NY underground, emcee/producer tes makes enters the solo fray - after a leaving a slew off mixtape and stages blazing. with the release of this, his debut ep, tes unleashes his incredible, breathless flow on 8 outstanding and impressively varied, self-produced tracks (with the exception of two remixes). the ep showcases a slew of different styles that somehow manage to touch upon elements of organized konfusion, anti-pop's m.sayyid, lateef of quannum, and the legendary freestyle fellowship, yet always retain an individuality that never allows you to lose sight of exactly who you are listening to. to borrow a term from spinna & co. - it's clear from the outset that tes is certainly not your ordinary emcee...

with beats reminiscent at times of aesoprock & blockhead, at others mr lif and others earl blaize, it's clear that tes takes his production work just as seriously as his lyrics. that said, it isn't always to give the tracks as much attention as they deserve simply due to the incredible rhymes that adorn them. i had heard a lot about him before receiving this cd, but it's fair to say that i was still blown away by it once i heard it. i'm not seeking to draw comparisons with him, as they are very different and unique artists, but hitting play on the tes ep reminds of how i felt when i first heard aesoprock. the amount of work that has obviously gone into 'take home tes', coupled with the self-assured confidence his rhymes exude over each beat, make it basically impossible to put the cd on and not find yourself getting lost within it (which makes reviewing it a little difficult at times!). in the mould of outstanding emcee/producers such as the likes of mf doom, tes crafts each beat to perfectly suit his own wholly individual style, ensuring each word is completely married to the beat in such a way that makes it hard to imagine the two separated. having said that, the neurologists do well with their remix of "sound investments" and add a distinctly different edge to the track, but ultimately i have to admit that i prefer the original.

3 of the 8 tracks offered on the cd are also due for a vinyl release - "acts of tragedy", "solipsism" and "mouth of the river". whilst i don't question the tracks chosen, i have to admit that personally i'd love to have "sound investments" on a 12" - the haunting horns of the hook will have you waiting for their return whilst you hang off each word that separates from one hook from another. to be honest though, i'd love the whole ep on vinyl - it's an exceptional release form an exceptional artist - but it's great to know that arguably my favourite cut of the octet will make the transition. the incredible, beatbox driven "mouth of river" is something everybody needs to hear - much has been made of it in recorded hip-hop, but it's clear that beatboxing is far more than a mere gimmick in tes' case:

"mouth of the river/tes o-n-e/mouth of the river/beatboxing emcee/mouth of the river/is where my flow starts/mouth of the river/first class language arts" ["mouth of the river"]

i can't hope to adequately describe what you'll hear when you listen to 'take home tes' - i can't imagine any description i could have been given before hearing it that would have come anywhere close to preparing me for it. from the other artists i've mentioned in this review, i'm sure you can appreciate the kind of territory we're talking about - intelligent, highly intricate and articulate wordplay over inventive and original beats - if that sounds remotely like the kind of hip-hop you're into, then i can't recommend tes' debut enough... do not let this pass you by

review: waxfactor

Acts Of Tragedy - Take Home Tes

Solipsism - Take Home Tes

Take it Back Tes, a compilation of freestyles recorded on tapes between the years 1995 - 1997. Brooklyn Rapper Tes is well known for his improvisation skills. Word is he's never lost a cypha or battle legitimately. Ask about Tes! Ask purists, ask trendoids, ask whomever you want even barbie dolls and g.i joe boys know who's got the motts like apple juice or whatever you want. From written songs traveling through history to fresstyles on some bmx, Tes flips scripts like ozzie smith from the eighties. When you think of freestyle and skills think of this jerk like steve martin. From Graffiti, to djing, to rapping, to driving a testarossa, Tes is in the ez-express lane going the speed limit going places like Paris, Berlin, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Kings County, Queen County, Staten Island, Long Island and all the rest of the universe. Sounds like nobody but related to aphex twin, the wu tang, and stereolab and old dirty bastard. If Rap is an Art Tes is Picasso mixed basquiat and bosch, the list goes on. Everybody from Organized confusion to epmd and biz markie, drake, beat nutsd, k-solo, aphex twin, prince poetry, dangermouse and sterelab and lil wayne and kanye west know the deal. Battles such as braggin' writes and scribble jam have been fixed to knock Tes out the Box early.

03 Tes-One Up In Da Spot

04 Blast

08 One Two

10 Aight

11 Bowzer

15 Tesvsmicfiend

Lost Tape version of "817" which is based on my date of birth and the following childhood years.

The Mini disk years

817 The Original Greenpoint Version

LaLaLa

Radiohead  -  Radiohead Revisited featuring Krazy Baldhead and
Tes-Uno

krazy baldhead tes radiohead

title wave

MD Mc

whats left 1

tes 

shoot shoot radio collete

Venus as a Terry boy. some unreleased scraps.

aquaducts

sun drop

words i'm thinking

tools

gordon flash

soundcloud:tracks:464500515

TES UNO

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