Mixtape Review: Zuko Rosemeid - Active Boys Nvrr Lazy

Written by Jarred From Blyth (@fromblyth):

Zuko Rosemeid’s relentless ambition and artistry are distinctly present on ACTIVE BOYS NEVRR LAZY, making the title more than just a phrase—it’s a declaration of where he’s headed

Zuko’s innovative approach seamlessly fuses classic UK Rap components with modern twists, resulting in a distinctive, engaging listen. This fusion not only highlights Zuko’s versatility going forward but also establishes him as one of those rare, forward-thinking artists who are unafraid to push and redefine boundaries in just the 8 tracks. When I came to around 10 or 11 listens in, it still felt fresh which is a testament to the layers of “ACTIVE BOYS NEVRR LAZY”—It would be unfair to call this album just another “cut-and-dry” UK Rap record—Because it’s just not. 

The soundscapes & production choices used throughout are sublime—There’s a lot of sonic elements on here that totally threw me off, as if he accepted the challenge of surprising me with whats possible in the UK Rap sphere. REALITY CHECK stands out to me as the key track—The one you’d show someone if they hadn’t heard Zuko Rosemeid before. It strikes me as grand, the way it layers elements, like the voice heard in-between the verses: “There’s just a lot going on, just in general but I hope you’re alright and managing as best you can.” the voice says, book-ending Zuko’s dynamic & honest lyricism. 

“You’ve been gone for a while and it still feels weird/ I’m worried that you might not care/That’s reality, life’s not fair/ I been writing and recording all the pain up there/ I been needing advice from my bro, my guy, my bruce, my killy, mon frère/“ —— Zuko Rosemeid - ‘REALITY CHECK’ 

Collaboration:

So often, you’ll find that when you listen to a project and first see the features, you’re constantly thinking about what the featured artists verses will be like. In the case of every artist hand-picked for this project, they all have their place and each brings something to the table. Take 8SZN & Lip Filler on “RATS” for example, particularly right at the end when it is stripped back to its bare bones. Surreal. 

“ACTIVE BOYS NEVRR LAZY” also features notable appearances from Kilu, Anjeli, Omar+, Rome, bib sama., Saiming, Nori, Allyson & LC3. 

The Feeling: Something I don’t think gets spoken about enough when reviewing music is something I call “the feeling”. I listen to so much music, roughly around 5 full-length records a day, since around 2018. I’m only human— I often get tired, particularly when I’m having a day where nothing I’m hearing is sticking out to me, nothing distinctive. But every now and then, I start listening to a project and I just get this innate “feeling” as the first track begins. I know from that point on, what I’m listening to is an outlier and by the end of the record, I’d happily hear it again—“ACTIVE BOYS NEVRR LAZY” is one of them.