SPOOKY is the debut solo album from Irish-Nigerian rapper Travy, one half of the duo (alongside Elzzz) that became the first Irish rap act to see an album reach the No.1 spot in the Irish album charts last March when they released the outstanding DOGHOUSE. A year on, Travvy is taking it all in his stride as he takes another huge step towards becoming a huge name in rap not only in Ireland but in the UK.
DOGHOUSE was an extremely personal record for Travy. Produced with long-time collaborator Liam Harris, the project put himself and his Gliders collective on the map, and their reputation since has grown exponentially; with their clothing drops selling out in a matter of minutes and talks of a potential Glibers festival seeming not only possible but inevitable.
SPOOKY is inspired by an alias that Travy coined before his foray into music. Travy’s father was a general in the Nigerian Army and relocated his family to Ireland in search of a better life. SPOOKY is an exploration of life both before and after the explosion that was DOGHOUSE, detailing growing up black in Ireland, his growth within Ireland’s burgeoning hip-hop scene, and, following DOGHOUSE, finally getting his flowers; all soundtracked by beats reminiscent of the songs he’d found solace listening to on his Dad’s iPod Nano.
Produced and recorded in a Paris apartment with Harris once more, the thirteen-track project’s driving heart is in its production. It’s very easy to make drill and other sub-genres of hip hop feel over-used and uninspired; almost copy-and-pasted straight from a SoundCloud beat used a thousand times over; but Harris sometimes makes each and every beat and drop take on a life of its own. From the opening, operatic bars of ‘Meet Spooky’, to the more kung-fu-inspired ‘Master Shifu’, it’s this ability to mesh different genres and cultures together whilst maintaining a very clear through line.
Whilst featuring collaborations with Reggie, Youngiz, Elzzz, Zipbby!+*, and French MC Yvnnis; this is undoubtedly Travy’s story, and he takes full control throughout; in particular on one of the standout tracks on the album, ‘Toxic’, that at times feels like it’s three tracks in one, whilst never losing the pacing and flow that make a track soar. Elsewhere, the more in-my-feelings textures of ‘Forgive Me’ are given equal weight, as Travy drops football references for days, as he breaks down his unwillingness to change himself or his lifestyle for the ease or acceptance of others.
“It felt like jail” Travy said of the Paris apartment, “It was like I couldn’t leave that place until everything I wanted to say was off my chest”. Travy achieved not just that but far more, and provides yet more evidence that Irish hip-hop has never been stronger. It’s been quite a year for Travy, but off the strength of SPOOKY, he’s about to hit a whole new level.