Moose Funk Squad - Moose Funk Tape Vol. 1 - OneLion Review

By Lu Kuss

The Moose Funk Squad are a UK Hip Hop power group consisting of all three MC’s from legendary live band Granville Sessions as well as certified legend and long term vocal collaborator Jester Jacobs. Accompanied by SMB representative Fourni P with production from Cambridge beatsmith P739 and cuts from the infamous DJ Sugai. This is Granville Sessions, meets Organised Mess meets some of the finest production and turntablism the south east of this fine isle has to offer.

Each member of this group have been putting in work for a long time. The MC’s from Granville Sessions, Mnsr Frites, Luca Brazi & Archetype, have all been on the circuit with their live band antics and have enjoyed underground success since the release of their killer of a debut EP ‘No State’ released back in 2011 followed by their 2013 album ‘Forward’ which was on the 20 strong short list for Wordplay magazines UK HIp Hop album of the year last year.

Fourni P is an original SMB crew rep and makes up one half of UK Hip Hop double act Organised Mess who were responsible for an underground cult classic EP. Jester Jacobs is the other half of Organised Mess and the enigma behind a string of banging solo projects.

P739 is a Cambridge based producer with a variation of styles that came to everyone’s attention through his collaboration with Makswell Scott and last but by no means least is DJ Sugai who is another SMB crew rep as well as a living legend in the thriving Cambridge scene.

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This mixtape does a great job of exploring different lyrical styles and boasts a diverse selection of instrumentals from P739’s vault that really enhance the different territory covered in the lyrics of each track. It becomes clear after you get a couple tunes deep that The Moose have managed to make a thoroughly humorous and comedically entertaining record without it in any way detracting from the sometimes more serious message or observation that’s conveyed in each verse.

There are a number of stand out tracks and most follow a very different theme from the last which makes it very easy to listen to right the way through and the interesting selection of  samples and well crafted instrumental interludes break it up well.

A couple of standouts would be the first track ‘Haunted Hoose’ where the whole team get down with no hook and extra fire. Another would be the only solo track on the project in which Jester Jacobs does his thing over a jangling P739 banger.

Overall, these antler bearing quadrupeds got it spot on. A great balance of lyrical styles and production that I reckon we’ll be hearing a lot more from.

The whole thing is embedded below for your listening & purchasing pleasure!

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