You have to wonder what would make Anthony Brown take a simple MC name like H2 and turn it into the catchphrase ItsYaBoiH2.  However, there’s something about the phrase-as-name approach that makes it more personal, that makes it sound like a trusted friend is back in town for a welcome return.  His latest album, Bigger Fish, comes after a decade plus of releasing CDs and mix tapes, armed with a dizzying rhyme flow and verses for days on end.  Producer Steven “Ignova” Winfrey is his longtime partner in crime, providing a diverse array of instrumentals for H2 to draw inspiration from.  Their working relationship has resulted in an unquestionable chemistry within the music, reaching its finest hour on this release.

There’s always the threat of filler material on rap albums that are 18 tracks deep (not to mention a running time of 77 minutes), but ItsYaBoiH2 doesn’t waste a moment.  Keeping the guest appearances to a minimum, Bigger Fish is primarily his vision and it’s more than obvious that he’s got a lot to say.  Verbal shots are immediately fired on “Clap For ‘Em” as soon as he starts to recite the chorus (“They got somebody better to write a rap for ‘em!”).  H2 mercilessly clowns sucker MCs with quick-witted one-liners over hollow snare hits and watery keyboard melodies and there’s no signs of stopping on the following title track.  The brutal percussive punches of “Bigger Fish” are topped off with tolling bells that may as well be boxing round signals as he stands square with dukes up, landing lyrical jabs and body blows with every line.

While it doesn’t take long to realize that he can clobber the competition with his wordplay, at least half of the songs on the album serve as a reminder of his ability to adjust his delivery when necessary.  “Where I Wanna Be” is a strikingly ambitious cut that peels away the layers of H2’s braggadocio to examine his rap music aspirations.  He is just as much a fan of the genre as he is a participant within it, which causes his dream to perform before thousands to contain a sense of wide-eyed wonder.  Ignova’s arrangement underneath him is startlingly beautiful, awash in sparkling guitar riffs, warm keyboard textures, and a cavernous kick drum.  “Too Dramatic” gets orchestral with an airy string section wrapped around a female vocal sample and laid back drum programming as H2 walks a light-hearted path with his lyrics, referring to himself as “the offspring between Mother Nature and Father Time.”

“Jager On The Rocks” takes the party to the clubs via sleazy synthesizer lines over percolating percussion, leaving H2 to live it up and consider lust-and-leave maneuvers with the ladies.  He plays the detached observer on “Student Of Observation,” telling a tale of a male-female relationship in which both parties have wildly different motives.  The backing track merges folksy guitars with a shuffling beat to compliment H2’s rapid-fire narration.  The cut may require multiple rewinds to catch all of his wisdom, but it’s worth investing the time to do so.  Songs like “Risk” and “Sink” are pure audio gold, taking chances with hip-hop by experimenting with different musical moods underneath verses that investigate the tug-of-war between ambition and inner turmoil.  Whereas “Risk” envelops H2’s words with romantic chords and static bursts for snare drums, “Sink” is a bottomless abyss of dreamy ambience and intricate rhythms that add tension to the urgent lyricism.

With Ignova’s ingenious production behind him, there’s nothing that ItsYaBoiH2 can’t achieve.  Able to switch from hardcore battle rhymes to heartfelt sentiments with the greatest of ease, Bigger Fish feels and sounds like his breakout album, the one that will hopefully earn him some overdue recognition as an MC whose time to shine has finally arrived.

Artist:  ItsYaBoiH2
Album:  Bigger Fish
Reviewed by Jason Randall Smith
Rating:  4 stars (out of 5)
(6/13/13)

It’s difficult to get away from the first impression than ItsYaBoiH2 (real name Anthony Brown) has a real jones for Eminem.  Opener “Rickety Boat,” which also features TopGun, finds ItsYaBoiH2 stepping up to the mic, all tough like, to grab the listener’s attention.  He does get our attention, but maybe more for his Eminem-like similarities, rather than for his individualistic rapping skills.

At 24, this young man from Milan, Tennessee has already been rapping for half his life now. Bigger Fish finds ItsYaBoiH2 rapping hard, like his life depends upon it.  Curiously, he names artists like Bone Thugs N Harmony, Tupac, LL Cool J, and Beastie Boys as influences, while completely neglecting Eminem. 
ItsYaBoiH2 has said, “I'm writing and recording over 5 songs a day, and I feel that I am ready for the mainstream music scene.”  And to support this point, he says, “Music consumes me,” during this album’s title track.  Then during “Greenbacks,” which drops in an old pop song, he incorporates its chorus, “I don’t give a damn about a greenback dollar” just to support the point that he’s much more concerned about art than commerce.  I’m not sure what artist’s clip he’s using here, but this song was originally a hit for the Kingston Trio, of all groups, and written by Hoyt Axton.  Nevertheless, its words fit perfectly into ItsYaBoiH2’s sounds.

Although the rap game is sometimes by its very nature narcissistic, ItsYaBoiH2 is so focused on himself, it starts to become a little overwhelming after a while.  Yes, we know he’s had to fight tooth and nail to get to where he is today.  Yes, we also know that fight has not been easy. However, an ability to step outside of one’s self is a big key to developing as an artist.  Eminem, one of ItsYaBoiH2’s undeclared influences, had a way to put himself into semi-cartoon characters even back when he was still green and developing.  Yes, he raps a lot about himself still today; but he also has the imagination to put himself into other characters.  You don’t get the feeling ItsYaBoiH2 has mastered that seeing-it-from-another’s skill quite yet, however.

On the plus side, ItsYaBoiH2 has surrounded himself with a lot of great beats.  For instance, the track “Scream” uses some really innovative, electronic music-inspired rhythms and synth lines to give him an inviting and melodically memorable bed to rap over.  One of my biggest beefs with much of contemporary rap today is that much of it is so stripped down that it’s of little or no musical value.  Yes, the words are what are most important; however, if you don’t give listeners something to hum in their heads, you’re leaving out a significant chunk of what makes music such listening pleasure. 

ItsYaBoiH2 may well be ready for the mainstream now.  With all of Maclemore’s success, it’s abundantly clear the music world is ready for chart-topping white rap.  The biggest question about ItsyaBoiH2, however, is whether or not he has what it takes to hook an audience.  He calls his album Bigger Fish, but all fishermen will tell you that one of the biggest keys to catching fish, whether big or small, is using the right bait.  Does ItsYaBoiH2 have the rhymes that will resonate with today’s audience?  Is he a compelling enough figure to attract a large fan base?  Of course, only time will tell. 

Most importantly, ItsYaBoiH2 has the talent to get noticed.  He deserves the attention of serious hip hop fans.  Now, we’ll just wait and see if he has staying power after that initial public attention comes. 

Artist: ItsYaBoiH2
Album: Bigger Fish
Review By: Dan MacIntosh
Rating: 3 Stars (out of 5)
(6/13/13)

These days, hip-hop’s popularity is so widespread and so international that if one hears that a rapper is from Milan, it comes as no surprise.  There are rappers who are based in Milan (as well as Rome, Florence, Venice, Bologna, Genoa and other Italian cities) and rap in Italian exclusively. Anthony Brown, a.k.a. ItsYaBoiH2, is from Milan, but not the fashion-obsessed city in the north of  Italy.  ItsYaBoiH2 is from Milan, Tennessee, and his language for rapping is English, not Italian.  The interesting thing is that despite being a southern rapper, his style is not overly mindful of the Dirty South school of hip-hop.

Many rappers who come from the southern states (be it Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or one of the Carolinas) are very easy to identify as southern rappers.  From the Atlanta-based Ludacris to North Carolina resident Petey Pablo to New Orleans native Master P., so many southern rappers are very easy to identify as part of hip-hop’s Dirty South school.  But most of the prominent influences on this album are non-southern influences.  ItsYaBoiH2 is a native and resident of the Dirty South, but that doesn’t mean he goes out of his way to sound like a typical rapper from the Dirty South.

Put on “Deep Rock” (a duet with fellow rapper T-Roc), “Greenbacks,” “Fine Wine” or “Highs and Lows,” and one is not bombarded with Dirty South influences by any means.  Instead, the direct or indirect influences that assert themselves the most on this album include Eminem, Jay-Z, Bone Thugs N Harmony and House of Pain (in other words, mostly rappers from the East Coast, West Coast or Midwest).   The Midwestern influence comes through with elements of Michigan native Eminem and Cleveland, Ohio’s Bone Thugs N Harmony, and the New York City influence asserts itself with elements of Jay-Z.  House of Pain started on the West Coast, although House of Pain’s Everlast was born in New York State. 

One hears plenty of Eminem’s angst on this album, but when ItsYaBoiH2 turns up the angst on “Lovin’ This,” “Student of Observation” or “Risk,” he doesn’t get as twisted, as dark or as shocking as Eminem can be at times. Edgy, yes, but not as dark.

“Jager on the Rocks” is perhaps the closest that this album comes to a typical Dirty South club banger.  The Dirty South school is famous for songs that talk about “getting crunk in the club” and celebrate the pleasures of hard liquor or mixed drinks, and “Jager on the Rocks” celebrates jagermeister.  Crunk, a particular style of Dirty South hip-hop, is essentially famous for hard liquor-obsessed club bangers.  But even on “Jager on the Rocks,” ItsYaBoiH2’s flow is not very Dirty South-sounding.  The drinking imagery he incorporates in that song is characteristic of the Dirty South, but the way he raps on that selection is more characteristic of other parts of the United States.

There is a fair amount of diversity on Bigger Fish.  Some of the tracks have a strong rock influence, especially “Scream” and “Greenbacks.”  But “Student of Observation,” with its eerie synthesizer groove, has more of a chillout/downtempo or trip-hop sort of vibe.  Synthesizers are used in different ways on this album.  They are used to create an eerie, haunting mood on “Sink” and “Highs and Lows,” but they are used in a much more forceful way on the in-your-face title track and the defiant “Steppin’.” 

Bigger Fish is not a one-dimensional album by any means, and the Tennessee rapper’s willingness to bring some diversity to this 2013 release speaks well of him.  
 
Bigger Fish is not his first recording.  In the past, he has put out some mix tapes.  But Bigger Fish obviously isn’t a mix tape, and this album is a likable demonstration of the fact that an MC can come from Deep South and still get most of his musical inspiration from other parts of the United States.

ItsYaBoiH2
Bigger Fish
Review by Alex Henderson
3.5 stars out of 5
(Date could not be determined)

###

The 26-year old rapper Anthony Brown may perform under the name “ItsYaBoiH2” but as a kid at heart, he’s proudly represented his adoration for music since his youth. After growing up in Tennessee, ItsYaBoiH2 constantly found himself listening to the likes of Tupac, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys. A rapid piling occurred in which Brown transitioned from simply listening to rap music to connecting with the music to writing lyrics of his own. Now, after embarking on an impressive journey that has featured multiple mix tapes and other releases, ItsYaBoiH2 continues to successfully deliver with his latest release, Bigger Fish. 

While his music personifies various influences, there’s an evident commonness throughout his compositions: rawness.  As Bigger Fish begins with “Rickety Boat” ItsYaBoiH2 presents a solid first impression. Immediately beginning with a hypnotic beat, “Rickety Beat” is a strong start. There’s a definite groove to the song that makes for a smooth entrance the vocals. ItsYaBoiH2 delivers lines consistently with such an admirably smooth flow. In some ways, “Rickety Boat” is the ideal song for the album to begin with, portraying and presenting everything ItsYaBoiH2 is inclined to demonstrate musically. With the addition of TopGun as a featured rapper, “Rickety Beat” reveals a sense of energy that’s fully enjoyable and danceable. Following the strong start is the three minute track “Clap for ‘Em.” Rather than maintaining the previous faster tempo, “Clap for ‘Em” doesn’t feature as loud instrumentation, but rather softens the beat and is of a slower tempo. Synth lines echo louder over the supportive backing beat another beat which is highly accessible, but showcases the lines ItsYaBoiH2 reveals so impeccably. The lyrics are certainly not to be heard without parents’ attention, but “Clap for ‘Em” fuels the hip hop vibes that ItsYaBoiH2 strives to achieve. However, what makes the composition stand out isn’t necessarily the lyrics, but the driving beat underneath the powerful synthesizer. Considering the song has to follow such a strong beginning, “Clap for ‘Em” does the release justice. 

Marking the third track on Bigger Fish is the title track. Sounding similar to Ariana Grande’s current single “The Way,” questions may arise concerning the composition’s originality. Both songs feature such similar beats; however, ItsYaBoiH2 opts to rap over the beat instead of Grande’s vocal performance. It may appear to be a similar track, but aside from minuscule hints in the song’s beat, “Bigger Fish” takes on al life of its own. The featured beat results in a perfectly fitted, but repetitive drum sequence. Though the beat is unique and provides the ideal support system, the continuing beat sometimes becomes of an annoyance due its repetition. More impressive is ItsYaBoiH2’s vocal delivery. There seems to be an effortless attack whenever ItsYaBoiH2 holds onto the microphone, an evident ease and confidence conveyed through his voice. 

While the easiest route for ItsYaBoiH2 to take would include maintaining strong, fast-paced beats with smooth delivery, the rapper opts to differentiate himself from amongst the pact. Certain songs are relied on to voice that uniqueness and “Where I Wanna Be” tops the list. The longest song on the album, “Where I Wanna Be” isn’t anything like compositions heard prior. Embracing differentiation, “Where I Wanna Be” trades synthesizers for acoustic guitars and exchanges fast beats for a slower pace. In an emotionally-driven track, “Where I Wanna Be” is when ItsYaBoiH2 has his moment: his moment to depart from the rest; his moment that changes everything. The softer instrumentation constructs an impeccable environment for ItsYaBoiH2 to provide listeners with a strong performance. A pattern for the release, the delivery remains fresh and smooth, as ItsYaBoiH2 pours his heart out, “After I got out of school I was so nervous, just questioning my purpose.” He isn’t just another rapper to discuss partying, girls, and money - but represents the minority that immerse themselves in the music and the passion and the meaning behind the music, not for monetary or popularity purposes. A hopeful message conveying sincere message of dreams, ItsYaBoiH2 exclaims, “I just want to be the man. Looking at over a million fans hiding in the stands, and I’m reaching out to ‘em to the point that they can even grab my hand: that’s where I want to be.” With genuine expressions, music doesn’t appear as a game for the rapper. 

Concluding the album is the five minute composition “Sink.” Again, ItsYaBoiH2 delivers with something richly different, providing different perspectives and musical representations for listeners. “Sink” strays away from the usage of too powerful beats or instrumentation, allowing for ItsYaBoiH2 to recall the earlier days, when he focused solely on acapella deliveries. Instrumentation remains limited, aside from the soft, supportive beat that takes its time accompanying the vocals and the light piano melody. The performance on all ends is quite captivating and aurally pleasing. “Sink” strips down the project’s usage of heavy instrumentation on previous songs, making for a beautiful, passionate composition. It’s refreshing to hear music that’s limited in instrumentation, not allowing for ItsYaBoiH2 to fall victim to overproduction. There’s an audible rawness that no amount of technology can achieve. 

Considering that ItsYaBoiH2 does have more work to do, Bigger Fish shows development and improvement. Bigger Fish creates a reflective piece for the rapper to look back on, demonstrating his growth, hopeful that he’ll continue to apply his knowledge. Most importantly, Bigger Fish reminds listeners that hip hop isn’t only about parties, girls, or money. The release serves as a reminder that thought-provoking hip hop exists, as ItsYaBoiH2 lives to instill that mentality. 

Artist Name: ItsYaBoiH2
Album Title: Bigger Fish
Review By: Alexa Spieler
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
(6/13/13)

 
Milan, Tennessee native Anthony Brown has been writing/making rap music since he was thirteen years old.  At first he was just writing lyrics acapella, but a couple of years later he was turned on to beats.  Once of the first ones he worked with sounded a bit like a theme to one of the Halloween movies, and Anthony’s first stage name, H2, was born.  Anthony went on to release seven underground albums as H2 between 2003 and 2007 with friend and producer Steven “IGNOVA” Winfrey.  Steven set his sights on bigger exposure, expanding his name to ItsYaBoiH2.  Now he’s back with a new album that’s above ground and running, but it’s clear that ItsYaBoiH2 hasn’t forgotten his underground roots.
Bigger Fish kicks off with “Rickety Boat”, featuring guest TopGun.  There’s an urgent, low-fi feel to this rhyme.  The vocal doubling here is a bit distracting, and ItsYaBoiH2’s loops are extremely repetitive.  “Clap For ‘Em” carries a positive message, but that message might get lost for some listeners as the sound here is just too cluttered.  The vocals are mixed too low, and ItsYaBoiH2 again chooses to double up the rap.  This makes ItsYaBoiH2 harder to understand and creates a messy sound.  “Bigger Fish” reflects ItsYaBoiH2’s intended pivot to a wider world and a larger audience.  The song is angry and petulant, like the ranting of an angry child rather than a man hoping to make a better life.
“Greenbacks” is an entertaining and rhythmic number that flies on a looped vocal recording, with an almost commentary style rap from ItsYaBoiH2.  “Highs & Lows” takes a look at a balancing effect of life, whereby personal and professional trajectories can often run counter to one another.  ItsYaBoiH2 flows in intelligent fashion here, and creates an entertaining joint in the process.  “Scream” is a danceable and aurally enjoyable take on creating music and making the most of the experience.  There is a positive feel here that’s refreshing.  “Deep Water” has a river-like inertia; a wash of sounds that is hard to penetrate but easy to go with.  It’s not the most accessible track on the album, but has a draw of its own.  ItsYaBoiH2 slows things down for “Where I Wanna Be”, employing a vocal/rap style that seems inspired by Eminem.
“Too Dramatic” works with synthesized orchestral instrumentation in a stunning turn.  The message here is about relaxing a bit and enjoying life.  ItsYaBoiH2’s approach once again sounds angry here, but there’s an infectious beat at the root here that draws you in.  “Steppin’” is highly repetitive and angry.  The lo-fi approach noted earlier makes this sound shrill and poorly recorded.  “Jager On Tha Rocks” is a fluff/party piece that’s rough and unsophisticated in production.  With the right production and remix this song could find life on the dance floors of major clubs, but its current presentation is too low-fi and unpolished to get the attention of DJs.  “Lovin This” is a song of angry enjoyment.  ItsYaBoiH2 seems to be playing to type here rather than being genuine.  As a result, ItsYaBoiH2 ends up sounding petulant and sophomoric again. 
“Risk” begins like more of an R&B jam than a rap tune, and has a bland feel.  What becomes clear as the album progresses is that ItsYaBoiH2 seems to have little understanding of dynamics in the recording process.  Whether it’s a vocal issue for the artist, or an issue of production, ItsYaBoiH2 seems to have no highs or lows; barreling on at the same level without much tonal variation.  The risk here is that over the course of time the listener becomes somewhat inoculated to the sound.  “Fine Wine” is another angry turn.  The issue is that it’s sometimes hard to tell why ItsYaBoiH2 is angry, as often his anger is mixed with semi-positive messages.  The reason here is a bit clearer than usual, but the anger still seems conjured rather than genuine.  “Student Of Observation” is perhaps the finest track on the album, with a fresh rhythm and fly lyrical flow.  itsYaBoiH2 shows the full depth of his potential as a lyricist here, with a song that could probably cross over to pop/urban play lists as is.  Higher production values certainly wouldn’t hurt, but this song is a potential hit.  
“Cause & Effect” starts off sounding like a slow-core horror movie soundtrack with eerie synth and clockwork rhythm.  ItsYaBoiH2 lays down a rap that’s impressive, going freestyle with a stream of conscious flow that’s impressive.  “Ain’t That A” gets back to the disaffected anger based on perceived threats.  ItsYaBoiH2 does this stuff pretty well, but his reliance on this negative stuff just does not reflect on him well.  Bigger Fish closes out with “Sink”, an anachronistic tune awash in dreamy synth and deep reverb.  ItsYaBoiH2 is on to something here sonically, although at times the sound is quite messy.
ItsYaBoiH2 is a rapper of considerable talent grossly undercut by the low production values on his album Bigger Fish.   When unfettered by overt attempts to play to type, ItsYaBoiH2 is an engaging lyricist.  His vocal style does tend to drone at times; this is more of an issue of inflection and tone than anything else and is easily addressed.  Where ItsYaBoiH2 gets in his own way is his devotion to the forms of early gangsta rap.  When he puts this aside and speaks as himself rather than as an archetype he can be quite enjoyable to listen to.  The facilitated anger and misogyny of his boyhood idles does not fit him well, however.  Bigger Fish is an album of potential and of poor choices that hinges on a chameleon-like persona.  Once H2 decides who he really is we’ll have a better picture of what his art will be.

Artist:        ItsYaBoiH2
Title:        Bigger Fish
Rating:    3 Stars (Out of 5)
Review by:    Wildy Haskell 
(date could not be determined)


Tennessee artist ItsYaBoiH2 (Flatliner Music) just dropped a brand new album. It's dubbed Bigger Fish and it consists of 18 total tracks. There are guest appearances from fellow talents TopGun, T-Roc, and Da Grym Reefer. And the project was executive produced by IGNOVA. See what tracks The Illixer grew to become fond of after the jump. 
"Clap For 'Em"
The production here is decent. It is made up of: a casual bass, inconspicuous background components, a medium pace, and a neutral vibe. The hook is commendable. The delivery is fresh and the lyrics have a clear cut message in them. The verses are well outfitted. H2 exhibits a faultless flow, candid wordplay, and unrestricted rhymes. He discusses the unfortunate situation of going out of his way to help someone, only to have them turn on him and how he manages to push forward in spite of it all. He states: "What you want, a standing o? Homie they should slash ya throat. So you can let go of all that smoke that you constantly blow. I've seen it all before. You're nothing but a rerun. Biting off of ya own voice on a beat that's been redone. Ready for a new era. Second that, anyone? Picked at 'em so long it's starting to not be any fun." Those lines provided a flippant opening to the first verse. Overall, this was a shining record.
"Where I Wanna Be"
The production here is serene. The easy going foundation, gradual gait, featherweight secondary ingredients, and peaceful vibe make for a sublime mixture. The hook is first-class. The delivery is flattering and the lyrics are eloquent. They fully summarize the purpose of the song: "I just want to be the man. Looking at over a million fans. Hiding in the stands. And I'm reaching out to 'em to the point that they can even grab my hand. That's where I want to be." Beautiful statement coming from an aspiring artist. The verses are telling. H2 contributes an emotional flow, personal wordplay, and deep almost spiritual rhymes. He shares his struggles, his love for his craft, and more. Noteworthy lines include: "I'm needing a new thesaurus before my verses start to bore 'em. Cause I don't feel like ya favorite. Just a decoy for 'em. The way my brainstorming creates vocals of decorum, I could be so focused in it that I leave a stain on 'em. Without warning or housewarming, you can hear my tears like my mouth's mourning over the crowd that forgot about forming. Ouch, I couldn't feel more cornered." Very intricate and moving bars right there. All in all, this is a real gem and the favorite off of the LP. It should be noted that a video for the cut can be seen at the end of the review.
"Aint That A"
The production here is great. It encompasses: a laden bass, a mid-tempo pace, complimentary musical elements, and an aggressive vibe. The hook is up to standard as well. The delivery is fiery and the lyrics are blatant. The verses continue the established high-strung nature of the track. H2 dishes out a cold flow and merciless rhymes. He conveys his feelings towards certain types of people without hesitation while at the same time demonstrating why he deserves to look at himself as one of the "big fish" in the game. A couple of dope lines include: "Who on the bottom bout to stop somebody this far at the top? Ain't in ya right mind if you think that you and I'll ever swap. I'm that motherf---a ya hate and yet you still wait up to watch." Sick way for H2 to close out the beginning of the track. In the end, this song is a banger and another album favorite.
**My Two Cents: Bigger Fish is a quality LP. H2 shows a respectable amount of growth since his last offering while at the same time retaining the versatility that gives him his edge over the competition. Also, the production was right on the mark. And he kept the guest appearances at a proper number. I definitely give the album two thumbs up. Formulate your own opinion by hitting that link and previewing the project on iTunes. Be sure to peep the above video too. It's simple yet very appropriate for the single. -MinM

ItsYaBoiH2 – Bigger Fish (Album Review) – The Illixer