Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens (In Hell Happy With Your New Imaginary Friend)
As most probably intended, the first thing anybody will notice as they delve into Below the Heavens is the extremely beautiful album artwork. Like Common's upcoming Dilla influnced/tribute album, Finding Forever, Blu's album cover is so unconventional that it shouts out to even the most colorblind crate digger to scoop it up and give it a listen. Unfortunately it often occurs that the old proverb, "you can't judge a book by its cover" is often times true, but luckily for Blu and his DJ, Exile the album is almost as brilliant as it's cover.
Dispelling the idea that all underground hip hop is supposed to be jazzy, intellectual, and conscious is Blu over a base & sample filled, "My World Is". If anybody didn't know what Blu looked like this track, which begins with a Young Jeezy like "yeauh", they'd be sure to take him for a Red Monkey rocking, Retro 1 stomping, Bape sporting, New Era fitted wearing hustler type cat. I mean, that's not to say the song is bad by any means, it's just that compared to the rest of the material on Below the Heavens, this track shows a very rarely seen, grimy Blu. "Cold Hearted" (featuring Miguel Jontel) catches a more disturbed Blu as he discusses his childhood days when his pops (who by the way introduced him to hip hop) used to beat his mom and he was "cold hearted and young, a dumb kid with a gun..." The song, which uses a clever personification of hip-hop, also serves a purpose to call out all the "seed killers" (ie murderers) out there. "Blu Colla Worker", is a brilliantly up tempo joint in which Blu explains to a woman that she has to understand that sometimes he's got to not be with her to make his music because he's a "blu colla worker". The first single of the album, "The Narrow Path" is set over a melodic percussion set while Blu is
"Tryna tell my folks that flowin' ain't easy/Travelin' down this yellow brick road until it frees me/I need a pen, I need a pad, I need a place to go/to get this shit lifted off of my soul"
Of all my favorite joints on the album is "In Remembrance"
which is laced on one of the most soulful samples I've heard in ages
along with several cuts from old school joints like Pete Rock & CL
Smooth's classic T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)
Blu spits verses about his childhood days and the way that they come to
an end so quickly. Although looking back on better days can often be a
sad event, Blu does so without the tears (even in mentioning his
grandfather's death) by stating, "We came a long ass way." While the
song can make anybody feel a bit wistful it's the type of song that can
almost make bring up your best memories and etch a smile across your
face.
As the grand finale of the album you have the eight minute,
twenty for second long track "The World Is..." featuring The
KoochieMonstars. Like the previously review The World Is Ours by Ill Poetic, this track also uses the hook from Nas' 1994 classic, Illmatic,
and just as in Poetic's attempt, Blu doesn't succeed in recreating the
too well know lyrics, but thankfully Exile's production gives the track
a feel as if this entire this is bigger than us all and saves the first
quarter of the track until Blu jumps in and kicks knowledge about hell,
" Somebody once told me I was already in hell/Freedom's a state of mind and just the heart of me's in hell/ I freed my slave mind so a part of me's in hell/ So even when it's hard to breathe a part of me inhales."
The track eventually changes up paths and gets into a soulful jam session which takes Below the Heavens out on a soul lifting note.
Regardless of what your religion, by definition we're all
below the heavens, and depending on our surroundings and our actions we
can break or create our own hell. Through all of Blu's tales and
stories, he breaks down for us how to flip the hell we were given and
make it somewhere you can manage to enjoy.
10/10
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Skyzoo & 9th Wonder - Cloud 9: The 3 Day High
The first time I picked up this album I was a bit skeptical. Don’t get me wrong, I love 9th Wonder and his group Little Brother, and I’m even a fan of several 9th’s collaborative efforts (Jeanius, Murray’s Revenge, Chemistry). So where’s the problem you ask? One of 9th’s most recent collaborations, The Spirit of ’94 (with Kaze) was rather disappointing. I mean 9th’s production was notably on point, but I just didn’t feel like Kaze was really feeling the beat. It was as like he was hearing the music as he laid down 16s, but he wasn’t properly fusing his lyrics with the beat. He wasn’t immersing himself in the sounds around him… but that’s another review. All and all I came to the conclusion that I should still give the album a listen at least in support of P. Douthit. To tell the truth I wasn’t expecting much from Skyzoo, I’d never heard much of him except that he’d been beaten by Jin on 106th and Park, and I thought he was probably another NYC rip off of Jay-Z. I downloaded the album, and ordered a pay-per-view movie convinced I wouldn’t have to listen long before I could stop soaking up what was bound to be a half-assed LP and begin enjoying V for Vendetta.
I’m broke. I’m always broke and I hate to waste money, but I sure as hell wasted 5 dollars on V for Vendetta that night. I held my breath as I put the first track on, but to the relief of my already weak lungs, within the first 30 seconds of Bare Witness I knew I was catching a fresh breath of air by the name of Skyzoo. Out of all his collaborations I never thought 9th Wonder would be able to top anything he did as a member of Little Brother, but Sky is giving the cats from NC a run for their money. The first track on the album entitled Bare Witness begins with the introduction of a brolic-sounding man giving the orders “Just let this motherfucker come on… and be fresh” and that is exactly what Skyzoo does. On the same track Sky reveals the information that this exceptional album was put together in a mere three days. On the album’s first single, the melancholical Way to Go, Sky starts off describing his Brooklyn neighborhood but wakes up the sleep inducing 9th production with lines such as “They only hatin’ is ‘cause they wantin’ to be us / and the way I’m on the drum is like I’m fuckin’ the speakers.” The album’s seventh track Bodega helps to round out the albums already versatile subject matter. Over 9th’s haunting yet soulful production Skyzoo spits about the entire mindset of a kid standing on a street corner (in front of a bodega) as well as on goings that take place in the bodega’s midst. “God don’t bless this corner/ We the bottom of the bucket/ We lucky he protect this corner.” When most cats talk about hustling or life in their hood you don’t think twice to envision what they’re talking about, but with this track Sky makes you hear him out.
Other high points of the twelve-track album include You & Me as well as Live and Direct. “ I pour it out, I pour it out/ I unzip my heart and I pour it out.” I usually take a strong disliking to rap songs with love as a subject matter, not because I try to avoid the subject, but because the songs are often poorly done. At first listen once I heard the sensual crooning of the female sampled by 9th wonder I thought “Ah, shit. I hope this isn’t gonna to be a 50 type love song.” And thank goodness it wasn’t. That would have ruined the entire album, but instead the track helps to present Skyzoo as a versatile 3-dimensional figure. I’ll admit this song doesn’t have any particular punches, but it’s not all love and emotions either. It’s a love song but it’s not too soft. It’s with this that Sky shows he can let himself be vulnerable and still keep his swagger at the same time.
Live and Direct has to be one of the most radio-friendly tracks on the entire album.With it’s booming horns and Sky’s “One, two, one two” anybody would think this was a Swizz Beats produced track at first listen. This has to be the best (my favorite at least) track on the album. There’s not a person in their right mind who could listen to this song without feeling like getting and doing a little something. The hook is catchy as hell (“Live and direct/ Comin’ from the bottom of the curve/ S-K got ‘em on swerve/ Live and direct/ Tryna get this money together/ I’m good with it I could double whatever/ Live and direct/ 9th put the beat on blast/ So now we got the streets in the bag/ Live and direct / This shit is live and direct/ S-K, 9th wonder on deck/ We live and direct…”) and the production is musical crack. When I heard this for the first time, I came to the realization of exactly what Kaze & 9th’s Spirit of ’94 was missing. They don’t understand each other’s material like 9th & Sky do. It’s as if 9th and Sky were weaving melodies and lyrics together and this is the result. Undoubtedly the pinnacle of the album.
Overall there’s nothing bad to be said of Cloud 9: The 3 Day High other than that I wish I’d been a bit longer. 9th was at his best and although I’m not quite familiar with any of Skyzoo’s previous material he’s more than likely at his best on the album as well. As of May 2007 the album was certified gold (and this is likely to be the first time you've heard of dude).
Considering that the album was put together in only three days as well as the fact that the two weren’t even in the same state when the album was created there’s not way the album deserves anything less than a
8.5/10
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Ill Poetic - The World Is Ours
Get some Ali Shaheed Muhammed (of Tribe) influenced production, a Supastition kind of flow, a Mid West swagger and just a tiny pinch of Eminem and your end result is the Cincinnati, Ohio hailing MC, Ill Poetic who comes forth with intimidating goal of creating a Mid Western Illmatic and getting cats everywhere hooked on the Cinci state of mind.
"Home," the opening track, is somewhat reminiscent of Atmosphere's 2003 anthem for Minnesota, "Say Shhh". The boom bap tinged track is a cautionary one even though it has a jump off appeal. Poetic reminds listeners that they're better off at "Home sweet home" than places where "the grass ain't green and the kids are getting meaner". "Cincilluminati" has a jazzy composition with hook attributed to Nas' "Who's World Is This". The story telling in this specific track is based around what it's like to be a Cincinnatian painting pictures almost as vividly as in Nas' "New York State of Mind". Although the story telling is, for the most part, on point the Illmatic influenced hook uses Poetic's own voice rather than a sample from the original song and just seems...well lame which can be attributed to the fact that the single line is such a trademark of the original song that it's impossible to re-create it yet this is redeemed by a hidden track on the same track. Again Poetic attempts to re-create some classic hip-hop lines, yet this time successfully. In "Soul Electric", poetic re-uses A Tribe Called Quests hip hop quotable, "Hey sucka nigga, wherever you are, wherever you are" to shout out Cincinnati, "Hey Cincinnati wherever you are, wherever you are". Blueprint of Soul Position (with RJD2) makes a guest appearance on "Common Knowledge" in which he sheds light on the reason he's considered to be a Backpacker...his uzi ways a ton, how else could he carry it? Blueprint, however; isn't the only cat to shine in the song as Poetic spits, "Ya'll fools rappin, and I'm an illusion/rap wolverine Hugh Jackman, I jack humans." "The Beautiful" and "So Good" are easy listening joints with down tempo jazzy feels. "One More" featuring Wordsworth & Young Zone as well as " City of God" featuring Young Zone are both brilliantly produced tracks with equally exceptional lyricism in which Poetic flows like an orgasm. Both songs catch Poetic at his grimiest and both can be taken as making subliminal shots at Young Jeezy, 50 cent, Slum Village and even cats who only started paying J.Dilla attention after he was deceased. Beef or no beef the tracks are both solid. The final track "Inside Lookin' Out" starts off with a sample stating "It's getting close to the end". Instead of being an ominous track as the sample suggest the track turns towards a bubbly, powerful one as Poetic looks at his hometown and how everything is simply beautiful and simply good.
Every track on the album (aside from "Sugar Shack" which is just a bunch of bullshit) has exceptional production, Ill Poetic proves himself as an Ill Poet time and time again and although the album will be putting Cinci on the map anytime soon the album is a definite must listen.
7/10
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Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
To begin to understand the plight and music of Brother Ali
(formerly Jason Newman), it's almost detrimental that a listen know 3
things about Ali. Ali is 1) A Caucasian male, 2) an Albino, 3)
an American Muslim. To begin listening to a Brother Ali track on The Undisputed Truth
or any of Ali's pervious work, without knowing those few things would
be enough to make several listeners confused, upset, and taken aback if
they're entire perception of B.A. is based on the album's CD cover.
After taking those listed aspects of who Ali is as a person, from the
first track to the last track it's easy to come to the conclusion that
Brother Ali is the undisputed truth.
Anybody who's familiar with Ali's previous works is apt to realize that Ali improves with each of his efforts. Shadows on the Sun was better than Rites of Passage and The Champion EP was better than Shadows on the Sun. It's not to say Ali has ever released a bad album, but rather that Ali always winds up outdoing himself whenever he releases new material. The same is true for Undisputed. The Ant (of Atmosphere) produced album begins with an 80s type Run DMCesque track titled "Watcha' Got".Ali's gruff lion's roar of a voice blends well with the chords of the electric guitar as Ali raps,
"Had to stake my claim to the thrown/Ain't no mistaken the sacred in his tone/Ali the new name by which greatness is known"
While the track lacks to show Ali's lyrical capabilities, it does do Ali's ability to get his braggadocio on, justice. "Pedigree" is a Juggaknot-like produced joint laced with a trademark Ant sample which gives a somewhat ghostly feel to the otherwise easy going feel of the song. Unlike "Watcha Got" this track, which is also somewhat bragging, doesn't have such a brash blatant feel and is liable to get the most unsuspecting rapper singing right along,
"One behind the next in line, it's inspection time, let me check the design/ Your pedigree don't hold up next to mine, I'm a thoroughbred of the most excellent kind"
"Freedom
Ain't Free" is another example of those previously mentioned trademark
Ant samples. The track is set off by a 90 sounding reggae bounce with a
chimpmunked sample declaring "Ain't no where to run to, there ain't
nothing here for free". For those unfamiliar with Brother Ali's ill
fated years of youth, Ali re-introduces little Jason to listener and
tells the tale of how BA was forced to completely de-construct and
rebuild himself until he was no longer Jason Newman, but Brother Ali
(now Ali Newman).
Although the first portion of Undisputed, has its high points, the last five tracks are definitely the best of the album in its entirety. "Take Me Home" is a feel good joint Ali promises "If you take me home, I'll sing you a song". As the song progresses listeners will find it to be a lesson on how Ali has kept his head above water by continuously working hard, staying on his grind and not trying to compare himself to other cats. The premier track of the entire album (and the first single) "Uncle Sam Goddamn" is definitive in naming Ali a force to be reckoned with. From politics, to religion, to race Ali examines the evils of the United States (aka the United Snakes) and mocks the way Americans are taught to support everything the government does. Every single line in the song is packed with a history lesson and the Ant produced track's show-tune feel sets the class off.
Even for somebody who's not paying
the song much attention to begin with, a second listen is a must after
hearing Ali stop the track to kick knowledge
Long review I know, but for such an essential album it's...well essential. Though listeners may disagree with some of Ali's viewpoints, Ali gives listeners his own version of the truth all the while creating a brilliant album showing the world Minnesota isn't just the land of ice & snow. This album is definitely the truth which (as far as this blog is concerned) will go undisputed.
9/10
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From my first listen to the Blue Scholars' self-titled first album to the The Long March EP, I've always been a fan of Geo & Sabzi. I wouldn't classify any of their previously mentioned joints as classic (even though Sagaba & La Botella are still some of my top played songs), but Bayani is definitely a candidate for the title.
The album begins with a Baha'i Faith prayer of healing which, at first listen seems pointless and almost annoying, yet is later found to have set the tone for the rest of the album. If I wanted to pick the best songs of the album to give a synopsis of I'd end up reviewing each track so to keep it short, Sabzi out does himself with this album in it's entirety. Every single track on the album has a "monumental" type vibe. Just like the theme song for Rocky Balboa movies, the production of each track makes a listener feel as if they're hearing something special...something prodigious. From "Second Chapter" (the album's second track) in which he sketches ideas of what needs to be changed about today's world, to "Still Get No Love" which is "a long song for everybody", to the jazz-infused "Morning of America" which tells the tale of America and Geo's last few decades, Geologic makes his slow-flow work for him by forcing even the most distracted listener, well...listen. Geo and Sabzi both shine more brightly than usually in the album titled track, "Bayani" which means "hero to the people" in Taglog (the language of the Philippines as Geo is Filipino) and "the world" in Farsi (an Eastern European language, as Sabzi is Iranian). In this prophetic sounding joint, Geo explains how he and Sabzi came together and struggled together just as the title is a combination of their two cultures. The first single of the album, "Back Home" has a catchy, yet simple beat over which Geo flows about Southside Seattle and soldiers in Iraq stating "Bring 'em back home, and I don't wanna have to keep on singing this song."
The album is flawless, every track is enjoyable (aside from the intro), production is on point, but content sometimes get repetitive.
9/10
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Gabriel Teodros - Love Work
Just as it's to be expected, Gabriel Teodros' first solo album on MassLine Media is full of insight laced together with vivid storytelling (a well blended mix of his label mates Common Market & Blue Scholars). Hailing from Seattle, Washington as a former member of Abyssinian Creole, Teodros has your classic West Coast flow, yet he doesn't have your average West Coast stories to tell.
The album begins "Sacred Texts", a track in which Teodros reminds other cats of how long he's been in the game by telling the story of his younger days while cleverly throwing in titles of several monumental 90s albums (Ready to Die, Me Against the World, etc.) along with popular song hooks from the same hip-hop glory days. The first (maybe only) single of the album, "No Label (Remix)", Teodros not only touches on what it means to be indie or major, but also different labels given to artists to define their genre. Although the concept seems it'd make for a bland, conscious song, the song's production enables it to become of the most catchy on the entire album. "Third World Wide" takes the Kanye/U2/Greenday route by examining several issues of peoples in third world countries (African countries) by telling the story of a young boy who lives in poverty in Africa as well as an African-American boy who's imprisoned for "trying to live". The trumpet on the track makes for a catchy A Tribe Called Quest-like vibe. The premiere track of the album, "Love Work" is predictably about loving work and the game, yet still makes for an interesting track due to breezy production, catchy hook, and Teodros ability to remind listeners what made us love this rap shit in the first place.
Although GT's flow needs some work to make him sound more original, Love Work is a solid album.
6/10
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Surprise, surprise, Breeze decided to jump on the bandw agon and get a blog too (not that this is my first). This'll be your basic hip-hop review & d/l blog (but you all know what kind of hip-hop Breeze listens to) with your occasional rant...let's see if I can keep it up for a while before I get bored and go on to something else.
Raks One (aka Emilio Rojas) - A Breathe of Fresh Air
I originally heard of Raks One by way of Silent Knight's album Hunger Strike. I can't really say I was impressed by Silent Knight's effort in his entirety, but track six and it's guest performer really stood out to me. As it happens sometimes, which ever dumbfuck upped Silent Knight's joint for me left all of the tracks untitled so I went searching for the tracklisting which I found on Silent Knight's myspace page(www.myspace.com/silentknightma). As is expected for label mates, there was a link to Raks' myspace page (www.myspace.com/raksone) SK's and after hearing Raks' track Keep Running featuring Denosh from Making the Band III, the rest is history... well almost. I guess everyone was still sleeping on dude when I found out about him (not that they still aren't) because I could not find any of his albums anywhere for about 3 weeks, but it finally happened so I can get to reviewing the album.
A lot of times rappers make the mistake of preemptively naming their albums (like Slim Thug's brick, Already Platinum), but this isn't the case with Raks. From beginning to then end his album is seriously a breath of fresh air. There's "breezy", lackadaisical joints like "Why You Have To" which is a comical one-sided conversation Raks is having with some bourgeois chick Raks meets in th mall who disses him when he tries to holla at her. There's more serious tracks like aforementioned Ill Mind produced "Keep Running" which gives a less violent, less criminal-minded look at the hustle. Raks' "Life Ain't Fair" "goes out to all the single parents out there" as Raks discusses his relationship with his absentee father. Other tracks such as the opening "Breaker 1,9" and "Up to Speed" virtually topicless joints that allow Raks to show off his raw talent. On "Up to Speed" Raks along with a DJ exhibits the different speeds at which he can flow. Like many other cats (I won't say any names but one starts with 5) Raks proves he doesn't have to choose between showing his softer side and compromising his skills with (IMO one of the album's best tracks) a song of regret entitled "Things Change" featuring DMinor.
A 10 star classic, no? But a breath of fresh air, most definitely.
8/10
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