Music Reviews of Hip-Hop, Rap, Urban, Turntablism, R&B
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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Current Top Ten Chart
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
The Graduate - Anhedonia
Death By Stereo - Death Alive
Comeback Kid - Broadcasting
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Hip-Hop, Urban, Turntablism, R&B
Panacea — The Scenic Route Buy it at Amazon
Who else is glad someone like Washington, DC based Panacea is doing the hip-hop thang? Their sophomore album is a surreal journey into the cerebral subconscious and allows for the listener to follow the adventures of the main character throughout this highly touted concept album. Strong MC’ing skills are matched by a gifted sense for macking synths with samples and tights rhythms. Also “The Scenic Route” is guested by the vocals of Jive Records’s R&B starlet Raheem DeVaughn.
- J-Sin
T-Pain — Epiphany Buy it at Amazon
I’ve had an “Ephiphany” lately about R&B like this. It should be flushed down the commode like the corn-riddled poop that it is.
- J-Sin
R. Kelly — Double Up Buy it at Amazon
Didn’t he piss on a fourteen year old or something?
- J-Sin
Skratch Bastid — Get Up! Buy it at Amazon
Two-time Scribble Jam DJ Battle champion and 1200 Hobos crew member Skratch Bastid unleashes a wicked set of vinyl adoration. Immolating the wax with hands quicker than lightning, he gels together George Clinton classics, hip-hop standard bearers, and funky rock jams. Perfect for a good raunchy party that’s about to get out of hand, “Get Up!” is one helluva mixtape mashup.
- J-Sin
Shaun Fisher — Body & Soul Buy it at Amazon
Caribbean, African, and Latin influences are mashed up on “Body & Soul” by Shaun Fisher. Soulful brass instruments stream their way through worldbeat rhythms and steamy vibes. It’s music that should be experience loudly and is the sort of R&B that the mainstreamers seem to ignore which is a damn shame.
- J-Sin
Day Blues — The Album Buy it at Amazon
MC Rob Wilcox joins forces with producers and beat connoisseurs Benu and Jamuel Saxon. “The Album” marries thought-provoking poetic lyrics with riddling synths, crunchy beats, and phat samples. Day Blues may not be well known now but as they storm through the underground of hip-hop, the mainstream will have to eventually pay attention.
- J-Sin
2 Tall Presents Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow — Beautiful Mindz Buy it at Amazon
Georgia Anne Muldrow adds a bit of her flavorful neo-soul influence into this new hip-hop album “Beautiful Mindz”. Gripping lyrics are deep and straight from urban strongholds. Sometimes the samples and loops employed are boring and bland though for the most part the over-arching critique of this album is good.
- J-Sin
Copperpot — WYLA? Buy it at Amazon
Chester Copperpot!? (Compulsory "Goonies" reference, I know.) “WYLA?” is the follow-up to “Chapter 7” and finds this dynamic force in hip-hop continuing his trend of intelligent hip-hop and intriguing production. Bass-heavy beats are part of his game and finds Copperpot showing why he’s one of Chicago’s premier beatmakers. Rarely does one in the hip-hop game send out a more terrific sophomore release.
- J-Sin
Ill Poetic — The World Is Ours Buy it at Amazon
Socially conscious hip-hop is the bright spot in the rap game nowadays. With so many obnoxious egomaniacs running the show in the mainstream, it’s up to clever rappers like Ill Poetic and his labelmate Illogic to bring the underground something unique, daring, and intelligent. The rhymes are fresh and smart, straight from the streets and the library. Wrapped in the dense beat jungle of “The World Is Ours” are engaging loops and stellar production.
- J-Sin
Blue Scholars — Bayani Buy it at Amazon
Northwestern hip-hop? Sure you can’t let the East and West Coasts enjoy it all, now can you? Geologic is the wordsmith, coming at you from the battle scene and the spoken word circuit. Sabzi is the DJ and producer of the group and his past includes his training as a classical and jazz pianist. Grooves are dashed alongside sultry funk beats and smooth hip-hop grease. Completing the sound is the witty socially conscious lyrics that are somewhere between urban spoken word and Jamaican jah boasts with a defiant almost militant appeal. This is the direction that hip-hop should coast towards.
- J-Sin
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