Wednesday, October 21, 2009

It seems that hip hop releases are slowing down as the year ends.  Oh well, this year has provided a lot of great stuff.  Here’s what I was dying to share with you this week:

NEW JAMS:

:Mobonix - Shine:  MOBONIX, a recent frequent collaborator with MF DOOM, is on the spectrum of MCs somewhere between Ghostface Killah and Murs.  His labored delivery belies the work he obviously puts into his lyricism, like when he huffs, "From a knight to a squire and back/When I retire as a billionaire, I’ll still be black."  This track holds the most interest on the his new LP Third World America, with Doom’s characteristic off-beat slow samples and movie dialogue splices.

:BK-One - Mega (Featuring Aceyalone, Myka 9 and Abstract Rude):  BK-One may have made his name as the producer for Brother Ali, but his solo album Radio Do Canibal is in the running for the best of the year.  The tracks on the album are mainly MC’d by cameos from Rhymesayers label-mates like Slug, Brother Ali, and P.O.S., but my favorite was Mega.  You’ll love it to, for the wonderful old-timey tropical beat and the rhyme stylings of the three MCs, who are also known as hip hop supergroup Haiku D’Etat.  The rest of the album isn’t just a bunch of cameo names with beats, either; BK-One really works here to create a cohesive progression of sounds with long tunes and transitional instrumentals.

:Rita J - No Regrets (Featuring Adad):  It’s always a thrill to find a new lady MC, and while Rita J isn’t quite up there with the greats, she has a lot of potential.  Her persona, that of a strong woman without being obnoxious, diva-like, or selling sex, is brash, honest, and shows she’s not afraid of herself nor her talent.  She’s definitely one to watch - hopefully after her current album, Artist Workshop, where she uses male artists as foils on almost every song, she’ll be strong enough to stand on her own. 

:Macklemore - White Privelage:  Macklemore’s The Language of My World came out in 2005, but I didn’t have a chance to write about it then, so I’ll take it now.  His pointed lyrics about the role of race in hip hop hit right on target, without sacrificing sincerity to cynicism.  I highly recommend this album for his incisive barbs, but be warned - the bright light he points at white people in hip hop may be harsher than you’re used to.

FLASHBACK PICK:

:Caveman - Cool (Cos I Don't Get Upset):  The first British hip hop group to be signed to a major American label (Profile), Caveman reached the heights of their popularity in the early nineties with a positive flow and mellow jazz samples.  Cool was released on Positive Reaction in 1991 among a LP’s-worth of conscious hip hop tracks that still hold together.  The LP is out of print, but well worth the effort to track down to get your 90’s fix.

- Leah Manners -



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