| GRIP GRAND Welcome To Broakland |
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Grip Grand shows a versatility and finesse with his music that bespeaks a solid command of hip hop. Grip Grand is a fully developed character who tackles a wide range of topics with ease. Lots of vitality and free expression. Touches of Little Brother. Smidgeons of J-Zone. Flashes of Edan. Traces of Murs. A hint of M.F. Doom. Major talent right off the bat. Low budget environments. Low budget and very minimalistic. Bridges the style gaps. Some familiar samples and breaks, but it's all good. This is modern folk music. The real shit. |
| TRIPLE THREAT The Listening |
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Isn't it nice when the DJs can get a little credit? Usually, skratch deejay albums are wack (see just about every skratch album). But the Triple Threat deejays come correct by doing what comes naturally... blurring the line between the many styles of independent hip hop. This is My Vinyl Weighs A Ton x3! What else would you expect from Bay Area residents Shortkut, Vinroc, and Apollo. Cameos from Rob Swift, Roc Raida, Talib Kweli, Main Flow, Black Thought, Planet Asia, Souls Of Mischief, Zion I, Ridgi Gong, and Roc Roo makes this an all-star venture. "The Cipha" featuring Rob Swift and Roc Raida is definitely the hightlight, as they slice and dice some meaty chunks of music. Solid turntablist constructions and destructions. Some of this shit is so damn professional, you gotta wonder how the radio can sleep on it! |
| LITTLE BROTHER The Listening |
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It's funny, cos I always thought Slum Village sounded like Tribe Called Quest. Along comes Little Brother, and there is no question of the comparison with Slum Village. Little Brother is similar to Slum Village on both the production and vocal tip. Yet Little Brother seems to take a much broader perspective on things. Phonte, Big Pooh, 9th Professor make the most sublimely pure hip hop of the moment that be. Little Brother's current popularity is a certainly a phenomenon for a no-gimmicks, non-posturing group. My prediction is that Little Brother will be the next crossover success like Jurassic 5 and Dilated Peoples. ABB does it again! |
| STRICT FLOW Without Further Ado |
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Strict Flow got a lot of props for its "People On Lock" 12". But who could have anticipated such a solid debut full-length?? Strict Flow sound like seasoned veterans on Without Further Ado. "PA's Finest pt. 1" is the "Super Brooklyn" of Pittsburgh, PA. At the Stink Zone, comparisons between Little Brother and Strict Flow seem appropriate. Both of these totally independent groups have a sound that has the mass appeal and sophistication of top 40 radio. But like Little Brother, Strict Flow clearly has the passion of the underground. Above all else, Strict Flow make very dope and totally consisted hip hop. This album is solid.
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| MURS The End Of The Beginning |
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MURS has had possibly the longest hibernation period ever witnessed in hip hop history. From his begninnings as a Living Legend to his signing with international sensation label Def Jux. MURS has positioned himself as the superstar everyman: he is humble... yet his skill are undeniable. Some of the album is funky like Funkadelic (check "Happy Pillz") and other parts are uplifting ("God's Work"). Moments of mediocrity creep in on tracks such as "The Scuffle." But the experimentation is undeniable. This album is a production zeitgeist, utilizing the choppiness and asymetirc beats that have defined artists from Co-Flow to Zion I to Prefuse 73. Def Jux has kidnapped and brainwashed a West Coast Legend. Problem is, it has resulted in one of the best hip hop albums of the year. |
| DEAD PREZ Turn Off The Radio |
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Dead Prez made a bold public statement with Let's Get Free. How funny, then, that this mish-mash independent compilation/collection outshines their Loud Records debut. Let's Get Free fit the bill of a major label album with 2 or 3 truly outstanding tracks. Turn Off The Radio is the personal after-party of Let's Get Free with an open-mic and drum circle and did you see Dead Prez in White Boys??? That's what I'm talkin' about! Dead Prez sounds really close to the speakers on this one. And how about those classic song remakes like Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy" or Black Rob's "Woah." Dead Prez prove they have the upper-hand, regardless of record contracts with some of capitalism's finest. |
| SUPERNATURAL The Lost Freestyle Files |
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How fitting that this is Supernatural's not-so-proper full-length debut. Supernat's career is the rightful ruler, denied the fame his talent affords. The Michael Jordan of freestyle rap. Mainstream hip hop never caught the Supernat bug. He is too raw. How fitting that Supernat's debut makes no intention of overlooking his freestyles, and in fact makes them the showcase of the album. This is the way it was meant to be! Supernat in his element: Supernat in a variety of spontaneous situations. The question, of course, is how often is the studio material actually a freestyle. |
| MURS & SLUG Felt: A Tribute To Christina Ricci |
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Every generation has its Rasputins and Marquis de Sades. Early 21st Century America has Mr. Dibbs. Skratch-based albums like 30th Song are for the hardcore hip hop fan only. You can't come into it with all those assumptions about music. This is b-boy muzak from a twisted future. Those smitten with this one, will be sure to enjoy the Presage Outer Limits LP that Dibbs made awhile back. It's not easy to find... and that is why you are a hardcore hip hop fan. And for those hardcore Dibbs fans... be sure to check out the revealing Skratchapuncture video. Ouch! |
| BUSDRIVER (of Project Blowed) & RADIOINACTIVE The Weather |
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Busdriver has established himself as the leading avant hip hop vocalist. Busdriver is not merely an emcee. He is the host and the main act. He is a freak show. No matter how bad it is... you gotta look. This is the slugdy mess at the bottom of hip hop. This is where the dead muck becomes natural gas. This is like hip hop biology and geology. Someone has to do the dirty work. Bus Driver has made it his work. But, no, seriously... this album is terrible. Bus Driver can rap to anything. |
