LISTED REVIEWS
With an urge to constantly re-invent himself, Thaione’s work never bores or sounds the same. Not only an aesthetic must but also an educational trip, with recurrent references to a history of slavery and suppression, this album is clearly above the average standard that most instrumental albums tend to carry.
POSTED 06|26|2007
Recognizeably from the D, with 'Sounds of the City', but also mingled with a whole own sound, characterized by the beats of The Lab Techs, make this effort one of the freshest albums that came out the area lately, even intriguing us more than the newest Black Milk or Phat Kat albums (there we said it!).
POSTED 06|20|2007
So while Raheem reveals his inner feelings with a laugh and a tear (there’s fun, there’s regret), he creates a mix of emotions that fit well with the variety of Raydar Ellis’ innovative production. And so for the first time recording without a group, and then having only one producer behind him, Raheem has fulfilled the difficult challenge of entertaining an audience by little means.
POSTED 06|20|2007
A unique combination of sharp lyricism and distinctive production, 'Bayani' is Blue Scholars at their best. Matured and sharper, Sabzi and Geology are heading for ultimate recognition, puttin the Northwest on the rap map for now and beyond.
POSTED 06|20|2007
rather call him a student at the top of his class, graduating in a year or two with some smashing albums that will outclass this already phenomenal instrumental debut. Muneshine is the next best thing.
POSTED 06|05|2007
Eerie melancholia is pushed your way through silk production with different live instrumentation and atmospheric sampling. The Hiero concept as we know it. Then again, A-Plus has his rasta background.
POSTED 06|05|2007
Moka has made yet another album that reaches a high level, not the best in a row (albums like 'Lowdown Suite' were above this), but close. Durability (they call him the Durable Mammal), cohesiveness and quality are the keywords to Torch’s extensive discography.
POSTED 05|31|2007
Chicago. The Windy City, Chi-Town, the 'Second City', the 'City of the Big Shoulders', there’s plenty of descriptive names for this cultural capital of the Midwest, just like there is plenty of musical genres, sounds and styles. Hip-hop lives there in many forms, translated by different kind of interpretators, whether they rhyme real fast, they used to love h.e.r. or they’re a college dropout.
POSTED 05|06|2007
Seventeen years after its supposed release, 'I’m Not Playing' LP is finally granted to the crowd. The 12” gathered attention and appraisal through its extremely funky sampling of Albert King’s 'Cold Feet' –the first marriage between hip-hop and blues- and Master Rob’s sometimes naïve but funny fresh metaphorical braggadocio.
POSTED 05|06|2007
With jazz-inspired, progressive and smoothly mastered production, Hylandaz is at the first place a production crew that, however hard to accomplish these days, sets its own, recognizable sound from note one till the last track.
POSTED 04|24|2007from the vaults
