LISTED REVIEWS
The album begins like Common’s 'Be' started; with a plain but groovy bass line, matching perfectly with the baritone voice of Rich, layin down spoken words of knowledge. And so starts a trip through different kinds of music, goin from hip-hop, soul, lounge, Afro drum and spoken word.
POSTED 12|13|2005
'Loose Change' is perfectly balanced between two levels of music that rule today’s hip-hop scene. On top of that, it’s great writing and flawless production, stuffed with different moods goin from streetwise to soulful to party-like. This is definitely in our top-3 discoveries of the year!
POSTED 12|13|2005
'Beatz To The Future' enables you to have a good view on the craftsmanship of Tzarizm, who’s workin with Pumpkinhead and Skhool Yard veterans Planet Asia and Turbin in the near future. The beats are straight up, no-nonsense hip-hop, fresh outta the MPC and with lots of variety. Of all the Izms, Tzarizm is definitely the funkiest.
POSTED 12|12|2005
1990 was the year when people first heard of Easy Mo Bee, through his productions on The Genius’ 'Words From The Genius' album. One year later, Mo Bee returned with his own project 'Rappin Is Fundamental'. Their one and only album is a combination of hip-hop with gospel and Blues singin woven through it, or simply called 'Doo-Hop'.
POSTED 12|12|2005
Two years after it was first released, SoulStice’s debut album finds its way back to the shelves with this re-issue, extended with some unreleased songs. Ashley Llornes is one of those veterans who’ve been wandering through the Washington underground without gettin a universal shine.
POSTED 12|05|2005
If not consistent, than it's certainly a great concept, because the back cover of each CD represents a piece of a bigger graffiti art work. What's more, 'Write to Death II' will also attract people who never heard of the name Illogic before reading this. And that's good news because this MC is clearly one of the strongest stylistics in rap music today.
POSTED 11|28|2005
'The Sun Do Move' is rich of sounds, enhanced by different kinds of instruments, playing a main role in each song, each displaying a unique, warm and mellow sound. Social consciousness, philosophy or psychology have never sound fresher in a hip-hop concept than on this album.
POSTED 11|28|2005
Now, to call their lyrics positivism would be too superficial, a lot of their lyrics are, but it goes just a little bit deeper. Their rhymes have a deeper message, not in a preaching kind-of-way but with a strong eyewink to black history and political movements, leavin a revolutionary note at times.
POSTED 11|28|2005
Recently proclaimed by Jean Grae as 'the future of hip-hop', these 3 (very) young cats have quite some expectations to live up to with their newborn EP. Let their 'short-profile' be known: Parallel Thought is a New Jers' production trio consisting of Drum, Knowledge and DJ Apendix Hed.
POSTED 11|26|2005
According to the album's potential, 'Good Music' is a humble title. J Sands raps 'makin good music, no more no less' in 'Brother's Keeper' but we would hardly do it any 'good' by callin it that way. There are adjectives that are more accurate to underline this album's craftsmanship; please choose from 'superb', 'excellent' and 'near-classic'. 'Survival' is a minor setback but in every possible sense, this album has lived up to our high expectations!
POSTED 11|22|2005from the vaults
