Music for the advancement of hip hop

True, the title is an itsy bit pretentious. The advantage being that the artists are all the more motivated by such a title. And their motivation gives us simply one of the best LPs of 1999. Which isn't too bad, considering how long a year can last. I'm even going to give you a detailed argumentation for what I'm saying:

This LP is in a way the first real Anticon project, as it lasts over 74 mn and groups together several artists, that is to say, in order of appearance:

The first song starts with "I take seven MCs put them in a line, shoot em and sell their clothes to get my wisdom teeth pulled". Abstract, you say? All you have to do is dive head first into their peculiar and foremost refreshing atmosphere. Hip hop is what it's all about, that is for sure, and it's avant-garde (yoohoo, a french word...), that's even more for sure. And not only because of the lyrics, by the way. The beats are also sometimes totally destructured, if you see what I mean. If you don't, you will after the first listen of the tremendously great "It's THEM", by THEM, that is to say Jel and Dose One. It doesn't have a definite pattern, and there' s no monotony to be found in the cut, with changes of patterns in the middle (logical) etc. And when you know how amazing Dose's flow can be, it can only be impressive. If you have trouble following what he says (especially us French heads), dig into more lyrically accessible songs. And what songs! You have notably "Divine Disappointment", by Alias, where he personifies God and gives a caustic criticism of us, poor humans who, there's no doubt about it, don't understand nothing about nothing:

" from the day I gave you life
to your last anointment
you have all been nothing but divine dissapointment"

[...]

"think that every bad thing that happens to you is at my will
like bankrupcy, adultory, and the reason why others kill
go on to be mislead as you have your entire life
think that all some how reward
for all your pain and strife
I can't control destiny"
where'd you come up with that notion?"
[...]

"I regret making all of you
You make my blood pressure climb
I wish I didn't make you
but even I cant turn back the hands of time"

There's also a heartrending Slug singing "Nothing but Sunshine", dedicated to his deceased parents (now, put away the tissues, it's only fiction. Feel better?):

"when my mother died, I had to take things in stride
they ain't no room for pride in watching your father cry
He made it untill maybe a year later
When they found his suicide inside of a grain elevator"

That's the intro

"getting even with life, by murdering cattle"....

That's the outro...

Sixtoo worries about the warming of the planet, among others, on "Simulated Snow", and Buck 65 shows his lyrical genious on "Untitled" (man, he's tight, that Buck):

"When the water swallowed me
and not the other way around"

Pedestrian tells things I imagine being very interesting, but it will remain the work of my imagination, considering how I can't understand a word he says because of his flow. But hey, he goes well with the beat, and I guess that can be enough sometimes.

But it's Sole and Moodswing 9 who are at the origin of my favorite (well, tied for first with "It's THEM"), namely "Martyr theme Song". The beat is once again incredible, thanks to Moodswing 9's mastery. As far as lyrics go, well, simply put, it's Sole at his fullest. Need I say more?

I've only talked about the cuts that stand out, but nothing is to be skipped in that exceptionnal album (as in really out of the ordinary), not even the skits.

As I said at the beginning of the review, this LP is refreshing. No ego trips are to be found, none of that "I'm a thug and I'm tired of being a thug" ish. The subjects are various, and you sometimes have to listen a bit closer than usual to extract as much of its quintessence as possible (I'm notably thinking of "Rain Men" or "it's Them"), but you'll never be left blasé (other French word...oh well...).

Just like everything that's not conventional, you either adhere to the concept, or you don't and you look with condescension at those people who call themselves MCs. But before you criticize what you don't understand, try opening your mind. Turn your audio system on, and let the new wave carry you. Everything's gonna be all right, said the poet.

"It's not actually bad rap, I just don't feel it....there, I've said it"