Big Lists Of 2003
Published December 22, 2003
Threaded through a somewhat unoriginal skit — we are listening to WJLR (BAAM! The Future of hip-hop music!) a fictitious Justice League radio show — LB takes listeners on an endearing musical ride. A standout on the disc is the beautiful "Love Joint Revisited," where over a sound bed of fluttering acoustic guitars and a back-snapping snare, rappers Big Pooh and Phonte profess their undying devotion to hip-hop. The duo also takes the lingo "Yo" and utilizes it for a hooky record called "The Yo-Yo." But the disc's centerpiece is "The Listening," a 6-minute epic, featuring the two rhyme-slingers exploring hip-hop's past and future over a nicely placed sample of Pete Rock & CL Smooth's elegiac "T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)." The group's beatmaker 9th Wonder (who recently blessed Jay-Z with "Threats" on The Black Album) has all the makings of becoming the next Kanye West on the production boards. The Listening is cohesive recording that yields greater rewards after repeat listens.
There were plenty of sexy soul men that released great albums in 2003. Anthony Hamilton's Comin' From Where I From, Javier's Crazy, Jahiem's Ghetto Soul and Donnie's The Colored Section (which was actually a 2002 release but was re-issued by Motown Records this year) all released noteworthy collections. But Kem's Kemistry CD was simply divine. Heartfelt, touching, romantic and upbeat describes this wonderful disc full of well-written bedroom ballads. "Say" is a tear-jerker; "Love Calls" is an aphrodisiac, and "Inside" is a perfect song to play while having a bedroom romp with your lover. In 2003, Kem has sucessfully placed himself as one of R&B's elite love balladeers. Bravo!
Zion I's second CD Deep Water Slang came out in January 2003 and was totally slept on by the critics. This Bay Area, Calif. duo — poet MC Zion and beatmaker Amp Live — have created organic music for the soul. Music that is tangible — not too preachy or overindulged in musicality. One of the disc's standout cut is the benevolent rap ballad "Flow" (featuring soul newcomer/songstress Goapele). Also, check out "Sorry" and the anthemic "Rock, Rock Y'all."
CunnyLinguist is another southern group with a New York accent (much like Little Brother) who produced a buoyant rap collection rich with sharp rhyming, sampling and b-boyism that are as witty as they are sometimes world-weary. The group seems to be preoccupied with stories of cheating ex-girlfriends that plagued their lives (the downer "The Rain"). Girl trouble aside, the group tackles other topical issues like politics, war and the music industry. CunnyLinguist have established a mature sound that is blessed with honesty and creativity that will take these guys to higher and richer musical plateaus.
- Big Lists Of 2003
- Published: December 22, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Hip-hop, Music: Rap
- Writer: Trent Fitzgerald
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the Souljahz album *is* really good. They're pretty fun live, too. As a sidenote, though, "The Fault Is History" came out in mid-2002.
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Thanks Trent! excellent - much to consider and learn from.