While everyone is debating whether or not hip-hop is dead, there are still a few emcees trying to prove she is not. One crew that proves hip-hop is very much alive is also one of the originators of positive hip-hop. Hold your head as we return from the east black wards with X-Clan!
Their new album, Return From Mecca, is a welcome change from one of the most respected and conscious hip-hop groups ever. We are talking about the same group that was responsible for classic hip-hop albums like To The East Blackwards, and more importantly, introducing a new political message in music. The Blackwatch Movement was bigger than hip-hop and many emcees found comfort and creative freedom within it.
Professor X literally dropped science on you in the first 30 seconds of each track, with his patented “Ahhhh… this is protected by the red, the black, and the green… with a key! Sissseeee”. The beats would hit you on some P-Funk, Bomb Squad, futuristic hip-hop, drawing comparisons to the sound of Public Enemy, X-Clan’s message hit hard as hell out the Alpines and Kenwoods. If you had a booming system and loved hip-hop you had to have "Funkin’ Lesson" in your trunk. X-Clan introduced a new style of hip-hop that would have a timeless impact. Brother J was holding it down at the frontline of X-Clan and is now the last remaining original member of the group. He brings in new soldiers to X-Clan and continues the movement with this new CD. Ultraman Ra Hanna, ACL, DJ FatJack, Kumu M. Haynes and Master China are the newly assembled X-Clan and Return From Mecca is a instant classic album. Long live real hip-hop music. Here’s the rundown.
X-Clan – Return from Mecca - Suburban Noize Records 
1. "X-Clan Album Intro" – The flight jumps off with African drums lighting up the background as the introduction to Return From Mecca sets the tone.
2. "Aragorn" – J takes it to Spain with this one. I believe he might have been more inspired by the movie of the same name than the spanish region. Regardless the track is a nice opener to the album.
3. "Voodoo" feat. RBX and Quazedelic – RBX steps in with the Professor X styled intro, as Brother J and Quazedelic flip verses and hooks on this slick track. Too black, too strong!
Article comments