Music Quick Fix

Let me first say that I haven't been into much hip-hop lately, preferring the synth and bass of crazy new electronica tunes over a genre that's new players are beginning to sound just like one another. Every new artist I'm hearing sounds a lot like their peers in... a bad way. That being said, here's some thoughts on a couple hip-hop albums I have checked out:

"The Shawshank Redemption" by Bishop Lamont

I was mostly unaware of the rapper Bishop Lamont up until he, coupled with DJ Skee, released the highly flammable N*gger Noize (forgive the language, it's just what it's called) DL can be found here. Needless to say, the dude murdered every single track on that release and it got a lot of spins at the casa de mi, pero I was wanting more after the first taste of Lamont... yet he disappeared. He had been rumored to be on Dre's label, heard whispers of him being "next" in the industry etc, but nothing major ever seemed to happen.

Fast forward to this year, and the homie drops The Shawshank Redemption, a new mixtape featuring some crazy production and a new direction for the artist. While Noize was more of a fun-goofy mixed with the hardcore, Redemption feels like Bishop has changed everything. The tracks here are slower paced, the lyrics more self-reflexive and soul searching. Indeed, it seems as though this rapper has become more focused. Yet, thankfully, there's still those tracks that get me laughing out loud while I walk to class. Some notable tracks:

"Anything" - I watched Reading Rainbow every day as a kid, and this is the first time I've heard a song sample their theme. Let me just say, I was giddy when I heard it come on... then the beat dropped. Holy shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

"Affirmative Action" - Sounds like a marching beat, the weird ass vocal sample in the background is distracting at first but fades into the background of the rest of the track. Lamont kills this.

"Get My Gun" - I'm not as into guntalk, but the drop and incorporation of the piano sample are simply too good to ignore.

"I Like Yo Face Bitch" - I don't care, look at that title. Hilarious. The chorus is hilarious too.

To be fully honest, I probably prefer his older mixtape just because I'm in a place in life where goofy ass rap is what I'm looking for. Yet this album delivers fun with serious business in a way that simply cannot be ignored. Please make sure to download it.

"I'm on my tupac shit, pre 96"/10

Download Link

"Soul Like Khan" by Soul Khan

[Had album art up but it stopped working so; Front Back]

If you've been paying any attention at all to the rap battle scene in the last couple of years, you should be well aware of Grind Time Now, the youtube sensation that has picked up speed and participants like no other battle movement I've ever seen. Cue Soul Khan, the glasses-wearing white guy from NY who swam in a sea of guntalking, lying, boring ass gangsta rappers and battled his way to the top. What may have seemed like an average white appearance was immediately shattered when Khan opened his mouth and spit some of the most savage and personal battle verses I'd ever scene.

Though I was always making sure to watch his battles (some of which can be found below this review), I hadn't explored any of his music. He's a member of a NY-based group called Brownbag Allstars, yet Soul Like Khan is actually his first solo album. Khan kicks off the piece with a short introduction track titled 6:30 a.m. It knocks pretty hard, and he introduces the listener to his sound immediately. I like this choice, you know exactly whether or not you're going to dig the album right away. Of course I was on board.

Soul Like Khan is a soulful album (no pun intended. Maybe), many of the tracks finding lyrical subject matter from Khan's reality and thoughts. What this means is... well... it's a very underground album, in the truer sense then a lot of "underground" hip-hop; the flow and lyrics match up with a sound I'd compare to Mos Def, Talib, a lil Sage Francis, maybe some Slug sprinkled in? That's not to say that he sounds exactly like any of these artists, but this album fits beautifully into a record collection of those mentioned above, and for that I applaud Soul Khan.

However, I do find myself wishing there were more tracks like "Knuckle Puck" on the album (shoutouts to D2: The Mighty Ducks!); hard hitting beats, great punchlines and bars, and good chemistry with guest artists. Of course, it's silly of me to expect goofy shit on a serious piece like Soul Like Khan so it's not an entirely valid criticism.

"[Soul Khan] exhales oceans"/10