reviewsitoj

Hip-Hop Reviews - I to J

Please note that the reviews are ordered by Artist first name..

All reviews are opinion, a guide only. Some are short and to the point, others go into more depth. No real reason why other than when the reviews were written! For other fantastic reviews, check out trailblazinministries.com, sphereofhiphop.com, gospelflava.com, hiphopforthesoul.com and jydist.com. Cross Rhythms has some good reviews too, although limited in content.

Please note if you see any of these reviews elsewhere, it is because I have done the reviews for others. These reviews are mostly for Cross Rhythms, although they edit the reviews. The reviews on these pages are my full reviews.

Ill Harmonics - Monkey Business | TOP

Ill Harmonics deliver another jazzy, funky, uptempo and funny album. I love these guys, they always bring such a distinctive sound and flava, it's infectious! Lots of varied and swinging jazzy basslines, stabs, guitars and piano licks, laced with catchy hooks and the unique flowing tones of Playdough. What Playdough brings is a real presence on the mic, a delivery that brings different tones and vocal effects. I have to say that production really enhances the sounds of Ill Harmonics - bringing different flavas of EQ and effects. Beats are smooth, rolling and deeply uncomplicated (if that makes sense). We start with 2 fun tracks, scored with real points to make - 'Everybody Up' and 'Banana Republic.' Then to the crowd pumping, 'Bows and Fists'. We hear about the funkiest, ill, tight sound of Ill Harmonics in 'Illustrious'. A typical Ill sounding song comes with their lead single, 'Monkey Business'. All the elements are there to make this another catchy classic, pointing an amusing and insightful look at making it in the business. I like, 'Unique' as it brings a slightly different flavour, with a more old skool and grimey beat, very dope. 'Mucho' is a look at having loads of money and what it means. In 'Few Do' we have more of a 'big band' sound, with brass stabs adding to the jazz guitar, kinda reminds me of an underground cabaret club! Another tune that gets stuck in your head. 'Contagious' adds to the catchy vibe of this project, utilising what sounds like an accordian - very Parisian! In 'Trendsetter' we have a changed up style of beat with a heavy bassline taking the lead in the track, until the great hook - looking at trendsetter and those that follow, 'you can be yourself, so don't get sucked in..' In 'Quit My Job' we have a track about, er.. Finally muted trumpet, brass, jazz guitars creating a fiesta-type sound, underly 'Cover Charge', featuring Sivion from DS5. Monkey Business ends as it starts, themed around a kids TV show - which one I don't know. Solid project, but where have Ill Harmonics gone..

Ill Harmonics - Take Two | TOP

The Ill Harmonics style has been called acoustic rap. I like to think of their style as a bit more than this. Playdough drops some awesome lyrics and flow on this as ever. I mean that in a good way! The album starts off with the lead track, 'Take Two' which features a jazzy guitar riff over a head nodding beat - a vibe carried over to 'The Crowd Is Standing' a joint guaranteed to work live - as they prove with the live version at the end of the album. Think a funky scratched up jazzy Black Eyed Peas / Summertime vibe, brilliant stuff. This jazz guitar lick carried over into 'What We Do' later in the album. Bowtie Jerks serves up an old skool break under heavy kick and snare (a beautifully crafted and common technique on the album), while playdough and blake knight rhyme about an all-too common experience of girls passing guys by even when they're dressed to the nines. 'She's just passin me by, Jesus, please just answer me why..' Track 8 'Destiny' tells us that 'what is meant to be is meant to be' over Spanish flamenco and then heavy guitaring. The lyrics recount how they were pitched in to being an emcee ministry and remind us that '..when it's done it ain't about how fresh or how ill but what you do with the calling and the gift instilled..' Mr. Chris T. Ian includes a testimony style cypher about God's work in an MC's life, and is a deep challenging track to all the hypocrites and pharisees in the church, judging people on appearances not loving people with God's love. 'Cats Like These' starts with a sample that can't help reminding me of 'We're all going on a summer holiday' by Cliff Richard! Ha, sorry! Great album with some tuneful hooks and lots of overlaid vocal rhyming and harmonics. Ill. Run Time: 53.52.

John Reuben - (Sees Everything In) Hindsight | TOP

John Reuben is very much on the commercial side of hip hop - rather than some of the underground crews - but should be respected. I liken him to KJ-52 in terms of style and delivery, and in the fact that both get their fair share of disrespect in the scene. His lyrics are often amusing (if you get a chance, watch the video of 'Move' off his latest album 'Professional Rapper' for an example). In the opening Hindsight track, 'I'll try harder' there's a slight aside to those rappers who disrespect his style. In 'I John Reu' (a real catchy track) he promises to keep his music innovative and reflects on learning from past mistakes. Hindsight is another tight track. There are musical breaks like 'Soundman' - an ode to sound men and other musical fun! Highly commercial tracks aplenty stand out like 'Doin' and 'Pataskala'. Production under Todd Collins is as ever consistently, exceptionally high. Run Time - 49.40.

John Reuben – ‘The Boy Vs The Cynic’ | TOP

Overall, this album is mostly rap-rock-song crossover. It's political, creative, self-reflective and honest. At times this album skates around the melancholy and by by the end of the album you can feel a little deflated - not just a choice of song order, more the overall tone (in contrast to say KJ-52 for example). If you're expecting the usual John Reuben fun and goofing, then this album will be a pleasant surprise. Up first is “Out Of Control”, which is a catchy and lively rapcore crossover track, 'it feels good to be outa control'. Next up is “Nuisance” which sees John Reuben bringing very honest delivery on the verses, with Matthew Thiessen of Relient K kickin in with a light and airy guitar-based chorus. In “Chapter 1” John Reuben narrates insights into life, over instrumental vibes, until a rolling beat kicks in. “Follow Your Leader” is a politicised track that urges people to know the truth before they follow politicians and leaders blindly, warning of predators all around. “Sales Pitch” reminds us that “everyone’s got an agenda”, with even the sacred turned dishonest - a creative backing track and drum patterns. ‘Sunshine’ has an uplifting backing track, with an almost 60s-70s feel at times! “So Glad” is a bit of a party track with a funky backing, encouraging people to get the most out of life, with a near Jamiroquai vibe. “ What About Them” is another political song, a call to religious and prosperous America not to forget the native people. “There’s Only Forgiveness” is a call to forgiveness - from hate, bitterness and revenge - a great sentiment that this world needs to lay hold of. “All I Have” is a tuneful acoustic-rock based song, “All I have is what God gives.” In “Co-operate” John Reuben challenges people to grow up, be responsible, lose the costume and co-operate with the system. This seems to be a dig at older guys who feel the need to dress 'hip-hop'. A challenge. “The Boy Vs The Cynic” ends the album with an introspective look at himself when he “used to be you before you became me” with a near U2 feel and sound to the hook. Overall, a deep and thought-provoking album. Run Time - 42.56.

John Reuben – ‘Word Of Mouth’ | TOP

John Reuben with yet another great, albeit short, mix of hip-hop styles and storytelling John Reuben continues his eclectic, almost psychedelic hip-hop crossover journey, with yet another thought provoking and excellent album of storytelling. In truth, John Reuben is quietly carving out a real niche. The album gets off to a much more lively start than his introspective previous album, favouring big beats and breaks, more up-tempo than most hip-hop. “Sing It Like You Mean It” starts things off with a funky, almost Tribe-esque beat. As ever, John Reuben addresses a number of social issues. In “Trying Too Hard” John Reuben challenges people who become too cool and try to hard. In “Make Money Money” under a country guitar riff, we take a look at money making and the psychology of rap entrepreneurship and social agendas where, ‘where.. the rap game is a sport of psychology. Underdogs go where they find opportunity while spoiled children romanticise poverty.” There is more than one track that is almost anthemic, verging on a trip-hop break with a big sound, such as the excellent “Focus”, “Universal” and another standout track, “Cool The Underdog.” We journey through some catchy songs, “Word of Mouth” with a challenge, ‘Are you content like me?’ through to near lounge hip-hop such as the pulsating bass driven, “Miserable Exaggeration”. To finalise the great range of tracks on the album, we end with “Good Evening” which has a live groovy feel and touch of the Fatboy Slim about it. With many guest musicians and quality production from Gotee, this is John Reuben at his finest. My big disappointment is the short length of the album. Run Time - 36.14.

JustMe – ‘One Man’s Trash’ | TOP

JustMe brings underground rollers and underground beats with insight and quality across a very underground album. One theme that is very evident production-wise on 'One Mans Trash' is that of big sounds broken down and cut up into minimal beats. Many tracks fire up with some soundscapes, which then break down for the verses and re-build on the hooks. A distinctive and not unwelcome trait which really works. Lyrically, we find JustMe with his distinctive rhymes and voice also dropping some punchy sung vocal hooks, with deft lyrical rhymes about life and music industry experiences. We kick off with the excellent, “The Song” – ‘I can only be who I’m created to be’, with JustMe on the hook, underpinned by a big sound, while on the verses he cleverly rides a looped rhodes sound and break. “Favorite Rapper” mixes a nice intro with amusing and insightful lyrics with a fan’s blind loyalty to an MC. There is a standout, “Low Budget” with its crunchy snare, where JustMe raps and sings on the hook about being a rapper on a low budget, where nevertheless, ‘quality is found in the beat and the flow’. The album also mixes in his life insights. In “To The Toppers” we find JustMe feeling misunderstood in his struggles by others who give him little sympathy, but all seem to have greater struggles, ‘cos your life sucks way more than mine does.’ On this personal theme, “Latenight Lullaby” is a forthright and honest look at his own struggles and dreams of his won fatherhood, looking to Jesus. This is raw stuff as he fights tired emotions. But JustMe also mixes in humour, ‘If I ever embarrass you in front of your friends, just let me know so I can do it again.’ We take a look at life’s shallow dreams, with some outstanding rhyme schemes in “Shallow Dreams” where we also learn that JustMe is 'glad he has the Lamb on his team.' Amen. Two interesting metaphorical tracks include, 'Let Go" in which JustMe likens getting on a bus with so much luggage that he can't let go of, that the driver has to leave. Spiritually speaking this resembles the fact that he's just missed the bus to paradise. Then we have “Talk A Good Game” which almost likens a baseball game to work on the mic. Other standouts include “Louder Days” with a lazy lounge-style catchy sax riff, “All Works Together” (for the good of those who love the Lord) with a Big Rec sample on the hook (from Big Rec's album, 'Chronicles') and the fantastic “Mic It” to end, with some freestyle thrown in for more than good measure. Quality. Run Time - 57.04.

J Weathers – ‘For The Kingdom’ | TOP

J Weathers delivers a fairly unique album with highly tuneful, thoughtful gospel rap. “For the Kingdom” sets the tone for the album as J Weather makes it clear he is here to preach Christ and do this for the kingdom (of God), over a pulsating bass and tuneful keyboard sounds and melodies. This is a unique album in which J Weathers programmes some excellent, highly varied, tuneful and complex patterns - as in the catchy and Father God-focused, “My Daddy”. We also have minimalist tracks such as “Don’t Stop” as J Weather challenges us, ‘how many Christians would rather have God than silver and gold?’ affirming that he traded pipe dreams for spiritual wings. We find a similar minimalist edge in “All Of The Above”. There are elements of reggae, as in another standout track with haunting vocal hook, “My G-O-D”.  We find jazzy elements in “Gospel Glide” as J Weathers takes us on some very smooth hip-hop slide. Another downtempo jazzy track is “So Sweet” is an encouraging track to keep your head up and know God’s love and forgiveness. There are a couple of thought-provoking almost hip-hop worship songs such as “New Beginnings”, “I Love You Back” and “Ready To Fly”. As we end with another anthemic track, “Holy Hands” we’re encouraged to wave holy hands, glorify God and party for God, holding to God’s standards. My 2 main areas for improvement would bve firstly that many tracks are simply too busy musically, and secondly there appears to be a number of similar keyboard sounds. However, what is done with the arrangements is fantastic and this is encouraging gospel rap that builds through the album. Run Time - 57.04.