Shyne

Sons of Liberty
Life Sentences
Independant


Debut album from the group Sons of Liberty, held down on most of the album by Vocab (HHBoard’s Shyne) and rhyme partner, Sticky.

1. We Cant Get With That 08

Classic light-hearted east-coast feel to the album opener, which serves as a laid-back canvas for SOL to deliver potent introductory bars, “I’m from the D.M.I., so don’t question my credentials, I’ve got the potential to murder any instrumental/ They tell me I can blow, ‘cause my lyrics are ready, but dumb down the flow, it’s too syllable-heavy’”, spits Vocab.

2. D.M.I.

A grim tone quickly sets in on this ode to the DMI, stylistically reminiscent of Eminem’s work on 8 Mile. Vocab and Sticky detail the struggles of living through less-than-prosperous situations, but their competent verses are hampered by a mediocre chorus.

3. Let The Pen Slide (I Wish)

The somber mood of the album is continued on this slowed-down, intricate number, where the introspective nature of the lyrics is complimented by the dramatic keys and flute arrangement (sample lyrics: “Is it wrong that I feel hopeless and my future is hollow, ‘cause I’m still using yesterday as a blueprint for tomorrow?”)

4. Close Your Eyes

The reflective raps are unfortunately met by a gratingly off-key sample that detracts from a standout opening verse (“Bear my soul when I rap and react to the pain/ Use it to escape reality, start livin’ in my vision, but the place I escape to is so much more twisted”).

5. Through Your Eyes

Working off the song title, each emcee attempts to mesh the other’s style with that of their own. Sticky’s free-flowing verse contrasts the purposeful syntax of Vocab, but the simplistic, throwback piano arrangement is the real standout.

6. Obama '08

The earnest tribute to the now-current President-elect of the United States is an insightful combination of cynicism and hope that perfectly represents the political dichotomy felt by the majority of a nation. A brilliant piano loop compliments the strings-heavy arrangement that serves as the soundscape to one of the album’s finest moments.

7. Underground King

The up-tempo horns are an obvious break from the flow of the album’s production, and this overly-busy joint feels very out of place, despite Vocab’s notable attempt to flip his flow in order to catch the fast-moving beat.

8. S.O.L. Music

This larger posse cut works around an effectively-creepy sample (courtesy of Stoupe of Jedi Mind Tricks), but the raps lack certain vocal inflections necessary to really carry through the foggy, melancholy ambiance.

9. Addiction (Can You Remember The Rain?)

The clear-cut artistic highlight of the album, “Addiction” serves as the album’s most effective three-and-a-half minutes. Lyrically, the duo of Sticky and Vocab deliver a split-screen detail of the colliding lives of a drug dealer and abuser. Nowhere else is the chemistry of the group more evident, and the melodic, sobering strings arrangement is a stroke of production mastery (production provided by Tom Chambers).

10. Im Not The One

You get the idea that some of these songs would feel right at home on an underground-influenced Aftermath project. In any case, Vocab, with his rhyme tricks, serves as the Eminem to his less intense rhyming partner.

11. People In This World

Featuring a subdued backdrop and covering serious thematic ground, “People In This World” finds S.O.L. firmly planted in their comfort zone of introspection and insight.

12. Stay Gutta

This song brings to the forefront an over-arching critique of the album. Outside of the niche S.O.L. creates, which for the most part is a mix of everyman raps and subtly atmospheric production, the group is stylistically vulnerable to misstep. The southern street-feel of “Stay Gutta” simply fails to blend amongst vocal samples and piano loops, despite the more-than-competent verses.

13. Back To Back

A welcome change from the standard verse-hook-verse structure allows for the group to flex its collective rap muscle.

14. Left Below

The concept here works off an apocalyptic-theme, and Sticky delivers a simplistic, yet potent closing verse that stands out from the somewhat cliché sound of the record (“If I were sent to hell, and left to fry, and the devil was the only one to hear my cries/ I’d be petrified, thinking why, every time I lied, every time I stole, now my sins tattooed to my soul”).

15. Original Sin

The pseudo-religious content is continued here, where the backdrop consists of a skewed sample hook and forbearing piano loops. Vocab plays the part of the contentious reflector against Sticky’s personification of the “original sin.”

16. Seed

On “Seed,” Sticky serves as the more experienced father, calming the anxiety of the soon-to-be parent, Vocab. The honest self-reflection (“what if I have to raise my prince like a pauper?”) is a rare source of genuinely positive sentimentality on the album. The Coldplay-esque backdrop crashes into the chorus to provide an excellent blend of instrumentation that expands past the niche sound of the LP.

17. Victory Lap

The perfect closing to the album kicks off where the intro left off, building off an old-school, east-coast influence, celebratory jazzy horns in toe. Vocab kicks kudos to some of the hip-hop greats, and Sticky concisely sums up the origins of his hip-hop start (“Victory lap, I never thought it’d taste so sweet, I started rapping with my homies in these cold streets/ We pounded on tables and used our mouths to make the beat, freestylin’, everybody soundin’ so unique”).

The Verdict:

Quite simply a commendable achievement by a group of unsigned emcees. The constant drive to transcend the common perceptions of the modern-day indie act results in a project easily comparable to the slew of higher-quality rap albums released this year. S.O.L. has found its sonic and conceptual footing, and it is merely some rookie missteps that divide Life Sentences from complete excellence.

couple comments:

-lengthy review, but I figured this would contrast INS' review, and I took 5-10 min every day reviewing a few tracks on Shyne's request, no big deal, I already had this done by the release.
-Blue highlight indicates best tracks
-I know some people will read this, if you're not interested, just peep the music and move on






Ive provided 3 links to download in the hopes that everyone will be able to check it out with little to no problems

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