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[ATI] Vakill, Talib Kweli/Madlib & R-Mean
Vakill
Worst Fears Confirmed
Molemen Records
As of late, it seems as though the South and the East coast have nothing better to do than beef over which region has the claim to dominance in the rap game. While already a useless discussion to begin with, those who haven’t taken sides should take some solace in the fact that neither region has done anything that remarkable in the last coupe of years-the region that has is the mid-west. With new artists popping up all over the mid-west, the windy city of Chicago has brought about impressive outings from Lupe Fiasco, Rhymefest, Kanye West, and Common during the last few, an has also spit out the less-known, yet equally talented emcee Vakill.
On his latest effort, Worst Fears Confirmed, Vakill does an impressive job continuing the Chi-town trend of spitting imaginative and creative rhymes over varied production. Vakill opens the album with the slightly dark, yet smoothing title track, making it clear that he isn’t your every day lyricist, calling out "fake mixtapes thugs" along the way. "Cold War" continues the dark tone, with an introspective about the effects of the streets, leading into the bouncy, Ras Kass-assited "Introducin", and Ras and V have no problem switching the flow to a more upbeat backing. "When Was The Last Time" and "Serpent & The Rainbow" are both imaginative and listenable over solid, yet slightly unoriginal beats. Worst Fears Confirmed also has the ability to get better as the album goes along, and Vakill shines on "The King Meets The Sickest" and "Man Into Monster", where he details the power of negative influences, and then closes out the album on the eerie "Acts Of Vengeance".
While Vakill doesn't have the most striking flow, his sharp rhymes keep him interesting throughout most of the album. While crowning him the king of Chi-town still seems unwarranted, Vakill's fans of his will definitely be happy with his offering, which is one of the years best. If you didn't know Vakill before, you're sure as hell going to want to know more about him after this listen.
Talib Kweli & Madlib
Liberation
Blacksmith Music
Talib Kweli has been one of the most consistent providers of quality music in hip-hop over the past decade, and in anticipation to his '07 release Ear Drum comes his stellar collabo EP Liberation. Along with the production prowess of Madlib comes a fine effort from the NY blacksmith, a 9-track preview of what to expect on his solo project. From the get-go, Kweli disgraces haters who have questioned his ability to stay lyrically strong, blazing along the intro with sharp rhymes that have garnered him respect throughout his career, "Sayin ni**a just to keep our teeth white, like Paul Mooney/Fightin' spiritual wars, like the shi'ites or the sunnis". The chemistry between Kweli and Madlib is as strong as Kwe's pairing with Hi-Tek, as Kweli's powerful lines run smoothly along soulful production from the veteran beat-maker. "Time Is Right" finds Kweli jumping from socially conscious rhymes to comical rhymes such as, "Still I’m bringin sexy back like Timbaland and Timberlake/Plus it don't stop till' I arrive, so I'm never late". "The Function" is a bouncy collabo with Strong Arm Steady, as Kweli shows off his aggressive side before transitioning into the Beautiful Struggle- esque "Happy Home". Liberation is free of any filler, and a smoothly flowing release from start to finish, an independent EP worth of the likely praise that will come its way. At only 9 tracks long, its hard not to long for a full-out album from these 2 after getting your ears on '07's first stellar production.
R-Mean
Broken Water
Pentagon Records
One of the freshest MC's you've never heard of is from where exactly? Yeah, R-Mean, the ARMENIAN native is bringing the game that unwatered-down music that hip-hop fans have been longing for over the past few. Based out of Cali, this underground cat is clearly not interested in wasting any time with his rhymes, as he drops ferocious, political and street conscious rhymes throughout his impressive LP, Broken Water.
It is obvious early on in the record that Broken Water isn't another ordinary hip-hop album, as R-Mean's lyrics are backed by Middle-Eastern and Reggae influenced production that comes off as an interesting take on the usual sound coming out of the West coast. R-Mean's political side comes out on the album's title cut, as his take on "the revolution" is as fresh as his quips on the following joint where he comically voices, "I'm sendin Diddy out for cheesecake, ya heard." "That Lil Girl" and "Open Wounds" are two of Broken Water's standouts, as R-Mean spits heartfelt lyrics that are sure to put a strain on the playback button, "Maybe God gives as hell to make us appreciate more the heaven we tasted before." R-Mean details the horrors of the Armenian genocide eerily well, but even when less comfortable on the high-tempo "So Mean," the Cali export displays a interchangeable flow that gives him a cross-genre appeal.
Closing in at 80 minutes, Broken Water does come off as overly long, as R-Mean's flashes of brilliance are slightly overshadowed by seemingly filler verses that make several songs feel dragged out, with many spanning more than 5 minutes in playing time. Overall, the production is consistent enough to compliment R-Mean's rhymes, and although not perfect, Broken Water serves as a fine showcase for the California talent. Who knew West coast music could be this good.
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