A.T.I.

KRS-One & Marley Marl
Hip-Hop Lives
Koch Records
7.5

Nas proclaimed hip-hop to be dead, and it resulted in Nasir Jones dropping arguably one of the best albums of the year in a respectable 2006. Roughly half a year later, hip-hop veteran KRS-One and legendary producer Marley Marl, formal rivals, have hooked up to paint an alternate picture regarding the state of hip-hop. Hip-Hop Lives balances underground and mainstream appeal through straightforward, yet intriguing lyricism and expectedly solid production. KRS doesn't attempt to drop anything over-the-top technically, but his ability to make un-conventional subject matter clear and relatable is a key reason for this albums' high quality. On the production end, Marley Marl abstains from rehashing the popular sounds of the mainstream, and instead, adds extra bounce and versatility to his old-school style, matching the right beats to compliment the unique flow of KRS.

The album's title track is one of it's strongest, as KRS drops passionate rhymes regarding the "eternal" nature of hip-hop culture over a layered Marl backdrop which uses subtle key loops and well-placed scratches alongside basic drum-kicks. While "Nothing New" is plagued by an annoyingly reggae-sounding chorus, "I Was There" is a clever first-person outlining of KRS' hip-hop history, with Kris questioning "where were you?" at the times of various marquee events in hip-hop. "Kill A Rapper" seems like the kind of song that should have popped off about a decade ago, as KRS questions the unresolved cases surrounding high-profile MC murders (B.I.G., Big L, etc.) with a vicious, meaningful hook, "You wanna get away with murder, kill a rapper! The investigation won't go further, kill a rapper!" Marley Marl provides a brilliantly jazz-heavy beat on the Magic Juan collabo "Musika" which uses a smooth sax sound which mixes well with the Spanish undertone of the song. Marl brings back a classic Ghostface production ("Run") on "All Skool," yet another track where the dynamic duo bridge old-school rhymes with relevant themes, "I'm not old school, or new school, I'm all skool," raps KRS.

While solid in essence, there is something lacking on Hip-Hop Lives that holds it back from true excellence, and it comes in the minor details. Whether it be Marl's reusing of two old productions (the other on "Rising to the Top") or KRS One's somewhat repetitive hooks and flow, Hip-Hop Lives is not quite the album that will resurrect 2007. But then again, its a good start.

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Montana Diary

Good review. I like your style. Nice and concise. (*clicks on imaginary "Very Helpful" tab*)

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Shyne

Good shit, I agree with this 100%. In fact it almost seems as if you took some of the things I said and used them in your review

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Rebel INS {CF}

*ignores review*

SHYNE ! U NEVER COME ON MSN ANYMORE !! wait a minute ....... neither does ATI ...... ur conspiring against me !!

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"Fighting Ignorance every day is gettin weary"
[name pending] --- The Gateway Drug --- Sometime Soon --- myspace.com/namepending08

Shyne

you know the funny thing is me and ATI talk on msn almost every single day lol

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myspace.com/vocabthemc

http://coldglassofoj.blogspot.com

Rebel INS {CF}

ok, now i know ur avoiding me ......... IM ONLINE RIGHT NOW U FUCKA !!!

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"Fighting Ignorance every day is gettin weary"
[name pending] --- The Gateway Drug --- Sometime Soon --- myspace.com/namepending08

Still A.T.I.

you may have said the whole good but not great bit first, but I was in complete agreement if you recall

Still A.T.I.

why i am not back yet, this is waCC as fuCC

Still A.T.I.

free post...

D-TEK1

lol they banned u

faggot ass mods

ILLogic

ATI'sabitch, WHAT???????

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"Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left" - Ras Kass