Showing posts with label Political Rap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political Rap. Show all posts

Thursday 28 September 2023

Paris "Guerilla Funk" (1994)

 

Discovering the likes of Paris years back, left me wondering why this talented rappers career never took off. Guerilla Funk highlights what I didn't hear back then. The similarities to Rakim and Public Enemy where of the time, as is this records parallels to the currently emerging G-Funk sound. Gurerilla Funk can be distilled to aesthetic and musical blueprint of Doggystyle, paired with the lyrical aggression of Ice Cube. Bordering plagiarism, Paris picks up all defining characteristics of the style. Cadence and flow runs in step with topicality and phrases, emulating the sound so well it emphasis its tropes and cliches. He is clearly all to keen to step into others sound.

I don't take issue with that but it highlights an issue. Whenever Paris tries to step off this trendy sound's topics, his politically charged rhymes stand in disparity. In retrospection, I see how he didn't exactly define himself among the crowd first time of asking. Two records later, this dramatic shift in tone leaves his own expressions weak, without a definitive style to embrace. Almost every track and flow emulates others.

Critiques aside, Paris is a competent performer, a pleasure to listen too and a talent. Perhaps one lacking his own flavor. Despite its lack of originality, if your into this era the production team put together cuts to compete with the classics. Outta My Life catches an ear for its instrumental, akin to Life's A Bitch on Illmatic but given that dropped months earlier, can't help but feel its a lift. Anyways, point made, a good spin if your into 90s Hip Hop and the G-Funk sound Dr. Dre and Snoop pioneered.

Rating: 5/10

Sunday 7 July 2019

Slowthai "Nothing Great About Britain" (2019)


This debut album by up and coming Grime rapper Slowthai sets a candid tone from the offset with its "Nothing Great About Britain" title. Its a striking statement reflecting the albums mood and grim outlook on the failed estates of England's working class. With a sharp talent for the mic, a unique vocal inflections on pronunciation and a fine set of instrumentals this makes for a riotous listen. Despite the lingering gritty gloom of his pessimistic perspective, the tales and story's of urban life trapped on this island are captivating and elevated by the energy he packs. Sturdy rhyme skills, boisterous presence and ripe youthful vitality, Slowthai can be playful and cheeky at times with no shortage of attitude but beneath it all lies thoughtful expressions that offers a lot to think on for the challenges of the youth in this country today.

Socially and politically aware, Tyron tackles the hardest of topics including mental health, poverty and drug abuse with a raw and unapologetic attitude to make light of itself in the haze of his exuberant liveliness. Hailing from Northampton he embraces his identity and heritage without pride but an authenticity that is a firm fit for the Grime sound. Going through all the temperaments he can take this sound to measured places. Doorman has a fantastic Punk energy to match his accent drenched singing, it flows between typically styled Grime beats, influenced by the likes of early Dizzee Rascal. In other tracks like Gorgous, Crack and Toaster, he slips into more soulful and reflective flow, showing a sensitive, appreciative side to himself too. The last three songs dive deeper into the dark and the album packs an absolute banger with Inglorious, featuring Skepta who delivers a veterans rap. Its a wild song, a big booming baseline with heavy lyrics cruising over the crusing beat.

Eleven tracks at thirty two minutes, the young artist makes an autobiographical arrival with a curated experience seeking quality over content. Luring you in with lively instrumentals you'll stay for the authenticity. Slowthai is a big persona, animating himself vividly with clever lyricism and the occasional implementation of his unique high pitched vocal slur. At times his words do fall to folly, taking aims at the royals with little said on why for example. He is at his best when giving personal tales and thoughts of which there are plenty. If he grows as an artist he could go on to do great things. This debut is not without its flaws but it shows his spark effortlessly.

Favorite Tracks: Doorman, Inglorious, Northampton's Child
Rating: 8/10

Thursday 13 December 2018

Paris "The Devil Made Me Do It" (1990)


Thanks to a fantastic documentary series on Netflix I got to learn about regional scenes that rarely make it to the forefront of Hip Hop discussion. Learning about the the bay area of San Fransisco, militant rapper Paris caught my ear with his uncanny resemblance to rap god Rakim. Given the year of its release, this makes perfect sense. Despite a lack of originality in tone and flow he makes his distinction with fiery, statement driven, political and pro-Islam rap. Its to the tune of Public Enemy and Lakim Shabazz, who's Pure Righteousness is sampled in the opening Scarface Groove song. The name dropping is relevant, Paris wears his influences on his sleeve as an amalgamation of key artists of this era. This extends to the production too, the beats present a firm flavor of Bomb Squad meets Eric B, with James Brown samples too. The sound essentially fits in a year behind contemporaries however this may be my prior knowledge not allowing Paris to slip into the correct spot in history. Then again, this is a really overlooked and forgotten record. Its only had a handful of re-pressings and is difficult to get a physical copy of.

Historical pickings aside, this is a strong record. He may have that firm and steady flow defined by Rakim but he executes it with attitude and flair for stringing coherent and tricky rhymes schemes others would stumble over. Its creative too, taking on a variety of flows and experimenting with reverb and rhymes split over multiple takes. It gives the record interesting creative tangents between the tried and tested formula. Lyrically its very socially conscious and pro-black political, taking on police brutality and systemic racism with an unapologetic militant approach. Short story telling interludes like Warning and The Hate That Hate Made flavor the songs with rich backstory as a couple of tracks step of the gas with braggadocio and other subject matter. Its the black nationalism that grabs the attention and if you agree with his perspectives or not, hes certainly a talent getting his view across.

A younger me would of lapped this up back in my 90s Hip Hop binge days. Now the style is so explored in my mind its hard for the beats to make much of an impact. One can't help but notice these gorgeous synth baselines though, the sort you might hear in Industrial music. That and DJ Mad Mike's love of scratching and sampling creates jarring instrumentals that pair beats and sources rigidly. The result aesthetic is it own and a clear vision for variety is forged as many cuts and variations make it onto the album, keeping its flow exciting alongside the shifting themes of Paris. The title track gets a shout for being a killer tune. A prime example of the records strengths in full cohesion. The beat is dark, gritty and bombastic, Its synth sampling takes on vibes not often heard in Hip Hop. This record isn't trying to charm you with smooth slick Jazz sounds, bar Mellow Madness, or overt grooves. It creates a crowded atmosphere built on punchy, snapy sounds that amount to sometinhg it can call its own, even if the building blocks are in plain sight.


Favorite Tracks: Scarface Groove, Brutal, On The Prowl, The Devil Made Me Do It, Mellow Madness
Rating: 7/10