Sharkey & C Rayz Walz are... MONSTER MAKER
Monday, November 26, 2007
Grade: A
If the cliche "Hip-Hop is dead" is true, then I have recently encountered it's angry, haunting spirit. If you've ever heard of the emcee known as C-Rayz Walz, then you're already familiar with his unpredictable, in-your-face and abstract style of linguistic wizardry. Sharkey on the other hand, for fundamental Hip-Hop fans such as myself, has come virtually out of nowhere, but immediately worked his way into the ranks of experimentally trail blazing producers such as Daybre, RJD2 and El-P, (the latter coincidentally also share Definitive Jux affiliation with C-Rayz).
But don't sleep, this album is far more than your typical underground Hip-Hop demonstration. It's more of an orgy of Hip-Hop, Punk, Funk, Rock, Acid-Jazz and Drum-n-Bass being narrated by a schizophrenic slam poet.
Upon my first listen, I had the slimmest idea of what was in store. Immediately following the strange, yet intriguing intro, came this explosion of instrumental emotion called 'This Ol' Twisted World'. Picture U2, meets DJ Shadow, meets Captain Kirk, on dust. The end of the song features various people in various languages saying "this world is a monster maker". Then BAM!!! My personal favorite on the disc, 'My Way' comes in with this incredible marching drum beat, electronic blips trickling down with vocal chants, ooh's and aah's lacing it's thumping pulse. At this point, I was already convinced that this was going to be a great listen.
Sharkey is not afraid of finding new grooves, directions and possibly new genre's to explore and create. I come across a ton of music and it's rare that I find something that makes me say "I've never heard anything like this before". Sometimes an exaggerated display electric instrumental-ism, sometimes just drum programming at it's finest, his style of producing is, in my humble opinion, pure genius.
Even their version of Eddy Grant's 1983 smash hit 'Electric Avenue' was tastefully recreated and delivered with C-Rayz giving a brief 8 bar verse, but repeatedly chanting the original chorus with gusto.
With the previously mentioned standout 'My Way' and others like 'Loss of Niche' and 'The Moment Before Crazy', Sharkey's mesh of styles and C-Rayz Walz's energetic and creative lyrics combine to make a roller coaster ride of rhythmic, exciting, sci-fi drama.
This album = next level... and personally, I think they've created a monster.
Peep the Monster Maker (reality show?) Preview
- Arablak
Labels: AlbumReviews
posted by Arablak @ 5:01 AM,
