MUSIC REVIEW :: Hip Hop 101, Various Artists

SCHOOL IS NOW IN SESSION
Although comprised essentially with unknown and up-and-coming artists, executive producers De La Soul are poised to school the rap community on the fundamentals with Hip Hop 101, the first compilation released by Tommy Boy Black Label. The year old rap imprint has assembled some of the newest and most innovative MCs and producers on 101, resulting in a catalog that is high in concept, broad in scope and true to the art form.

The styles displayed on this release are eccentric to say the least, and it seems as if De La Soul were sleeping on the production process of 101. The album sounds pieced together without any connection or overarching theme which makes the overall feel of the album inharmonious. But then, it's not a mix tape, and the individual tracks presented here have their roots firmly planted in the soil of hip-hop's underground.

101 is 14-tracks deep, each featuring an artist with their own distinctive rap styling and flow, backed with original, head-banging instrumentals. Whether it's a rookie, such as the opener with Self Scientific ("Best Part"), to veteran hip-hop heads like De La Soul ("So Good," featuring Camp Lo), the intelligent lyrics and accomplished production is evident on each track.

The surprise standout among the many stellar songs is "Pockets," a story told by Medina Green, who, on this particular day, is having a conscience battle with his right and left jean pockets. Both pockets have a distinct personality that raps and sings on the track, which puts an entirely new and humorous outlook on the question of how to fill your pockets.

With no big name artists, flashy album covers or overplayed singles, Hip Hop 101 is Tommy Boy's valiant attempt at bringing the underground to the mainstream. This offer has strong individual tracks, skilled MCs rapping over fresh beats and no unnecessary intros, skits or fillers. It's straight to the point, and the lessons taught on 101 are clear: round-up some talented rappers with something to say (other than how much money they've got) and get a DJ and a beat going, and you've got yourself hip-hop in it's purest form.

It would be wise to consider giving this album a listen. If not, it may result in detention.

MUSIC REVIEW :: Screwball, Y2K

SCREWBALL'S DEBUT RELEASE IS Y2K COMPATIBLE
The saying goes, "You can't judge a book by it's cover." Apparently, this cliché also applies to album covers as well. With a torn and bloody baseball corkscrewed with a threaded flathead as their logo, the most trite expression in the new millennium as their album title and the group themselves posed wearing bright colors but attempting to look hard, rappers KL, Hostyle, Poet and Kyron already have their work cut out for them.

That is why it is likely their debut release from Tommy Boy will be passed in the aisles of music stores this summer for rap albums of a lesser caliber. But the Queensbridge (NY) quartet of Screwball defy the odds with their sleeper hit Y2K.

Not adding anything new to the mix that hasn't already been overdone by other artists, Screwball's standout quality is not their lyrical content, nor the individual skills of the artists, but the production and atmosphere of this release as a whole. Screwball incorporates their distinct NY style and flavor, and while they are not as hot as Mobb Deep, they blow fellow QB rappers Capone -n- Noreaga out of the water.

Screwball puts rappers in their place over another DJ Premier gem on "F.A.Y.B.A.N."; prepares the masses for warfare on the eerie title track; drops some classic hip-hop over Biz Markie's beat making abilities on "Biz Interlude"; spits venomous verses on the anthem, "H-O-S-T-Y-L-E," and asks the cowards "Who Shot Rudy?"

Y2K is surprisingly tight for a virtually unknown group, and Screwball's underground status makes them aggressive for mainstream acceptance. This may be why their lyrical content is so narrowly focused, however, the foursome exude a lot of energy and the album's positives far outweigh the negatives.

HIP HOP LYRICS :: 03.13.05

JUST ME VENTING

Still my own worst enemy

seems everyone’s ahead’a me

the dilemma be, this energy

could be used to better me —

Than get the better of me

everything is lovely

above me, the love he

gives, lives & IS

what drug me

to see what IS

this funny

feelin’? the meanin’? to be

a human bein’?

to be,

or not to be?

I’m not who you thought I’d be

I forgot that I’ve got I.D.

just in case St. Peter’s cardin’

to get in

Eden’s Garden

it’s a V.I.P. affair

aware there

may be a charge when

I enter, my center

has been sent back to sender

with postage partially paid

and partially due

this is partially made, up

and partially true

the part where we knew

that things fall apart start anew

a few

times broken, my heart is

a few

rhymes spoken, the artist

formally known as

normally home alone has

it’s advantages

but the disadvantages?

the present’s a gift, like Santa gives

So enjoy, before it vanishes

look at life like your grandma is

time to unwrap those bandages

that expose roads & manages

to find shortcuts

but It’s just warm-ups

to paths less traveled

on behalf of halves baffled

why your glass is best half-filled

so drink it

I think it’s

better than at a stand still

the clock’s hands will

span ‘til man’s through

& threw into a human landfill

HIP HOP LYRICS :: Reverberation

*SPOILER ALERT* Anti-Bush

Sometimes my mind wanders

And I ponder why I squander

So much time

To clutch dimes

And bust rhymes

Of a fonder

Space and time

To replace this grime

This chase to find

grace

is a waste of time

Just fine, must grind

Don’t stray behind

A culture that’s blind

Confined

To what’s been designed

Minds aligned with the media

Let corporations get seedier

While the Bush’s get greedier

The needy get needier -

Images on tape

Escaped

To feed multimedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

White, black to Hispanica

Across the Atlantic ‘ta

Make a splash like Titanic

Gigantic when we’re united

Every one is invited

Reunited as one

None

culturally divided

Ignite when I write it

Incite and excited

They fight to indict us

But the light is inside us

Our might is the brightest

So let our conscious’s guide us

And the trust will provide us

A rush that’s just

Just in spite us

Such a touch is like Midas

And quite the burdon to carry

It’s absurd whose preferred

W. Bush

and not Kerry

Our future is scary

Contrary to what you might hear

So it’s time to fight fear

Right here

Right now my sight’s clear

Against this conservative’s

nerve to give

Reserves with kids

And those who protect and serve

without the respect

they deserve

Observed and objective?

The media serves his perspective

His claims of protection

Used fear to win the election

The Bush resurrection

Will be met with contention

To reject his selection

And suspect his intentions

And directions

And connections

To false U.N. inspections

Dissection of his defection

Is reflection of my objection

To flubbed actions

Snubbed factions

Soldiers missing like

Subtraction

The remainder

have disdain ‘fer

using us for his gain

But the blame is our own

For his reign not overthrown

An overblown

overgrown

Man-child claims his throne

So lets atone to storm the palace

And throw stones until we’re calloused

And reclaim the natural balance

That the republicans stole with malice