A Tale of Two Cities
February 25, 2009 by controversy
The Spin: Cappadonna – Slang Prostitution
Released September 30, 2008.
2009 Chambermusik Records
[rate 2.5]
When you think about Cappadonna’s lyrics and put them in context, you’re tempted to sympathize with him, to excuse the fact that he’s never carved his way into the mainstream, despite obvious indications that it’s what he’d prefer. There’s a sense of the underdog and, at the same time, the diamond in the rough in Cappadonna’s witty lyricism and tough Yankee swagger (I’m getting tired of that word. I’m soon going to think of a more pleasing alternative to it). But when you listen to him deliver those lines that expose all his vulnerability, every ounce of his soul tells you not to feel anything for him, but to be captivated by his lyrics and moved by the music. He’s not pulling any punches and he doesn’t expect you to be there if he slips up. So when he titles his album, “Slang Prostitution,” make no mistake, his words may be for sale, but his pride and integrity aren’t going anywhere.
Historically, Cappadonna’s been in and out of The Wu-Tang Clan, and in and out of the New York hip-hop consciousness. He even took a few months on hiatus as a cabdriver before re-finding Jesus, as it were, and getting back into the scene. As an emcee that’s always commanded utmost respect from hip-hop heads within and outside of Gotham, he’s had a painstakingly difficult time trying to get beats that his constituency can move to, despite such a close relationship with one of the all-time great and most-respected beat makers. The trend isn’t over, unfortunately.
Image courtesy of http://www.rollingstone.com
The lyrics throughout the album give you this pervasive sense that no matter what his circumstances, he always has a puncher’s chance. He comes with all the confidence in his delivery of a rapper that’s holding Billboard’s ownership at bay. The album starts with him declaring, “You can’t keep a good man down/I been through it all/ Slept on the ground/ Even my best friend turned they back/ And my label made brothers wasn’t cuttin’ me no slack.”
In “Walk With Me,” Cappadonna breaks his tough guy persona to reach out to a special female human person being. While there’s enough re-tread corniness here to make you yawn at the lyrics, the beat stands out on the track and overall, it’s the kind of catchy track that generally eludes Cap.
“Stories” is the type of minimalistic grimy track that sees Cappadonna at his most comfortable and the outcome is an authentic street jam that’s infectious. It seems that his lyricism does in fact infect, as JoJo Pellegrino’s and 3rd Diglah’s vocals here are superior to those of most of the features on the album. “What’s Really Up?” is a track with a similar feel and similar excellence, as Cappadonna recalls the type of adversity he’s faced in his New York Experience over an old soulful loop and heavy drums.
Staying with the dark, grimy mood that mostly pervades this album, “Somebody’s Gotta Go” addresses some of the more brutal realities of gangsterism. Again, Cappadonna’s lyrics deliver with cogency,poignancy, and wit, with Lounge Lo contributing solid vocals, as well.
There’s a soulfulness to many of the beats on this album, epitomized by “Fire.” Where Cappadonna, with the assistance of Masta Killa, describes what he brings to the table.
Image courtesy of http://www.rollingstone.com
Overall, this album manages to excel and fail equally, to mass frustration. No one doubts Cappadonna’s deft lyricism, but musically, this album, like his albums of the past, is hit and miss, only that he’s gotten stuck in a style that feels fairly archaic, this side of The Big Apple. Anyone who’s followed Cappadonna or Wu-Tang at all, realizes that Cappadonna has excellent albums in him just waiting to be brought to light. Unfortunately, until someone else starts picking out beats for him or he has a revelation, we’re left to listen to excellent rhyming over beats that never did much for us, but do even little now. The album, sadly, gets two and a half stars.
