Passports

The Spin: Javs – Passports
Released n/a
2009 n/a
[rate 4.5]

Javs is a little-known up-and-coming producer/rapper based out of Southern California and Australia. It’s like he can’t make up his mind about anything. But we thank him for that, as, for some reason or another, it all results in rather dope musical recordings. In a time that sees hip-hop transitioning seemingly toward more electro sounds and party lyrics, Javs provides well-arranged soul samples and lethal drum patterns as his backdrop for socially conscious content.

The album begins with an intro laced with sped-up vocal samples, a more prominent production style on the east coast, but effective here, nonetheless. His vocals chime in, as he tells us of the struggles it took to get him to where he’s at now.

Javs’ voice cuts through the track on “Storm Riders,” thanks to the caliber of delivery that one expects to find when listening to classic hip-hop artists. Routinely on this record, he manages to captivate so much more than the guest artists here. Risky as taking such a classic sample as “Riders on the Storm,” Javs manages more than just doing the sample justice.

“Break It Loose” ticks up the tempo and the energy. While it’s nothing like the hyphy music going on north of Javs’ territory, there’s certainly something here for everyone. Javs shows off some pan-Pacific swag, like, “Doubters just became believers/ Forgive me if these tracks cause fatal seizures/ I’m on the ball, yall watch from the bleachers.”

Javs brings out his inner Blueprint-Kanye for “The World,” while providing his own sensibility. While the beat will certainly leave other producers with 808′s and heartbreak, Kanye’s lyrics pale in comparison. Javs’ ability to change up his flow throughout every verse is impressive, and it’s exemplified here.

Overall, the album has its moments where the lack of professional mastering is noticeable, but the same is true of a great segment of the mixtapes put out by major artists, so considering that this album was done almost entirely by Javs, it’s extremely impressive. It hardly even seems necessary to point out that this album is quite a lot better than many a mixtape, some of which I’ve reviewed right here. I give the album four and a quarter stars out of five.

Five Albums That Changed My Life

A couple of my friends did this on Facebook, so I’m gonna put a twist and explain why they changed my life, and put them in chronologically, in terms of when they changed my life. Of course, I’m not claiming that these are my favorite albums, only that because of where I was in my life when I discovered (or re-discovered, in one case) them, they each had a profound effect on me.

1. Bad by Michael Jackson 1987 Michael Jackson was my first hero, and this was the first album that came out where I was old enough to be aware of its impact, and know all the lyrics (and dance moves).

2. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill 1998 This album was one of the earliest albums that I bought, mostly because I never had money before this time, and my parents wouldn’t let me get the music I wanted to get. This album was, and still is, in my opinion, genius. Lyrically and vocally, Lauryn Hill’s absence from anything more than intermittent recording still leaves a hole, such that at every rumor of her reemergence, I get excitedly hopeful.

3. Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder 1976 Stevie Wonder broke the ice for so much great R&B music in the 1970′s. So much of his work sounds as fresh today as it did back then, and he continues to be a great influence in music. When I was in college, after hearing some of my parents’ old Stevie Wonder tracks, I became interested in hearing more of his stuff. This was the first album of his that I bought, and the beginning of his classic period.

4. Black on Both Sides by Mos Def 1999 This album was the first album that made me interested in hip-hop lyrics. If you’ve not heard it, Mos’ blend of witty lyricism, confident but extremely humanistic delivery, and populist message over diverse musical textures is an instant classic.

5. Electric Circus by Common 2002 I bought this album as soon as it came out, off the strength of Like Water For Chocolate and the recommendation of a good friend. While I liked the album back then, I didn’t appreciate all the musical genius that the album is until several years later. The album is chock full of amazingly creative musical styling from all the various Soulquarians that made neo-soul so great in its short popularity. Where Black on Both Sides may be my favorite album, lyrically, this album inspires me, musically. Note: This is possibly Common’s least-popular album of all time, but I think it’s really, really, really musically genius.

Anyone else wanna play? What were the five albums that changed your life and why?

O Eight Rewind

Preface: I was asked to write this article on 2008′s top three albums, from my perspective (as I’ve covered mostly hip-hop, I narrowed it to hip-hop albums). However, my third spot ended up a tie, so you’re getting a little more for your money. On we go…

2008 saw its share of trends and transition in hip-hop. We heard rappers singing into vocoders, raps over techno beats, a resurgence in electro, and the hipster trend became ever more prominent. While there was definitely a sense that the pendulum is swinging back toward digital, some of the year’s best mimicked the Golden Age’s live sound samples. And as I saw it, the year’s very best, didn’t even make it on to the radio.

Elzhi – The Preface
Released August 12, 2008
2008 Elzhi / Zhifi Music

Elzhi is responsible for one of the most ambitious albums of the year, as many of the tracks’ content is extremely left field. Black Milk is commissioned for the production of most of the tracks. Truthfully, Elzhi’s the only impressive lyricist to ever have been part of Slum Village. Musically, this album couldn’t be much more representative of Detroit if J Dilla oversaw every aspect from beginning to end. As good as that might feel to so many of us, like more than one album on this list, it may be that this album is a little too far behind the current trends of hip-hop to be commercially viable. And Elzhi’s representing for Detroit better than anyone in recent memory. With tracks like “Colors” and “Guessing Game,” he may come off as pretentious, but lyrically he’s not only showing off a higher caliber than we’re used to, but he’s taking risks and showing creativity that is not often approached in hip-hop anymore. Interestingly, fellow Slum Village member T3 produced standout track “Save Ya.” It’s not hard to figure that T3 learned a few tricks from the late, great Jay Dee. Other standout tracks include, “Motown 25,” “Brag Swag,” “D.E.M.O.N.S.,” and “Talking In My Sleep,” among others (Really. No, REALLY. AMONG OTHERS. EVERY SONG ON THIS ALBUM IS AT LEAST PRETTY DECENT. Peep it.).

GZA/Genius – Pro Tools
Released August 19, 2008
2008 Dcide Records

“Pro Tools” seems like a fairly appropriate title for any GZA album, for those who are familiar with this particular emcee’s body of work. GZA’s latest album came on the heels of a Liquid Swords tour that was impressive, even so many years later. His beef with 50 Cent was responsible for probably the most recognized track from the album, “Paper Plate.” In an interview, he basically described how paper plates are disposable, temporary. In comparing 50 with GZA, it’s probably a pretty apt comparison, to this point. GZA’s ability to bring unexpected rhymes and rhyme schemes, combined with his ability to play with words and stretch words and phrases as he chooses, all while doing it in a way that isn’t difficult to understand and keeps his audience captivated is unparalleled. While the album is mostly missing RZA beats (save for “Paper Plate”), he manages to reach back and utilize very traditional Wu-Tang sounds. The overall sound is updated, but probably drags a little behind what most of hip-hop is doing. Overall, a very impressive album, just as we’d all expect from one of hip-hop’s most respected emcees. Besides “Paper Plate,” “Alphabets” and “Columbian Ties” stand out.

Murs – Murs For President
Released September 30, 2008
2008 Warner Bros. Records Inc. for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside the U.S.

I wonder if Murs ever expected to be in the position he’s in. After years of flourishing on the underground backpack scene, he’s gone major without compromising much. While major dollars and major marketing didn’t lead to major radio play, the album was lauded by critics. In fact, the album tanked. Still, Murs joins a trend of a rise of prominence of conscious hip-hop and if he can earn endorsements from hip-hop stars (perfectly conceivable), there’s no reason this album can’t set the stage for a much greater impact in the near future. Unfortunately, while all the beats are catchy and enough of them are plenty interesting, there’s no real musical commitment to any particular style, and perhaps that musical purgatory is what sent this album to commercial hell. Murs is a talented emcee with a positive message, a breath of fresh air into hip-hop. Standout tracks include “I’m Innocent,” “Can It Be (Half A Million Dollars And 18 Months Later),” and “Sooo Comfortable.”

The Roots – Rising Down
Released April 29, 2009
2008 The Island Def Jam Music Group

The Roots have acheived a status in hip-hop that is without precedent. As a group that has never acquiesced to any particular mainstream trend, they create their own lane on a regular basis. No… that’s an understatement. Every album they put out is something completely different from anything they’ve done, and completely different from anything anyone else has done. That isn’t to say that they have a whole lot of hip-hop acts following in their footsteps, but their audience is vast, international, and dedicated. Rising Down represents a darker form of hip-hop than past takes. Over time, it becomes more and more apparent that hip-hop’s most famous drummer (and most famous afro), Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson is very much the backbone of hip-hop’s premiere band. He takes on a good deal of production duties for this album, and increasingly appears as a producer and/or performer on other artists’ tracks. This is possibly the most political and easily one of the most abstract albums by the Mighty Roots Crew. If you’re ready, the standout tracks, as I see them, are, the title track, “Rising Down,” “I Will Not Apologize,” “Singing Man,” and “The Show.”

Honorable Mention:
9th Wonder and Buckshot – The Formula
Black Milk – Tronic
Devin The Dude – Landing Gear
The Game – LAX
Ice Cube – Raw Footage
Madvillain – Madvillainy 2

Here’s to hoping for a little better in ’09.

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