Ethan's #9 Pick: Little Brother – The Listening (2003)
I love Little Brother. Phonte’s rhymes are lyrical, clever, and sincere, 9th Wonder’s beats are simple, yet so rich and soulful, and Rapper Big Pooh is in the group as well. Every Little album is amazing (I don’t count Leftback as an album, but as an anthology of whack that was better left on the cutting room floor). Even their mixtapes sound better than most rappers’ (and even some of their own) albums. Like so many other artists, though, their best offering is still their debut, The Listening.
When considering Little Brother’s catalogue, I find it best to disregard Big Pooh entirely. Just pretend he isn’t there. With that in mind, this album starts off a bit slow, with the “Morning” intro being followed by a song with no verses on it (Groupie, Pt. 2). The album picks up quickly, however, and hits one of its many peaks early on with “Speed”. This laid-back instrumental is countered with a stressed-out examination of the everyday hustle and hubbub. It’s the kind of song that reminds you of your own plight, but then makes you want to just say eff it and cheeeill.
At this point, the album has gathered its steam and is rolling along nicely. On “The Yo-Yo” Phonte spits hotness and then promptly makes you feel silly for bobbing your head by pointing out that it his lyrics didn’t even rhyme. Another peak is reached with “Shorty on the Lookout”, where apparently the guys woke up and called each other to find out what they were doing, and then figured that would make a pretty good song. In fact, it made a great song! “So Fabulous” is a jazzy tribute to old school hip-hop, complete with impressions of the artists they’re honoring. 9th Wonder shines especially bright on “The Way You Do It”, with a string sample that just makes my knees weak every time I hear it. “Away From Me” is Phonte doing what he does best, spitting the kind of heartbreakingly honest lyrics that are so rare in hip-hop. And why is “Home” just so damn tranquil! They could’ve let that ride out for another six or seven minutes.
The Listening is best summed up, unsurprisingly, by the title track. The beat is cool and soothing, with eerie echoes and an ill Pete Rock homage, over which Phonte and Big Pooh convey their love for meaningful music and their disappointment in listeners for not necessarily sharing that love. The best part of this song, though, is the third verse in which the two trade intentionally ridiculous verses that turn out just ridiculously sick. These guys can’t even pretend to be whack (excluding Pooh of course).
Little Brother clearly had a problem with the music being played on the radio, so instead of complaining about it on every song (they saved that for the second album), they got together and gave us another option. The Listening is a nearly perfect collection of mood music that oozes flavor and originality. The only real downfall here is that 1/3 of the group sucks. Thankfully, Big Pooh’s taupe-ass rhymes are easily overlooked and Phonte and 9th’s talent is more than enough to make up for it. Do yourself a favor and get your groove on to this masterpiece.
Scott's #9 Pick: Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Forever (1997)
Being holed up in a Staten Island basement with just an MPC has to get boring after a while.
RZA had a Kofax-like run during the mid-1990’s, producing the Wu-Tang Clan’s debut and five subsequent Wu-solo albums in little over three years. With such a prolific start to his career, it was only inevitable that the chief architect of the Wu would eventually branch out and add something new to his arsenal. Armed with a keyboard as his new weapon, RZA began work on the Wu-Tang Clan’s follow-up album, 1997’s double-disc epic Wu-Tang Forever.
Upon Forever's release, this new production approach was not initially embraced by the legions of Clan fans expecting more of the same from RZA. And though subsequent solo albums would find the producer completely immersed in a new digital sound, Forever is more of an extension of RZA’s older work than it is a deviation. While synths may have replaced samples on many of Forever’s songs, his trademark grit remains fully intact. From the menacing violins on album opener “Reunited” to the ominous, low rolling organs on the dark “Duck Seazon”, RZA simply creates from scratch sounds that he would have been apt to sample in his early days.
But what really separates Forever from the Wu’s previous gems is the Clan itself. The album finds many of the ten members at the apex of their rapping prowess. In particular, Inspectah Deck treats the disc as a coming out party, destroying nearly every song that he touches. “It’s only natural, actual facts are thrown at you, the impact will blow trees back and crack statues” the rapper effortlessly flows over first disc closer “It’s Yourz”. Clan poster-boy Method Man is also at his sharpest, forgoing his usual (somewhat) playful style for a darker, more sinister approach. The riveting “Impossible” finds both a RZA who has never rapped better and a show-stopping verse from a then-emerging Ghostface Killah.
On top of all that, Forever also has one of hip-hop’s greatest singles, the nearly 6-minute long “Triumph”. If the Clan’s essence could ever be encapsulated into one song, it would be this one. The track, which features no hook and all 10 members taking turns over a rousing beat, has enough energy to make even the most modest listener bob their head.
Released amidst hip-hop’s questionable double album frenzy of the late-90’s , Forever undoubtedly contains a couple of unnecessary tracks. However, the sheer preponderance of elite emceeing and production spread over two discs makes Wu-Tang Forever not only the Clan’s pinnacle moment, but one of hip-hop’s as well.
If only RZA’s keyboard broke afterwards…
DOWNLOAD THE LISTENING HERE: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=h8jpk8vp
DOWNLOAD WU-TANG FOREVER HERE: http://www.mediafire.com/?g5tjttoqmdz
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