(Coup d'Etat)
The story leading up to the release of All Of The Above by underground hip-hopper J-Live is near tragic. Years ago J-Live was hailed as a new class of MC; one who could flow intelligently while scratching on his Technics 1200's at the same time. J-Live's prospects stalled, though, when label troubles and internet leaks caused his first album, The Best Part, to be put out years too late. The grossly belated release of The Best Part was so anticipated that the release of All Of The Above, J-Live's second album, caused little buzz when it dropped only a few weeks later. Still, through all the banal drama, All Of The Above comes out on top as a hip-hop gem.
The first half of All Of The Above is a throw back to late '80s hip-hop as J-Live emulates his influences and predecessors. Live's sincere appeal to a female friend in \Like This Anna"" seems to be an updated version of A Tribe Called Quest's, ""Bonita Applebum,"" while the twisting plots of ""One For The Griot"" evokes the story-telling style of Slick Rick. Hints of Run DMC, Common and De La Soul subtly weave through the 21 tracks as well. But J-Live only uses these seminal artists only as a spring board for his own refreshing narrative. Using thoughtful lyrics and crisp beats, Live faces loaded issues like inter-religious relationships and drops original concepts like chronicling the life of a J-Live rhyme.
The album is highlighted by the song ""Satisfied,"" which is arguably the most insightful hip-hop track of the year. Unlike many over-militant hip-hoppers, J-Live objectively states that he is happy living in the U.S., but he is not yet content. Reflecting on Sept. 11, Live says, ""It ain't right that them cops and them firemen died/ That shit is real tragic, but it sure ain't magic/ It won't make the brutality disappear/ It won't pull equality from behind your ear.""
Excluding a few unnecessary interludes and a couple of lacking verses, this album is flawless. Yet, even more significantly, All Of The Above is a most important album. Beyond the beats and flows, J-Live's honesty and poetics should set a new standard in hip-hop. Hopefully, this excellent album will inspire a few more MCs that are as multitalented and truthful as J-Live.
(Elektra)
After releasing five critically acclaimed albums in France, MC Solaar gained enough credibility to have his sixth album, Cinquieme As (Fifth Ace), released in the United States. To say that Solaar is popular in France is an understatement. Throughout the country, he has a Snoop Dogg-like notoriety. With the Fifth Ace, Solaar attempts to use his European fame to garner some attention from American heads. His success depends on the individual listener's willingness to expand their horizons beyond the language barrier.
The American influence on this album is obvious. On the DJ Sample-produced ""Leve-Toi Et Rap (Get Up and Rap),"" vocal samples from the likes of Q-Tip and Redman are used in the hook. The guitar riff in the beat sounds like something that J-Live would be proud to rhyme over.
In fact, the majority of the album features great production. ""La La La La"" is an upbeat track featuring organ and xylophone loops that create a engulfing soundscape. The title track uses a basic trumpet loop to form a cinematic effect that sounds like the soundtrack to an ancient war movie. In the Kurser produced ""Degats Collateraux (Collateral Waste),"" Solaar rides a violin-influenced track with a flow that screams braggadocio.
Solaar even takes a stab at rhyming in English on ""Solaar Weeps."" He paints a vivid tale of his journey to heaven while contemplating his sins on earth. Although his word choice is occasionally erroneous, Solaar successfully crosses the language barrier and delivers with an admirable track.
Overall, the beats on the album are above average, with Black Rose handling the majority of the production. While Solaar's delivery is smooth and on point, assessing his lyrics would require either knowing French or a lengthy night with a French-English dictionary. Nevertheless, MC Solaar is just one fine example of the globalization of hip-hop. If you're someone who enjoys smooth, well-produced beats with a nice flow on top, you should consider adding Cinquieme As to your music collection.
