Before I get to the album, I guess it’s worth noting that Mr. J Medeiros, from the group The Procussions, doesn't have any great wordplay and almost no punchlines. He makes it up for it with his storytelling ability and dope flow though. While his nasally voice gets a little annoying, for the most part he’s a consistent rapper. The tracklist varies based on source when it comes to the bonus tracks: there’s apparently a bonus track called “Honest Man’s Hustle,” which I didn’t have on my copy and couldn’t review. Also, the last four tracks are all “remixes,” in which the original lyrics are placed on different beats, so I’m just reviewing them quickly talking about the beat. These tracks on my copy are different than some online tracklists, and I’m missing a few other “remixes” that appear on some tracklists.
1) Amelie feat. 20Syl
Nice beat, definitely has a smooth feeling to the track. The second verse is in Portuguese, the rapper’s original language, which I suppose he felt obliged to do. It seems sort of out of place. While the lyrics on the song don’t necessarily disappoint, in some ways the last two minutes – a lyric-free instrumental – is more worth listening to. That’s not to say the lyrics aren’t good, they just aren’t that memorable.
2) Silent Earth
Wasn’t really feeling the beat, and there’s no real chorus, just some sampled wailing. Some nice lyrics, though, but the delivery seems a bit off, and after the song was over I forgot most of the lines. Some were nice though: “I crawl, hoping for a moment to stand/Only to fall sober with an omen in hand”
3) Strangers
The beat isn’t anything special, but definitely suits the song and highlights the lyrics. I liked his flow on the track…he’d speed up a little bit and then slow down. I also like the chorus (maybe cause I can relate?): “I wish I had the courage to say to you/All the words in the songs I play for you.” Strong song, liking the verses as well. The sampling’s sort of annoying – just “goodbye” - but it works well and unlike in the track before, he raps around the sample. The ending dragged on a little bit, as the last minute or so has nothing of any real substance, no lyricism and the beat becoming fairly non-existent, ending with someone on the phone praising him for his next track, “Constance,” which he laughingly calls a “movie.”
4) Constance
Very sad song, but excellent storytelling about a thirteen-year-old Philippine prostitute named Constance, who is videotaped being raped and has the tape posted on the internet. The sampling is a little jagged, but it adds to the feeling of the story. Its impressive how the song has storytelling mixed with some sad-but-true comments of society – “It’s not illegal to use raping as a cash-crop/As long as it says she’s 18 on your laptop.”
5) Change feat. Strange Fruit Project & Rez
I didn’t really like the chorus – someone rapping over someone singing felt a little jumbled – but definitely some nice lyrics. Also a nice beat. The verses are about the struggles of everyday life, and both Medeiros and his guests hold their own. Liked a bunch of lines, such as “It’s like I’m double when in trouble, I’ve got two sides/My life’s a puddle till the sudden glimpse of blue skies”
6) King Of Rock Bottom feat. DJ Vajra
Track about alcohol, very dope. Like the beat, like the scratching on the chorus, like the verses. The threw in another few phone messages, these from his grandmother and various friends, which was sort of annoying, and the scratching got a little excessive near the end, but for the most part it was a nice track.
7) Half A Dream feat. Marty James
More nice storytelling on this track, both verses talking about aspirations and dreams. Like the beat, like the guest chorus from Marty James. Not really much to say, just some nice storytelling in each verse (first about a girl who wants to make it big, second about a guy who’s caught up in his career).
8) Keep Pace
Very dope, nice beat and you can hear some real emotion particularly around a minute-and-a-half in. Talks about life and mentions depression and stress, but keeps his lyricism intact as well. He also talks about his motivation, ending the track with “While the angels blowing horns cause you back from the dead/In the middle of a war, you trapped in your head/I’d rather chase the wonder of the light instead/And keep pace till the hunger in this child’s fed.” Another phone message at the end though…these are getting sort of annoying! Still, a nice track.
9) Money feat. DJ Vajra & Pigeon John
Wasn’t liking the track…the flow gets changed up, and I wasn’t liking it. The beat was pretty annoying as well, and the sampling at the beginning – the word “money” at different pitches – was annoying. The track features someone talking, claiming to be “Mr. Money,” telling the rappers that they were too wack and didn’t deserve to be in his presence. That sort of a skit or whatever you’d like to call it is a hit-or-miss, and in this case it felt pretty stupid.
10) Her Wings
Very mellow feel to this track, more storytelling, clearly Mr. J’s forte. This one’s about a girl’s change from being promiscuous to having a re-found, with lines such as “If you had known her before the transition/You’d be amazed by the change, man listen/she used to go from this one to that one/To feel complete she’d look for men to make it happen.” Nice lyricism and a good job of telling the story
11) Apathy feat. DJ Vajra
Wasn’t really liking the beat all that much, and the lyrics were good but forgettable. Nice scratching on the chorus, but the verses seem sorta lazy and there’s not any real standout lines. Also, the last almost two minutes were just the beat, which seemed pointless and just dragged on.
12) Call You
Favorite track on the album, with Constance, and a great way to end the actual album. Talks about his relationship with his mother and father, and both verses are really dope and personal. Also, there’s two parts to the beat, and both are real nice, nice use of instruments and everything. I like how there’s no chorus, also, just the dope beat.
Bonus Tracks:
Amelie [Mike Kilo Sentimental Remix] – The beat’s a little dark, it’s ok but not anything special…I prefer the original
Constance [Joey Beats Remix] – Much more of a rock feel to this one, with a new sample replacing the one on the original track. The original song is nearly perfect, and I wasn’t really feeling this.
Half A Dream [Siamese Sisters Remix] – Meh, it’s ok, about the same as the first one as far as my liking it, though it sounds differently. The chorus is dropped, and the mini-crescendo near the end of the first verse is dope.
Silent Earth [Ohmega Watts Remix] – I said earlier that the lines in this song were sort of forgettable. This version has a different beat, and the verses are much more highlighted, and sound a lot doper. Definitely preferred to the first version.
Grade: B, definitely worth a listen, all tracks are at least decent.
- DKE
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