Abstract Hip Hop is a subgenre of hip-hop music that often takes a more abstract approach to making songs. Usually it’s an MC who creates these songs and the production is usually more experimental and obscure than most of the other records that make up this genre.
The music of this subgenre is also known for incorporating more sexy and personal expression, but that’s not the only thing that makes it unique.
The Album by Lateef the Truthspeaker & Lyrics Born
Lateef the Truthspeaker is an Oakland, CA based rapper who has cultivated a reputation for being an activist firebrand. He is one of the founding members of the alternative hip hop collective Quannum Projects, which has been an influential force in the underground Hip-Hop scene. He has also released numerous solo albums as well as several collaborative projects.
During the mid-90s, Lateef was part of a Bay Area rap group called Latyrx. During this time, Lateef and Lyrics Born (Lateef Daumont) combined their previously recorded tracks to create the album “The Album.” Although the release did not make a splash in the mainstream, it has since become a classic amongst underground fans.
The duo reunited to release a new album called The Second Album, which will be available on November 5th. The LP features guests from Zion, Forrest Day, 1-O.A.K., Joyo Velarde, The Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Busdriver and more.
Both artists have been active in the Bay Area for many years and are currently touring with Blackalicious as well as releasing new music. They are also working on a series of shows with Vaxx Facts, a campaign that aims to promote vaccination information in the Bay Area.
Early on in his career, Lyrics Born was known for his ability to create a wide variety of styles and concepts with his rhymes. His raps can be fast or slow, tongue twisting or conversational. Often, the themes of his rhymes are about growing up, social issues, and more.
As a result, his lyrics are able to express both the positive and negative sides of life. This is what makes his songs so unique and so captivating to listen to.
For example, on the track “Class War,” Lyrics Born sings about a group of people who are being discriminated against by their government. On the other hand, he also has to deal with the fact that his friends have moved away from him because of his political views.
With Roots & Tings, Lateef the Truthspeaker is bringing together hip-hop and reggae in a powerful way. He has teamed up with DJ Jah Yzer and multi-talented artist Winstrong to release this anthem, which will be accompanied by an animated video that depicts the current social issues and challenges that face the world.
Temporary Forever by Busdriver
Busdriver, a Los Angeles rapper and producer, is one of the best hip hop artists I’ve ever heard. He’s hyper-literate and elocutionist and his lyrics are insightful and often brutally honest. He also has a distinctively eccentric style that could be considered dadaist, citing vocalese jazz singer Jon Hendricks as a primary influence.
His second studio album, Temporary Forever, was released in 2002 and features guest appearances from Radioinactive, Rhetoric and Of Mexican Descent. It was produced by Paris Zax, Omid and Daddy Kev with scratch duties from D-Styles.
This album was an incredible apex of the Project Blowed style and pushed rapping to its limits in terms of expression. Taking influences from both jazz and electronic music, Busdriver’s raps were not only fast but also incredibly complex. He would rap about things as serious as racism, but he would also do things as silly as ordering a hamburger from McDrive (the hilarious “Stylin’ Under Pressure”).
As if he were a mad scientist who couldn’t make up his mind, this album is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. There are songs that will leave you gasping for air and others that are so deep that you have to hear them several times before they sink in.
Throughout the album, there are beats that sound like RATKING or Quelle Chris, but they’re also crafted with a free form jazz approach to it, which is what makes this album so hypnotic and unique. The production is a mix of pretty synths and stuttering jazz rapping with weird samples thrown in.
The lyrics are cryptic and sometimes hard to understand, but they hold the depth of Kendrick Lamar as well as the abstractness of MC Ride. They are filled with a lot of metaphors, but they also give you an idea of the harsh reality that he is dealing with in society. He raps about everything from small club touring and the music industry to the fact that he has a mental disorder.
Despite his bizarre style, Busdriver has a very strong message about race and society. He raps about how the black community is often objectified and mistreated, and that people should be aware of these issues. He also raps about how music is important for a culture and the importance of supporting local artists.
The Mouse And The Mask by MF DOOM
In 2005 MF DOOM teamed up with producer Danger Mouse and a host of guest rappers to release a collaboration album called The Mouse And The Mask on Epitaph. The album featured a range of strange collaborations that were based on the popular Cartoon Network television block Adult Swim.
While some of the skits on The Mouse and the Mask are a bit over-the-top, it is still a fun record and DOOM does a good job with it. The beats are brilliant, and DOOM delivers a variety of funny lyrical concepts throughout the record.
There are also a few bangers on the album, and some of them are great! This is a must have for MF DOOM fans and Danger Mouse enthusiasts alike.
The track “Show” starts off well with a sample from a cartoon character that shares the same abbreviated name as the show the song is about. It isn’t long before Doom raps the homage to the show, and Brian Slips in a very dope-ass instrumental. Doom then raps about his feelings for his fictional show, with some help from Schooly D, who chants the name of his show during the hook.
Doom’s lyricism is strong enough to hold up against some of the more bizarre tracks on the album, but I found the production to be lacking in some places. The beats on the tracks “Sofa King” and “Benzie Box” are particularly weak, and DOOM’s ideas on these songs aren’t as creative as some of his other work.
Another standout track on The Mouse and the Mask is “El Chupa Nibre”, which features a slapstick skit from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, one of the shows that airs on the Cartoon Network late night block. The track has some scathing lines that will get a lot of laughs from people who watch this cartoon.
The crass language in the cartoons that Airs on Adult Swim is usually toned down, but sometimes the shows still have mature situations that parents might not want their children to see. When this happens, Cartoon Network will bleep out the F bombs in the cartoon characters’ voices. This is an interesting decision to make, but it makes sense that Cartoon Network would do this.
The Album by Dan the Automator & Del the Funky Homosapien
After a long hiatus, hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030 has finally returned with Event II, the sequel to their 2000 debut. The group consists of West Coast MC Del the Funky Homosapien, DJ Kid Koala and producer Dan the Automator. The album was previously delayed several times but it will be released later this year, according to the artists.
The album is an abstracthiphop masterpiece that is sure to have fans of the genre talking about it for years to come. Featuring many different artist and celebrities, the album is filled with futuristic music.
There are numerous references to a variety of sci-fi movies and literature, including The Matrix, X-Men and Star Wars. The songs are arranged in a way that tells a story about life in the year 3030. The album also incorporates various futuristic rap terminology and culture.
This combines to make the album very interesting and unique, especially with the production. For example, the bass and drums sound like a mix between hip-hop and dancehall.
It is hard to get a grip on how the album is going to progress, but it sounds like there are a lot of changes happening at once. For example, there are a lot of synths and other samples.
Despite this there is still a certain amount of jazzy, upbeat beats that keep you going. You can also hear a lot of different types of beats, from the simple percussions to the jazzy guitars and bass.
One of the highlights on this record is “Skull and Crossbones” – it’s a song that focuses on the dangers of drinking and driving. It is a surprisingly serious-minded song, but it’s done in such a way that you don’t feel like it’s too serious or that you have to worry about your safety.
Another highlight on the album is “Soopa Feen” – this is a song that uses a lot of funk and psychedelic elements. It is a very funky song, but it has a bit of a darker edge to it as well.
As far as a rap album goes, it is not too bad and it is definitely an album that I will be listening to on a regular basis. It is also a very interesting album and it is one that I look forward to hearing more of.
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