Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be critiquing Fat Joe and giving him a positive response. His latest single, off his tenth album "The Darkside," was allegedly recorded the night Gang Starr legend Guru died and is a solicitous tribute to him. The beat is produced by other Gang Starr member DJ Premier and it shows. Fat Joe hasn't rapped on a beat this dirty since "Lean "Back;" it's as good as something Primo would have done in his prime during Gang Starr's "Moment of Truth" days. But it's not just the talents of DJ Premier mixed with the sentimental nature of the circumstance that makes this track ridiculous; Fat Joe's lyrics are top rate. "Gangster, fuck that I'm Gangstarr/Tell Nas Hip Hop's dead now/ my man's gone."
During the chorus he raps "Peace God, I'm gone, I'm gone, I'm on my way" in the touching homage to Guru. Fat Joe had illustrated prior to the album's release that it was meant to be much darker and more cynical than his previous albums. He raps how BET doesn't give him airtime, how people take advantage of him, and how as a result, he has become the Darkside. He shoots the shit for nearly two minutes at the end of the song without rapping, claiming how "I took a motherfuckin paycut to do this shit right here."
It's a bold move.
This certainly isn't radio friendly. But he's stepping out from the pop scene; he's matured, his lyrics have matured and thanks to that, this record is the most provocative he's come out with since Big Pun was still alive.
Since the birth of Shad's career as an artist, he has evolved in every aspect of the field. His lyrics are known to be politically oriented but on his latest album, "TSOL," he's perfected his delivery. Shad has maintained his integrity as an artist like so many other Canadian rappers like K-Os, K'Naan, or Classified who produces one of the tracks on the record. "Rose Garden," the opening song, is an uplifting summer anthem. The chorus brings thoughts of bbqs and outdoor jam sessions into one's mind; it sounds like a modern day hip hop interpretation of the Jackson's 5 "ABC's." It seems a popular trend amongst Canadian MC's out there is to be of the more conscientious and knowledgeable variety. There's no bling or hot bitches in the music video for "Rose Garden." Even recently crowned Prince of Toronto, Drake, isn't rapping about gangsters, the drug trade or life in the streets. It's an insanely delicious truth that it is the Canadian rappers today who are removing the "thug" stereotype from the genre, except for of course Kanye West. He definitely contributes.
In today's world of easy music trading, any DJ can make their own rendition of a classic song and share it with the world. Mashup artist "Wait What" has succeeded in creating a new sound for New York anthem "Juicy," by Brooklyn's own Notorious B.I.G. Like predecessor mashup album "The Grey Album, by DJ/producer Danger Mouse, "The Notorious xx" breathes new life into timeless classics by combining the xx's raw modern talents with preferred songs like "Juicy" that the music community has always and shall always cherish. "Juicy R" is a great example of this collaboration; it proves that rap is more profound that it seems to the untrained eye. And it proves that Biggie will always be relevant to the music world, and he will always be the shit.
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