stefanoneder Album

Jesse Abraham: Bars & NoBull

Artist: Jesse Abraham

Album: Bars & NoBull

Tracklist:

  1. Of Course (prod. by JA)
  2. Yoga (Video) (prod. by Spills)
  3. Just Gettin’ Going (prod. by KO Beatz)
  4. Who’s That (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  5. Little Bit Of Everything (prod. by KO Beatz)
  6. Got That Juice (ft. Albert Rhymestein) (prod.  by Willie Green)
  7. Digit (prod. by Panjabi MC)
  8. Don’t Taze Me (ft. Jeanette Berry) (prod. by Spills)
  9. Life Is A Free Throw (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  10. Word Of Mouth (ft. Premonition) (prod by Spills)
  11. Get To Know Me (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  12. Raucous Lawlessness (prod. by !llmind)
  13. Get Off Me (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  14. Ventura (prod. by JA)

 

Notes:

Jesse, who? Jesse Abraham? I still don’t know who we are talking about. But what I did find out after listening to, Bars & NoBull is that this emcee is different. And I mean different in a good way.

Fun. Zaney. Witty. Lyrical. Gifted. Those are all words I would use to describe Jesse Abraham after listening to this album. Fun hip hop finally finds it’s way to us via Mr. Abraham in 2010.  Admittedly I was a a bit unsure of this artist up to track three of this album, but he really started to grow on me.   His style is extremely unorthodox in terms of relating him to another style or trying to place him in the proverbial box.  He is somewhat similiar to Homeboy Sandman if for no other reason that they are unconventional in their rhyme patterns and cadence.

If you can appreciate an artist pushing the boundaries of hip hop, like clever and witty lines, and superb production, you will enjoy this release.  It took a minute for me to develop this appreciation but after all is said and done this will retain it’s replay value for years to come.

Shouts out to DJ Booth from whence this release came!

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Zumbi and The ARE: The Burnerz

Artist: Zumbi & The ARE

Album: The Burnerz

Production: The ARE

Guests: One Be Lo, The Grouch, Martin Luther

Best Tracks: Changes, Jus Anotha Day, Off The Wall, Old Soul

Recommendation: Must Have

Notes:  Zumbi (from Zion I) and The ARE have teamed up to create The Burnerz for their initial album release.  This album, for me, was really an after thought initially.  October 12th was a very busy day for new music to drop, however I gave the iTunes snippets a listen and proceeded to make it one of my many purchases.

After a few listens, I came to this conclusion: The album is insanely good.  Production wise I can not pay it a higher compliment by saying I like it better than The Search For Stoney Jackson .  That is saying a lot considering how solid Madlib’s work was on the aforementioned Strong Arm Steady project.

The ARE’s production is superlative.  The beats and samples the man cooked up for this project are musical genius.  It’s funky.  It’s moving.  It’s intricate.  The sample placement throughout is on point and really kept me engrossed.

The whole production of the album really suits Zumbi.  This is his pace.  The album is action packed and it never slows down.  It simply sends you deeper into it’s sound as it progresses.  The guest list, while short, is powerful.  One Be Lo shows why he is one of the best in the game on his verse on Off The Wall and The Grouch builds off the chemistry he had with Zion I from their previous collaborative effort on Heroes In The City Of Dope.

The energy from the album is simply contagious.  The choruses become anthems and you have no choice but to rhyme along at some points.   For instance on the track, Jus Anotha Day, the music feels as though you are in a medieval court with the harpsichord loop rolling over some boom-bap drums.  Zumbi then takes that track and makes it infectious with his lyrical ability and catchy chorus.   Equally as intoxicating for the listener is The Edge.  The soulful hook and thought provoking lyrics have this joint on repeat.  Then when you are ready to proceed through the album, the track, Off The Wall hits you.  It’s an uptempo jam that incorporates diverse synth that is certain to have necks snapping and hands in the air.   It’s three tracks that are completely different but all so very dope.

This album is chocked full of great music and you will regret it if you don’t add this to your collection.  Simple and plain.
stefanoneder Album, Recommendations

Black El x Durkin – Color Commentary

Artist: Black El & Durkin

Album: Color Commentary

Producer: Durkin

Guests: Outasight, Jon Hope, Jelani

Best Tracks: Dead Poet Society, Go!,  Sunday Drive

Recommendation: Must Have

Thoughts: Color Commentary sneaks upon the listener.  I didn’t know much about the emcee or the producer but upon track three, I began to realize that a dope record was being achieved.

Consistency is the cornerstone to a great hip hop album and I have to say that each song on, Color Commentary more than holds it’s own weight individually.  Collectively, however, this album is something remarkable.  Durkin’s production talents on the album harken back to that boom bap flavor that so many of us enjoy but rarely hear.  Black El uses Durkin’s talents to the fullest extent. His high energy vocals and above average flow and wordplay kept me engage from track one to track ten.  There was no let down.  The two proved to be a perfect combination on Color Commentary.

This album is banger after banger.  It simply is a pleasure to listen to.  The sound is dope through out but the content certainly is varied.  Pride, for  instance opens up the listener to not just one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but also the confidence that Black El has developed over his years.  He speaks on the situations that have arisen in his life and his ability to step up to the plate and hold onto his pride.

Sunday Drive is the perfect cut to ride to.  The beat for this joint is my favorite on the album.  Black El speaks on the 9 to 5 grind and the ability to escape from time to time in your ride.   The track had me slowing down my speed, rolling the window down, and just chilling.  It’s a very therapeutic joint and a definite head nodder.

Arguably the hardest joint on the album is the posse cut, Dead Poet Society.  The track features Jelani and Jon Hope.  Each of these talented emcees drop solid verses and Durkin laces us with the darkest production on the album.  That production is a little different than you will find on other tracks.  While the rest of the album is that throwback boom bap, Dead Poet Society is more contemporary and is driven more by the keyboard than the hi-hats and snares.   This really makes this track stand out for the better.  Lyrically this track is one of the more superior joints.

I feel that this album is one of the more fun listens of 2010.  I could enjoy the album track for track and not have to worry about the fast forward button at all.  Give Color Commentary a chance and enjoy for yourself.  (Stream/Download below)


stefanoneder Album Reviews

Versis: iLLCANDESCENT

Artist: Versis

Album: iLLCANDESCENT

Guest Shots: None

Production:  T. Hemingway, Exile, BMB, fLako, Dibia$e, Listed

Best Tracks: Spittin’ In The Wind, Love Is Love, Life After You

Recommendation: Highly Recommend

Notes:  Versis is an incredibly talented artist that seems to harken back to a different time entirely.   At nineteen years of age, Versis has decided to take the path less traveled.  While many artists his age are rhyming about status and possessions, Versis is talking from the heart.  His emphasis is on the music itself.   A truly novel idea!

iLLCANDESCENT is a jazz, blues, and hip hop hybrid.  It draws from each genre to give you something special.  His flow and style are similar to that of Blu.  That comparison is not just a superficial “young west coast spitter” observation.  Both emcees have roughly the same demeanor on the mic.  They are not overly animated in their flows.  They are subtle and more conversational.

iLLCANDSCENT is Versis’ first full length effort.  He had an EP that dropped last year called Synergy that brought some buzz but you can tell that with this latest release that he has really honed his craft.  Everything seems more polished in all facets.  It’s very mellow and soulful.  It’s not something that you are going to use to get you amped before a big event.  It is more something  the working man can unwind to. But enough talk about it.  Why don’t you listen to it and if you enjoy it, cop it!


stefanoneder Recommendations

Wrekonize: A Soiree For Skeptics

Artist: Wrekonize

Album: A Soiree For Skeptics

Guests: Bernz, Co$$, Snave Nayr

Production: Wrekonize, Miami Beat Wave, Stro, DJ Sharpsound, Plex Luthor, Erik L, Tzarizm, Rudi Goblen

Best Tracks: One Foot In The Grave, Let Go, Winding Road, Children’s Games, Fugitive

Recommendation: Must Have

Note: I can’t front. I can’t even hide the fact that I am in love with the music on A Soiree For Skeptics. Everything screams, ‘classic’ about this album.

Wrekonize is a unique talent. His soul and his passion for music just shine thru. But so much to making good music is more than just having talent. There are a lot of emcees that can flow and have amazing lyrics but what Wrekonize can do where others have fallen short is making a GREAT song. As a matter of fact he made at least sixteen of them on this release.

A hook can ruin a song and rarely can it contribute, or so I thought. Wrekonize turns that theory on it’s head. His ability to melodically do his own choruses enhances every track. He has a soulful vibe that should resonate with every listener. His lyrical parlay is equally as impressive. He has a mastery of the English language. His lines aren’t merely littered with metaphors and similes, they are laced with complex rhyme schemes, filled with idea and purpose, and flow effortlessly. His thoughts drift from the state of the ‘new’ hip hop artist on Winding Road to his perception of war on Children’s Games.  His horizons are indeed broad as you listen to the album from start to finish.

The production is equally incredible.  The album has the bangers (One Foot In the Grave) which will have your head nodding as well as cuts that make you feel like you are in an old smoke filled jazz club (Let Go).  The one constant throughout in terms of production is that is all dope and fit Wrekonize like a glove.

Wrekonize is not a one trick pony and and A Soiree For Skeptics will demand your attention more than once. It has been in steady rotation here since Tuesday. This album will have staying power as long as you give it a chance. I promise you will not regret your time. Classic material in a day and age where that really means something.