|
|
|
Grayskul
|
Deadlivers
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Release: 2/15/2005
 |
|
Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
|
|
|
Pulling together the experience from their long and varied
career in the rap game, Grayskul have released their debut
record. The group consists of Onry Ozzborn and JFK (also of
Oldminion), along with bass player, Rob Castro. They are
present in this incarnation as alter egos Reason, Fiddleback
Recluse and Phantom Ghost El Topo.
Reason and Recluse have played with many acts from their
touring with Oldminion, and they've cashed in a few favours.
Guests on the record include Canibus, Abstract Rude, Aesop
Rock, Mr. Lif and Fakts One.
This is a slick affair with great beats that keep everything
bobbin' along, yet they don't overshadow the emcees. Both
Reason and Recluse have a faster than usual delivery - not
Twista, ya undastand, but they speed along jamming more
words than Webster's in a typical song. Somehow (maybe it's
the alter ego thing) this reminds me slightly of the MF Doom
releases, infusing cartoons and rap.
The best cuts are "Cursive" with some engaging samples and a
strong beat. "Prom Quiz" has some dark lyrical content (as
does most of the record) about a girl moving to L.A. and
meeting a tragic end. "Do They Exist" is a spooky, sample-
ridden winner.
"Secret Wars" ends the record in a big way - 15 of the
members of Oldminion, each dropping a verse. It almost is too
much with all the verses stuck together like a cluster. While
the voices differ slightly, a lot of the verses sound
alike.
Mr. Hill produced most of the cuts here with the exception of
several by Ozzborn and Fakts One, Bean One and Rob Castro
(who appears live with the two emcees and a dj).
Grayskul has elements of a really good record here, and
there's enough to warrant any rap fan picking this up. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
