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Delinquent Habits
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Freedom Band
Station 13/Ark 21 Records
Release: 03/03/2003
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Rated:
Review by:
Xlife
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On Freedom Band, MCs Ives and Kemo and
DJ/Producer O.G. Style continue to corner the Latino Hip Hop
market, a genre that they essentially created in 1996 with
their (Cypress Hill's) Sen Dog-executive produced, self-titled
debut. Some have come before them, namely Frost and
Funkdoobiest, and others have followed, including Big Pun
and Mellow Man Ace, but Delinquent Habits will always be
recognized for moving over 350,000 copies of their debut in
America, and over 1,000,000 worldwide (the album's single,
"Tres Delinquents" sold over 450,000 pieces).
After label issues with PMP/RCA Records, the band have
taken things into their own hands, writing, recording, and
producing this record through their own record label, Station
13. The band even did the album illustrations and graphic
design of the cover and liner notes. Both MCs also engage
traditional instruments (guitars, timbales, and bongos) when
necessary, while DJ O.G. Style lists drums, keys, and bass in
his repertoire.
Freedom Band lies somewhere nicely between
fun-in-the-sun party jams ala Cypress and the Beasties and
tough social commentary commonly lacking in West Coast
hip-hop. But even when the band is being serious, touching
on topics such as the dangers of the club scene and growing
up on the wrong side of the tracks ("Cause we roll in packs
off two or three hardcore/ Where we livin' it's just how it
be/ Makin' it to 18 years is a degree"), the super tight
production of O.G. Style's Latin- and 808-influenced beats
always keep the tracks away from the lamenting and
morose and more into a manifestation of a hip, new way to
be educated.
While the first track on the album isn't the standout track on
the album, it is a fine introduction to the party that is about
to start in your stereo. Track 3, "Info," which is a highlight, is
a Beastie Boys inspired send-up. It has the old-school party
feel; and they drop one of my favorite terms, "Blaxican."
Also well-done is "U Don't Own Me" with it's like-titled Leslie
Gore sample.
Breaking it down in the middle of the record, O.G. Style gets
his time in the spotlight on "O.G. Scratch." Where the entire
album's production is spot-on, this is the DJ's spotlight and
look back to timeless 1980's rap albums. Where one might
expect the completely overused "Lowrider"-ish samples and
horns, what's delivered are classic-sounding DJ Jazzy Jeff, or
even Jam Master Jay (R.I.P.) rivaling cuts.
Even though this writer is probably too
un-Espanol to enjoy all of the Spanglish
intricacies, it's still easy to see that Freedom
Band is a total hit, in any language. It's truly the
definition of "entertainment" put to lyrics and beats. Check
them out on tour in 2003, and get close - they give away
free tequila shots to the front row. |
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