Every now and again I receive or hear of an album that truly stands out. Hip
Hop fans nowadays all consider themselves an authority on what's hot and
what's not, and, it seems that the views differ so drastically that deciding
to actually pay attention to any one artist or opinion seems pointless. So,
I rarely take the time to review a release. I have writers who do that and I
typically handle the organization of the site. With that said though, after
a lot of positive comments from people I, on occasion, pay attention to - I
was exposed to Immortal Technique.
On my first casual listen, noticing the odd angrily witty lyric - Technique
seemed like another battle rapper/boaster. The emcee seemed "nigga" happy,
stating the word to finish many lines. I didn't react too fondly to that
initial experience of the first few tracks. However, with that said - I also
stated that it was a casual listen. Taking words out of context and not
properly realizing what has been stated surrounding then isn't the best way
to evaluate quality. Hence our standard at MVRemix of several listens so as
to properly gauge the worth of material.
"Revolutionary Volume II," the second time around was brilliant. Simply put.
Having not been familiar with this [The Source magazine] Unsigned Hype's
first album, I thankfully cannot compare it to anything but the tracks
themselves. Technique has thirst and passion. His presence upon the
microphone is unparalleled - every word is enunciated excellently and he
actually has something to say.
From the get go, introduced by Mumia Abu Jamal (whom if you're unfamiliar
with, you'd best crawl away from your computer screen and back under that
rock), the tone is set. A hungry emcee with a desire to grab your attention.
"Harlem Streets" talks of the perils and tribulations which are endured by
the residents within Harlem. Then there’s "The 4th Branch" -- exceptional.
The song highlights the mis-conceptions and the hypocrisy's within religion
and the government. It’s written so carefully and well that not giving it
its due praise would just be cruel.
"Obnoxious" showcases Technique's comedic ranting side. The hook is simple,
yet catchy and the production trickles pleasingly. Another enjoyable track
worth mentioning is the Pinocchio sampeld "Freedom Of Speech." Detailing his
choice for independence as opposed to being a label's puppet. Technique is
also very honest. He makes many references to his personal life, especially
upon "Internally Bleeding," in which he discusses such matters as aborted
children and his mother's passing.
Technique is very politically inclined. He performs with rhythm and clarity
his opinions over brilliant, appropriate, and entertaining production. It's
about time I had an album of this calibre grace my listening arena. Support
Immortal Technique, or we'll continue to hear repetitive shite. Monotonous
copycat material can be ignored with more quality getting its proper
recognition.
You can [should] pick up “Revolutionary Volume II” over at
www.immortaltechnique.com.
