Drowned in tons of overdubbed tracks on the two albums by Rev. 99, the group he shared with Ernesto Diaz-Infante, 99 Hooker's no-holds-barred rap is finally given the full treatment on Generica. There is still a whopping number of collaborators, tracks, influences, and styles at play, but reigning over it all is 99's voice. Forget the hip black rap stars and their manufactured rebellions; forget the white rappers and their attitudes. The genuine intelligence of 99 Hooker's politically charged, completely off-the-wall lyrics makes the whole rap industry sound like an iMac computer voice reading an erotic novel. His stories about America, the Church, idiots, television, and the maddening paradoxes of humankind hit where it hurts, while retaining an entertainment value that may not be so obvious to everyone on first listen. And yet, his rapping is still only half of the story. Behind him are real musicians from the avant-garde jazz and noise underground, making up the wildest rap backup band ever. Guitarist Donald Miller (from noise improv legends Borbetomagus), reedman Mark Marinoff (aka M2), bassist Shahzad Ismaily, drummer Ray Sage, and sampler artist Akio Mokuno form the core of the band. From groove jazz to country, from avant rock to lounge, there is nothing these guys can't do -- and nothing they will do in a straight manner. Saxes grunt and scream, drums erupt, guitars rage on in infernal textures whenever the lyrics open a door or 99 Hooker pauses. It makes a highly energetic, shock-filled blend that will appeal to the avant-garde crowd much more than to the hip-hop generation. Generica provides a stimulating, provocative, unique listen. Recommended.

99 Hooker is a New York multidisciplinary artist: film, saxophone and spoken word are his metier. He has some 20 cds out, performed all around USA plus Italy, Switzerland and France. He worked with people like David Krakauer, Ron Anderson (Molecules, etc.), Jason Willett (Jad Fair, etc.), Gino Robair, Ralph Carney, etc. He leads also his own multimedia collective Rev.99. On his new cd "Generica" we meet 99 Hooker as a spoken word artist. This is to be taken very literally. He speaks - not sings - his texts, mostly at a high speed. Also he is not a nonverbal vocal artist like David Moss, but he reads his self written texts. Saying he reads his texts is a bit of an understatement, because he makes an intense and dramatic performance of it. The musicians that surround him help to increase this atmosphere succesfully. This is no wonder when these musicians have names like Donald Miller (Borbetomagus), Mark Marinoff (Mercury Rev, Chemical Brothers) or Akio Mokuno (sampler maniak from Japan). Together with a few other musicians they make up a great noise band. On the other hand I perceive an ambiguity that one encounters also on many other records where spoken word is backed up with a band (I think of some John Giorno-records). The band and the musical structure of the pieces are in function of the texts, and in my perception the result is often not satisfying from a musical point of view. This is also the case with with "Generica," where we have some great playing from all musicians but within the limitations of this concept. Also the recording and mix of this cd accentuate the serving role of the band. But maybe this is as it should be. Because the central focus goes to the texts, and there is nothing wrong with that. What about the texts then? In a absurd and demented way 99 Hooker comments on social and religious themes in the US society. Very entertaining!

A requisite for appreciating this crazed bulletin by 99 Hooker is - of course - a good command of the English language, but even the ones who don't speak it cannot fail to be entertained by this exciting explosion of styles, where rapping goes over tracks that are filthy rich with instrumental bravado and sampling from hell. Crossing a low-voice ironic sensuality a la Zappa's "I'm the slime" and ranting utterances similar in spirit to the unjustly forgotten Zoogz Rift, the protagonist kicks America's favorite commonplaces and behaviors right in the balls, offering altered bluegrass, fake disco patterns and lambasting homespun grooves in a cauldron that's bound to become a muddy jewel in the always undisciplinable Californian new music polymorphism.

Featuring 99 on vocals & sax, Donald Miller on guitars, Mark Marinoff on reeds & Jew's harp, Naval Cassidy & Akio Mokuno on samplers, Shazad Ismaily on bass, Ray Sage & Michael Evans on drums and special guest Brother Russell Scholl on acoustic guitar. Tzadik catalogue collectors should recall 99 Hooker from his CD under the name Bible Launcher, the only release that was pulled from Tzadik as soon as it came out, for fear of retribution from preachers and hookers whose voices were sampled without permission. 99 Hooker is one strange character and 'Generica' is one weird trip through the darker side of American life. Each song is a story or an observation of how ridiculous life has become. He does a rockin', pounding version of "Who Do You Love?" called "Voodoo U Luv", Nothing is safe or sacred here. "Cross Hairs" is a hilarious rap tune with some wicked words about preachers' bullshit and the way sex sells just about everything. Lucky for us, 99 has all of thought-provoking lyrics spewed out in the liner booklet, 'cause he often spits' em out too quickly. And there are too many great lines to miss otherwise. "I'll drop a Borbetomagus record on that 12 year old..." Truly disturbing, but too true to ignore. Has Dictator Bush got you all depressed? Then try listening to 99 Hooker's 'Generica' and laugh your tush off.