It might not be appropriate, but I am writing the review with only one spin of t
author: Silver Pharoah
Pagan: 1st Movement 1968
Simply magnificent. The beats are relatively simple, some of the loops are recognizable, but they peacefully coexist with the lyrics. The production brings the whole mood of the album together fairly well with deep messages contrasted by raw common sense. "Underground" hiphop music is displayed in one of its finest forms with 14 tracks of knowledge and experience. The variety is evident, blurring the lines between emceeing and spoken word, between the slower darker music to the upper tempo of "Honorable Mentions", boredom is easily achieved in most independant releases, but thats not the case this time. "While I aint a clone, I aint gone play the role of a deacon, but I'll still leave the light on", he raps, "I must admit though that I'm a hypocrite", The words are proven to be much deeper due to the fact that we have an artist here who, can indeed play the teacher and the student with very little conflict. This album is definately not the party album, nor is it purely deep. Creative linguistics and witty lines keep the album fresh when the hypnotising instrumentals lose you in the music. To wrap it up, if most mainstream albums were looked upon as relationships, the fling on the side is only good for the moment because its refreshing, however, Pagan: 1st Movement 1968 is the wife that still wants you to come home even when nobody else wants you. Respect has been earned.
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Pagan is a Gansgstarr, De La Soul, Slum Village po boy sandwich with no mayo and
author: Sugar Johnson
In the late 90's, Stream of Conscious traded clever cipher innuendos for
small-restaurant-turned-open-mic venues. But after audiences opted for
pussy poems and diatribes of the newspaper clipping du jour instead of
politically spiced self reflection, Conscious hurriedly dusted off his rhyme
book and headphones. "Pagan Beta Version 1.0", his second offering, is
reminiscent of a backpacker's creed sans pseudo-intellectual preachyness.
Songs like "Unorthodox" and "Honorable Mention" assert a kinship to street
life without glorifying the perpetual degradation. In fact, Pagan seeks to
provide a home remedy for scars improperly treated by band aid toting urban
missionaries. "Basketball Jones" confers a thug's love requirement and while
numerous emcees have touched on the subject, the track is a testament to
human need. Not only is the album covertly political, but it also succumbs
to the listener's desire for sonic entertainment with hesitation beats like
an Iverson crossover in the playoffs. Pagan is a Gansgstarr, De La Soul,
Slum Village po boy sandwich with no mayo and extra mustard. Pass the Grey
Poupon.
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