Dogfight was dope man.  Different but accessible.  Smart without being obnoxious about it.  I dug it.  The beats were
tight, also.
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Regenerated Headpiece have released their second album, “Dogfight” in conjunction with GlobalHipHop.com and for those that missed their first album it is not too late to get on board and enjoy the ride. This New York based act have been praised by Chuck D and have opened live shows for acts like Prince Paul, Dilated Peoples and Blackalicious. But the question remains - what does this release sound like?

Regenerated Headpiece (RHP) seem intent on saving hip-hop from itself by taking things back and honouring the art form whilst also recognising it’s place in the present and future. Although it is tricky to make exact comparisons RHP have a sound along the lines of acts like Jurassic 5 and Non-Phixion. 

The refreshing thing about RHP is that they manage to inject lyrical dexterity into this effort without forgetting the importance of good production. With layered soundscapes that utilise a variety of instruments, from violins, saxophone and guitars to piano and keyboards there is enough musicality to keep interest up while the beats for the most part should keep heads nodding. All of this is underpinned by good use of the turntables by DJ Exfyl who eschews the common mistaken belief that technical scratching is king and opts for some simpler funky patterns while also delving into Transforms and Flares to liven matters up. 

Things get off to a good start with “Dogfight” the opening track where RHP set out their stall in hip-hop by using a dogfight as metaphor for MCing to deliver braggadocios raps. Their skills are a recurring theme throughout the album - but surprisingly one that does not get tired due to the extended vocabulary of the MCs. Meanwhile some more politically charged songs and insights such as “Escape From Slavecamp” offset all of the old-school style brag raps. On this track RHP deliver an insight into the working world where the workplace sucks away your identity and creates a “thinking man’s prison”. In addition to this there are also rhymes about technology (Robot Whores), the battle between the haves and the have-nots (Grand Illusion), and the powers that be in general (Retaliate). It is on “retaliate” a 10 minute and 30 second opus that RHP really delve into their musicality and demonstrate a political stance that may have helped win Chuck D and others into their camp. This track takes piano, organ and scratching and couples them with lines like, “6 o’clock news is just noise pollution - lies and now I got the FBI thinking we’re spies” before flipping into Drum and Bass style drum fills to see the track and the album out. 

All in all Regenerated Headpiece deliver some strong underground hip-hop but don’t (as can be the case with “underground” releases) forget to deliver with the production. The musicality of the album helps to soften the aural impact of the sometimes insistent and politically charged rhymes. This album is certainly worth checking out as Regenrated Headpiece, in their own words, “Get open like flashers coat”.
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Worthy of their induction into Chuck D's graces, REGENERATED HEADPIECE breeds a new animal on "Dogfight". Old School heads will appreciate the respect to their Nation. RHP doesn't fail to incorporate elements of funk and live instrumentation while inventing their own voice. With something for every head, the album is exquisitely produced and articulately performed.

Creative in both its title and its content, "Cyclops Monocle" uses scratches, piano, and a backbeat that is not compromised. "Escape from Slavecamp" introduces a haunting aria while Phon-X and Shred Lexicon spit twisted rhymes about the mire and monotony of Corporate Life; paying homage
to the historical reference of slavery in service of a master for his own gain.

These characteristically literate and verbally persuasive MCs interact especially well, emphasizing their presence as opposed to dampening the spotlight on the other. The energetic passion and theatrical approach, combined with the fusion of Funk, Old School, Futuristic, and even remnants of the Freestyle era develop a most believable social and emotional campaign. 

Darcie-Nicole Wicknick, Music Business Consultant
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