Later that Day

He's back! Oh, what, you're unfamiliar with Lyrics Born? Well, do you want to hear an emcee who raps the way most of us think? You want something different? Anyone who has followed a few of LB's solo single releases in the last year or two will find this album fairly familiar territory with a vast majority of the tracks containing singing, notably from the Solesides crews 'first lady' - Joyo Velarde. The music has that flavour that can only be described as 'California'. It's not 'cutting-edge' music in terms of being the most subtle or moody, and to many, even the singing may sound cliched or obvious at times, but it is what it is. Me? I think it's got soul, accepting that, I could only label this music as very honest, unpretentious, very straightforward and perfectly plain enough for the emcee to do exactly what he wants. As much as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers or Joni Mitchell embodied what California was all about to their fans, Lyrics Born has here an album that will make all hip-hop residents of the Golden State feel proud.

"Rise and Shine" is probably the earliest gem, with the speed-of-light-mumbling-emcee-style that lyrics born created, being used to devastating effect. To have the lyrics in front of you is a must, and to smile and nod your head will be your pleasant side-effect. About half of the album contains tracks that aren't particularly focused in terms of subject-matter (although when the emcee is Lyrics Born, the tracks are always going to be crammed with humorous and interesting thoughts anyway) but those tracks that do have a real unique/cohesive feel, both musically and lyrically, only serve to take your ears to even higher places.

"Last trumpet" is the one gem that features Lateef 'the truth speaker', reuniting the 'Latyrx' partnership that no two lyricists in hip-hop can even come close to. More than that however, this is an unbelievable piece of music. Lateef and LB touch on social and international issues like healthcare, government, rebellion to the government, and even the prisoners locked up in Guantanamo Bay without trial. The music also, builds and builds, remeniscent of the recent Radiohead classic "Sit Down, Stand up". But what is truly impressive is that with each verse, the view of the two emcees gets broader and broader, whilst they begin talking about the actual issues that are affecting the world, they also have the foresight, intelligence and discipline on the mic to offer solutions to those problems on the more inspirational final verse. "The only option we can profit from is movement toward the positive progressive thought thats rooted up in consciousness...We have the opportunity of self-improvement, we can reinforce the strength of the family unit" spoken in true lyrics born-style on the mic. How many emcees today talk about the importance of family? How many emcees are even aware that the family as we know it is a dying institution? How many know the importance of family? It's small nuggets and verses like these that have always set apart Lyrics Born from the others.

"Love Me so Bad" is one of the delicious final cuts, dripping wet with a dub/caribbean influence, a slack, lazy beat, and some truly seductive singing from Joyo. This track really comes along at the right time too, giving the album just enough time to catch it's breathe after all the hot bangers that have preceeded it. The chorus of the final track "One Session" has Lyrics Born sounding more like Sean Paul than Lyrics Born, and all Latyrx fans will also welcome the third verse, in which he resumes his 'science professor' emceeing voice that we heard on the opening cut of that classic Latyrx LP.

California has a conscience, Blackalicious and Latyrx have always utilised their gifts in a way that puts their message at the very forefront. Why should Lyrics Born waste 16 tracks talking about how dope they he is behind the mic? Every single inspirational and emotional verse he spits already does that anyway, his gift is so apparent that he thankfully doesn't feel the need to spell out the obvious. The message is the more important thing, however one thing that puts Latyrx, and most of all Lyrics Born aside from all other emcees is that he truly does have a style of his own. If anyone ever needed proof, then his album is the reason that not everyone can be an emcee. Make sure you pick it up if you want to feel refreshed.

Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi , 02 Oct 2003

-audio clip comes courtesy of the best online hip-hop store, sandbox automatic

-for the most dedicated info. on all things Solesides, (Lateef, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious, DJ Shadow etc.) then check out Solesides.com