GENOCIDE: The Preview
Aspiring to be socially relevant while creating Christ centered music, namely
hip-hop, with Genocide, The Yuinon takes on the ambitious task of confronting
the state of hip-hop head on. From the opening bangs of The Block, the listener
is pulled into a journey of rugged, urban, salvation focused social commentary.
You’ve heard the subject matter these songs address dealt with before in
hip-hop, but to build an entire album around the idea of hip-hop’s apparent
fascination with self-destruction is bold to say the least. To do it and achieve
these results is an impressive accomplishment.
Although primarily helmed by Maji, the 21 track Genocide also benefits from
production assists of Temple (Mad Prophets), I-Ron-Ic-Lee (A.O.N.) and 4 Sights
Sounds. The artists featured on this effort (don’t get it twisted, this
is not a compilation but a movement) all have different delivery styles and in
their own way capture the concept’s content well.
When Light Da Flow Minister spits the last verse on “The Block”,
it’s like she intrudes on it. With her trademark attention grabbing flow
she becomes the exclamation point after Jack’s fire and quickly lets anyone
who is curious know that Genocide is no H.I.M. Project.
“Drugs, money, sex, ice, hooks, beats
and cars, I’m sick of the same seven topics on every sixteen bars!”
– Light / The Block
I’m with you sis, fa sho! It’s hard to not to do a track by track
analysis because this review would be three pages but even the interludes help
drive the point of the CD home. The hilarious “America’s Role Model” probably
could’ve opened the album but it fits nicely before the brief verse by
Seven that crystallizes the album’s message and asks.
“Why are we (the hip hop generation) participatin’ in
our own extermination?”
Precise is arguably at his best on Genocide. His three solos rank with his
best work from Mark of The East (M.O.T.E) or Resistance Iz Futile. Somehow, with
live drums and piano, “Preach” has a classic Wu or M.O.T.E. feel
to it. “G.E.M” is just that, easily the best wifey or relationship
joint in our genre I’ve heard in a while, maybe ever. The live guitar which
is highlighted near the end is unexpected quality musicianship that’s often
lacking outside of a 4th Ave joint. Mahogany Jones is all over Genocide too,
in skit form, in collabo mode, on a remix but most notably on “Warrior”.
If this joint, which rebuts Soldier by Destiny’s Child, gets an iota of
the airplay that song got, our shorties will begin gettin’ some much needed
help with their relationships. Even if it doesn’t, yall know whassup cop
it and pass it around. Produced by Temple of the Mad Prophets and Maji, (not
to mention EP from A.O.N. on the hook) this joint, with its energy, catchy hook,
and refrain is made for radio.
"I don’t need a whole lotta bravada,
I don’t care if ya poppin Cris or poppin' ya colla, Poppin wheelies' inside
of ya purple Impala, Keep ya hustlas and gangstas, I want me a Scholar!"
- Mahogany Jones / Warrior
I’m already a page in so just a couple more highlights and the rest
will have to be surprises for yall. On “Man Up” (yall knew it’d
be a race to see who grabbed that slogan as a song title first), a hookless track
where a hungry Diallo spits with mad energy over a guitar laced, driving drum
beat that epitomizes Maji’s bottom heavy style, the listener is left begging
for more.
"You simply wanna blow slugs, keep the
mindset of a po' thug, blame it on the fact that you grew up wit no love. Its
time to grow up, man up, pull ya pants up, praisin' is the only time you should
be caught with ya hands up!"
- Diallo / Man Up
I’ll stop here, (CD reviews are not supposed to be this long) cause
each song can warrant its own paragraph and minus the interludes, there’s
like 20 joints. But what about the rare male-female collabo “Off Da Hook” with
the Missy-esque track featuring Quan of the Mad Prophets and Mahogany Jones,
or the Mad Prophets’ group joint that’s a study in great mixing with
the crisp production and filtered horns that asks our community “Where’s
The Progress?” Geez, talk about gettin’ your money’s worth!
This CD is loaded! Let me warn you though, Genocide is unashamedly hood friendly
so you might struggle selecting the track to have bumping when that brotha on
the block you been prayin’ for is within earshot. Now that’s the
kinda problem we need more of.
Genocide gives listeners a few surprises in the form of unexpected remixes
that breathe new life into some joints The Yuinon previewed on previous releases,
and a breezy vocal surprise from a newcomer who gives us a glimpse into the future
of Yuinon Records. I don’t even have words for Zion’s closing joint “Death
to the Flesh.” All I can say is its b-a-n-a-n-a-s!! With Genocide, The
Yuinon solidifies itself as a leading voice in Hip Hop that demands to be heard.
Now how do we get it into the hands of those who need to hear it most? Do your
thing Lord.
- vessel 09/06/05
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