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SLUM VILLAGE/Fantastic, Vol. 2

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SLUM VILLAGE/Fantastic, Vol. 2
B.|||||||||9.4
R.||||||||8.1
O.|||||||7.8

every once in awhile comes a shining example of sons or shes who arrive with breeze that refreshes because of its I.O.W.I.C.--that is innovative originality with ingenious creativity that becomes relevant once you envision the imagery. RZA brought the dark, deep and dirty like EL-P with some b-boy philosophy or DJ MUGGS whose search for soulful samples is history--when it's time for another ray to shine and blow up like landmines around random points of the country, where the past time is hip-hop listening and some of those people are hungry.

this summer we were particularly blessed with a triple set of professionals who ingest this soul and not play themselves out like rock-n-roll. take SLUM VILLAGE for example. first off, they invent their own samples with styles in beats, and they have ample abilities, so i forsee sore achilles' and dancefloors trampled. i can say for sure that they have mastered the art of making moods that your feet feel even inside your shoes, spinal cords make a quick call up to your neck and your head begins to move, these dudes from detroit are the definition of groove.

start with "Conant Gardens" if you want to know what it's like to be smooth--reminiscent of Q-TIP's album, that's now got J-DEE in the news, first as a sickass producer from PHARCYDE fame (even though some thought the album was lame--haters playing the game,) and now working with that COMMON that used to have sense in his name. bounce to "Climax" with attention aimed at making females not knowing how to act, using the art of speech and beat to be the ultimate mack: "you ain't gotta play hard to get, i know you, i know you like the art of sex, i'm putting down my plan like an architect, it's for you and oh, we can all get wet, i gotta lotta nerve talking this to you, right, i'm straight up honey, this should make sense to you, girl, you ain't gotta front, don't be acting dumb, and if you got the goods, then i want some…"

to move the butt they get you to "Raise it Up," a hypnotic electric piano loop that's accentuated with synthesized bass and makes you raise your hands and put on a serious face: "aiite, okay, yup, it was me, yes I must admit it, it was that nigga T3, yeah, yeah, I did it, okay, blame it on me...anyway, I got a crew that always gives you what you need, we don't hold it against you if your crew ain't up to speed…" they thrive on the ride of the beat, concept's not too unique, but it's the way they freak that makes their flow so sweet and fluid, although accused of being jiggy by a few kids, these cats keep it sacred like a druid with his holy cave scripts.