It's pretty exciting to have watched a musical style's evolution over the course of your lifetime. Such is the case with myself and hip-hop. I've been able to follow it from its Sugarhill Gang and Funky Four + 1 More upbringing all the way to its current state with artists like Company Flow, Jay Z, and The Streets keeping the creativity and quality levels high. So whenever any new artists come around, I have to perk up my ears, if only fleetingly, to see what they have to offer. Thankfully, the new artist in question is a fantastic trio from Portland who call themselves Lifesavas and their album is a funny, politically charged, and imaginatively produced ride that I encourage all to take a spin on.
Case in point, the track Hellohihey. Over a bubbling bass lick and hopping beat, MCs Vursatyl and Jumbo bob and weave a hilarious and knowing tale of the ego prevalent in hip-hop. It all starts off as a conversation with an overambitious MC who fronts a 30 member group, has just completed a 15 CD box set of their work, and will not be ignored. Following that is a phone call from another MC who insists on having a spotlight cameo on their latest album. As the two Lifesavas fight off subtle jabs at their own talent and humor the two boasters as best they can, it finally comes to light in the last verse that these back and forths were really manifestations of their own ego. It sounds crazy, I know, but they actually have the talent and lyrical ability to make the narrative plausible and even give you, the listener, pause as you wonder about your own big-headedness.
As bold as the lyrics are on this album, the production takes it firmly to the next level. Each track is full of either witty sing-song samples (the children's record taking the lead on Skeletons or the cut and pasting of exercise records for Head Exercise) or is carried along by an off-kilter beat that will have you scratching your head or your records trying to replicate it.
Also featuring notable cameos by fellow Quannum family members Latyrx, Blackalicious, and DJ Shadow (all used to perfection on the mindblowing track Emerge), this new album's only fault is that they could have trimmed it back a bit. There's a few unnecessary (albeit funny) skits and one or two tracks that aren't up to par with the rest of the record. Despite those paltry issues, this is one of the finest hip hop achievements released this year and announces the arrival of a fantastic new hip-hop talent that I'm sure we'll hear a lot more from in the future.
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