Smile Politely. Speak Directly. A Champaign-Urbana Culture Blog

Why only five? Cause ten would make the man lose sleep!

It seems that the industry’s continual search for flash-in-the-pan “bangers” has done more than just dumb down mainstream hip-hop. It has made it virtually impossible to find complete pieces of work, whole albums that stand as a cohesive offering. Albums like A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, The Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication or Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides are becoming rarities. Don’t fret — I found at least five albums worth your time this year.

5. Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!
(Independent)

Saul Williams first caught my eye with his turn as poet Ray Joshua in the 1998 film Slam! That performance led to a record deal with Columbia, but years of delays made for a quiet release of his 2001 debut, Amethyst Rock Star (produced by Rick Rubin). Eventually freeing himself from the label’s grip, he released the very disappointing Saul Williams on the Fader imprint in 2004. After providing support for their 2006 European With Teeth tour, he launched a collaboration with Nine Inch Nails captain Trent Reznor. The result is a ground-breaking collection of modern hip-hop that has an unmatched bite, both musically and lyrically. Most tracks carry that familiar industrial grit that we have come to know as trademark Reznor, but there is no shortage of surprises (including a cover of U2's “Sunday Bloody Sunday”). Williams repeatedly tackles society and the industry on tracks like “Black History Month” and “Tr(n)igger,” the later repeatedly sampling Public Enemy’s “Welcome to the Terrordome." A truly revolutionary album that gives a spark of hope for future collaborations. Oh, and it’s totally free.

Favorite line: “Would Jesus Christ come back American? What if he’s Iraqi and here again?”

4. Pharoahe Monch - Desire
(SRC Records)

Pharoahe Monch (Troy Donald Jamerson) first stepped onto the scene after co-founding the east coast outfit Organized Konfusion. By 1999 he had penned his solo effort Internal Affairs (Rawkus) and secured his place in history by giving us the underground classic “Simon Says." But where Affairs was gritty and underground, Desire is soulful and slick. Working with a host of producers (and even manning the boards for a few tracks himself), Monch gracefully combines swing, gospel and boom-bap, making this album a true triple threat. The infectious first single, “Push,” induces head-nods with horn lines and causes head-scratches with tongue twister lines like “Make you notice me/ be like, ‘damn, dude’s on some, totally’/when he rides the bass line like Ginoblili/I’m vocally unmatched globally." At 40 years old, he’s twice the emcee of most cats half his age.

Favorite line: “I’m the poetical pastor/slave to a label but I own my masters”

3. Krukid - Afr-I-can
(Cash Hill/Rawkus 50)

Hailing from Uganda, East Africa, Krukid (Edwin Ruyonga) now resides here in Champaign– Urbana. His first album was released locally on Cash Hill Records and earned him a spot in the Rawkus 50 (a fresh roster of underground talent promoted by the recently reborn Rawkus imprint). Working with no budget on a three week deadline, Krukid (along with Cash Hill CEO Sanya N’Kanta and Cincinnati producer John Doe) managed to put together not only a local gem, but a classic record that holds its own amongst peers worldwide. His true talent lies in his vocabulary and storytelling. Content ranges from struggles in Africa (“Invisible," “City Life," “On and On”) to the struggles of an independent artist (“Live," “Real Talk”). Garnishing praise from URB magazine and ?uestlove's site Okayplayer and sharing stages with Lupe Fiasco and The Ying Yang Twins, Ruyonga is well on his way to making Uganda and C-U swell with pride.

Favorite line: “There’s a difference between keeping it real and keeping it realistic/This just isn’t a skill it’s my meal ticket”

2. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
(Def Jux)

Raw. Intelligent. Soothsayer. These words have all been used to describe Aesop Rock (Ian Bavitz), former New York emcee who migrated to San Francisco in 2005 (after marrying Parchman Farm bassist Allyson Baker). I’ll be honest, when I first heard Aesop on 2001's Labor Days, I was tempted to write him off as a nonsense artist. His rapid-fire riddles and low register snarl seemed like fodder strictly for the backpackers. But further listens helped pull back the curtain and allowed me to take in his true genius. My conclusion: he’s one of America’s greatest modern poets. Honestly. Learning institutes around the globe should be teaching his works over hacks like Robert Frost. None Shall Pass shows maturity as an emcee and as a producer (Ace Rock is credited with producing 5 tracks). The truth is, the mainstream will never love him. He speaks over the heads of the masses, but he seems to be at peace with that, and his album sales prove that there’s a solid fan base of fans with room to grow.

Favorite line: “If Noah had the benefit of hindsight on his ship/He coulda snatched two unicorns and left behind the motherfuckin’ pigs”

1. Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
(Rhymesayers)

In 2002, I went to The Highdive to see Atmosphere. Opening the show was Brother Ali, a six foot tall, legally blind albino Muslim. What I saw and heard that night stuck like an arrowhead. His presence, his soul, his passion, his carefully crafted lyrics confidently gliding over Ant beats - a true emcee, and hungry too. The Undisputed Truth, his third release for Rhymesayers, is everything that the mainstream fails to be: real. He talks about the war (“Letter From the Government," “Uncle Sam Goddamn”), he talks about his family (“Walking Away," “Faheem”) and he once again proves why he is a world-class emcee (“Pedigree," “Listen Up”). Not since KRS One and Chuck D has there been such an important teacher in hip-hop. Someone who not only tells it like it is, but tells it intelligently. Folks, I’m happy to say that the truth is here and yes, the truth will set you free.

Favorite line: “Talking ‘bout you don’t support a crackhead/What you think happens to the money from your taxes?/Shit the government’s an addict/With a billion dollar a week kill-brown-people habit”

Photo courtesy of Lindsey Markel