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| Ask many people who their favorite Living Legends crew members are, and Bicasso will be an unlikely answer. Maybe because he's busy, but not as busy as the others. Sure, he has many releases to his trackrecord, but the number looks small compared to what a Grouch puts out for example.
So if the favorite selection is merely due to power in numbers, Bicasso is standing little chance. |
| The audience however gets another chance to really get into his music, as he's releasing a 'don't call it an album' album "For Rent". He's not hesitant to admit that he puts this 'next installation of the Bicasso classics' out, in order for him to pay his bills (so said
on "4 Rent" - of course - and in the linernotes). Dude's gotta eat. So any purchase of this record goes into the 'keep Bicasso alive' fund. What's however good though, you buying this record is more than just charity. |
| Because as often as Bicasso left us demanding more (or something else), he handpicked a couple of good to bad to listenable to exiting to etc. songs for this record. They are from the last three years and are all in his 'dirtworkslumporiginalius' style, but actually better. Like the
great musicanship on "Cryin' Game", something that other LL members have tried to create before, but failed. Also due to their nack for synthetic instrumentation. Something that Bicasso strays far away from, or at least hides well enough. The piano on "Able 2 See" is
also a joy to listen to, while a little less thick, but none the less good is "Madeit Ina Minute", a song that shines with a remote guitar, moments of description and Bicasso's lyrics reflecting the supposed spontaneity by circling several
different topics. At the same time however, this sounds grown up. Something that Bicasso mentions himself on "Self Song", where he speaks about the 'grown man' perspective. The whole of the album is void of ignorance, apart from when the artists are consciously silly. Although there's
few really silly moments on here, but surprisingly many serious efforts. So again "Get It 2gether feat. CMA" a collaboration with CMA. |
| There's more lyrically strong moments on here, like "Better With Time", the collaboration with Pep Love, which are often paired with good beats too. And "4 Rent"
is quite likely the best moment with an immaculate beat, that captures a great night time vibe, and gives an extra plus during the chorus. The words are honest, easy to relate to, and completing a great song. It also fits the vibe of the song following called "Amazing People", one of
the two songs that T Root produced. He puts a shuffling drum next to a 'in the back hovering' vibes. Vibes that return on "I Think U R", which is the Bicasso love tune. |
| With these moments really appealing, it's only fair to mention the moments that keep us partially unhappy: "Respect Yourself (Keep It All In Line)" sounds old, what however is not what gives us a hard time. It seems to borrow from several past styles, adding little
new to 'em, thus keeping the quality of the beat behind the quality of the inspired and conscious lyrics. Similarly "All Aboard" or "Think 2wice" works, but does little else. Built upon a couple of known samples, the beat
fails to attract the same bravo many of the other songs on this album do. |
| The less the expectations the bigger the surprise, huh? Well, with this record, and quite likely with the 'official album' that's hopefully soon to come, the remaining Bay Area resident really pleased us with this record. Not only will we be very glad to listen to it again and a many
more times, we will also go back to the other releases, simply to figure out if we previously missed something that today we will finally get. |
| review: tadah |
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