Get The Picture
label: puah hed

producers: draino, rooks, weapon x, suffa, aux one, osinaka, fg.
guests: a-love, muphin, nick sweeper, troy, solomon klepto.
year of release: 2002
contact: draino_no1@hotmail.com
 
Draino is a legend of Australian hip hop. And if he isn't then he should be. Because he's the man behind the incredible "OZ Cella" (read this review for more information, as well as visit www.ozhiphop.com/cella). That in itself is an accomplishment that must secure him a place in the pantheon of this underestimated scene. Underestimated because, I mean, how many Australian hip hop songs do you know or own? Okay, now all Aussies put their hand down.
Now consider this: Australia established itself as one place to go to if you tour the world, what means that surprisingly many artists make it down under, what obviously rubs off on the music recorded amongst kangaroos and koalas. And as the big name artists fail to tour the world, it's the music of the underground musicians that offered inspiration. What you can hear in the Australian hip hop, what can't be a bad thing.
Draino is also part of the Puah Hedz, and with their album (reviewed here) having been good, there's a certain looking forward to listening to this album, going on. An album that is very personal. Hence the meaning behind "Get The Picture" is to a big extend, if you are able to grasp Draino as a person. To secure that, he speaks upon a lot of personal topics, that are either personal about him, or important to his person. And as Draino is a real artist, he went to lengths to get this album, and with it his opinions out. Including leaving his job and with it security, jumping face or thought first into a music career.

tracklisting
1. Delayed Reaction
2. Out Of Place feat. A-Love
3. Severely Fragmented
4. Left Behind feat. Muphin
5. Reality Meltdown
6. Avocations feat. Nick Sweeper, Troy, Solomon Klepto
7. No Look Pass

8. Shadow Of Fear
9. Future Investments
10. Sweet Dreams
11. Rookie City
12. Info Leakage
13. Karran Rabalam
And there's plenty on this album that reduces this move from highly risky to loosely calculated. Because there's enough songs on here that are just good and there's no arguing. Like "Out Of Place", a song featuring femcee A-Love, or "Left Behind", a collaboration with his Puah comrade Muphin. Both collaborators match the vibe of the album with similarly thoughtful verses, while the production remains musical, while also somewhat humble in the back. What is no complaint about what Rooks and Suffa did on these two songs, but it also moves the songs away from a mainstream pop appeal.
There's big parts of the album that demand some effort to follow what happens (to note are "Severely Fragmented" and "Avocations", and later on "Info Leakage"), we are getting closer to the three Osinaka beats that hog the middle ground on the album. But in quality they reserved some quality seats. That's why "No Look Pass" is one of the best songs on here, with the hallow tube sounds being excellent. And they make the always good rhymes by Draino sound even better. And on here, Draino is passing out appreciative hugs, thanking chosen few for their support. What however is the most remarkable, that you can tell how much Draino means what he says and the appreciation rises to a size that's easy to grasp. It however also has a certain farewell feel to it, almost sounding like the hip hop "My Way". But as it's not the last song on the album, we shall not consider it to be just that.
So the sequencing was done right, with "Shadow Of Fear" coming next, and it picks up the pace and makes us feel better. Despite this not going for the happy, bouncy, hooray. The break calms the song down, and it provides Draino with listening ears, as he's talking about approaching the fears with the necessary resources. Thematically similar progresses "Future Investments", the last Osinaka produced song on here. And it doesn't disappoint, especially compared to the Asian vibes of "Sweet Dreams", that don't do the song too much good. Better is the self produced "Rookie City", that speaks on the loneliness of being an intelligent and reflective person in the puddle of ignorance.
On "Karran Rabalam" the vibes are dropped again, with Draino finding a conclusion that does not seem to be his full satisfaction. He's also confronting everyone that pretends to know him. This however could have been song number one, because after this album, we do get an idea of the picture. Because, as much as Draino always hides under a hood, he lets the guard down on this album. The diary thoughts expose him blatantly and that makes or breaks the record. Because they are often too deep to be entertainment, maybe even reducing the entertaining potential of the album. That shouldn't make it a bad album though. But it also does not make it automatically good, or better, it doesn't make it an album for everyone.
P.S. As a bonus feature, this CD works as a CD-Rom with information on all the mixtapes Draino has done.
review: tadah
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