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| tracklisting |
| 1. The Hip-Hop Ten Commandments |
| 2. The Hardcore March |
| 3. Some Knew |
| 4. M.U.N. (Man U Nuts) |
| 5. Newfinloons feat. The Butler, Matt Labatt, M.C. Frank Deluxe, Thesis Sahib |
| 6. Integrity feat. Skratch Bastid |
| 7. Sleep Deprivation |
| 8. My Love Song |
| 9. Contemporary Stimulation |
| 10. Rock N Roll Sucks |
| 11. Sarcasm |
| 12. Don't Flatter Yourself feat. Jesse Dangerously |
| 13. Improvement |
| 14. Rhymin' w/ The Biz feat. Jay Bizzy |
| 15. Toy Talk |
| 16. Get Off The Tip feat. M.C. Frank Deluxe |
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| Clearly Johnny Hardcore must have some talent. The emcee who took first at the 2002 Canadian DJ Olympics in Halifax is shining new light on the Canadian hip-hop scene. The self-titled solo release from this member of the East Canadian crew The Verbals proves that America's friendly
northern neighbor has more to offer than snow, flannel and fish. |
| "Johnny Hardcore" may be a solo release but the incorporation of The Verbals crew and its all-around quality in production, DJing and rhyming make this album very enjoyable. The production team does a nice job of providing Johnny Hardcore with a variety of solid beats ranging
from Lo-Fi's bass centered background in "M.U.N. (Man U Nuts)" to the ill bohemian percussion supplied by Andrew Kilgour on "Contemporary Stimulation" to Jesse Dangerously's
blues-sounding guitar on "Don't Flatter Yourself." Perhaps best of all is the presence of the forgotten art of scratching which is featured on almost every track. DJs Jabba the Cut, Uncle Fester and Skratch Bastid all complement Johnny
Hardcore with their turntablistic talents, proving once again that scratching has a place outside of just clubs and basement parties. |
| Despite the help of his friends, Johnny Hardcore himself does a nice job on this album. Hardcore pulls off the tough job of varying his flow from ultra fast to concisely slow seemingly on command. His fast verses "Newfinloons" and "Improvement"
are a polished combination of brash audacity and sheer quickness, both of which groove nicely with the tight beats. However, Johnny flips the switch just as nicely on the lyrically whimsical "Sarcasm" in which he jokes "I'm a born loser / legal substance abuser / I practice abstinence
/ because everyone woman's a refuser." On arguably the album's best number, the aforementioned "Contemporary Stimulation," Hardcore displays his versatility by unleashing a smooth delivery that is a similar to spoken word. With
the exception of dull tracks "Get Off The Tip" and "Rock N' Roll Sucks" in which Johnny's flow does not meld in well with the production, the multifaceted sounds on this album is nonetheless impressive. |
| If the 2002 DJ Championships symbolized Johnny Hardcore's potential, then this album is the validation of his accomplishments; perhaps not immediately in terms of Billboard or mainstream success, but at least in pointing the radar towards Canadian hip-hop. Although this is a solo
release, solid guest appearances by fellow Verbals crew members Jabba the Cut and RZA-sounding emcee Jay Bizzy give listeners a taste of what could be in-store for the future. Whether Hardcore's next work is a collaboration effort or another solo release, keep your ears open and your radar on to the
Great White North. |
| review: penczar |
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