producers: kool akiem

The first taste i got of the Micranots came in early 2000, when i was fortunate enough to catch the "All Live / 141 Million Miles" 12 inch at Rewind Records in Atlanta. I can remember askin my man who i was with at the time "damn, who are these kids?" The superb production and exceptional vocalistics had me open. I was then informed that the Micranots were residents of Atlanta, and were opening up for Public Enemy soon. Come to find out, the Micranots were actually from all over, having had stints in Minnesota and the West Coast before hitting Atlanta. Too bad these two cuts didn't make it onto the album, (you can find them on their "Farward" EP which was released a few months before this album) but not to fret, they have more than enough hot tracks to make up for it.

The album's first two tracks "Pitch Black Ark" and "Preperations" are some of the hottest tracks the Micranots have to offer. Both tracks spotlight raw drums programmed with a minimalist approach as the samples really stand to complement the drum track. This is definitly emcee music, for any emcee out there who doesn't catch a vibe while listening to these tracks, lacks a neck in order to nod their heads. I-Self Divine is a superb emcee, who weaves knowledge of self tales in an energetic flow that complements the tracks whipped up by Kool Akiem to a tee.

But by far, the hottest track honors goes to "Queen Supreme," where Kool Akiem drops an insane track for I-Self to spit about the composition of love in a feminine form in the complex entity known as life. Another track worth noting is "Visualistic," an uptempo track where I-Self shares mic time with Mark Spekt and Stahhr da Femcee. Mark Spekt is ok, I-Self brings it, but the spotlight is straight jacked by Stahhr, who brings such heat and rawness that jaws can't help but drop as she rips the track to shreds. Those who know me, know that for me to give juice to a female emcee, is a rare occurrence, so you know Stahhr is definitly bringing the goods.

There isn't one weak track on the album, but Kool Akiem's production does drag at certain points on the project. Cuts like "Move," "Mother's Day," and "Analyze" don't bang as hard as other cuts. Also, while I-Self shows extreme durability and skill, on some tracks, it almost seems as if his vocals are getting lost in the track, whether it is due to the mixing, or if it's just his constant non-stop barrage style, you often find yourself diggin his flow, but must sit to absorb the lyrics.

In all honesty, sometimes i will play this album in it's entirety and marvel at the dopeness, while at other times, i find myself hittin only certain tracks and moving on. I will say this, the more i listened to it, the more i liked this album, and to be honest, "Pitch Black Ark," "Preperations," and "Queen Supreme" are worth the price of the cd alone. Support innovation done in a conscious light.