11. B.K. Official feat. Fort Knoxx

Mr Noise got his name out as the provider of beats on Rack-Lo's last album. He now steps into the forefront, picking up the mic, to rhyme over his own beats, as every track on here was produced by himself. And just like Noise says on the first track "Illegal Tender": "'Scamology' is not for everyone". True. But why, we shall find out during the review.

In any way, the previously mentioned "Illegal Tender" is the first of a series of many tracks that talks about 'the hustle' and 'hustling'. "Scamtastic" is then going for some Swizz Beat style, what is not the best thing to do, especially if you don't recreated the same hyped intensity sometimes found in that guys beats. Lyrically Noise steps up his flow, and hence takes this further in style. On the cut "The Prowler", we get some of the necessary humor when it comes to this kind of topic. Here we listen to Noise entering a house, and basically stripping it bare. The second verse does the same to a car, and as said, it's done well, as it's not done too serious. "Armed Robbery" features a better beat, as the strings are giving this a cool feel. It also features Fort Knoxx, helping out lyrically.

The style is then completely changed for "All About", with it going for a stuttering style, and as obscure this sounds, and as fake the keyboard organ is, for some odd reason, this is strangely appealing. Also lyrically we move away from the hustling rhymes, and are now listening to Noise doing some nasty terminology concerning females. Following up, there's a "Skit", that takes us to "Keep It Movin'", that is once more featuring Fort Knoxx, just like "Scamlogy", the title track does. Now, the first is rather hype, with the second being more straight, and going for some flowing verses, about the usual subjects. An "Interlude" is then operating as intro to "Real World", where again Noise is hooking up a rather chaotic beat, that once more works, with the demanding piano, and a slicing horn during the chorus. Here Noise is talking about his surrounding, and what he sees and does, as well as the ills, the cracks and the hindrances.

Once more the vibe is turned 180 degrees, as "B.K. Official", the last track featuring Knoxx, is going for a club ready beat, this doing the 70s disco vibe. And lyrically this goes for the braggadocios, besides it coming up with lines like "they say it's mind over matter / I don't mind so it don't matter". This track is cool. Another "Skit" is coming on before "City Slickers", that features Mill. This beat is taking a funk sample and is having it progress untypical, as it again is adding several other sounds, and combining it with somewhat consciously misplaced other samples. But again, in all the chaos, there's a structure that is strangely appealing. Then there's another "Interlude", before Noise teams up with Rack-Lo, and the Lo Life member is treated with one of the best beats on the album. "Gung Ho" is in the chaotic style we have been talking about several times now, but again pulled off well. It also creeps on you, as suddenly the rhymes start, and at first you think this is just some intro talking, before it unfolds into a whole verse. Lyrically we listen to some battling verses, combined with the necessary amount of street references.

The beat on "Ghetto Style Flava" is another dope offering, as it goes for bluesy sounds and again it's not restraining itself to anything typical, what we certainly enjoy. Here Noise is also matching the tradition of his source with more thoughtful rhymes, taking this beyond the action movie matter. And things are kept coming with "Because I'm Black". Now, as we don't know the song, so to our shame, have to admit, that we don't know if this is the song this sample is originating from, and it's kept here in its original appearance, simply due to it being an incredible song. In a way it sounds like that. The album then stays in the more serious waters with "Lifeline", that's also progressing untypical. Noise is remembering where he came from, making this a gripping first person account on what's still the reality for many, and what often gets lost amongst all the focusing on glamour. We give a lot of props to tracks like this. And we are left with another "Skit", before "Guilty By Association" ends the album, it taking us back topic wise, with some more rhymes going for the punchlines, with the lyrics being set in a court room.

This album could have been a hassle. It could have force fed us 20 tracks of glorifying thug, street, hustle rhymes. Luckily it doesn't. It actually gives us a combination of some serious songs, as well as more prominently a couple of songs about those mentioned topics, but they are explored and showcased with humor, as well as willingness to ironic twists. And with the beats being all over the place and pretty crazy, we get an interesting record, that is giving you a little trouble to opening up to it, due to its oddness at times. However, it's a worthy addition to this hip hop field.