|
|
|
|
 |
| tracklisting |
| 1. I'm Your Idol |
| 2. Dopesick w/ Goretex |
| 3. Reign In Blood w/ Ill Bill |
| 4. Street Veteran w/ Mr. Hyde |
| 5. Swodfish (Ill Bill) |
| 6. Anguish & Agression |
| 7. The Big Sleep (Goretex) |
| 8. White Slavery feat. Ill Bill |
| 9. Scumbags (Goretex & Ill Bill) |
| 10. Frank Zito feat. Ill Bill |
| 11. Our Life w/ Ill Bill |
| 12. Morbid Shit |
| 13. Every Second Somone Dies |
| 14. Fire |
| 15. Talking Shit |
| 16. Watch Ya Toes |
| 17. The Big Sleep (Remix) (Goretex) |
|
 |
|
|
| I may not be a fan of Necro but, from an objective and strictly journalistic point of view, it's difficult not to be complimentary about a lot of the music he puts out. His work can be loosely grouped alongside that of artists such as Non Phixion (who appear on this album) and Cage,
although his perversity and taste for violent imagery places him far ahead of these and any other rappers I've ever heard of. |
| For those unfamiliar with Necro's infamous notoriety, the music he offers on "Brutality Part 1" - with the assistance of solo raps from Goretex and Ill Bill (of Non Phixion) - follows directly in line with the subject matter of his previous releases. All three rappers explore
varied (and, occasionally, very innovative) ways to kill anyone who might get in their way, as well as a great number of innocent bystanders. And the sickness doesn't stop there; Necro in particular revels in drug usage and abuse, and displays both a disturbing contempt for women and a predilection
for mistreating them horrendously before they too are killed off. |
| The production on "Brutality Part 1" also follows in the well-established tradition of Necro's music, and it's in regards to this production that the journalist in me can't help but begin to say good things about this album. In line with the subjects he chooses to speak
on, Necro produces tracks which use unsettling and atmospheric piano or string samples, backed up by a strong beat and underlined by solid bass. "I'm Your Idol" is a prime example of the success of this relatively simplistic formula, and illustrates
Necro's talent for supplying a beat which perfectly fits the lyrics that run over it. |
| After the first seven gruesome tracks, "White Slavery" is the single most deranged and terrifying moment on the album, as well as being one of the two best production efforts. Ill Bill, Necro's (just slightly) less disturbed
brother assists his sibling in relating intentions to kidnap and drug women and then sell them into prostitution and sexual slavery, providing Necro doesn't decide to have them beat each other to death first. Even in the context of the album's other tracks, "White Slavery" ascends to new levels
of horror and immorality, but while you marvel at just how disgusting Necro manages to be, you can't help but admire the genius usage of an emotive piano riff in the production below. "Our Life" - which comes later in the tracklisting - uses
a similar piano as the backdrop for Necro and Ill Bill's reminiscence about their childhood. If it's possible there's any reasoning behind what Necro does, the answer may lie in the lyrics of this track, as we're invited to view the world of street violence and negligent parenthood that the twisted
brothers apparently grew up in. |
| Tracks like "Every Second Somone Dies" and "Frank Zito" provide the album with some notable low points as their comparatively-weak production neither adds to nor, in fact, justifies the disgust of the lyrics
that are rhymed over it. "Swordfish" and "Fire", on the other hand, break away somewhat from Necro's typical production formula - the first uses eastern-influence strings, and the second relies heavily on a sung female vocal - but make for strong tracks nonetheless. |
| With "Brutality Part 1", Necro delivers another album that cements my opinion he has musical talent, but further assures me that I'll never be a fan of his work, because I simply don't understand it. As well as regularly producing impressive tracks, Necro is clearly also
talented at constructing lyrics and subsequently rapping them. Although "Anguish & Agression" is one of the weaker tracks on "Brutality…" Necro's verses sound uncannily like Big Pun in both tone and flow, and the invitation
of such a comparison is an accolade in itself. My main issue, therefore, is that I can't comprehend why Necro limits himself and his music to expression of themes which seemingly have little more purpose than to offend the listener. Nonetheless, fans of his earlier music will no doubt love "Brutality
Part 1" and, while I'm unsure I'll ever choose to listen to it again, I find it's still inspired me to write a relatively favourable review. |
| review: cornerstone |
|
