producers: willtell, noise

After the big series on the Lo-Lifes, a whole bunch of people know about them now, that didn't know when we reviewed the first Rack Lo album. And things have changed for Rack too, who now releases albums including bar codes, original beats, and everything else that separates the homemade records from a professional release. Of course that doesn't automatically mean that the album is that level better too, but to find that out, we are listening to this here and reviewing it, right?

The record opens with a short "The Search (Intro)", that's on some movie script vibe. With the Noise produced "Merk" we get the first full track. The beat does hide more nifty details than first thought, and that makes it dope. Such a cool beat, and the one word at a time chorus, happen to be a very good way to open this album, that will give us more of that spitacular ish. On the "Who Are The Lo-Lifes (Intermission)", we are told again, for all those that still don't know, who the Lo-Lifes are and what they did. But what is somewhat funny, that Rack explains it with that they were doing it because American life is commercial and capitalist. That might be meant totally serious, but maybe just to give a different reason than the want to be constantly decked out. However, the impact they had can probably not be exaggerated, and shouldn't be underestimated.

The Willtell beat on "Ah" might not be as dope as the other cut, the xylophone is still holding enough weight, but the constant "Ah" screaming is what truly holds this back, as that rips through the story telling and braggadocios continuously. When you listen to "Bad Habitz / Bad Lukk", you can hear the difference in those that talk the talk, but never walked the walk, and those that did. There's a whole difference between the people that do something similar like what Rack dos, but aren't able to pull it off, like him and the featured Richie Balance do. And trying to find out what makes the difference is hard. Maybe it is the constant deep anger that comes with frustration and with the adrenaline rushes during scores, that make the track sound more believable. Maybe it's when Richie goes "I wish people could accept me for who I am", that he's actually serious, while not asking for forgiveness. As said, it's hard to tell.

On "If It's Money Outside", Willtell is kept around for the third cut in a row, and this one doesn't really work like the other two beats. Putting a host of guests on here, Big Boo, Jerve Lo and Shills-Esq, Rack is kept too much in the back for the tracks own good. He's then back on the dolo tip on "Places To Go People To See". Opening the track with the mentioning of his aliases, the track then unfolds over the Noise production, while Rack boasts "go to Mount Rushmore / replace four presidents / with my face". With statements like this, it's most likely fair to say, that Rack sees the humor in his rhymes too, as the whole track is featuring punchlines like "I got the drunken style and don't even drink liquor" or "Lo-Lifes put Polo on the map / you don't believe me / ask Ralph Laurent that". And those tongue in cheeks are also what makes this album fun to listen to. You can even hear a certain political manifest in the "Emergency Meeting (Interlude)" that then is picked up on "Letter Of Assassination (Dear Mr. President)" that is featuring a unfortunately mixed voice by Rack, and the complex programming, that also has a strangely held back loudness, making up the beat by Noise. What can be misunderstood as a simple hit man tail, is actually more political than much of the so said 'conscience' emcees that are out there.

On "Clash Of Da Titans", Richie Balance reappears again on this animated battle track, that features some insane sound effects by Noise. This is as close as an independent / underground emcee ever will come to be featured on "Celebrity Death Match", this not lacking the radicalness, but maybe the comic appeal. Very notable is how Rack Lo works the concept of having the "Richman / Poormen" characters face each other and answer the other and themselves indirectly. Once again a track that makes this album so much more than what you'd expect. This again takes wind away from the sails of the haters. And the beat is not adding a little breeze too, as Willtell makes the best outta a French hand played organ thingy (or flute, both sound somewhat similar), that is growing on you, but will have you hard tempted to have it be dope to you the first time around. The way the two persons are backed by their own background is also dope. "Hustlah" then does some street rhyming, remembering the Lo-Lifes past and having this track work as an advertisement portfolio for past 'achievements'.

Making "Ralphies Kidzz" a combination of "Mona Lisa" and something new, Rack shares the mic time with Lo-Life Founders Shills-Esq and Reese Lo over a hectic and too many things going at the same time beat by Noise. And another track is going beyond the stereotypical expectations, as Rack talks about the deep love he feels for the 1st Ladee on "Love Iz Love" over a guitar completed and possible to consider romantic beat by Willtell, and both things together result in a honest and beautiful track. In total contrast, "We Gonna Get U" is dramatic, with TH3, Big Boo, Reese Lo, Ski Black, Shills-Esq and Rack spitting over this dope Willtell beat. The 1st Ladee returns on "Spit Factory Anthem", that's like the Rack Laurent version of the stars and stripes. Willtell further manifest his reputation of taking a classical and known hymn, classical music piece of something similar on "Da Consti2tion", that further elaborates on Rack's political agenda.

There are many haters that would love to dismiss this record as a stupid offering of a thug rapper, a street troubadour, a blah blah blah. And so the pleasure is only the bigger, that they are totally wrong, as this record is dope. It really is combining many well worked concept, unexpected content with a truckload of beats that often are truly dope, and never severely wack. And all of that makes this record to succeed as much as it does, appeal to so many more people than those that live in the surroundings of Rack Lo, as he is not only seeing beyond the narrowness, but also because he has the skills to succeedingly pull off what he wants to do.