|
|
|
|
 |
| tracklisting |
| 1. This Shit Is Hot Intro |
| 2. Word |
| 3. Whadayaluv |
| 4. Soul's Intro |
| 5. Suburban Trux |
| 6. We Need To Get High Skit |
| 7. In The Studio feat. Skeeta Ranx |
| 8. Scratch It Skit |
| 9. Got Rhymes? |
| 10. Glass Breakage (A Real Freestyle) |
| 11. Larger Than Life feat. Cliff Clavin |
| 12. Gumba's L Session |
| 13. Gimme Gimme feat. Taj |
| 14. Some Noodles Skit |
| 15. Interview With A Patient |
| 16. It's Not A Good Thang!!! Skit |
| 17. On Tha Microphone |
| 18. Press Ya Luck feat. Lupa |
| 19. Freax |
| 20. Rainy Daze |
| 21. When I Write |
| 22. Uhhh! Cutz Skit |
| bonus tracks |
| 23. Dreams feat. Taj, Evelyn |
| 24. Ooohweee! |
| 25. 5-O Is Watchin' |
| 26. Car Ridin' Material |
|
 |
|
|
| In Sub-Urban's CD "Epidemic", this versatile trio emphasizes their love of drugs, women, money, and above all, hip-hop. While these classic hip-hop themes have become hackneyed through repetition, Sub-Urban utilizes an eclectic array of beats and melodies to entertain listeners
of all musical tastes. Although none of the emcees stand-out particularly, their ability to blend different styles together as a cohesive unit allows Sub-Urban to exceed the sum of their parts. |
| The start of "Epidemic" gets off to somewhat of a slow start. "Word" and "Whadayaluv" are good, but not great, songs that introduce the listener to the intense confidence and versatility of this
group. Despite their proclamations on these tracks, it is a little too early to crown them as the kings of hip-hop just yet. However, by track nine, Sub-Urban begins to hit their stride. In "Got Rhymes?," Sub-Urban's sample of the classic
Nas song "Life's A Bitch" creates a parallel with Nas' dark portrayal of life. Just as AZ declares in the background, "I rhyme for 365 days annual plus some," Sub-Urban describes that "I live my life to emcee / and I can't look over music / cause music is me." The gritty,
but hypnotic, beat blends in perfectly with the trio's mellow voices to form an ideal track for chilling out. The solid production carries over into the next track, "Glass Breakage," which switches to an up tempo beat. Aside from the presence of a horribly annoying chorus, the versatility
of this group is displayed as the trio effectively speeds up their flow and exhibits their witty rhyming capabilities. |
| While none of the emcees have a particularly mind-blowing delivery, the cosmopolitan collection of beats and the unique combination of lyrical styles carries this album. Just about every genre is effectively captured in this album, a rare feat for even the greatest of emcees. "In
The Studio" blends dancehall reggae with a powerful guitar riff that carries this upbeat track, aptly about illicit activities during production. The presence of dancehall continues on "Gimme Gimme," a track with a smooth R&B
sound, and risqué content reminiscent of Sisqo's "Thong Song." Even the lackluster "Larger Than Life" carries a funk melody that would make George Clinton smile. |
| The clear strength of "Epidemic" lies in the latter portion of the album. Although the final four songs are each different in sound and vibe, Sub-Urban manages to utilize their strengths to provide fifteen minutes of pure musical enjoyment for hip-hop fans of all tastes.
On "Dreams" the electronic beat and a smooth chorus is sure to garner attention, but the group's depiction of a rags to riches fantasy is what will keep listeners enthralled with this number. Track 24's "Ooohweee!" lives up to its name as this club song, complete with
blaring bass, will make for plenty of grindin' and sweatin'. However, Sub-Urban displays a more profound side in their socially conscious song, "5-O Is Watchin'." Not only are their lyrics thought-provoking, but the ominous background serves
as a perfect compliment to the lyrical content: "let me ask you a question/is there something wrong/three of us riding around/late at night/listening to our own song?/Why you gotta break our balls/we weren't doing nothing at all/Don't you understand/this is why everybody hates y'all?" Finally,
"Car Ridin' Material" sends the album off with a blast. The background street noise, piercing bass, and fast-paced beat make for a great car song, and an even better fit for the next "Fast and the Furious" movie. |
| Sub-Urban shows flashes of brilliance on this album, however, the most glaring flaw with "Epidemic" is inconsistency. With the right beat, this group proves that they are capable of many different styles and that they are able to convey insightful thoughts in unique ways.
If one were to contrast "Rainy Daze," "Got Rhymes?" and "On Tha Microphone" one would see a complete and cohesive
group that presents deep lyrics on solid tracks. Whether the vibe of the song is dark or uplifting, Sub-Urban molds to the beat like the two are soul mates. However, songs like "Larger Than Life" and "Press Ya Luck" do not necessarily ruin this album, but they weaken
the overall quality of what could be a really great release. All in all though, this is a solid album that displays the potential for this group, if Sub-Urban continues to at this rate, hip-hop heads will be sure to catch the Sub-Urban epidemic. |
| review: penczar |
|
