Sublimation

producers: myron mayhem
year of release: 2002
 
In a very abstract way, this rap music game is like a packed subway or bus: it's just too crowded and that basically pisses you off. You paid for the ticket, so you expect a seat (read: you paid the CD, so this better be good), and while you don't want to, you always bump into other people (read: although you couldn't care less about some of the music, it is always thrown in your face). At the same time however, quite often there's also pleasant moments: like when you find the last seat, and your neighbor is also some beautiful lady (or for the ladies: a real hunk). So if your shoulders slightly bump into each other from time to time, you don't mind, well actually it might in a simple and dirty kind of way, excite you. And that then reads: sometimes you'll find a little gem that you didn't yet know about, that you didn't expect much from, and when actually listening to it (or bump it, ha), then it's something between a thunderous arousal and a quick excitement.
The record "Sublimation" by The Crest is a record that's kind of an enduring, while not very massive pleasant feeling. Or to translate that: while the record itself is not the most brilliant record on this planet (i.e. not the hottest chick), it's actually rather cool, with its smooth patterns and unflashy colors. And that is upheld throughout the album, with beats that leave a lot of room for the lyrics and the tales. What then however also means that there's a certain elevator music quality to the songs, that are rarely pushing themselves forcibly into your recognition. What then makes it kinda hard to pick out the highlights of this offering, and at the same time, hard to point out the bad ones too.

tracklisting
1. Intro
2. Head Low
3. Ever-yee-day
4. I Like The Dark
5. 50 Rouches
6. Jump From The Cliff
7. High School
8. Muddy Brain
9. I'm Slippin' / 2 BUcks-N-Sum Change
10. This Is For You
11. Interlude (Jack Cracker vs. Ms. Cleo)
12. The Science
13. Kick Them FLows
14. The Twilight Zone
15. The Getaway
16. Field Of Dreams (Skit)
17. Terminology
18. Outro
"Head Low" is giving us a thorough melancholy , that's also blatant with the fist words of the verse being "I'm living terrible". The lowness of "Ever-yee-day" blesses the benefits of smoking trees, while on "Jump From The Cliff" there's a harsh threat hovering over the entire song. Lyrically The Crest is doing good at adopting their rhyming content according to the vibe of the song. So on here we get the more bragging and boasting, that's done with spitting clever lines, and working the flow for what it's worth. Looking for a true head motion moment, there's "I'm Slippin' / 2 Bucks-N-Sum Change", where your neck is instantly in motion, with the flow sounding best on here, and the low sounds carrying the tune righteously. Before then part two completely substitutes the beat, with the second one not being as good and not working as good with the lyrics.
More of the smooth beat, with low sounds, not dominant samples and drums, paired with often reflective lyrics, that are rubbing different shoulders with humble 'holier than thou' verses can be found on "The Science", or "The Getaway", where the formula is completed with storytelling. And abandoning the to ponder thoughts is "Kick Them Flows", where the cats spit over a familiar and freestyle favorite beat, dropping lines like "I rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy". Add to that the instrumental "This Is For You", "Terminology" and "Outro", and the quick overview of this album is complete.
Looking for what doesn't work, then the first thing to mention are the hooks. They are often similarly constructed on several songs, and the structure is a slightly annoying almost sing songy something (the worst result being on "High School"). What also needs to be noted is that for each song you could mention a group that must have inspired the music. Not saying that the Crest blatantly bites steelo's, but they are very good at adapting vibe, and at doing something that could have easily be done by that first artist. However in total, we don't want to beef with this, because first of all these cats got flows, especially the one guy, that unfortunately remains unidentified. And with beats that come to similar conclusions as previously hailed work, there's little to complain about there. So basically, you can get this or a bus ticket.
review: tadah
» back to top
: .   © 2000 - 2012.08 by urban smarts | contact