ReCollection
label: guild

producers: amen, aeggnog, dj just, kid called computer, surgeon general, mudd buddah, dj ran mecca.

guests: godemis of c.e.s. cru
year of release: 2003
website: itstheguild.com
With the coverage of the triangle only having visited two edges (Human Cropcircles and C.E.S. Cru), there's a third. Adding the guild to an accomplished twosome, makes the threesome a table that can't be shook. With all three coming from the same neck of the woods (Kansas City), The Guild nevertheless does not necessarily subscribe to the same style of music. With the range going from the haunted abstract to the straight traditional, the Guild tries to do both at the same time, resulting in something in between.
With the beats offering the a easier and boom bapish background. The lyrics at the same time add off beat eccentrism. And the love starts or ends right here: either you get with the floating rhythm of the words, or you search for the breaks in the 4/4. However, you'll need a lot of time to inhale all the meaning of the words, while the beats stay solid, good, but at times lacking depth.

tracklisting
1. Intro
2. Octagon
3. Defy
4. Insomnia
5. Masks
6. Clever's Theme
7. Antithesis
8. Why You Wanna... feat. Godemis
9. Resistance
10. Amen's Theme
11. Bitter Brown (Last Call)
12. Devils In The Barracks
13. Breathe Easy
14. Unprecedented 2
15. Verti's Theme
16. True Masters
17. The Curse
18. Guppies
19. Leaps And Bounds
20. The Guild's Theme
The producers, seven in number, stick to one flavor in production, making the entities of the album connect. At the same time however, the typography reaches from flat to peaks, with "Insomnia" being one of the latter. The Dijeridoo of the "Intro" returns again, with Amen adding more mystic sounds to the total. The strong but restrained 90's flavor runs through "Masks" (by DJ Just) and "Antithesis" especially, while on "Clever's Theme", the groove gets our head nodding. And the melancholy of "Bitter Brown (Last Call)" has not yet reached resignation. The blues is thick on "Devils In The Barracks" (produced by Amen), the jazz equally saturated on "Breathe Easy" (by Eggnog) and finally: "Guppies" (by Kid Called Computer) is surprisingly funky.
Lyrically however, there's never a lack of deepness. With the braggadocios being done as are topics like self enlightenment and alcoholism ("Resistance"), making the issues bounce through the ranges. So Amen, Vertigone and Clever Rev are flexing their lyrical muscle on "Octagon", discover the poetic reflections on "Defy" and "Why You Wanna…" (featuring Godemis of C.E.S. Cru), the battle is on when "Guppies" step up, and the entanglement of their art and way with words is obvious on "Unprecedented 2". With catchy, lengthy and at times annoying hooks (like on "True Masters"), you're never allowed to not be hit by a vast number of lyricism. That makes 'em good at what they are doing, makes 'em very true to what the art form initially demanded, but also makes 'em no easy listen. The words are spat too quickly, the web of words is too tightly knight, the flows too sped up for the casual listen.
Meaning that The Guild is not taking any prisoners. Meaning The Guild is universal in sound and sight, offering an album that's distinctively not regional, but equally distinctively hip hop.
review: tadah
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