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| tracklisting |
| 1. Method To Madness |
| 2. Giddy Up |
| 3. Skywalker's Here |
| 4. Pimp Skit feat. Mario |
| 5. Pimped Out feat. Cage, Camu Tao, Billy Atlas |
| 6. No Escape |
| 7. O.D.E. feat. Tame One |
| 8. The Gulliest |
| 9. Queens Life |
| 10. Nerd Wars |
| 11. My Claim |
| 12. Moving On |
| 13. Spy On You |
| 14. The Drill |
| 15. Above & Beyond |
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| Now the third label wants to release Yak Ballz material. After Fondle 'Em and Definitive Jux Eastern Conference is now putting Yak to their roaster and you are tempted to call him a challenge cup. One thing is for sure though, people believe in him and in releasing his record. EC
even so much that after 12"es, there's now an album. |
| It's called "My Claim" and nothing much has changed. If there's anything like a stereotypical NYC style, then Yak's music is part of it. He's got holier than thou' rhymes, neck breaking beats, and a continued sarcastic undertone, all of that wrapping this up in a distilled
microstyle of what NYC offers. What could also explain the affiliation with many artists (for that check the posse cut "Pimped Out" with Cage, Camu Tao and Billy Atlas) - he's a Weather Man after all - and the previously mentioned three labels that are also in many ways pushing out
modern day NYC classics. |
| As for this record being a classic, it's not. Despite the many dope cuts on here. Like "Giddy Up", that's somewhat spoiled by the hook though. Or "Skywalker's Here":
the flow is very monotonous, but by intention. The strings on the beat demand or allow such a flow, and also excuse straight up spitting verses. Cocky spitting is what Yak does most often, and with experience comes skill, meaning that Yak knows a punchline when he sees it, and he has no shame in portraying
himself as an arrogant bastard or a failed being like on "O.D.E.". |
| Because he does this so often, there's several tracks that fail to distinguish themselves from each other. Therefore a song like "Queens Life" sticks out accordingly. Here Yak reminisces, allowing a deep view into his
past and life story. As smooth as this song is, as hard hitting the album gets on cuts like "No Escape", a conspiracy theory meets realty song. Good beats are one thing, but Yak really rides them well with a fine tuned flow. Which he changes
for the short "The Gulliest", where he does his best 50 Cent impersonation. And again on "Spy On You", where another flow appears, this one settling somewhere between regular Yak and wannabe 50. |
| Another one of the best songs is the title track "My Claim", where Yak speaks about his vices, over another really good beat, built on a long string sample. A special vice, namely women, Yak talks about on "Moving
On" and somewhat on "Above & Beyond". The latter is a dream or drug induced trip through clouds and skies, that can be a very long pick up line, or a window into Yak's sensitive heart. As for the rest, it's much of the same really, what's much of the tried and tested styles
and systems of the braggadocio school. |
| The album accomplishes to combine several styles, from the straight up bragging and boasting with a strong smartass undertone, to the surprisingly open reciting of content that comes straight from the heart. As well as from the hard to the smooth beat. And neither of this or that
is forced or put on. Making this album, all in all, a listen you can enjoy, at times more, at times a little less. What's neither here nor there really, but nevertheless 'my claim.' |
| review: tadah |
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