You think you knew Uncommon Records and all of their artists fairly well, and then you find out about a new artist called Kitchen Khemistry. Who exactly is Kitchen Khemistry? Well, according to the official press release "Kitchen Khemistry is a voluntary, rogue, outer body experience. What KK does is find hidden lights in the universe and translates these lightwaves into sound. Therefore, Kitchen Khemistry is a translator of light waves. What you hear is what you don't see!"
But what does that really tell people? Expect something different from this release than what Uncommon has done before. Before people worry let me remind you that different DOES NOT mean something bad, it is just a different sound. The quality of music and idea of creating full albums is no different on "Transit" than other Uncommon Records albums so let that put your mind at ease. Now on to what this album is all about.
First time I heard "Transit" I was thrown off by the feeling of being attacked by laser rifles and plasma bombs at beginning of the album's lead "Transit Authority." Ok maybe that is an exaggeration but I was not prepared for the very heavy digital sounding beats that are on this album. Then you realize something else about this album, it is might have the most infectious hooks of any underground rap album in years as we find out with the intro "Life is a metropolis to me, in the heart of the city is the Transit Authority." That is correct, the beginning of the song is a hook and it will not let you go, no matter how hard you try. The beginning of the first verse also does a great job of explaining to the listener why the album is different from what we are use to "Look ma, I'm digital, its not like my analog was pitiful, I just had to change my frequency, and this thing called change is critical." So begins your journey that is "Transit" and the cohesiveness of the album. We travel first to the Transit Authority and are introduced to why this is the ride you have to take.
First stop after departing the station takes us to an ATM aka "Cream Machine." Continuing the pattern of leading off hooks, "I'm so convenient, I must be used more than gasoline, find me anywhere and come take a ride on the cream machine" displays the creativity of Kitchen Khemistry by putting us in the place of ATM and running us through some the regular situations it encounters including over draft fees, messy children, criminals and realizing just how important to our modern society ATMs have become.
After getting some cash "Transit" continues on the digital trip through the night, stopping off to visit a "Liquor Licker" apparently "she likes drinking, she is a professional, she is not green." The beat and lyrics work well placing you in the car with her traveling as well as various bars and clubs and stays on course.
The next stop leads us to a mainstay in any city, the "Starving Artist" (available on "No Dough, No Show") which captures perfectly the struggle of well, a starving artist. You can tell that Kitchen Khemistry has been through this stage of life one way or another, feeling the urge to follow their heart and create art instead of going the safe route of being just your typical 9-5 suit.
We are then introduced to the person that a starving artist would despise (or the realistic side of what an artist has to do as they pursue their art), the one and only "Microslave" who is knows it is "time to find a new job, tired of eating burgers on my lunch break."
"Eye Entity" leads us to a new segment of "Transit" as we stop visiting people or objects and are kicked in the face with a great instrumental intro that leads to a electronic tinged voice that makes one feel like we are introduced to our tour guide and we are preparing to go in a new direction on our travel.
We are transported to a great "Friday Nite" where any and all aspects of our appetites can be satisfied and anything is possible as we tell our self "the night is mine, that's right I own it." It makes you feel like it is time to go out and experience a night like this, no matter how much of a hermit you typically are, and the beat helps to get yourself off your seat and enjoy the ride.
Before we get too excited though we realize that some things and people are "Off Limits." We meet someone who who has some important information that is summed up by the chorus that will stick in your mind for a while "I know you're ready for romance, theres no chance you better call it quits that girl is off limits." I love how on a song with one of the best dance beats I've heard from any indy rap album the main message is you need to step back and realize the possible ramifications of your actions.
We are then come face to face with the idea that lots of people go out to forget about what is happening in their real life, and need to just escape their problems just for a night and if you try asking them what's wrong you meet up with these two words "Not Tonight."
To end our night out we visit "Misfit Pizza" where another important discussion is held between a girl and her friend (physical or psychological) about whether or not to pursue the guy from the evening or continue playing hard to get. We are left never knowing the choice, just as it is nearly impossible for a woman to know the answer to that question until much time has passed.
Kithen Khemistry's "Transit" is new area of Uncommon Records in a aural sense with much of a techno dance hip hop sound but remains tied to the idea of producing actual albums with talented MCs who know how to craft solid songs that grab a hold of you. "Transit" takes you on a journey through a typical evening in the city, jumping from person to person through the Eye Entity (ok the lyrics of Kitchen Khemistry) and I think it is summed up very well by saying that "this is the shuttle, the subway, the life. This is space, this is street, this is real." And in the end, "Transit" is very real dealing with struggles we as people face even if it might be hidden a bit and be packaged with beats that make it hard to stay still.
Off Limits - Kitchen Khemistry by UncommonRecords
Starving Artist - Kitchen Khemistry by UncommonRecords
You can get "Transit" from Uncommon Records Bandcamp page on October 31st and other digital retailers (Amazon) on November 2nd
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