There is so much great music coming out now a days, if you know where to look. Because of this, I try not to say things such as, music was better back in the day, because music just grows from what has come before it and sure maybe the music on the radio isn't great but there is tons of music out there that is of extremely high quality, in fact as a whole there might be more great music available to general population now than ever before. But there are times when I miss the feel or sound of a certain age of music and on rare occasions a new album has the feel or sound of that age you miss.
That is exactly the case with "The Green Hornet" by Eratic and Mr. Kinetik. The EP wouldn't sound out of place in 1988, it has that "Golden Age of Hip Hop" sound, including the oft overlooked scratches. What is thoroughly impressive about "The Green Hornet" is while it does have a great "old school" feel it does not sound dated, it sounds like it came out last week (which it did.) Now that I have rambled I think it is time for the actual track by track review, so here we go.
"The Green Hornet Intro" kicks off the album, and the track begins with a snippet from the classic TV show of the same name before we are greeted by the first of many scratches by Mr. Kinetic. The scratches blend right into a nice soulful beat before Eratic begins and I won't lie, when I heard the first few bars it became very clear that one of Eratic's influences is the God MC, Rakim (in my opinion the GOAT.) Eratic isn't a Rakim ripoff, you can just hear that he has studied Ra's work (as every MC should), this just added to the "Golden Age" feel for me. Eratic doesn't waste bars to get to a punch line, he comes out of the gate correct. "When I prepare, you just stare at the artillery, you try to dial out to call the fam you say he's killing me." This might seem like a minor detail but I get tired of every MC (generalizing here of course) doing some uh and come on, yea I feel it, and then some half ass rhymes before saying anything of substance, so bravo to Eratic for realizing there is no need to waste what time you have on a record. In reality I should probably post the entire first verse but don't want the review to on forever and hell you can get the album, correction EP, for free so listen to it. But just as I am feeling thoroughly satisfied with the track and preparing for the next Eratic verse, I am thrown by a new voice, Mr. Kinetic. At first I thought, damn I want Eratic on this whole track but Mr. Kinetic goes bar for bar with Eratic's verse making me realize: I am in for one hell of a ride for the next 25 minutes.
Mr. Kinetik does nice job chopping up some classic Motown sound to create the beat for "Crazy Hornet Swarm" and once again Eratic kicks off the track, but this time blesses us the two verses broken up by some more great scratches. Before Kinetik gets on the mic he gives us some more scratches. I feel like I am short selling this album by not posting more lines but this is one album where you pick up more and more lines on each listen and I don't want to ruin that joy of discovery for the listener, but I promise you there is some dope shit in here.
"Eucalyptus Brew" is great sit back and chill track, both with the beat and verses. This time Kinetik leads off before Eratic closes. What really sells this track though is the beat and the great vinyl sound it presents. This impressive beat is followed by another just as dope one on "And Ya Mama Too," but this one has a lot more of that sweet funk bounce to it. Both Eratic and Kinetik switch to more a slow flow, showing their diversity (another "lost art" by many of today's radio artists).
Kinetik only speaks through the beat on "Kato's Move" (this is appropriate since earlier Kinetik introduces is introduced as the Green Hornet and Eratic as Kato). The drums and horns of Kinetik work to punctuate many of Eratic's line (once again adding to the "88" sound). The chorus "We were old at 19, without the chance to go pro," offers you a clear picture of just what this track is about and damn you if you cannot figure that out. (I apologize for the bitterness today but people need to be able to put 2 and 2 together.)
At 4:10 (and the final 45 seconds lets you ride out on the beat before it distorts and fades), "In Time" is the longest track on "The Green Hornet" proving once again that a track only needs to be as long as it needs to be. Think about that for a second. The phrasing and breaks of both Eratic's and Kinetik's verse are impressive and not "standard," another display of their versatility.
Ever wonder what a hip hop lounge track would sound like? Well wonder no longer because that is exactly what "UV Lounge" is, well at least the beat, another dope one by Mr. Kinetik. Eratic wins the album award for funniest final line of a verse with "My position's played from the front line your position is fetal." Then again, this is not an album filled with your comedy fueled punchlines (thank you.)
The album ends with the rock fueled "Stay Tuned," in fact after listening to it I am now wondering what I am going to need to listen to before I go to sleep. So that makes rock, jazz, motown, r n b and lounge styled beats (I probably missed something) and Eratic and Kinetic weave wonderfully between all three. Eratic wins another award for mentioning Kris Kristofferson on this track because any time you mention someone who was a collegiate star athlete, Rhodes Scholar, an Army Ranger. a janitor, helicopter pilot, singer/songwriter and actor, you deserve a damn award. (Yes that sentence is a giant run on but damn it, it is my blog so I will ramble incoherently when I choose to).
With "The Green Hornet," Eratic and Mr. Kinetik have created that rare album that once you are done listening to it, you want to hear it again and again. Whether it is the great production by Mr. Kinetic or the solid verses by both, Eratic and Kinetik show their versatility on this appetizer that in reality will leave you more full than most main courses. So sit back, push play and really listen to it, there is a lot to digest in these 25 minutes. Do not just skim over it, delve in, you will not be disappointed.
Download "The Green Hornet" for FREE here
PS:
This album shows that when you make an album or EP or whatever you want to call it, the best idea is to make it as long as it needs to be to tell the audience what needs to be said and that is all. There is no need for filler. I wish more artists would focus on that, than on making an album that is 70 minutes long and has something for everyone, trim that fat. That being said you can make an album 3 hours if that is how long it needs to be. Concluding this rant NOW.
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