The ThoughtCriminals "Cold Winter"

Video game rap. Nerdcore. When did we start with all the over categorizing of music? Why not just call it what it is, Hip Hop. I don't care if one of your instruments is a Nintendo Entertainment System, that is no different than sampling records, it is just a source for the music to come from. It is hip hop so let me get this out of the way, "Cold Winter" by the ThoughtCriminals is a hip hop album and it is a quality hip hop album. Yes there are some lines that will make more sense if you play video games but there's always "inside" lines in all music, it is part of the appeal. But perhaps I've rambled too much already (as always) let me tell you some things that make this album what it is. One thing is LIVE instruments, that is correct real instruments are used on this album as the credits say:

Mikal kHill - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Programming, MIDI NES, Maracas
Sulfur - Vocals, Original Arrangement of "You're Gonna Miss Me"
Kevin Morgan - Guitar, Freaky Effects Pedals
Alan Erickson - Bass

There is also the overall sound of the album, it has a tape cassette feel to it, staticy (at some points maybe a bit too much) but it keeps with the overall sound. Then there are of course the vocals: quality rhymes, with vocabulary and storytelling. Since I gave you an overview of the album let us really delve in, so here it goes.


"Came to Play Some Jams" is a great introducing to who The ThoughtCriminals are and just what they do. A rather well know Nintendo note begins the song, before the bass guitar enters, followed by the keyboard and finally the vocals where we find out "Now we been doing this since we been kids," as they pour out their "soul on two track tapes" (ok they've moved on since then but you get the point.). They continue us some info about themselves before letting us know the most important thing, "we just came to play some fucking jams" then the voice fades and the NES samples bring us into right into the next track.

Video game sirens set the stage for "I Remember Now" which takes place in a post apocalyptic world (my mind instantly thinks Fallout 3) everything from the instrumentals to the vocals to the actual mix sound distorted and warped by the nuclear bomb that fell on this world.

"Return of the Antagonist" features Stevie D of the Illbotz who along with Mikal kHil and Sulfur decide to switch up their delivery and hit us with some rapid fire lines to add to the impact of the uptempo drums that are in direct contrast to the slower harmony provided by the NES. They work together to create an aural sensation of the concept of war, with the NES providing the idea of regret or sadness while the drums act as the actual fight, finally the vocals give us the reason and logic.

Old school drums and an ominous piano introduces us to "Warp Zone (1-2)" then the vocals and NES jump in to begin one of the stand out tracks. The easiest and most accurate way to describe the vocals (for this song and the entire album) is actually provided in the lyrics, "These nerds don't rhyme soft."

If you use a NES in your music and you are going to talk about getting any sort of money the perfect title is "All the Coins" and make sure it features one of the most magical sounds in the history of gaming, the gathering of coins in "Mario Bros." Now if only someone would do this...oh wait, the ThoughtCriminals and Int 80 of Dual Core did just that. They also created a rather gritty sound with the electric guitar and hard hitting drums. I will put this against any G Unit song talking about getting cash and this will win, hands down.

Somber drums, piano, and guitar provide the sound scape for "Whirling Dervish" an all too real song that takes place at a bar and captures the effects alcohol can have on a person. Just another piece of evidence that the ThoughtCriminals are not a gimmick laden hip hop group, they make real songs with real emotion and story telling, they just happen to be proud gamers who use a NES to provide some of their sounds.

"You're Going to Miss Me" continues to bring heavy emotional tones, this time in a break up song, but not a bubblegum pop break up song, no this is a Kris Kristofferson or Lou Reed sort of song. Nothing of wanting the person back or crying over the past, just raw feelings that most people feel after a serious relationship ends.

"Liquid Happy" keeps us the sphere of drinking, but not the glamorized side at all, instead it describes the wonders of a hangover and angry drunks. What works so well on this track is the balance of what is actually being said and the almost upbeat instrumental, it acts as a way to contrast how the intoxicated person perceives their actions (the instrumental) with how others see them (vocals.)

Beefy joins the group to address those that expect everything to come easy and refuse to work for them on the track "Our Time." Instead of making it a negative song, the ThoughtCriminals keep it rather positive from the beats to the lyrics, but they do make their point, "You do you and I'll do me just remember what you conveyed last time you said we."

The albums ends with "Earthbound" featuring Adam WarRock and Random. The beat reminds me of something the Flaming Lips would create, outer space rock. Each MC kills their verse but the best way for me to capture this song is through the chorus

"The first to step up and threaten our universe gets kicked like a freestyle never rehearsed the worst is yet to go but it will all be fine because the level on our rhyme is like 99"

After listening to "Cold Winter" I am reminded just how much quality and variety there is in hip hop. Great instrumentals and dope rhymes and great storytelling, that makes hip hop, not the song topic or how the beat is created. That is just what the ThoughtCriminals did here, the created a hip hop album. It even has a cohesive sound and feel to it. Once you press play you will feel the music go through you and realize this is a damn fine album that deserves your full attention. with

You can preorder the album here and check out all the possibilities