Robo-Robb "SOULBOT 2"

Normally I can tell right away if I am going to enjoy an album or not; that was not the case with Robo-Robb's "SOULBOT 2." I instantly enjoyed the beats and overall sound (old cassette tape and scratches) but I wasn't sure about Robo-Robb's vocals. The first time I heard his voice I was reminded of Tony M. from The New Power Generation. I cannot deny that at first I was a little turned off thinking about the lack of talent of Tony M. but then I opened my ears (as I should have done from the begining and I apologize for making such an assumption), yes Robo-robb's voice does SOUND like Tony M.'s but that is all. Robo-robb has meaningful lyrics that actually work together, so let me end any and all Tony M. comparison now. I listened to the album again and was impressed by the content and lyrical ability of Robo-Robb. I then began to really enjoy this album and I shall tell you why as I usually do, track by track, so here it goes.

The album begins with the Orwellian inspired "1984" where a haunting beat and beautiful vocals by Lauren Deming,lead into the a short verse by Robo-robb. He introduces the state of the world, incredibly digitalized (I made a new word) and emotionless, and ends with his uplifting final line "you say I can't save the world, well see me try." This leads into the sounds of far off sirens, helicopters, and ensuing chaos.

The chaos is heard in the beginning and continues throughout "Construction," where Robo-Robb addresses the flooded world of internet rap. He addresses everything from "the 5 Million rapper," "500 beat makers invading my social media," "publicists are bodyguards, protecting fragile egos," "journalist are pawns" all of which many fans of the music have encountered and feel the same way as Robo-Robb does. In short, he speaks from the voice of someone who is a fan of this music as well as a participant but does so skillfully compared to so many other "internet rappers" who say they are fans of hip hop but haven't heard of Rakim or BDP.

"Une Vie" (loosely translated as "One Life") is a dedication to Robo-Robb's grandfather (I assume) where Robo-Robb recalls the time spent together and the difficulty of dealing with his death. In a great move,Lauren Deming returns and adds her voice for the chorus which increases the almost dreamlike feeling of recollection of a life and the lesson's learned.

The words of Irving Berlin's classic "Blue Skies" begin the track of the same name, before Matt Schwartz lends a new voice to the album. Right away we realize this is not the same sort of happy song as Berlin's classic, instead it provides commentary on the current depression. Schwartz tells the story of a family going through these difficult times and how life has changed for "a family six feet deep, while the dad's in the dirt." While Robo-Robb acts as the voice of the infuriated masses detailing the huge gap between the wealthy and the every man, "people taking pay cuts to keep a paycheck, the top 1 percent taking home 40 percent."

Robert Weber, lead singer of Squid the Whale and Mister, appears on "Moment" but it is Robo-Robb's beginning verse that shines. It gives us one of my favorite lines of the album "too much to convey I can't take a vacation," not mention a great verse as a whole. The track ends with multiple conversations that become disorientating to illustrate "in order to use your head you have to go out of your mind." The upbeat and even cheerful track "untitled" tells the story of Robo-Robb finding that person who he can truly open his mind to and whose "brain is so sexy, I just want to explore it." This very well might be my favorite track on the album (betwen this and "Une Vie") as Robo-Robb seems to really relax and just let his rhymes go, almost a stream of conscious rap.

The funkiest beat on "SOULBOT 2" belongs to "289" hands down and Robo-Robb adds to the funk with great old school party vocals (while still shouting out FourSquare). The beat then switches to a spaced out rap funk dance beat and the transition is seamless. Any nerds (and as you know that is not a bad thing) want a track to move to "289" should be at the top of the list.

The spaced out feeling continues with "GMS" as Robo-Robb takes a trip with his girl (who says he "drives like Buzz Aldrin") to the moon. I am very curious to see how many people get confused on the lyrics of this track, but for anyone at all interested in outer space, the lyrics (and beat) are spot on and impressive.

While at first I wasn't too sure about this album, I once again learned the important lesson of listening to any and all music (and everything really) with open ears, heart and mind. Once that happened I was able to see what Robo-Robb was doing, creating an album with thought provoking lyrics, with an old school hip hop feel, while it evolves into a spaced out almost nerdy demonstration. In other words, in contains just about everything a enjoy about music. So hats off to Robo-Robb and I recommend you check out "SOULBOT 2."

You can stream and download the album here.

Mega Ran and K-Murdock "Forever" video

Here is the "Forever" video by Mega Ran and K-Murdock off of "Forever Famicom" one of my favorite albums of 2010; check it out.

Dotmatic "Lullabies for WInter"

Dotmatic - Lullabies for Winter (Promo RE:Winter Mix) by Recordbreakin

Winter, the coldest and most dreaded season of the year. The days are short and the nights are long. If you're not used to the cold you will hate it but for someone who was born in the winter, there is beauty and warmth already present.

Each track takes you through a different moment within the season.
Quiet, stillness, calm, gentle snow, storms, blizzard, love, family, break up, solitude

Goal: Forget that anything one else exist for that moment if you're snowed in or coming home after a long day work-whether you're alone or with the one you love-find your moment. Let this project be your soundtrack.

Re:Winter - songs listened to during the creative sessions for
"Lullabies for Winter" (plus a few special treats..)

Please support LULLABIES FOR WINTER by going to: http://www.recordbreakin.com/rbm025.html
Release date: February 14, 2011

Tracklist:
Intro
J Dilla - Steppin Out
Dotmatic - Restoration
Kool & The Gang - Winter Sadness
Pete Rock - Midnight and You
Pat Metheny Group - James
Joe Henderson - Black Narcissus
Atami - Under the Sun (Jazztronik Remix)
Digital Underground - Sons of the P
Catalyst - Bahia
Miles Davis - Minnie
Caldera - Ancient Source
Madeline Bell - That's What Friends Are For
Clouds - Over Clouds
Spinnerty - Just Listen Pt. 2 ft. Jacqueline Marie (dot.|maT!c's unauthorized rework)
Madlib - Parklight
Quasimoto - Tomorrow Never Knows (Jaylib mix)
Lamont Johnson - Theme from Thunderfist
Marvin Gaye - Feel all my Love Inside
dot.|maT!c - Baby
Sir Froderick - cantyousee

The MC Faceman "#wordemupskislopes"

In an era when artist are so afraid (or incapable) of doing albums that are linked by a common concept, The MC Faceman has made a name for himself by doing just the opposite. His album's always a strong link of ideas from track to track, except for "#wordemupskislopes" which as he says on "wordemup YO!!!" (the album's first song) "just got some dope tracks on it." And damn it I cannot blame him for putting this out, because he is right, there certainly are some dope tracks and I'm glad he didn't sit on the tracks because they didn't fit into an album, sometimes you need to release something that is dope track, no need for a concept (as long as you do that sometimes, be an artist people.) So instead of my usual extended rambling let's cut to the chase, here we go.

The sound of an organ (which would've fit perfectly in Faceman's previous album "Tales from the Sick") kick off "wordemup YO!!!" which I assume will be a main stay in future live performances if for nothing else, that clear set up for a call and response situation. This is easily one of the standout tracks of this album, with Faceman spitting just one verse that comes in at under a minute but it is pure heat in which he rhymes hubris, Horus, whore us and chorus and changes the pace and breaks mid delivery to make it work beautifully.

If you think you're going to get to just chill while listening to this album, "Piff Wit It" reminds you that will not be allowed as Swollen Drums crafts a beat that would fit into a club DJs mix no problem. Warren S. Britt (who has one of my favorite lines on the project "you're nice without the N, I'll let that ass melt") and Precise I.V. join Faceman on the track. This a straight banger. The style and sound of "Who Benefit?..." is almost in direct opposition to the previous track. This time Faceman shows his conscious (political, revolutionary, or whatever you) side as he goes after the government and big business for their attempt to control all aspects of our lives through a variety of paths (military, media, food, government.) This is one of the things that impresses me about the MC Faceman, his ability to handle mutiple styles and aspects of hip hop so seamlessly.

"Hello Rider" offers the listener a taste of horror rap or whatever it is called nowadays, and even though I rarely enjoy tracks like this (just not my style) Faceman and Eric Choy pull it off rather well. There is one thing missing though, OZZY OSBOURNE. If there was a hip hop track that called for Ozzy this is it, in fact this could be a Black Sabbath rap track and it would work spectacularly, great work by Anno Domini to create that atmosphere. Judging by the title you would think "Inner Demons" might fit into the same style and you would be partially correct. But it has a dramatically different feeling that stems from the violin driven beat of KO Beatz. Only the end of each verse (where the Inner Demon speaks) has that horror rap feel the rest is very introspective (which is of course the idea of an inner demon.)

Fair-weather friends (something that we are all too familiar with) are addressed on "Bobbleheads,"another standout. The beginning of the first verse sums up the song and idea perfectly, "Hopefully you've got friends you can trust, not pretend grins whose ends are what they lust, because those limbs must be cut." But do not think those are the only dope lines in this track (or the rest of the album for that matter, just do not feel the need to quote each line to you.)

MC Faceman and OTiS CLaPP decide to lift us up (off of our asses) on "Save The World." Vega provides a drum and guitar heavy beat for both MCs to get their message to us to make this world a better place and remind us that we have to do something to make that way and inform us "Only people can save the world, but we would much rather prefer to ruin it." In other words stop making this world a worse place and live right (as individuals and as a society.) The most unconventional beat (sitar, fife, bass drums) is provided by Luger McCoy on the album's closer "(p)Imperialism." The MC Faceman shines on this track blasting the U.S. government for their creation of paper foreign governments, love of big business, and the federal reserve.

While the MC Faceman says in the first track that this album "just has some dope tracks on it" it is more than that. This album, more than his other more concept driven albums, show his diversity. Whether conscious rap, party rap, or horror rap, Faceman can just from sub genre to sub genre with ease but still make it cohesive enough that you can call this an album and not just a bunch of previously unreleased tracks. So here is to hoping that Faceman keeps it up on his next release whether it is idea driven album or just a bunch of dope track.

Stream and download the entire album here

Eratic and Mr. Kinetik "The Green Hornet"

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.

Redlist and Vibe ft Ordeal "Unlimited"

Check out "Untitled" featuring Ordeal; the first track off Redlist's and Vibe's forthcoming album "Cant Catch Me."

Random and Lost Perception "Black Materia"

You love video games? You love hip hop? Guess what...there are millions just like you, no really. What you don't believe me? Well what if I told you about an MC called Random who after making a dope album called "The Call" was stuck for an idea for his next album. So he thought back to his childhood and remembered his love for the game Mega Man and created an album about just that, using beats created from the Mega Man series. So yes there is someone like you, but what does that have to do with "Black Materia?" Ever here of a game called Final Fantasy VII? It has only been called one of the the greatest games ever by a multitude of video game sites and magazines.

Well ladies and gentlemen, Random, with help from Lost Perception. decided to create an album based on the top selling Playstation game of all time. HOLD ON...before people who aren't gamers or gamers who aren't Final Fantasy fans decide there is no reason to check this album, let me inform you I have never played any of the Final Fantasy games so I understand where you are coming from, but talent is talent, if you like dope beats, lyrics and story telling then you will enjoy "Black Materia." Now if you haven't figured this out (because I am an idiot and didn't say earlier) the beats were created using the music from the game, so you've got that great 32 bit sound continuing through the album and Lost Perception does a great job of making the music into pure hip hop beats.

I did debate on whether or not I should review this album, only because I'm not a Final Fantasy fan and knew the extra work that would go into it for a non-fan to "get" the album. Then I realized that is exactly why I NEED to do this review, to offer the point of view of the uninformed, so as I have developed a pattern for saying...here we go.

The album begins with "Introduction" featuring Marlos Hill who gives you a brief background of the story: a company (Shinra) is draining the planet of its energy to provide energy for the people, create a supreme fighting force called SOLDIER to crush their opposition. The best of SOLIDER, one called Sephiroth turns against Shinra as well as everyone else on the planet and the planet itself. Battles occurred until the Chosen Day when the planet fought back and everything was washed away. While the story is being told, Lost Perception's beat is simple and elegant, almost like an organ, that conveys the emotion of the situation. Once the intro story ends, the beat changes dramatically with hard drums and synths that build before Random speaks on the gravity of the situation of the draining of the planet. Hopefully no one is lost yet but trust me it will be ok.

"They all up on their horse like equestrians, a lifetime ago we use to be the best of friends, but things change, now I'm feeling stressed again, I got my sword leveled up let the quest begin," so begins "Cloud Strife." What is crucial to me is whether you are a gamer or not...those are great multisyllabic rhymes and if you disagree, well then, I bite my thumb. The track is from the point of view of Cloud Strife (a member of SOLDIER) and talks about his admiration for the power and respect that Sephiroth has gained (even though Sephiroth turned against the planet and nearly destroyed it.) Since his memories were faded and "the frame rate is mad shoddy like a PS one" he searches and finds out that Shinra created him to be a warrior and his memories weren't his own. He vows revenge against both Shinra and Sephiroth.

We are introduced to the next character Tifa in "Tifa's Theme" Cloud's childhood friend (and crush). Random speaks as Cloud telling childhood memories of himself and Tifa. Any fan of story telling needs to check out this track (and the whole album in reality). Lost Perception uses a great stripped melodic piano and drum driven beat to convey the nostalgia of Cloud's recollections. The next track "Avalanache" introduces the group Avalanche and their leader, Barret Wallace, who oppose Shinra and all they stand for. If this came on in the club, I guarantee everyone would be up and moving and (since many in the club aren't paying attention to the lyrics) they would request it again so they can get their dance on. But once again Random shows he has real lyrical talent and does not rhyme just one syllable words, something that many fans of hip hop (myself included) feel is an art lost on many of today's MCs. Damn...once again I find myself rambling but let us continue. "Mako Reactor" details the journey of Cloud (who is in fact a mercenary) and Avalanche as they decide to destroy Shinra's Mako Reactors, but there are some major complications. Random does a great job detailing the events while the beat is perfect for what is basically a heist.

Then one of the highlights of the album "Aerith" featuring Spiral Arm begins with an almost disorienting beat (which works great because Cloud is regaining consciousness) before Cloud meets Aerith and are greeted by a haunting angel like chorus. Whatever beat is thrown at Random he makes sure to make it work and continues that on this track which is especially evident when the beat drops and changes entirely in the second half of the track when it becomes a song about love lost. Lost Perception also shines on here due to the frequent changes and his ability to make it all flow from one segment to another seamlessly.

"Don of the Slums" featuring Brentalfloss is by far my least favorite track, even with a great beat the vocals send it into a bit of comedy that does not fit with the rest of the album. Maybe a fan of the game is aware of why this track is here but I cannot figure it out. But right after that "Don of the Slums" features great verses by Storyville, TheThoughtCriminals, and Random detailing the life of Cloud and others in the slums of the planet that is controlled by the Don, which is very similar to the "slums" in our current world.

Pounding drums begin and continue throughout "Cosmo Canyon" as The Ranger, speaking as Red XIII (thank you Final Fantasy Wikia) tells his story. Trust me, you want to check out this track, if nothing else for how The Ranger changes his inflection and tone as he learns the truth about his father. Dale Chase acts as the voice on "The Turks" Shinra's group in charge of espionage. The track is decent but by this point I am hoping to hear more Random which happens after a great transition by Lost Perception into the song "On That Day 5 Years Ago..." This is another highlight of the album and easily one that can act as a stand alone track, which isn't easy when the album is basically an audio play. But both the beats and vocals standout, whether it is the African drums that introduce the song before providing the basis for the rhythm or the ridiculous wordplay Random shows throughout the track (too much to quote here). In fact Random is showing flashes of another Philly born MC, one Black Thought. The final minute thirty becomes an angelic 32 bit outro.

"Birth of A God" hits with a hard drum break and Cloud (Random) coming back from all he has been through when he is greeted by Vincent Valentine (MC Pennywise) and another character voiced by Devastate. He is forced to choose sides in the upcoming battle "sometimes you gotta pick sides, life is a game and the goal is to survive, the future of all mankind is the prize, and the end result is the birth of a God." We are introduced by another character on "Cid" voiced by Phil Harmonic who informs us that Cloud and his companions have hijacked his ship.

Random deviates a bit from the Final Fantasy theme on "Cry of the Planet" another standout and stand alone track. Where he shows his "political rapper" side calling out those who ignore the problems of the world, whether it is global warming, poverty or the lack of common decency. But it still works in the story because remember the planet in Final Fantasy had enough after a while and fought back, flooding the world. In other words, if we don't shape up expect Earth to say it has had enough one way or another.

Before a big battle what does everyone need to do...let the other side know they are superior and that is just what "Absolute" is about. Featuring verses from Random, Ilyas and Maja, the song is a great twist on typical posse cuts where everyone flaunts their skills, because they must do it in the world of Final Fantasy.

Any gamer can tell by the first few notes that "OWA" is the final boss battle, but you do not have to be a gamer to realize the epic beat Lost Perception created for this track. Random voices both Sephiroth and Cloud and the narrator in this song. The beat changes to a gentle guitar, piano, and drum trio as Random offers the conclusion to the story (hint: Sephiroth loses). Just as the credits begin to roll, Random offers his story of how got into the music business (his own credits).

Random certainly took some chances with "Black Materia," doing a "gamer" album that isn't from his beloved CAPCOM, and one based on a game that has an incredibly deep story, not to mention deciding not to appear on every track and letting other MCs voice a character. As often happens with concept albums it took me a few listens to put the story together (would have been easier if I was more familiar with the game) and as is also typical of concept albums there are some missteps (mainly"Don of the Slums interlude,") but Random is still able to create a solid concept album. To me this is even more than just an album, "Black Materia" is an audio play of the classic "Final Fantasy VII" game and together Random and Lost Perception created a sonic picture that places you into that world.


Stream and purchase the full mp3 album or a signed physical copy (in DVD case) here

Stream and download "Black Materia: Instrumentals" for FREE here