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The collaboration between New York City’s
microphone fiend C-Rayz Walz and
D.C.’s manic producer Sharkey
is nothing if not surreal. From the first track
to the last you are taken on a journey of self-awareness
that few, save the faithful fans of each, have ever
traversed. While C-Rayz continues to dazzle with
his intricate and oft-times hilarious wordplay,
his rhyme schemes and subjects are challenged and
manipulated by Sharkey’s quarky, yet danceably
energetic soundscapes. This pairing should not be
confused with Gnarls Barkley, but the record is
on par as far as originality and quality go, and
if you liked GB, you’ll likewise be entranced
by this work as well.
The pop sensibilities of the opening track “Birth of Ratto Di Laboratorio”
might be what resulted from a meeting of Canadian
music genius K-os and the Undergrounds’
fiendishly clever Dr. Octagon.
It lets you know that this is not the traditional
C-Rayz record, by grabbing your ass and tugging
it towards the dance floor. “Jumping Off
At The Jump Off” continues the dance vibe,
replete with female vocals and offering Walz a
decidedly different forum for his immense skills
to flex. This track may not be traditional dancehall,
but it wouldn’t be out of place at a juke
joint with heavily oiled Jamaican girls writhing
with pleasure.
On “Pain To The Picture,” uniquely
Walz punchlines like “Don’t be a bird-brain/
And think that you’re fly…”
are prevalent throughout. While “Electric
Avenue,” which takes its name and movement
from the original hit song by Eddy Grant, Walz
is able to parlay some social commentary that
sounds refreshingly dated. Don’t get it
twisted, this one will have you nodding along
and paying attention at the same time!
With “We Speak Animal,” a classic
hip hop break, re-imagined for the Trance era,
has C-Rayz dropping his usual gems. While the
bouncy synthpop of “Forgotten” shows
the extent to which these two mad scientists are
willing to travel, all for your enjoyment.
So it’s not your uncle Charlie’s C-Rayz;
that’s the point. Take a listen, you won’t
be disappointed.
monstermakermusic.com
crackspace.com/monstermaker
babygrande.com
D Tha Man, September 20, 2007
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