|
You betta be a real emcee if you have the moxy to call
your album Talk Hard. Its quickly evident that
Adlib is the type of rhyme spitter that can back it
all up. The Allentown based rapper offers a marathon
album full of quality cuts and real raps. This kid can
also rock the mic live and keep your attention, proving
he's an all around emcee.
Aeyone lends production credits on the mixtape ready
0-15. There's nothing lacking on this track. After peeping
it you'll understand the depth of Ablib's talents. A
heavy bassed backbeat pounds under Adlib's clever rymes
and the MC Shan inflected break scratches. The track
is complete. Enough of that one though, let me move
on to jock another track LOL! Aeyone makes a return
for the equally engaging title track Talk Hard. The
track forces the neck to smoothly bounce to its funk
flow that Ablib effortlessly rides home with commanding
vocals. The only drawback here is the inclusion of Casper
rapping on the track. While he possesses flow it falls
flat after following Adlib's stronger precense. What
can I say about Whats Green except it's bangin' in the
same vein as the previous cuts. Don't get it twisted
though, on tracks from Hypnotized, Next One to the deeply
personal and positive Everything Adlib shows the versatility
to switch it up and keep the product fresh. Continuing
with the varied approaches to phatness, Adlib enlists
Hawkeye to handle a portion of the production load on
bangers like Horseshoes N Handgerades, Caron De Lux
and Raise It Up. The latter being one of the album's
stand out tracks. This one needs to see the light of
day as a 12' inch single. Bangin'.
It sounds like Ad had fun making the album. And lord
knows we need more of that in the current state of the
culture. Adlib manages to tap into that missing link
that made the old school so enjoyable and so many of
today's zombified bling blingers hollow and shallow.
He has a gusto and depth to what he does and posesses
the talent to make it entertaining. I'm calling on all
mixtape DJs in the Greater Philadelphia Region to show
love to Adlib on your upcoming mixtapes. There's no
excuse not to... it has my endorsement. Buy this album.
Now.
itsallday.com
Reviewed by Funk Wizard Snow
Editor- PhillyHipHop.com
February, 2002
|
