I always like when someone has the guts to make Hip Hop that's truely reflective of their own personality. On this day those props go to Hasan Rasheed for his album entitled So This Is Life. Hasan makes music that harkens back to an era when it was still acceptable to be yourself and not worry about album sales. On If I Could Do It All Over Again the story is reported from the other side of the grave with tight lyrics. He's not the first to come from this angle but he vocally pulls it off. My favorite track is the mellow jazz fusion of Change. This is where Hasan's standing as a poet and storyteller become very evident. He smartly holds back on his delivery and allows a ghostly sung chant to appropriately take the lead. I get the feeling that the woman he's addressing about the Change is a real life flesh and blood person because the emotion was too real to be an invented scenerio. As a natural follow up to a change is Keep It Moving. The tables turn here as Hasan Rasheed steps to forefront to let his vocals shine over an understated backing groove. Another favorite of mine is the tight spoken word delivery of I Don't Wanna Cry No More.

Hasan Rasheed has the embracing tone an a Neo-Soul singer and the depth and flair of a good spoken word performer. One theme that takes up residence throughout So This Is Life is romanticism. Hasan is a romantic. This makes for engaging music. Although he chooses emceeing as his medium, he is a poet at heart.

I like the upside for Hasan. No doubt he has the ability to reach within to create beauty. Paired with more savvy production and a little bit more polish he can take this thing as far as his poetry will carry him.

check out Hasan Rasheed online

Review by Funk Wizard Snow
Editor - Phillyhiphop.com
May, 2002