How do you solve a problem like downloading? Inspiring packaging. Simples. If that’s not enough, you could always ensure the content of your release is amongst the best released in 2009, irrespective of genre. That would certainly appear to be the approach of Minneapolis rapper and musician P.O.S (Stefon Alexander) on this, his third album for US Independent label Rhymesayers.
Let it Rattle showcases Alexander’s ability to use rhyme as a catalyst to accelerate a track to burning point whilst simultaneously utilising melody as a method to offset the inherent aggression. P.O.S effectively straddles genres; absorbing punk, rock, hip-hop, jazz – all spliced in with indie elements regularly associated with bands like TV on the Radio.
Purexed, for example, is driven by the defiant, sounding like it could have been soundtracked by Art Blakey and David Sitek: “So fuck it, back to the wall, crush it, laugh at em all. Hush, Let em try to find the beauty in your face, Somethin’ more than a song, They hatin? Aw come on! Dust, let em try to find the beauty in the bassline”. It’s an intense piece and one that outclasses many songs of similar thought.
With Alexander’s capacity to channel the styles of more established MCs (Ice Cube on Goodbye, Eminem on Purexed and Aesop Rock on Get Smokes), fellow Doomtree crew member Lazerbeak is on hand to help with beat manipulation. This variety is effective, making this a mostly impersonal record that relys on a combination of story-telling techniques and streams of frequently impregnable philosophical thought.
Out of Category is one of a handful of rap songs that deals with cultural conflict and in this case, the topic is autobiographical, targeting black kids and punk music. One of the few personal pieces on display here, it doesn’t fail its aim to attack and denigrate: “Brothers at school think he trynta, rewrite skin. Others are fools, never seen some shit like him…Aint nothin like a mohawk to show off your fuck off, an kick off the Reeboks for boots.”
Though punk echoes throughout Never Better, particularly on ‘Terrorish’ which features a chorus from None More Black’s Jason Shevchuk, the music is, mercifully, never of the NOFX / Fat Wreck Chords ilk, but bleeds from the exposed veins of classic bands like Fugazi (who are namechecked on the Kanye-like Savion Glover).
Closing with spiritual, DJ Krush styles on ‘The Brave And The Snake’, Never Better is a ferociously, musically-hip marriage of the political and celebratory. Intoxicating and adventurous, it is simply one of the best records released this year, hip-hop or otherwise.
