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What happens when you take two prolific poets/lyricists, and combine their talent with underground's golden boy DJ Shadow? You get Latyrx The Album. This album came out in 1998, and it is SO unappreciated. It does things that no other rap album I have ever heard has done. The first track, for instance, is a futuristic space ride in which starts out with silence and then out of the silence comes the name Latyrx, then DJ Shadow busts a space age beat that makes you think Space Mountain, and then both rappers take a channel, left and right, and rap different verses in different styles, but play off of each other, play catch with rhymes, and their emotions swell one peaking as the other reaches the low point and then they switch again. That is only the first track. This album has freestyles, battles, some of the sickest beats ever made. This album changed my life, changed my view on hip hop, and I hope that everyone picks this up because its is the greatest hip hop album, and the most prolific hip hop album ive ever heard.

This has got to be one of the most overlooked underground hip-hop classics to ever be released. Which is quite a shame, since "The Album" is as sonically original as Company Flow's "Funcrusher Plus", which was also released in 1997. Both of these albums were amongst the most abstract hip-hop albums to hit the scene, which brought avant-garde experimentalism to hip-hop (i.e. Definitive Jux, Anticon). Lets start with the extraordinary cast. Lyrics Born (a.k.a. Asia Born, Tom Shimura), originally born in Tokyo, then moved to Berkeley, California; was the founder of the Quannum/SoleSides Records collective in 1992. DJ Shadow, also co-founder of SoleSides Records, was fresh off of his critically acclaimed 1996 debut, "Endtroducing...", and ready to turn hip-hop heads on their sides. Lateef the Truth Speaker, a new remarkable talent, made his debut on "The Album".

Contrary to popular belief, this album is not completely produced by DJ Shadow. In fact, Shadow only produces 4 tracks on the album. Label mate Chief Excel (Blackalicious) produces 2 tracks. Lyrics Born takes on the bulk of the production; coming to the table with 7 tracks. The highlight of the album is up for debate. The production brought forth is unbelievable, which sounds extremely fresh, even by today's standards. But one thing that Big Juss and El-P (from Company Flow) did not possess, are lyrical flows on the unique level of Lyrics Born and Lateef. Lyrics Born gives a whole new meaning to the idea of breath control. His perfectly annunciated flow is so fluid, it's almost baffling. Lateef, on the other hand, is quite a bit different. His flow is more menacing and outspoken, although very unique and coherent. The idea of your average hip-hop formula is completely pulverized here, making way for some truly adventurous material.

Moving on to the originality claims...The first cut "Latyrx" presents the most riveting production on the record. Lyrics Born and Lateef each recorded their verses separately. Each rap was split into their own audio channels (left/right). Since they are not interacting with each other lyrically, their raps are nearly impossible to comprehend, which doesn't really matter. Their flows mixed with the music creates a sonic texture of sounds that is utterly captivating. That's the most experimental track on the album, which turns out to be a nice choice since the album is filled with tons of variety. The album drives along through earthy trip-hop beats, ambient synth textures, as well as some jazz, funk and dancehall cuts. There wasn't anyone in hip-hop progressively using electronics the way these guys were. "Say That" is a welcomed change from the first cut, blending trip-hop and electronics well once again. "The Quickening (The Wreckoning, Part II)" by Lateef, is one killer track. His flow is captivatingly sweet, and since he raps alone here, it's easy to focus on him. Also similar to the previous cut, "Balcony Beach" features Lyrics Born, which is my favorite track as of now. The beat/rhythm is actually quite minimal, featuring soulful singing by Joyo Velarde. Lyrics Born's flow is real lazy and intoxicating; I love it. "Live at 90.3 '94" featuring John Tchicai and Free Association boasts some killer freestyle verses (which is more than I can say for the sound quality). "The Muzapper's Mix: Aim for the Flickering Flame/Rankin' No. 1" pushes the envelope nicely with another solid jam. Track 8, "Bad News", kicks off a funky set. It features a soothing funky piano loop and drum beat that backs Lateef's story rhymes quite nicely. The next cut, "Off (With) Their Heads (Be Prompt)" featuring Lyrics Born is also pretty funky, boasting a funked up guitar loop. "Burnt Pride" is a pretty sweet cut (and the longest). It features some pretty dirty and complex production (by Lyrics Born).

This is Lyrics Born and Lateef at their absolute best. And despite the big name backup (DJ Shadow), Lyrics Born produces most of the album, and provides the musical vision, as well as being the more distinguished emcee of the two. Nevertheless, this is a phenomenal debut for both of these mad talented cats. It is sad that only 14 other fans have reviewed this album besides myself. It will probably never receive the recognition it deserves. It also didn't help that the album was virtually non-existent for the first 5 years of it's release. I'm doing my part to change this, and I implore you to do the same. Because there's only one way to find out about great music like this, besides doing your homework on the internet. And that's word of mouth. Everyone I know is getting a taste of Latyrx, and they're loving it.

Now if you know my background you know that I am a huge fan of the label these cats are signed to, Quannum; Blackalicious are among my favorite hip hop acts of all time and Gift of Gab is perhaps the greatest MC you've never heard of. Enter Latyrx. Comprised of Cali MCs Lateef the Truthspeaker and Lyrics Born (aka Asia Born) this album is a slept-on classic.

This album was released back when Blackalicious were blowing up off of their rookie LP Nia, an album that would consequentially take the torch from the then-disintergrating Pharcyde and maintain Cali hip hop's prominent status on the undeground map. While this album is far too obscure to make such a splash as Nia had, it is priceless nonetheless. The greatest thing about this album is its accessability. This album can be accessed by virtually anyone - that is, you don't have to be an obscure underground hip hop head to dig it. I have come across a great deal of alternative rockers who have genuinely enjoyed this album. My girlfriend, who's more pop than Madonna, adores this album. There's something truly universal about the composition and chemistry that this album brings to the table.

My theory is this: first of all you cannot deny the stellar production. Lyrics Born, a self-proclaimed crate rat, produced virtually every beat on this album. He remains faithful to the Quannum signature sound in that it's soul-heavy and, for the most part, can get the party started. Tracks like "Lady Don't Tek No" is a testament to those sexy pre-closing club bangers when phone numbers are being passed around and a drunken two become a drunken one. The MCs' best possible Barry White impersonation over a bowel-obscucting bass groove makes "Lady" a definite album highlight.

That caters to the mainstream heads. That being said, a lot of material on this album is quite obscure, which is probably why it is both so slept-on and so appealing to more alternative heads. Tracks like "Latyrx", where the two MCs are rapping OVER one another; or "Balcony Beach", where a comotose Lyrics Born mumbles and self-humbles over guest singer Joyo Velarde's angelic crooning demonstrate Latyrx's ability to push the envelope and go against the hip hop grain.

What's beautiful about Quannum is that they're family. The resident MCs, Gift, Lyrics and Lateef, always feature on one another's respective work. The line between solo and collaborative work is completely blurred with these guys. You probably won't ever see another Latyrx album, but that's because there's a little bit of Latyrx in everything and anything these guys will ever touch. Both LB and Lateef will always bring something fresh to the table. Both MCs can rap, sing, and lay down the grooves... And the beauty is that it's never redundant and always listenable. If this isn't multi-tasking then I don't know what is.

I haven't heard a SINGLE album in my hip-hop career that sounds like this one. There's no one I can compare them to, no flows I can say they sound like...NOTHING. It seems that every person on Quannum does their thing for hip hop to the infinite power, and contributes to hip-hop 1000 times better than anyone in mainstream...but yet and still kids like Nelly get crowned the "kings of hip-hop". what kinda crap is that?
The craft on this album is amazing, and these flows are by far the most creative that I've ever heard. Even on the first track, "Latyrx", these kids establish everything that's about to follow this song. In one ear, you hear (just barely) Lyrics Born's low, slightly mumbling voice taking the listener through a space oddysey of a girl in her bed at night (or at least that's what i got out of it), and in the other ear, you can't help but hear Lateef's loud, territory-claiming voice. Both of the emcee's cadences shift from fast (even inaudible at times) to slow to meeting at some point in their speeches (privately...) after this, they're back to their separate stories. It's absolutely astonishing that no one has heard of such a duo.
On "Say that", Lyrics Born (as producer) conceives a chemist-like beat for the two to spit over. their lyricist styles are so different, yet you will find yourself liking them both equally in their own ways. Standout tracks go to Lyrics Born on "Balcony Beach", a slow, depressing track that will have you addicted to it immediately with Joyo's beautiful chorus.
"Burnt Pride", a song that, again, displays Lyrics Born's producing and cadence-changing skills, is the longest track but the funnest.
Freestyle tracks go to LAteef, who challenges many on his songs and kills them in the end. My only regret for this album is that it is so effin short, and that these cats won't come together to do another one. Pick up that lyrics born cd, though...

Listen to the first track, and by that track alone I can guarantee you, you will have never heard hip-hop like this before. The album goes into such artistic measures, you don't even know whether to call it hip-hop anymore. I downloaded a free song of this album on a uaual pay-by-song download servce, and under genre it said it was "lyrical." You can call it that, but the truth is, the album doesn't even speak for itself, the way latyrx and dj shadow work their production on their album sounds confusing, so confusing at points that it manages to work.

But for one thing, if you want lyrical mastery and hip-hop like you have NEVER EVER heard it before, not even from regular underground hip-hop, this is a classic purchase. Don't sleep on any other group from Quannum Projects either.

There is genuinely no hip-hop album, group-wise especially, that sounds like Latyrx's seminal debut, "The Album." Produced mainly by DJ Shadow, Lyrics Born, and Chief Xcel, the onslaught of originality begins with the title track, where Lateef the Truth Speaker and LB rhyme different verses simultaneously, and continues on "Balcony Beach;" a veracious exploration of the troubled mind.

Although both emcees spend a considerable amount of time battling - see "Live," "The Wreckoning," and "Off With Their Heads" - there is more than enough substance throughout. "Bad News" decries the devilish past time of gossiping, while "Burnt Pride" blasts all that is traditional and institutionalized. On "Aim For The Flickering Flame," Lyrics Born urges listeners to "day after day now with the rigorous training, face the pain, but with a disciplined brain;" speaking to the positive ideals of hope and aspiration.

The album's pinnacle, "Burning Hot," is a blazing, hold-onto-your-hats whirlwind through the daily "ritual" of live performing: "Mumbling my whole rhyme, and re-rehearsing my lines, hummin' tunes on the solo, so the voice is prime...in a minute, no gimmicks, just hyped from the start to finish / wondrous night, beats thunderous us, lightin' it up," Lateef boasts.

Criticisms, meanwhile, come few and far between. "Burnt Pride" rambles on to the point where the listener may lose interest, and the group's breakthough hit, "Lady Don't Tekno," is noticeably absent. The album's wildly experimental edge also limits its utility to strictly headphone listening.

However, these minor flaws are beside the point. With "The Album," Latyrx arguably gave birth to the post-millenium "nerd rap" genre, fathering the styles of Buck 65 ("Balcony Beach") and Sage Francis ("Latyrx") in the process. And out of fourteen tracks, seven are undeniable classics. Cop this album to own a piece of hip-hop history.

when i first bought this at the store, the clerk, who was a friend of mine, told me before i listen to this album that i needed to forget every preconceived notion of what hip-hop is...this would ensure maximum enjoyment and appreciation of the kind of daring and bold style that Latyrx are pulling off. i took this cd home, listened to it. felt nothing. played it again and again and i became more and more compelled and drawn to it every time i played it. it's flow is really really unique and special. it has such a warm, splashy feeling, and the production is all over the place...scattershot with live instrumentation, almost no sampling, and a very songlike structure to most of these pieces. the whole thing has a sort of jazzy feel, but very weird and experimental in the way that it is all executed. a very unique expression in the world of hip hop (i'm not even sure that i should label this as "hip hop", but...). apparently, this album has found it's place as a bit of an underground classic, and for good reason. this is a record worth exploring over and over again. it's content's value reveals itself the deeper and deeper you go.

undoubtably the most prolific hip-hop album i have ever listened to. latyrx (and the whole quannum crew in general) are one of the most underrated hip-hop acts around. this album has been a favourite of mine since its release in the mid 90s and while the opening track remains quite possibly my all-time favourite simply for its complexity and originality, there is not one song on this album i do not love. from the aggressively pitched "the wreckoning" to the lulling, almost hypnotic ryhthms of "balcony beach" these two guys manage to combine their diverse styles into something most "rap" artists today couldn't even contemplate.

When I first became acquainted with Latyrx and listened this album through, I was very surprised that I had never heard even a single one of these tracks before; that Latyrx's reputation wasn't more widespread.
Lord knows they deserve it, because just about everything on here is pure brilliance! and it's stunningly original as well.
Like many other listeners, I was initially most intrigued by the use of simultaneous raps on the opening track. This is still the only example of rapping used almost purely as a sonic tool I've heard, and (I'm tempted to say) luckily so, because, I can certainly envision a project like this failing horribly in the hands of anyone else than these truly masterful, stylish mc's. Naturally, a lot of the credit must also go to the producer - the mighty DJ Shadow, who had, at the time 'The Album' came out, just finished the legendary Endtroducing... and was in the midst of what most people would propably call his golden years.
"Latyrx" remains the most experimental piece on here, but the entire album has the same highly avant-garde feel to it. Shadow produces several tracks on here along with Lyrics Born himself and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious, and I have to say that all of it is top-notch work - they clearly intended to create something truly ahead of the curve with this album. From the gloom-funky, wobbly foundation of the opener, to the lazy, almost soul-ish, but equally intriguing Lyrics Born solo rap "Balcony Beach".
What really makes the album for me, though, is Lateef ("the thruth-speakin' MC!). This album was the first time I had ever heard him on anything (he has come out with shamefully little material, and none of it showcases his awesomeness better than "The Album", but check out Maroons: Ambush too), and after casually listening "The Quickening" through on my way to school or whatever, in my headphones, I had, what can only be described as an epiphany. This track, backed up by DJ Shadow's best-ever (!) faster-tempo hip hop beat, Lateef rants and spits elastically over the fast-paced head-bobbing production, and his almost fluid, liquid style is complimented beautifully by a guitar figure sample, also serving as the hook. Anyway, I can't quite put my finger on what it is that makes a track like this so special, all I can recommend for everyone is to somehow obtain and experience it.
To be completely honest, the clear highlights of this album are the first two tracks - but the sheer quality, ambition and outstanding skill behind these masterpieces is enough to get the overall work rating to 5 stars.

In my opinion originality is at an all-time high in the world of underoung hip-hop at the present time, and you could find no better example of that than this Lateef and Lyrics Born collabo project. This is a lyrically based album- so if your main concern is funky-fresh beats, I wouldn't suggest buying this album. The Album is more of a lyrical showcase than an actual album. Many of the tracks are freestyles and most of the tracks use very raw production methods which give it a pretty old school feel. The lyrics are anything but old school, however, and if anyone appreciates an original style and sound they should check out Latryx.