Customer Reviews

Anticon Presents: Music for the Advancement of Hip Hop

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Why are there so many people trashing on a record label for trying to change music for the better. Oh no, it's not accessible like all the other crap on MTV...GOOD! Screw MTV, and screw everything they stand for. I'm sure everyone has noticed the downward spiral that commercial hip-hop has been taking. I'm not saying every track in dynamite, but most of the tracks are very impressive, if not shockingly brilliant.

When this album came out in 1999, underground rap was really starting to take off. This CD was an excellent tool for me when I started listening to underground hip-hop. In fact, this CD is one of the direct reasons I started to listen to hip-hop again. I grew up hating rap, mostly because I started listening when commercial rap started really sucking (which is why I stuck to old-school). But in many ways, Anticon started this explosion of "alternative rap". But you must keep in mind, this is a label sampler. I have a bunch of punk and indie rock label samplers that I haven't listened to but once. But let me assure you, this one is quality, if you just give it a chance.

Here's the play by play (my track-listing is far more accurate than Amazon's listed above):

1. Propaganda (Intro) - DJ Mayonnaise, DJ Signify: These guys tear it for the intro, dropping sample that indicate your in for something different.

2. Rainmen - Alias, Dose, Slu, Sole: This song is fantastic. Alias and Sole really surprised me here, one of the standouts for sure. There is also a different version of this song on the Deep Puddle Dynamics album.

3. (untitled) - Buck 65: I read someone bash on Buck 65 earlier...idiot. I just picked up Buck 65's "Vertex" album from 1999. That album is absolutely amazing. He did everything on the album - songwriting, rapping, turntables, engineering, mixing and producing. He's a true talent.

4. Interlude #1: just an interlude, no big deal

5. Savior - Eyedea, Slug, Sole: The best song on the CD in my opinion. Here we have Eyedea's introduction (incredible). Along with Slug, Sole and a killer beat. This is definitely a must listen.

6. It's Them - Dose: This is also a stellar standout track, although I must admit, Dose is definitely not my favorite rapper. But this song is REALLY different. His voice mixed with the cut up beat is just sick. I probably wouldn't recommend a full CD with Dose on it, but this track works perfectly for this compilation.

7. Interlude #2: just another spaced out interlude.

8. Divine Disappointment - Alias: Oh man, this is another one of my favorite songs. Alias is truly far ahead of his time, as well as a great lyricist and producer. Check out his debut "Other Side of the Looking Glass". It's even better.

9. Meditations - DJ Signify: A nice piece of turntablism

10. Human Races the Tortoise - Dose, Sole: Another pretty sweet tune, pushing the envelope even further (which seems to be Dose's specialty). Just remember the title...

11. My Little Habit - Mr. Skurge: Pretty good, nothing to get to excited over

12. Nothing But Sunshine - Slug: How could you not love this song. Here's a glimpse of Slug back in the "Headshots" days.

13. Interlude #3 - a little cooler than the other interludes in my opinion. But yes, just another interlude.

14. Martyr Theme Song - Sole & Moodswing: Man, this track is really good too. I got to get a "Sole" album.

15. Simulated Snow - 6.2: 6.2 is one talented rapper, don't skip this one.

16. Interlude #4: What do you think?

17. Holy Shi*! - 6.2, Buck 65, Circus, Cosmic Love*uck, Sole: This track is frickin' awesome.

18. Bright Moments - Pedestrian: Pedestrian is a great rapper, and definitely has a unique flow. I like this song. Although, I did just pick-up his new album, "UnIndian Songs", which I found to be a little disappointing.

Well, there you have. If you want to hear something truly different, than pick this up. If you want to see the same beats and flows recycled a thousand times over, then don't buy it. But the title of the album still holds strong. Music for the Advancement of Hip-Hop. I'm out...

It all comes up from the underground... and this is hip-hop light years ahead of your time... MC's like Sole, Dose, Slug, Buck 65 and Alias arrange their poetry to perfection. The deepest hip-hop album I've ever heard, and it takes months to decipher how INCREDIBLY ill it is. It's expression at it's fullest, and it embraces hip-hop more than the average fan could fathom. The beats and production is intoxicating and sets the perfect mood. Creative drum programming included. Worth buying a copy or two. The best album of 1999.

WARNING: this album may cause MC's hot flashes and feelings of inadequacy. the truest hiphop I've heard in far too long. Hiphop isn't about guns and gold anymore and this album shows the heart of the musicians and artists that push hiphop to new levels of expression. Anticon is what music should be, forward thinking and defiant. Especially amazing to me is the composition of dj Signify's Meditations, proving that dj's can create a new music rather than skratching 'ahhhh' endlessly over played out breaks. Just buy it and see what I'm yammering about.

Do not second guess this cd. This is a collection of the greatest mc's in music today. Easily the best album of the year, and deserves to be heard by all hip hop heads of the world.

anticon is the punk movement of hip hop,or the dada movement if you prefer. meaning that they are deliberately bizarre and artsy fartys for the purpose of being bizarre and artsy. a quote from the simpsons sums it up: "its po-mo......post-modern........allrigh, weird for the sake of weird", that suits anticon's mission statement.

with that disclaimer out of the way, anticon is really an interesting collective, they rely heavily on layered vocals and tape loops, as well and brian eno-esque soundscapes to create music that has elements of hip hop but is a new genre all together. i think the term "post-rap" suits it well. this is alot of different stuff, some of it i like and some i dont, jel and cLOUDDEAD are really cool, as is Why? but i personally find doseone to be really annoying, i just cant stand the cats voice.
so if you know a little about what youre getting into, this is a good experimental mix tape from an exciting crew who dares to push the boundaries, just dont expect it to make you a genius if you like it(it wont)

It's difficult, even as a fan of Anticon, to give this album more than three stars, but let me say this is NOT a garbage album. It's just NOT as bad as everyone says. The irony here is, of course, in the album's title... it's a bit arogant if you ask me. The lyrics are intelligent, but I've heard more intelligent - the beats are good, but I've heard better, even from Anticon artists. The standouts are:

05. Savior - Atmosphere, Eyedea, Sole
06. It's Them - Them
08. Divine Disappointment - Alias
12. Nothing but Sunshine - Atmosphere
14. Martyr Theme Song - Moodswing9 / Sole
18. Bright Moments - Pedestrian

Interestingly, two of the standouts are by artists that aren't even with Anticon. Track 05 ("Savior") is Atmosphere (Rhymesayers) & Eyedea (Rhymesayers / Epitaph) making standout appearances with Sole, and track 12 ("Nothing but Sunshine") is another of Atmosphere's! "Savior" is arguably one of the best standouts on the album, with great lyrics and imagination, the rhymes are well thought out and flow well, and the beat is simple but catchy and fits with the lyrics well, not to mention all the artists on the track are standout indie artists. The lyrics on track 06 ("It's Them") are beyond strange; it's a trip to listen to every time. Track 08 ("Divine Disappointment") is witty and imaginative, written, it seems, in the form of a letter from God about the human race. 14 ("Martyr Theme Song") is okay; it's got great lyrics (Sole is on this one - enough said), but the beat is boring.

Ok, if you havent been exposed to Anticon, you're going to be shocked by this one whether you like it or not. Anticon have taken Spoken Word, real life emotion, and hip hop and thrown them together into a 360 degree mind expander. You have NOT heard this anywhere else, and even the most "unda" underground heads arent guaranteed to get this.. This is some of the most transcendental metaphysical spiritual lyrical and borderline etherial material to ever grace your ears. Only hope you can appreciate the depth. In fact, its almost too smart for its own good.. but plenty of messages to decipher for the ones that feel this.

"A mind that is stretched to a new idea can never return to its original dimension" Dose quoting Oliver Wendell Holmes

First off, let me say that this title is not for everyone. Even people who consider themsleves "underground fan" may not fully appreciate the artfullness of the this recording. Second may I say, Oh my God, I never realized Hip Hop could reach a level of poetry and intelligence like this. Anticon reaches deep within themsleves and exposes their massive vocabulary and knowledge. Alias and Slug provide deep insight using somewhat conventional rhyme styles. Sole disposes of the ideas of set ryhmes and bars to explore his own feelings and mind. Dose One is about as much of an experimental emcee to every walk the planet. Alias is quoted as saying "Dose sounds like a 52 year old Japanese women givig birth." No doubt his voice is unique to say the least, but Dose's lyrics are over your head poetry. In fact, and this goes for the whole anticon crew, their onley flaw may be their extensive knowledge. I dare anyone who has the confidence to try and decifer the message of some of these songs. Good Luck

This music is really the greatest hip-hop I have ever heard.There are all kinds of wack MCs out there these days, and it is goodto hear some music that is entertaining and makes you think at the same time. I know these guys pretty well and i can tell that they are going to hit it big soon because of their amazing beats and out of this world rhymes. If you like this album then you will love some of their upcoming albums. You can check it out soon but for now it is under construction. This album is by far 5 stars. Check it out. I guarantee you will love it.

I don't know what you think you know about hip hop, but if you have any interest in exploring what is new, dynamic, or (perish the thought) revolutionary, then you *must* hear this album. I've always suspected that mainstream radio and music video channels overlook innovation, but this is proof positive.