Customer Reviews

Coup de Theatre

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Looking at this album in relation to the former is unfair. The first album, a must have too, was and is a monument to hiphop. The first album is a woven sonic experience.

Coup De Theatre feels tight, focused, high quality. Haiku is definitely back and on point. The pure lyrical talent in this record is astounding but for my taste, the beats/rhythms were a little "synth and sampled sounding." I really would of liked to of seen Haiku with Roots-esque live instrumentation. It really would of made this record outshine the former.

Nevertheless, the songs taken by themselves are amazing and bumping. Especially: Coup De Theatre, 575 and Top Qualified. It also was good to hear Busdriver, a definate and appropriate addition to Haiku.

All in all, if you have never heard Haiku, pick up this one and the original release. If you pick up the re-issue, you miss key tracks from the original like Westside Slip-n-Slide, an Untitled improv track and the original Kaya.

Ok so this group is three extremely talented Mc's. You've got Abstract Rude, Aceyalone, and Mikah 9. All these guys have great talent and combined into one group their just amazing. Just saw these guys live at the Showbox in Seattle and they had the crowd going wild! If you haven't heard of Aceyalone or Abstract Rude I suggest looking into some of their solo stuff, All Balls Don't Bounce is a great CD by Aceyalone. Abstract has a good CD with tribe unique as well called PAINT. Either Way get Haiku!!!!

This is a dope album, get it. If you don't have the first Haiku album, get that first, it just got re-released with extra tracks.

This album has some smokin' styles & slick production by Fat Jack. It doesn't quite have that jazzy style of the first album, unfortunately. I wish they could've gotten Adrian Burley to produce again. Busdriver cameos on 2 tracks (for some reason he's not listed on "Coup de Theatre") & Quannum fans have to hear "Top Qualified" with Gift of Gab, Lyrics Born & Lateef going head to head with Mike, Aaron & Eddie. For my money, I think Mikah 9 & Gift of Gab came out on top.

Some of their flows -- especially Mikah 9 on "Kats" and "Top Qualified" -- are reminiscent of the golden era of the early 90s. "Mike Aaron & Eddie" is just sick; "Transitions & Eras" is cool; "All Good Things" is a sweet sad song about how "All good things never last." There's also a "hidden" 13th track where they're all rapping in haikus, 5-7-5 syllable count... pretty slick.

But what makes this CD really worth buying is the DVD... with concert footage of "Mike Aaron & Eddie" & "Innercity Boundaries"... Aceyalone doing "Rapper Rappers Rappers" a capella in '98... candid footage of Haiku smokin' & drinkin'... videos for Acey's "Moonlit Skies," "The Hunter and the Hunted," a new Haiku song that's not on the album (dope!)... and Haiku hanging out smoking by the beach at sunrise giving informal a capellas of "Dogs" and "Mike Aaron & Eddie"... I actually think Mikah's a cappella of "Mike Aaron & Eddie" is better than the album version cause he flows more melodically...

This is a great album, better than Acey's last 2 albums, and almost as good as the first Haiku. Keep an eye out for Mikah 9's next release "Gramophone."

...when i first heard "Mike, Aaron & Eddie." it's THAT sick. and the group has such a unique sound that you can't even imagine what sickness lies within. i read another reviewer's comment that he would have paid the price of the cd for that track alone...and i wanted to make sure it's clear that his comment, by no means, implied that the rest of the album skimps. this one's a must-buy.

4 1/2 stars on the real.

Haiku d'Etat is, without a doubt, one of the most original acts I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Skilled and thoroughly versed in hip-hop's ever fluctuating language, Mike, Aaron and Eddie take the music to a different plane of existence. The second release is much smarter than the first, accompanied by a DVD of freestyles and exclusive videos of the group's tours and interactions. Let me break it down like so:

Beats:
Production has definitely stepped up a notch. On the frenetic, "Mike, Aaron and Eddie" you are caught up in a fast paced blitz of words and beats, which will definitely have your head nodding and your jaw dropping. Other cuts like "Stoic Response" may leave you desiring a bit more. "Top Qualified", though lyrically off the meter, could have benefitted from better production.

Flows:
This is where the album shines. Songs like "Kats", "Dogs" and "Coup De Theatre" are surely examples of the triumvirate's great presence and writing ability. Not only that, they know how to entertain you with off the mark quips and still keep the beat. If you want lyrics, look no further. Also, check out the DVD if you yearn for more.

Lasting Appeal:
I have to give it to them for trying something new and being very original. Honestly, most people in the industry can't take those types of chances because they'll lose their fan base or for fear of being alienated. Haiku d'Etat is an album that forces you to take notice of three cats that move hip-hop towards a new horizon. I enjoy it tremendously.

Buy this one and get the first album just to know where they came from.

Ani'mout!
~Ward Prefect

Three legendary west coast MC's(Aceyalone, Mikah 9, Abstract Rude) team back up and drop the second album under the name Haiku D'Etat(which means 'poetry overthrow'). Precisely what this album does. I got this cd in a package with the re-release of the debut album as well as an instrumentals of this one. I've only listened to "Coup De Theatre" twice through(and I got about 17 more times before I take it out of the stereo) but Damn, this album is very good.
This cd also comes with a bonus DVD which has concert highlights, a couple music videos, footage of them singing a couple of these songs out on the streets, and them just hanging out talking to people and smoking. I really think it's sad that the latter was the first thing we see. I would expect three intelligent, grown-up men to have quit that years ago. So maybe I shouldn't regard them as role models, I will just listen to their music for what it's worth. Anyway's, they drop the album which will probably get unnoticed and underappreciated, but it's fantastic though! I listened to the first album once through already, and honestly "Coup De Theatre" sounds better, and the debut album is highly revered!
There is not one throwaway song on this album, unless you count the intro. At times the line is blurred between poetry and rapping, but they do their best to keep coming at you with different things and always keep it insightful and rich in vocabulary. The first song and the single "Mike, Aaron, and Eddie" starts out with an annoying hook, but by the end of the three verses(especially Ab Rude's) it becomes a stellar track, one of the best actually. "Katz" and "Dogs" aren't quite as memorable as the rest of the songs, but they are both intriguing as they weave cliches of the two animals in their respective songs. Both those two have a different feel so it doesn't feel like they're spending too much time on the cat and dog subjects. "Transitions and Eras" has more singing and an even more mellow vibe, and an essential change of pace. "Top Qualified" is a big, rowdy, upbeat change of pace and it features the Quannam MC's with Chief Xcel producing. This song is where my two favorite West Coast MC's(Acey and Gift of Gab) unite and everyone just rips it in their own special way. A very good song! "All Good Things" is a very very good, mellow love(lost) track. The title track plays like three different scenes to a theater performance, and it's very different and undoubtedly done remarkably. "Built 2 Last" will have you singing along with the chorus(with excellent verses too), and is supposedly the last song except...they come in with a bonus song that is very jazzy and they perform different haikus(written in 5-7-5, three lines that don't rhyme). No one song is dispensible on this whole cd! I think the best song is #8, "Poetry Takeover," which has a haunting, symphonic beat and focused verses with an effective, memorable hook.
Like I said, all of the songs are praiseworthy, which I don't think can be said of the debut album. This album has mostly live, jazzy beats which are very nice, but maybe not as outstanding as the first album. The trio seem more focused here, to my delight. On their first album, it was more like three exceptional MC's doing their own thing within songs, whereas on "Coup De Theatre," they are more cohesive and each verse builds upon the last. And they don't even swear in this album except once I think, talk about focused! Aceyalone may be my favorite for his lyricism, but I'm starting to appreciate Mikah 9 more and more. Mikah is nicknamed 'the jazz' because the singing he does is vital, and melodic, and he has so much flavor when he rhymes(he rarely ever sounds the same verse to verse)! "Coup De Theatre" is a wonderful album that is not bogged down by trendy conventions and has long-lasting artistic merit. Don't be suprised if this album is atop my list at the end of the year for best albums of 2004. What are you waiting for? These guys deserve better, so get your asses out there and search and search until you find this, then buy it without hesitation!

an absolutely amazing album for both hip hop fans and none. great beats, great lyrics from some of the best mcs out there. quannum mcs come in on track ten and show why they are known as hip hop champions. the album has soul that you dont find in alot of albums. there are some tracks not because they arent good but because the ones after them are just classic jams.

i found the album before i knew any of the mcs on it. just happened to hear it the day it came out at my local record store, heard tracks 8,9,10 in the store and went and found out what it was.

buy it, its in constant rotation in my music collection, which is varied.

Just gonna say MIKE, AARON & EDDIE!! I woulda paid $15 just for that track alone. It possibly is the best hip hop tune of all time...Bold statement??? if u aint heard of any of these guys b4 or u aint heard mike aaron & eddie...? Your opinion is null & void.

are you a smoke dog. well from one smoke dog to another...this is the coolest album for people like us. what the hell? this is awesome.

Not a curse word to be hear. A first. This is REAL HIP HOP . THANK YOU. GO GET THIS AND J-LIVE LATEST(2005)