Got Lyrics

Illogic | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Weightless Records
• ASIN: B00005Y9L9
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,906 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Introduction

2. Got Lyrics?

3. Stop Lyin'

4. The Name Game

5. Pure Form

6. Figment of My Concentration

7. Too Many Times

8. Day by Day

9. Screenplay

10. Break Bread

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars everything is better than special, February 5, 2002

By 

jojo (adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Got Lyrics (Audio CD)

This is a marked improvement from unforseen shadows, an album that featured the classic 'hate in a puddle'. Although illogics style has not radically changed, the beats and overall production (blueprint) fit together more coherently, adding to rather than detracting from illogic's often complex rhyme structures. There is no track listing here, so i'll give you a breakdown of each track:

'introduction': illogic starts off with spoken word poetic reflection that preempts his final track

'got lyrics' gets things rolling off nicely, easing us into a slice of funk as illogic rhymes back and forth style with himself on the (poor) state of rhyming today.

'stop lyin' stripped back production, simile-laden chorus, illogic basically inviting us on his lyrical journey (although he of course doesn't say it in such a corny way)

'the name game' in true def jux style, slightly off-key stabs, this is one for cannibal ox fans both sonically and lyrically.

'pure form' illogic rides this beat for all its worth while his lyrics veer off into a fantastical stream of consciousness conjuring up rich, sometimes violent imagery

'figment of my concentration' a personal fave, bringing back the funky horns of early 90s hip-hop. illogic locates himself here against the mainstream towards a space where honesty and a love for emceeing are paramount.

'too many times' anticon/ sole stype flow (is it rap? poetry? spoken word?). Whatever it is, its damn good. Blueprint steps up and funks up the production. Once again, illogic evokes emotions of isolation discussing a personal journey through vivid imagery

'day by day' an ominous tone to this one, somehow reminiscent of j-live. Perhaps illogic's most conventional track on this album, though no less effective for that

'screenplay' dj shadow style beats complete with blur type guitar riffs. Think gorillaz without damon albarn annoying everybody. Typically, illogic covers a lot of ground here but he mainly discusses looking beyond our constrained perspective on reality.

'break bread' an epic song beginning with blue print and illogic coming together to tear it up lyrically and production wise, with blue print providing sufficient vocal support. Illogic responds to those against abstract styles, particularly criticisms that seem to stereotype an 'indie' or 'alternative rhyme style'. Illogic revels in this persecuted role valiantly trying to lift his craft beyond rhyming for the sake of sounding different. After this sing along, illogic presents us with a personal poetry recitation on various subjects. Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, but should be listened to at least once, if only to grasp the way in which illogic's enunciation and inflection lends him an impact upon listeners that most emcees fail to reach.

all in all this album is dope. yes, its alternative, challenging, and doesn't tell you when to... put your hands in the air, but hip-hop (while including such things) should also aim for more. In 'got lyrics', illogic shows us how.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Got lyrics? Yes. Got beats? Yes. Perfect Album? Yes., April 22, 2002

By 

DJ-H-OS (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Got Lyrics (Audio CD)

First heard him on the Aesop Rock - Labor Days album. I read lots of reviews on this album, most of which labeled it a masterpiece. I bought the album, listened to it, loved it, and the rest is history. The new vinyl pressing has an extra song with Aesop Rock, the song is incredable but its only on the vinyl version. I dont give out 5 star ratings that easy, so I really like this album. After hearing the track with Blueprint I'm about to order Greenhouse Effect.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real poet in hip hop, October 24, 2003

By 

Oliver Kranichfeld (Rye, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Got Lyrics (Audio CD)

Illogic's definitely got my attention. The man turns his music into pure poetry. After buying this cd about a year ago, I can't wait for this guy to develop a little more and release a full length album. And by full length, I'm not talking under 10 songs. Illogic is unique to the game. His flow is spectacular. His lyrics are deep and abstract. His whole voice and presence, however, aren't what some would call "nerd rap". He isn't a nerd, like some other rappers out there, and his flows are a testament to that.
Blueprint, the Producer, also impressed me a lot with the beats on the album. For some, they may be somewhat hard to sink into. Once you get into them, however, the beats grow on you.
The decent tracks here are Got Lyrics? and Day by day. Got Lyrics? has a neat horn in the backround and a cool chorus, but Illogic's rapping is the highlight. Day by Day features a nice, somber, and smooth beat over more Illogic flows.
The standout tracks, however, are Stop Lying and screenplay. I'm not even going to try to explain how well concieved these songs are, even though that's kinda the point of this review. These tracks prove that when Illogic is at his best, and when blueprint is at his best, these two are some of the hottest artists in the industry. Illogic is a poet's poet. It's like having a modern day Robert frost on the mic. Get this cd. He beats out Aesop rock any day of the week. peace.