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Product Details
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Hot Karl, a resident of the suburbs of Los Angeles, gained recognition in 1999 by being the all time champion on the "Roll Call" freestyle battle show on KKBT "The Beat" 100.3FM. His reign of 44 days straight led Karl to be signed by Interscope Records, where he recorded his first (and unreleased) album, Your Housekeeper Hates You.
After his release from Interscope, Karl signed a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing where he wrote songs for Sugar Ray, O-Town, Thalia, and for the EA Sports video game NBA Live.
The Great Escape, with its 80’s pop culture references and its "surreal life" suburban tales features the tracks "Kerk Gybson", "Home Sweet Home", "Lonely Girl", "Dreamin’", and "I’ve Heard".
Destined to be the voice of suburban America, Hot Karl introduces his unique upbringing and signature humor through Hip-Hop. Karl has the music that will drive him to the forefront of the mainstream while still staying true to who he is.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Let's Talk,
By
This review is from: Great Escape (Audio CD)
Karl possesses a certain Intelligence that is rarely seen in Hip-Hop. Not that there aren't other "smart" emcees out there. But, Karl doesn't get spacey and scientific on us like let's say, Canibus. Without really listening, the first impression one might get of HK is he's pretty dumb. Lots of punchlines and metaphores make up his style. I'm sure people could argue all day about his voice, which I happen to not mind. But, I really find him to have a great flow. His intelligence is very low-key. He makes references to all kinds of things you probably won't catch on the first listen. I'm a huge fan of battle rappers, and while not as fierce as Chino-XL, HK really holds his own, and on a level unlike any other rapper. He's not hardcore (I'm going to kill you) he's white, goofy and proud of it. And for some reason, two of his biggest lyrical targets are Queen Latifah & Tyrese. Don't ask cos I don't know, but his punchlines make me laugh. The album starts with "Let's Talk" an old track, which was supposed to be on his Interscope debuet. Absolutely one of the best tracks I've heard in years. And not just because one of my biggest influences in Serch is on it. The concept is kind of played out, but the story telling, and song just work. Serch has skills, and no issues with being an ass. This is the best back and forth conversation song ever maybe. "Home Sweet Home" is pulled off his scraped debuet too. I've heard the song in 3 forms, all sounding totally different. This one's alright but either of the other 2 versions would have been much better. Some of the beats here I ain't feeling, and some of the old tracks should have been included on here. HK carries the album threw with his humor and wit on the mic. There's a reason he won 8'oclock battles for like 44 nights straight, he has massive presence on the m-i-c. This album could have been a lot better, but it's good to see HK doing his thing. I hope he never stops emceeing, we don't have anyone like him out. He's nerdy, without all the text book big word rhymes.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Escape is a solid effort from a more talented artist,
By
This review is from: Great Escape (Audio CD)
Hot karl as an artist creates well-thought, interestingly written lyrics. His ability to rap is uncanny in that he brings excellent pronunciation. I have followed hot karl's music since i first heard a song called "caliente Karlito," which is one of the most creative rap songs i've ever heard. There do exist some similarities to Eminem such as Karl's fast-pace and multi-syllabic rhyming. Though to Karl's defense, his choice of topics, song structure, dedication to his own style, and overall ability put him in a far different group of rappers from eminem. As a fan the release of the great escape was very exciting for me.
Unfortunately, the music was not quite up to par with karl's capabilities. there was a very good track with mc serch in which karl argues about his creative differences with the rap industry. Also a track call Back/Forth that really showcases what karl fun side that did not quite translate from his first (unreleased) album to the great escape. he adds a version of my favorite hot karl song " the burbs" called "Home Sweet Home" which gives some creative and compelling arguments about the questionable Happiness in the suburbs( though i think the song is half a joke). unfortunately the remake isn't as good( it lacks the emotion from the original). He also adds some of the funniest skits in the industry. I enjoy the one about the Ten White Commandments and i laughed quite a while when his mother called him a loser. However, i was really looking for the music. i wish there could have been less skits and more music. it would have been a nice plus if he had added some older songs like: armand assante, his hotness, or sumpn changed for the newcomers. Overall hot karl is an intensely talented and fun rapper. Unlike artists like Kanye West who get undeserved credit for breaking down racial and social barriers. Hot Karl actually works towards such things by embracing that he is a big white nerd and not acting like a thug or a drug dealer. I give this 4 out of five. too many skits not enough songs only a couple really great songs this is a solid buy for anyone looking for something creative and different
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
So I've heard...,
By
This review is from: Great Escape (Audio CD)
Well Hot Karl once upon a time was billed as the next great white hype (does it even matter?) by a few sources as a by product of MC Serch's discovery. However as fate would have it, probably for better of industry, his career never took off. I read a review on this album as cleverly labeling Karl as the bridge between "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and and hip hop, not that it had anything to do with his sexual orientation but rather his presence. The skits in this album reveal all, Karl is being begged to come out from his stage room but instead is having a star hissy fit about not being good enough, with his angry manager yelling at him. Maybe Karl is making some sort of analogy of being forced on stage as some larger statement as an artist he's rejecting the pressures of the industry and to do the same song and dance, but whatever the case... its not doing him any good. The album cover is even more the more telling, Karl rejects the bling hip hop (As many of us do) but with a strangely feminine subtext, with the pink sky, exploding champaign in a an almost phallic sense dousing a women, him clutching a small dog looking somewhat awestruck. The source of awe, fear and whatever else comes from the overly virile representation of hip hop and masculinity, and perhaps attacking his own lack of such.
So after you get around Karl's whole, "Hey I'm white and OMG I rap!" something we're finally getting beyond, as any hip hop head can probably name 10 white rappers and good ones at that, and pretty much any other pointless ethnic divides we're left Karl's discontent with his career and struggle. We all love plight and struggle but its been done so much better by others like RA The Rugged Man or Royce the 5' 9". Karl whines and sounds rather uninspired except one shining moment. Somehow Karl weaseled (paid the money for) one of the better beats out of 9th Wonder, as well as raps with vigor and heart. Its contradictory to his album skit theme but welcomed and being the highlight of the album besides the verse from Serch. However, I've Heard is free for download at some music sites negating the reason any sane person might be compelled to pay for this album. I'd probably been angry had I bought this but instead I've heard remains the one and only Hot Karl song on iPod. Sorry Karl, time to go back and run and hide.
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