Customer Reviews

Masters of the Universe

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Binary Star is an underground duo from Pontiac, Michigan. These two emcees (Senim Silla and OneManArmy [aka OneBeLo]) recorded their debut entitled "Water World" in 1999 on $500 budget, released on their own label, Terrorist Records. They only pressed 1,000 copies of the record. So you would have been pretty lucky to get a hold of one. The original mixes and songs on "Water World" were later re-mixed and rearranged for this album, "Masters Of The Universe". Senim Silla and four others were charged with murder in January of 2005. All were acquitted except for Silla, who escaped from police custody during transport from jail to court. He is still a fugitive on the loose to this day. Needless to say, OneManArmy and Senim Silla no longer record or play shows as Binary Star (since 2000). Well, lucky for us, these two emcees managed to make one of the greatest hip-hop records ever recorded.

Another one of my favorite hip-hop records, OneBeLo's (aka OneManArmy's) "S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M." was the reason for my purchase. Binary Star, like OneBeLo's record, focuses on lyrics for the most part. They have a message to all of the P.Diddy's and Chingy's out there. They don't brag about their cars, money, clothes or any other mundane material items; and they make it a point to let you know this. Their lyrics are simply unmatched by any underground hip-hop artist/group. In fact, of all the underground hip-hop I've heard, this one is truly unique. Their flows (even those brought forth by Decompoze) are impenetrable. They come up with what seems like the best written rhymes that you can think of. But in all actuality, almost all of these verses were dropped and recorded in one take (which makes it more amazing). Although I've never heard "Water World", I would say the production on the album is pretty dope, and original. It's no El-Producto, but it showcases their wicked flows and rhymes nicely.

"Masters Of The Universe" was released on Subterraneous Records (OneBeLo's label) in 2000, and includes appearances by Decompoze, DJ Phrikshun, DJ Upperkut, Elzhi, J.U.ICE, AML, O Type Star, Lacks, Ki and Brenda Jae. You may be confused if you own this album by looking at the track listing above (I know I am). My album has a much different track listing (and 24 tracks, as opposed to 17). From the first cut, "Reality Check", they let you know what time it is with some lyrics like this (from Silla) - "I ain't all about economy / so the fact that all these wack emcees is making G's don't bother me". This album will have that head nodding from the start. The second cut, "Conquistadors", is one of my favorites. OneManArmy shines here with some lyrics like this one - "Nobody's next to grab it / I got lyrics to Go-Go like Inspector Gadget / In a bad habit fiending for the potency / I'm the Narcotics Anonymous Dope Emcee". Here's another one from "Slang Blade" - "Senim's of the size of the kill with a slang blade / Some call it a kaiser / Equalizer blows your brains, expose your wiser". "Fellowship" is my current favorite, that features the extraordinary talent of Decompoze (who is just as talented as the company he shares). Aside from his mad lyrical precision, "Fellowship" also has one of the dopest beats on the record, with a sample that sounds like it could be from the old Batman TV show theme, and a driving funked up bass line. Another one of my favorites (also featuring Decompoze) is "Indy 500". This one has a clear message - "We need to try to keep this music to ourselves / We sellin' out this art for some money / to some guy who don't care nothin' about this music / We gotta keep it to ourselves.. tryin' to win the Indy 500". The chorus is even better for all you underground hip-hop heads - "All we need is beats, and rhymes and go and spark it / As long as we got the Underground, yo, we got a market / I don't need an agent to tell me how to run it / Cause my goal's to win the Indy 500". The album is just filled with intelligent lyrics that are simply astonishing. If you're into the underground, you probably complain that mainstream rappers rap about gold, bit**es, Bentley's, clothes, and other lame material possessions. Peep this lyric from "Binary Shuffle" - "Do you wanna hear a song about the money we got? (Oh No!) / Talk about the people we shot? (Oh No!) / Brag about the clothes that we wear? (Oh No!) / Do you think what we sayin' is fair? (Oh Yeah!)".

As if I haven't praised this album enough, I will tell you that I've listened to this album at least 15 times since I got it less than a week ago, and I'm already ranking it in my top 10 best rap albums I've ever heard (which is a lot). These guys got it all; intelligent lyrics, intoxicating flows, and dope beats. I'm sure you've heard that about plenty of rap albums, but this one is on a higher level. You have to hear it yourself to witness the magic, because my brain and fingers are hurting from typing this long a$$ review.

Looking at the tracklisting for the CD you'd think with 17 tracks plus bonus cuts that this disc would contain some good cuts, but will suffer from the 'filler effect'. Lets start there, 17 tracks, NO filler. None. Each track is unique in it's own right, the only MINOR flaw being that a quite few of the tracks contain piano loops, but man I haven't heard piano loops this good since '36 Chambers' or any Premier joint, they're varied enough to keep you interested, slow rocking mellowed out tunes like 'Glen Close' to up-tempo boom-bap all out classics such as the insanely dope 'Reality Check'. Like true 'Binary Stars', the MC's fit SO well together throughtout the whole album with their styles intertwining perfectly, each MC's flow is class, believe me. As with most Hip-Hop records these days, at least one cut has gotta include a full story, and Binary Star don't let you down with 'Wolf Man Jack', a tale about strange goings on and severed heads, this isn't up in the dizzy heights of Slcik Rick, Guru or even Big L, but the it's the atmosphere Binary Star create in the song which really draws you in, the haunting loop and sound effects help create this. Some of the tracks include some sick noise samples, think of somethin' like 'Never Again' by Remedee on 'The Swarm', I like the ones used on 'KGB' most, each MC throws lyrical barrage after barrage over the stripped down beat and minimilistic sound effects. The album reminds me a little of '36 Chambers' a little also because of the amount of movie samples used, a few of the songs open with some kind of statement from some old movie, but this gives you a little break between tracks, before Binary Star get ready to rip your earphones up once again, cos' you just KNOW they will.
My personal favourite though is 'Honest Expression', aimed at commercial and money hungry rappers, sell outs, fake-thugs whatever, the track is TOTALLY ill, I nearly pulled a muscle cos' I was noddin' my head so much, the lyrics, flow, beat, everything about the whole song is just so stupidly ill, pure class.
Don't listen to the people who gave this one star or whatever, listen to the ones who give it 4 or 5 stars cos' they damn well earned it.
Why is it that 90% of Hip-hop duets with STAR/R in their name ALWAYS turn out to be dope? We have Black Star, Gang Starr, and now Binary Star, all with one thing in common, they all shine bright.

Perhaps one of the most promising debuts since "Illmatic," "Masters of the Universe" inrtoduces the world to Binary Star, the flagship group released on Subteranneous records. Throughout the album, Senim Silla and the One Man Army brandish their lyrical dexterity over some of the finest beats produced in recent years. Stand out songs include "The KGB," which features help from some of Detroit's finest emcees, as well as the Chicago battle champ Juice. Also shining on "The KGB" is Elzhi, another up and coming emcee from Detroit. But, on this album, it is the Binary Stars who truly shine bright, even brighter than most of their major label counter parts. Including underground Classics like "Glen Close," "Slang Blade," and "Honest Expression," this album is a must have to any die hard hip-hop fan. From front to back, "Masters of the Universe" never fails to disappoint. Each verse seems to get better than the next, One Man Army's verse from "Reality Check" is still one of my favorite of all time. And, as Juice so perfectly states on "The KGB," "The only person who could kick a doper line would be God."

Notice a hiphop drought over the last few years in hiphop? Well, it's finally over. The album that finally beat One Day wasn't by Common, Talib Kweli, Dr. Dre, or Outkast. It was by Binary Star, a group out of the midwest that nobody has heard of before. And by them, we were blessed a masterpiece indeed. Songs like Reality Check and Honest Expression are sure to blow you away, for they are definate hiphop classics that belong on the top 10 list for the year 2000. But even the weakest song on here is a strong 4.5 mic song, easily qualifying as the gem of the average "4 mic" LP. Please, do yourself a favor and pick this up. And for those of the lucky 300 who has the original Waterworld, Masters of the Universe is definately worth your purchase. The additional songs merit your $15 alone, and this group deserves every attention they get. This is THE classic LP that everybody has been waiting for, but nobody saw coming.

In conclusion, Binary Star dropped a HUGE gem on us. If you don't want hiphop to die off, here is your chance. Cop it.

Words can't describe the dexterous verbal versatility of the two known as Senim Silla (All-is Mines) and The Anonymous. Straight out of Pontiac, Michigan these cats hold it down for true hip-hop heads around the world. Binary is a one-in-a-million duo that has some of the tightest lyrics, production, and delivery that i know of. With more metaphors than time to say'em they're a refreshing alternative to repetitive mainstream "thug" and "gangsta" rap. Production is simply classic wit veery original beat concepts, good looping too. Lyrics are just so lethal it kinda makes me feel sorry for the mic they spit on (they should be locked up for verbal mic slaughter). Their Deliver is just everything two emcees should have, straight confidence. No ghettos, gutters, gats, or grime just plain and simple wordplay and verbal know-how. I truly find it a blessing to have even stumbled across their name on my music downloader. I was left in just awe in their skill in lyric and rhyme.

I immedeately went out and coped the album and now i'm getting it again for the second time. They should treat ear infections with this album. GOOD GOD! i'm speechless. A definate cop-twice. PERIOD.

This album has a good feel to it, the two mc's are havin fun with what their doin. You can tell they are doin it because they love hip-hop. That combined with tight lyrics and unique beats, make this album a definite addition to any underground head's library. If your into ugly duckling, mountain brothers and that sort then definitely snag this one.

Lots of times I get an album in the mail and listen to it until I hear all of the tracks, then I stow it away until it will sound good again. This one is different, being that I put the entire album on repeat for a full day and night. It still didn't get old. Decompoze is one of the most amazing Dj's that I've ever heard. The beats just make you feel good, all the while keeping your head in a continous bobbing motion. One Man Army takes this album to another dimension, however, with his ridiculously clever rhymes and laid-back delivery. I can't say anything here that will make you understand the greatness of this album, but I would definately reccommend this album to anyone. Even my mom.

I can see how some people would really dislike this album. Fans of the underground, egg-head, backpack, nerd-hop, (of which i include myself) may view this album as derivative, lacking creativity and original subeject matter. Ironically, these negative criticisms can also alternately be viewed as Binary Stars' strengths. This brings one back to what it would have been like when hip-hop was mainly a street corner affair, with battling and wordplay being the ultimate criteria by which mcs were judged. In this respect, anonymous & sinam silah are at the top of the class. So onto my favorite tracks:

reality check: up there as one of the best of the album, the flow is tight, on point, with inventive metaphorical madness. a hint of bragaddacio but done with such effervescence and a bubbling beat and pianno hook that this track will keep your neck moving and face smiling.

conquistadors: keeps the album moving with a relentless bassline, and the best 'transformers' reference that i've heard

slang blade: uncut funk, infectious bassline, like rakim on top of his game

binary shuffle: one for jurassic 5 fans, going back and then some with an anti-materialist message

masters of the universe: cool back and forth rhyming between the two emcees, two times dope

honest expression: binary star with the backing of bruce lee. the verse '85% represent ignorant...seeing real mcs trying to imitate rappers/ if you ask me they're going out backwards...it hurts so bad i wanna smack 'em/ my favorite crew members break up turn around and join wack ones' is without doubt one of the years best, passsionate and sadly on point.

An almost unknown group, Binary Star drops this classic on us. Easily the best album of 2000, and one of the best of all time. This isn't that weird spaced out hip hop (though I have nothing against that), this is PURE hip hop at it's best. With amazing rhymes all the way through, and head nodding beats, this should be in your cd collection.

I knew there was a difference between hip "pop" and hip "hop" but could never touch it, grasp it and feel it until this album.

This was part of my education of hip-hop seven years ago, where curriculum included MCs verbalizing an underground movement that to me seemed intangible. Before hearing this album, I'd been a big fan of Arsonists, Eminem (when he still battled), Tribe Called Quest, Atmosphere, Common, Sage Francis, Zion I and Unknown Prophets. I heard the difference in their music, there was something about how they crafted rhymes out of ideas, how they defiantly refused the mainstream, corporate-run, watered-down music I heard on MTV. They provided a freshness of ideas to hip hop and put hip hop on a different stage, a stage where rappers like Run DMC, Ice Cube and Rocksteady Crew used to step on. They brought with them a level of thought processes that only few understood, a level where poetry met metaphysics met palpable themes of love, hate, and loss.

They brought with them, a positive force to hip-hop.

Since then, Eminem hit the mainstream, Atmosphere went overground, Eyedea and Brother Ali, Hieroglyphics, Aesop Rock, Anticon, Immortal Technique, MF Doom, Mr Lif and the whole Def Jux crew hit the new underground. A movie about b-boys came out, (and I know you all are saying "but You Got Served doesn't even begin to represent the underground culture" but hey at least more people know about it than before) Scribble Jam got big, Def Poetry came on the HBO scene.

And for those who chose to believe that this is "nerd rap" for suburban white kids, there's a level of both truth and hypocrisy to that argument. Yes, this music isn't for everyone. Yes most of the kids that listen to this music probably are Caucasian and have a need for cognition. But don't limit yourself by not try something out because someone told you "this is music for who and who." The same stigma used to be (and to an extent, still is) attached to hip-hop. The media says "hip hop leads to drugs, gun violence and degradation of women." Is it true?

You must make that decision for yourself

The truth is, all of these factors contributed to what hip hop is today. There needs to be a mainstream for there to be an underground, there needs to be big business for there to be a grass roots, there needs to be a Dr Dre for Eminem to get signed, and ultimately the hip hop movement gets passed to us and it's up to Generation Y to shape and mold hip hop for what we see fit. We are not the movement, just sparkles in the stream.

After all, what art ultimately comes down to is "honest expression of self."