Customer Reviews

Natural Progression [Vinyl]

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

 

 

I had to buy this cd as soon as it came out because their last cd was one of the best cd's i've ever heard. Most people have never heard of sweatshop union, and that is a terrible thing. They are the type of group where you put the cd in, and listen to it the whole way though, you dont need the skip button, because every song is just that good. This cd is a very worthy sequel to their first release. If you like sweatshop union you need to buy this cd, those who arent familar should check out their first release. I cant write down any of my favorites because it would almost be every one. If you like hip hop, underground, or whatever, or you jsut want something new, you shold definatly check these guys out, you wont be sorry.

Sweatshop Union is truly inspirational. They rap about topics that matter to them and they make you step back and take a look at things from a different perspective. 7 guys come together to form the Sweatshop Union and each one of them is intelligent and raps with a style that is most interesting. The production is killer and the quality is consistent.
These cats are definitely one of the highlights of the Swollen Members' BattleAxe label. They are true to their music. If you like intelligent hiphop then this is a selection for you. If you like hiphop that gets your head movin' then this is also a selection for you. This CD has quality written all over it.

Isn't it refreshing to hear a hip hop group that has something to say but isn't afraid to have fun? Sure it is, luckily we have Sweatshop Union to cover that department. The Union is rather a collective ala Hieroglyphics or Native Tongues rather than a group. In the late 90's it formed out of several B.C. rap outfits: Dirty Circus, Innocent Bystanders, Creative Minds and solo emcee Kyprios. Signed to Canadian hip hop indie label Battle Axe Records, they released their sophomore album "Natural Progression". Although they have rappers, producers, and a DJ they still have Moka Only on guest vocals, some dude name Tawgs helping with production & S & M's Rob The Viking & Bookworm from The Oddities as well (Dj Sets lends guest cuts on one track too). Whether in-house or guest produced the beats on this disc are for the most part a kool listen on their own having a rather throwback feel at certain times, funky-fresh at others, using a wide range of instrumentation. When dealing with the vocal side of the album it is a pleasure to listen to also. All the MC's have great flow and witty lyrics but to me they lack in delivery. Although there is a certain sense of anonymity, one rapper, Kyprios does stand out to me with his throaty delivery and laid back approach. They all rap from a working class point of view and although they are aggravated with the worlds current state they hold a positive message that is not lost in over aggressive ranting. I'll speak on the highlights now...

I Got News ~ The song that really cracks the album open. It's a solo cut by Kyprios. He raps about the frustration of working hard at a job and not getting anywhere, women that don't understand the starving artist type he is and he pokes fun at the industry kats that are like G Unit and even the "nerd rappers" ala Aesop Rock, while expressing his views on the fakeness of the game. The production by Rob The Viking, Tawgs & Kyprios himself is a laidback adventure using jazzy piano loops, complimentary bass, steady percussion & changed up organ on the hook. The hook. The hook is made up of a vocal sample saying "I've got news" and Kyp echoing it. You get a great view of his personality on the song just check this:

"/the industry talks behind my back/
/and the backpacker rappers think I'm wack/
/I can't find a DJ to spin my wax/
/I speak like this ("white" voice) but I rap black/

Better Days ft/ Moka Only ~ Kool/trippy track. The raps all great and consistent talking about how we are all placed under fear and false lies in order to direct our attention to other things so we don't see the problems directly around us. I do like the many Sweatshop rappers but I can't distinguish them enough so Moka's input is welcomed to make this stand out (wish he had dropped a verse). His smooth vocals on the chorus remind me of something Jay Kay of Jamiroqui might sing, looking toward a brighter future. The beat by Bookworm is a trippy affair, using a brassy key board loop as the basis.

US ~ A highly political song. Sweatshop can create a great political anthem if anything. On this one they are telling everyone to stand up against the terrorism that is the government of a certain country to the south of them. They explain how the innocent loss of lives and the conquests of the president featured on track cannot be fuelled if the people refuse to help it along and they rally the individual to take accountability. The production is diverse once again. It uses guitar and violin loops for a touch of darkness and chimey sounds interjected to give the music a life of it's own, it's done by Mr. Marmalade. Check this line for the intelligence they hold in the hook here:

"/(Us!) We're the ones that paid for the bombs/
/(Us!) we built the planes that they're on/
/(Us!)It's Insane all the ways that they've con'd/
/(Us!)into killing millions of innocent people but it's all on (Us!)/

On The Sly ~ Sweatshop's version of the party posse cut. You can tell all the emcees are having a great time on this one. All of them bring clever, battle rhymes that have them in flex mode. This reminds me of a Jurassic 5 joint a lot. Rob The Viking makes a very complex instrumental with southern fried guitar licks, energetic organs, pounding drums and funky horns (ahhh how I love horns), and koldass cuts. Combined with an infectious chant-like hook to make my favourite spot on the disc, which will have good summertime play for it's self alone.

Garbage Love Songs & Cheesy Jingles ~ The industry shakedown. This is a hilarious joint right here. With all the MC's degrading whack pop rappers, fake "gangstas" and the like. They let everyone know they pronounce their "ings and ers" (had me rolling). Throw in a very catchy hook with out pop sensibility, this is sure to be a stand out for many. The beat by Metty The Dert Merchant is a winner, with a great horn loop.

If you want to feel any sense that what you were listening to is enriching your mind this is a good release to get. My advice to the guys is vary the hooks slightly, add more scratches and put who goes when on each track, til people get more familiar with the artists. Also one disappointment is that Kyprios is only featured on three tracks on the album, just like the new Hiero joint only have Del on small parts, when you have a weapon use it! There are plenty of very strong songs on this record, they just need more real bangers like "On The Sly" and ones as smart as "Us" to make a classic record. Until that happens I wish them the best of luck, I have to check out their first release, this album gets three (really 3.5) stars. Peace, love & soul...

I have had this album for a few months now and it has surmounted all of the other songs, with most of my 25 most played songs in iTunes all coming from this album. Honestly, it is hard to find a problem with the album. It isn't really for people who don't like to listen to music that will make them think, because almost every bar is filled with some sort of political or social meaning. It really is a thinking man's underground album, so if that describes you I'd pick this up.

As for the other Sweatshop albums, i believe that this is better than 604, but it's hard to say. Both are definitely top 10 albums for me. Meanwhile United We Fall, the most recent Sweatshop release, is a bit of a disappointment, though by no means a bad CD. But pick up this and Local 604 first.

All I can say is WOW Great Lyrics...I especially like US... It reminded me of the Political work of Mr lif "home of the Brave" another great album...

The undesputed highlight of this album for me is 'The Thing About It'. Serious lyrics with a good rhythm, on issues that we can change. This song was part of the soundtrack for a mountain bike video and after watching the section 20 times I bought the CD and played that 30-50 times. For this song alone the price is worth it.

Sweatshop Union is all about the lyrics. Very high quality with a constant rhythm. Serious messages. Non-aggravating voices. I prefer music that I can actually repeat the lyrics... this is it.

Tracks like US, Truman Show, Dont Be Afraid are other standouts. The rest are pretty good. I dislike 'I got news' because it is more like gangsta rap (the anti sweatshop) than anything else.

To top it off, these guys are locals to me... I'm glad to support the effort.

Sweatshop Union's "Natural Progression" is good, but what stops it from being really great is two things - A: the lyrics just aren't very interesting (they aren't about anything, but they're definitely catchy most of the time), and B: the rappers are pretty sissy sounding (they lack charisma and aren't too memorable really - they can definitely spit, though - this isn't the kind of rap you would blast from your car). Practically every song here is very good, and there are certainly hitworthy tracks like "Garbage Love Songs & Cheesy Jingles" and "Better Days", for example. The production is decent - they can definitely create catchy and fun beats which are somewhat interesting at times. The reason this got a "4" is because of the amount of good/catchy tunes here as well as those two hitworthy songs I mentioned before. The lyrics definitely need a lot of work, though (and the rappers). Mainstream rap fans probably won't like this, but underground rap fans should. Recommended.

Highlights include:
"The Answer"
"Radio Edit"
"I Got News"
"Don't Be Afraid"
"Better Days"
"US"
"Truman Show"
"Baho Ang Titi Mo" (sort of)
"On The Sly"
"P.O.T.B." (sort of)
"The Way"
"Garbage Love Songs & Cheesy Jingles"
"Any Reason" (it's decent)

okay, so everyone who has reviewed this so far loved it.
is there something wrong with me?
i dig their debut effort, even now listen to it a lot, it is a very good complete album and i can't knock it
i bought natural progression the moment i was aware of it coming out.
dude i've played it quite a few times,
each time trying more and more desperately to think that it was a great album
and i just.. couldn't.. DO IT!!
i'm sorry, i think kyprios (or whatever, my bad dude) came with some really uninspired and not-well-written rhymes on several occasions
the beats were corny
the rhymes more, how do i put it, somewhat full of themselves. i feel they were both not trying hard enough, and trying too hard. what i mean by that, is they were trying to be something they're not, and they weren't working hard enough on coming with the earnest positive intelligent stuff they brought with the last album. or maybe they just said everything it was important for them to say on the first album.

there were a few good cuts
one such example is the track "US", now that's some genuine sweatshop s**t.
but like, a couple singles? off a whole album?
what, do i just need to listen to it again and suddenly i'll find the album to have redeeming qualities?

i really wanted to love this album.
i REALLY, REALLY did.

but i just didn't.
if you are new to sweatshop,
pick up the other album first
and get this one used.


peace
clear

My friend is a major hip hop head and i am trying to catch up to his dope music and so i ask him so group name and he told Sweatshop Union and so I went and bought it the next time I was at a store. I put it and listen to it and even my initial oppions were very good but then once I was in my room chillin I truely realized how damn good these guys are, and how gay mtv sugar pop is.