Customer Reviews

Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live!

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

 

 

First off.. To compare anything Lyrics Born has done to any mainstream hip-hop today is unfair. Lyrics Born puts radio MC's to shame not only lyrically but more importantly musically.

One thing I really love about this album is the feeling of energy behind the album. Rather than just grabbing his balls and strutting around stage with a doo rag and 2 guys saying "yeah" in the background. Lyrics Born actually puts on a show. He feeds off the energy of the crowd and interacts with his band.

The free verses on this album are incredible but what I really love is the 70's funk feel to the whole album. I recommend it. To me its like a new album in a sense. The full band with every new song adds and entirely new dimension to the music. The verdict is still out on the new studio tracks, but the live stuff is excellent.

Long live Lyrics Born.

Lyrics Born breaks the mold yet again by venturing where most rappers and hip-hop artists fear to tread; a live album!

Lyrics Born (aka Tom Shimura) does have one up on most hip-hop acts around today in the fact that he performs with a live band instead of a DJ and pre-recorded samples. What results is an album full of raw energy, emotion, funk and soul!

With Bay Area classics (he hails from Berkeley, CA) such as "Lady Don't Tek No", "Bad Dreams" and "Callin' Out" (a song featured not only on the Adrien Brody Diet Coke commercial, but also in the film 'Waiting') Lyrics Born gets the crowd singing along as if those songs came from Sydney, Australia instead of the Bay Area.

This crowd participation is heard throughout the album thanks to his dynamic stage presence and phenomenal showmanship which adds nicely to the vibe of this classic album!

Lyrics Born is indeed a master of his craft and it really shows in songs like "Do That There" and "Stop Complaining" with lyrical gymnastics that would leave even the best rapper's heads spinning.

If over an hour of live Lyrics Born wasn't enough, he tops off this amazing album with brand new studio tracks that give listeners a brief glimpse at what his next studio might just sound like. Featuring fellow Quannum label-mate, Pigeon John, Del The Funky Homosapien, Mistah FAB and others, Lyrics Born keeps your head bobbin' with new classics such as "Knock Knock" and "L I F E" and wraps it up with a remix to top all remixes!

If you like your music thick with the funk and chock full of energy and top notch performances then don't hesitate for one more minute and get this album right now! You won't be disappointed. The only thing left to discuss is what will Lyrics Born do next to top himself? Only time will tell!

It's no surprise that the Bay Area creates great Hip Hop; the history compounds upon itself. This isn't Hyphy, this is Funky and Soulful and the CD is indiciative of the type of show Lyrics puts on. If you had the chance to catch him on New Years at the Independent you know that the music is eclectic bolstered by a full band behind him, powerful and catchy female vocals and Lyrics grizzly growl underscoring the grit and guts that is funky hip hop. This is one of the best artists touring today and this album is a good precursor to a show experience but not a substitute. I suggest buying the album and them finding the next show and expanding on the enjoyment. Solid melodic flow, great vocals, chest thumping bass with catchy hooks and as unique a sound you'll find to date. Enjoy.

OK, right up front, I'm a middle-aged (white) dad who only likes some hip-hop. That said, I discovered LB's "Same !@#$ Different Day" CD and love it. It is a great mix of new hip-hop and old 70's soul. BUT, I have to say that this live disk was a disappointment for me. For my taste, rap is best after it undergoes the TLC from the studio magicians mastering the sound boards.