Customer Reviews

S O N O G R a M

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased this album on pure recommendation from Los Angeles based rapper Murs. I read an interview with him on the web, and he was just raving about how good One.Be.Lo was. I figured that a well respected rapper such as Murs would have great taste in hip-hop music, which he obviously does, because this album is excellent. One.Be.Lo brings a lot to the table with his solo debut, keeping it truly underground. The album is a very clear representation of what One.Be.Lo is all about; which wasn't so clear in his past collaborative efforts. His music is empowering, and introspective. But he really steps forward in his lyrical delivery, which is very passionate. There isn't really a record quite like it. I could slightly compare it to early Black Eyed Peas or The Roots when considering it's soulful jazzy rhythms, but he just does it so much better in comparison (it also helps that he's underground). He actually has a lot of influences from the likes of Brand Nubian, Nas, Ice Cube, KRS-One and also Poor Righteous Teachers.

From the album's introduction, the music will keep your head nodding for the entirety of it's 70 minutes in length. It will keep you thinking, "Yeah, this is where it's at." One.Be.Lo signed a three record deal with the Fatbeats label; but when examining this devastatingly long record, it would seem that this is the last chance he'll ever have to prove himself in the rap game. Even though it's so long, their doesn't seem to be any filler. It's an album of epic proportions that will keep you coming back for more time and time again. As with most quality underground artists, it will take a few spins to fully digest all of his complex wordplay. If you listen to underground hip-hop, you will understand that that is a good thing. One.Be.Lo never sounds overbearing. It's almost as if he is talking directly to you in an intimate setting, letting "you" know what's going down. Although the music production is very jazzy and soulful, it's also one-of-a-kind. The looping sounds and samples sound very different from most hip-hop albums I've heard, giving it a unique perspective and feel. Some of my favorite tracks are "The UNDERground," "enecS eht no kcaB," "The Ghetto," "True Love," "Deceptacons," "Sleepwalking," and "Rocketship".

Overall, this is everything I've grown to love in a hip-hop album since I've started listening to rap. His flow is engrossing, he boasts effective social and political commentary, he raps about what's happening in his life as opposed to throwing a bunch of words together that don't make sense, and the production flawlessly matches his style. This album is nearly perfect, and I would recommend it with the highest of praise.

Not trying to turn this into a message board or anything, but i have to clear up the misunderstanding regarding one.be.lo's lyrics. Below someone mistook insight with antisemeticism. they gave the album 1 star because the lyrics read.

"And everything I mentioned get controlled by the Jews, right?"

The authors below only took this statement for face value, but totally missed its sarcastic undertones. From earlier in the song, it has a line with the same flow and chorous-like approach, with 'right?' unifying this and many of the other second-guessing types of lyrics.

"You used to be the person gettin caught in the hype
Like if I read it in the paper then it gotta be news, right?"

If anything, Lo's commenting on the fact that people are lead to believe the media is controlled by the jews, just like we're lead to believe that everything in the paper is completely truthful and important to the current state of the world. (if you don't believe me, check out the recipe section, or anything W has said in the past 6 years.)

And by the way, who ever gave this album 1 star just because they misunderstood one lyric shouldn't be listening to hip hop, or muic in general for that matter. If you're that caught up in political correctness, one.be.lo is beyond your realm. His commentary on the state of the country comes with crystal clear vision and NO RACIAL PREJUDISM. His beats, not to mention everything subterraneous, are an excellent source of protein and dope. Lo's proven that he can impeccably 'pen-a-written that can fit-the-rhythm.' This album is one the greatest CD you'll ever buy.

Context before criticism

There aren't words. Those in the know flew off the handle excited every time Lo even hinted that this might finally be dropping.

Of Binary Star underground notoriety, Lo is by far the most intelligent MC you've ever heard. If he has any flaw, it's that every line is so chock full of thought: deep hip hop references, wordplay, and .... just INCREDIBLE lyricism that people will miss some of it. I've played this thing easily over 1000 times and I catch something new EVERY SINGLE TIME THROUGH.

If you're looking for an heir to lyricists following - and, honestly, eclipsing A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli -- (which is TRUE hip hop, after all), you simply MUST pick this up. This man is the greatest MC - ever. Period. I don't say that lightly, given the above company.

This album is simply put, AMAZING. He is one of the more lyrically skilled artists out there and this album shows it along with tight beats all the way through. So glad that we get another spin from 1/2 of the Binary Star crew. I got all my friends feelin' this album and you will too once you hear it. "Sleepwalking" is my favorite track and all others follow close behind. His lyrics are DOPE and very informative. There's so much more that I could say about this CD but, words don't do the justice. Make sure you get this album right away, underground fan or not this album is SICK.

One man army is dope as hell. I stumbled across this album and bought it just based off the reviews. I am so happy with this purchase because this is hip hop in its truest form. Dope lyrics, beats, subject matter, and some dope hooks to yell out the window of yor car makes a dope classic album. Support the one man army so he will make more dope music.

This album is dope beyond comprehension. Check out www.SubterraneousRecords.com for more music and info

Short and to the point: this album is excellent on all levels. I don't just hand out 5 star reviews, so don't think I'm just some One.Be.Lo fan that's on a P.R. mission. I'd never even heard of the guy until I copped this album. Best believe that I'll be copping some Binary Star albums after hearing this though.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever heard an album like this, and that's saying a lot. It has its own vibe and One.Be.Lo has a spellbinding flow that commands your attention for the entire 68 minutes that the album plays. There are songs of empowerment, introspective songs, and some phat b-boy joints that'll keep your neck jerking from start to finish. His flow and the production are a perfect match. I haven't heard an album where the MC and the production mesh so well since Reflection Eternal's "Train Of Thought" LP back in 2000. This album will have you in that same zone and, like Train Of Thought, it gets better with every listen. Albums like this are why I love hip hop so much.

Are there any flaws on the album? You'd be hard pressed to find any without nitpicking. There are maybe one or two beats on the album that don't quite fit, but they aren't wack at all...not even close. Like I said, you'd be hard pressed....

This is a must have LP. If I had to reccomend one 2005 rap release to purchase it'd be very hard for me to place an album ahead of this one (Blueprint and The Perceptionists come pretty damn close though). I highly urge all rap fans to go and cop this one while you still can. In my mind, this album is flawless. I highly reccomend listening to it. Call me crazy if you want, but I'm dubbing this one a rap classic. Peace.

Standout Tracks: All Of The Tracks Stand Out.....even the interludes.

What do you get when you mix mind-blowing lyrics, untouchable delivery, and solid production (a.k.a. the infamous Decompoze)...Hip-Hop perfection.

One Be Lo, aka onemanarmy of binary star, has proven time and again why he is a rap elite of the underground scene, and all of Hip-Hop for that matter. Wittier than Ill Bill, more metaphorical than Atmosphere, more intellectual than Sage Francis and Aesop Rock, One Be Lo has just been crowned the new king of the underground. Words cannot depict the wordplay One Be Lo brings to the table. Let your ears be the judge...

"these wanna-be best rappers holdin wet bladders needin step ladders still cudn't reach my best status, inspector gadget extra bagage i was left to have it, u must be still just an addict still testin average, i neva slip even if u put a crushed banana, tha moves i make are checked and balanced like a chess fanatic..."
One Be Lo at his finest: 'Rocketship'.

Highlights: Back on the Scene-track 3, Sleepwalking-track 9, True Love-track 10, E.T.-track 18, and Rocketship-track 20.

I loved Masters of the Universe so naturally I was interested in their solo ventures. I got Onebelo's Project Fetus and was impressed eventhough some of the sound quality was lacking, it was still a good listen. I was looking forward to Sonogram and he did not let me down on any level. The production is typical Trackezoids, meaning very good for those of you not in the know. They certainly have not ran out of samples, so you can put money down on the fact that they went diggin' in the crates and found their usual gems, it is on par with MOTU. Onemanarmy doesn't let you down with his flows or lyrics neither, I wouldn't say he's better than ever, but structurally he's more consistent than in the past, so his flow and lyrics have a different feel to them, but without a doubt dope as always. I'm very impressed with this effort, and can guarantee that it'll be played for months to come. If you are reading this, because you were a fan of Binary star and wanted some of that same fire than this is right up your alley. I'm not gonna say this is better than Binary Star, but this proves that Onebelo can stand by himself, he's convinced me, I'll be on the look out for his next installment.

There are 22 cuts on this album and every single one of them are dope. Very rare in this day in age. It's Hiphop in its purest form and very very refreshing. For those who might not know, One Be Lo is aka OneManArmy...one half of Binary Star. Get this album. You won't be disappointed.