Customer Reviews

Unbound 1

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4 star:		(1)
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Lemme tell yall kids the real deal. I've been a HIP-HOP fan for almost fifteen years and seen all the "trends", but I believe releases like the Unbound Project Vol. 1 and others similiar are HIP-HOP's true calling. Sure, rappers sell millions of CD's spittin bout guns and hoes, but really, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? NUTHIN, besides the fact that our society has gone to hell. But anyways, about the music, I can't think of anyone in their right mind could front on such electic pieces of art such as "Miss Amerikkka" by Aceyalone or "Human Element" by Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek. The spoken word joints are so full of emotion, it's almost like you are the speaker. The Poor Righteous Teachers also come out the woodwork with an excellent track entitled "Slaves in America". Nice to hear from them again. And, if you haven't heard "Mumia 911", you are missin' a true HIP-HOP gem, as artists like Chuck D, Dead Prez, Tre, etc... pull political punches over a tight Diamond D track. I recommend this to EVERYONE! This is rhymes with reason. This is HIP-HOP at it's truest form.

The Unbound CD is dope music and a real eye opener. There's a little booklet that comes with it that tells you the real deal about how all us kids get locked up. It's mad political and mad cool. I'm really feeling the track Caution by Rakkaa Iriescienc (from Dialated People). And the bomb track from Aceyalone. I'm surprised that the tracks that really blew me away are from people I'd never heard of before. Mike Ladd has 2 tracks, his second one is really great. Medina Green has got a great track too. But the one that really blew me away was Strata by Jerry Quickley. Who the heck is this guy and where'd he come from. It's the best thing on the record. It's like some new hip hop you can't even describe. And really funny, but scary. And there's all these instruementals from a DJ called J Rocc. There're awesome. Especially when he puts some old black comedians in the mix. The posse track, Mumia Allstars, is full tilt off the hook. You've got to check out this record and let the music and the real message sink all the way in. Really. It's great.

This CD is one of the illest collections of hip hop culture I own (and I have about 800 CD's) This is blazing HOT, not only is the message socially conscious, but the display of MC skills is top notch. The album is setup to create a cresheno effect as each track builds upon the intensity of the previous one. The whole album is a perverbial highlight reel, but the album highlights are (in my opinion) Mumia 911 (featuring EVERBODY), Human Element (Talib Kweli), Slaves in America (Poor Richeous Teachers), Lincoln's Lie (Mums the schemer), Ms AmeriKKKa (aceyalone) but seriously, I have not listened to anything else since I bought it 2 weeks ago, it's THAT GOOD!

Current hip-hop looks like an iceberg. 10 percent is visible above the surface, where it floats safely with limited sounds, styles and subject matter. Meanwhile, 90 percent thrives beneath the surface -- a dense mass encompassing everything from virtuosic old-school to abstract new flavors, usually delving into parts of life not involved with bringing pain, getting paid or getting laid. On its most basic level, The Unbound Project is a money-and-awareness-raising benefit for death row dissident, convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal, so politics will largely determine who buys this disc. But on an artistic basis, these meditations on freedom -- many of which don't mention ABu-Jamal -- present a scenic view of hip-hop at its most accomplished form. Here, with the top and bottom in solidarity, the synergy's enough to melt the polar caps entirely.

There a some big names here that will make you want to get this disc: Talib Kweli, Zack de la Rocha and Chuck D (as part of The Unbound Allstars), Poor Righteous Teachers, Blackalicious and Aceyalone. All of their songs are aces. Plus there are some good tracks by folks I'd never heard of: Ursula Rucker (with a haunting piano loop and intelligent R-rated lyrics; more female rappers!), muMs the Schemer (doing "Lincoln's Lie") and Mike Ladd with some hardcore political diatribes. Plus great political essays in the CD booklet. Did I mention this disc is political?