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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Controversial and slept on, but without a doubt, revolutionary., December 23, 2005
"Nobody's better than me, they just have better marketing schemes." ~ Immortal Technique
(4 1/2 STARS) Immortal Technique's "Revolutionary Vol. 2" and "Vol. 1" for that matter are an example of real underground hip hop, the kind of underground hip hop that only has a few short reviews on Amazon.com. The type of underground hip hop that you won't hardly ever find at your local CD store. The type of underground hip hop that is so underground, underground fans don't know who he is. With that said, this isn't a particularly good or bad thing. It shows two things. First, it shows that any emcee as radical as Immortal Technique, underground or mainstream, will be shunned by media and institutions everywhere. Second, it is simply a shame that anyone with as much talent as Technique is so slept on. Recently, "Revolutionary 2" has gained a bit more notoriety, and certainly more attention then his debut, but ultimately Technique is a very talented rapper who is so opinionated, he has whittled his own fan base down to a select group of people - and good for him. Any artist willing to stay true to themselves and not compromise their message is an artist worth listening to. Don't get me wrong, there are things I don't like about this album, without a doubt, but ironically, but I can't complain really. You get exactly what you pay for with this album, because this is, without a doubt, a one-way ticket into the mind of a revolutionary, and when I say revolutionary, I don't mean a politically active emcee the likes of Mos Def. I mean an outspoken, coup-d'etat, overthrow the government type of revolutionary, and to many people, such a person is irrational or even frightening, but regardless of first impressions, do not allow yourself to pass over this emcee. He is far too talented not to be known or appreciated.
The production on "Revolutionary Vol. 2" is often incredibly well done. In fact, almost every song is backed with a strong, melodic, powerful melody, often using intruments such as horns or electric guitar to stir things up. Every song has production that outlines the message of the song incredibly well. On songs such as "Harlem Streets," the beat is a very somber, lulling guitar melody meant to evoke emotions, whereas production on songs such as "Crossing The Boundary," producers employed a very loud, horn-blaring in-your-face sound to emphasize Techniques showcase of battle-rhymes. No matter what the production, what the sound or what the lyrics, everything about this album is shaped to one thing; the message. Immortal Technique is without a doubt centered and oriented on what it is he's saying, and molds everything about his music to fit.
His lyrics on this album are, I have to say, absolutely amazing. Not in the same way Little Brother's "The Minstrel Show," was amazing, or in the same way Masta Ace's "Disposable Arts" became a classic. I can't say that this CD is, or will ever be, a classic, but credit has to be given where credit is due. Technique is just off the hook in more ways than one. Artists like Little Brother are the most adept lyricists I have ever heard at telling a story, and making you forget that every line is supposed to rhyme. Their lyrics just flow. Masta Ace's lyrics are a low-key mix between story-telling and clever wordplay, as are other artists like Wordsworth. Immortal Techniques lyrics are never stories. There is no one song on this album that is used in this way. No, Technique's lyrics consist of two things: vicious battle rhymes, and unforgiving political commentaries. They are centered around clever wordplay, and use Technique's talents for mind-bendingly clever lyrics to push his message to the forefront. With all of this said, however, there is one main thing about this album I don't like. Immortal Technique purposefully makes himself unlikeable. His battle-rhymes are often so intensely violent, perverted or disturbing, I can only compare them to Jedi Mind Trick's "Violent By Design," which is an album that in the long run is just too violent for replay value. There is a thankful saving grace here, however. On almost every one of Techniques battle rhymes, he still manages to sneak in piercing social commentaries that strike close to home, no matter WHO you are or WHERE you live. He points out faults in every aspect of the social spectrum and packs a powerful punch when mixed with his angry word-play. Ultimately, it's simply his attitude that irritates me. There are plenty of angry emcees, just look at Jean Grae, Royce da 5'9" or Murs but all of these artists have one thing in common. They're personable, often likeable, and you feel like connected to them in one way or another. Technique makes himself just plain unlikeable, and makes no effort to reach out to his fans. I know he doesn't care, and I know he doesn't have to be likeable. He's talented, but even so, the biggest problem with this album is that it lacks that attachment value that Jean Grae's "This Week" or Wordsworth's "Mirror Music" cultivated so succesfully, and when you combine this with Techniques violent exhibitions of lyricism, it makes it hard sometimes to stick with it. NEVERTHELESS, every time I feel this way, I skip to one of his political songs, the ones that stir up emotions, and remember why I love this album. This CD is more than worth the money, simply for his incredible lyricism, his unequalled production (truly amazing production here, whew,) and most importantly, his political rhymes. Keep one thing in mind: Technique may not make you like HIM, but he certainly makes ou feel sorry for the poor and oppressed everywhere, and stirs powerful emotions of wanting to make change for their sakes, and for that, if for nothing else, "Revolutionary Vol. 2" is irreplacable.
I know I just hilighted the negatives of this album, but really, those are the ONLY things about this CD I don't like, and even with those faults, this album may be the prelude to a classic. Why the do you think I gave it five stars? Because it deserves it. Let me give you a few examples of what makes this album so mind-blowing. Track four, "Harlem Streets" is Techniques first REAL show of powerful lyricism, and is a perfect example of his talent to empathize with those impoverished and oppressed. "Gun shots rock the earth like a meteor shower/Bowling For Columbine fear, giving the media power/...It's like Cambodia the killing fields uptown/We live in distress and hang the flag upside down/The sound of conservative politicians on television/People in the hood are blind so they tell us to listen." Following this song comes "Obnoxious." Whew, if ever there was a violent battle track, this is it, but the thing is, this song is the most mind-blowingly clever song. No joke, and even though I feel guilty occasionally, it really is too clever to turn away from. "I'm obnoxious, can't you tell?/I run through little Havanna yelling 'Viva Fidel'/Let's face it, your basic, you aren't half the man that I am/I'll throw your gang sign up, and then I'll spit on my hand/...I'll choke your friends in front of you to prove that you're falling off/And you won't do **** about it like the church during the holocaust." I skipped over a great deal of the worst lines for online censorship sake, but even here Technique vents his battle rhymes while making a point, and that is in part what makes Technique the unique and so incredibly talented emcee that he is. In response to a previous reviewer, Susan H. Solverson, to say that the issues Technique addresses on this album are out of date is to be downright insensitive and, sorry, ignorant. Is 9/11 an out of date issue now? We've waged a "war on terrorism" based on the attack on the twin towers. Is poverty in the ghetto an issue of the past? Is the corruption of our government irrelevant now? I don't think so.
SUMMARY: I could go on for hours quoting this album, but I can't, because I don't have enough room, and I doubt any reader has enough patience, but I have to emphasize one thing. Immortal Technique is one of the top five most talented WORD-PLAY emcees I have ever heard. I have to emphasize word-play, because in reality, that is undoubtedly his greatest strength, and while it is indeed a far cry from the story-telling songs of Talib Kweli or Foreign Exchange, it is on just the same level of talent. I can honestly say that I like aaalmost all the songs on this CD, and every time I listen to it, I get drunk off Technique's intoxicating lyrics. Don't sleep on this album. There are times you'll need a strong stomach, but they pale in comparison to the consistent flow of clever lyrical talent, the kind that causes you to hit rewind on your CD player two or three times before moving onto the next song. Likeable or not, his talent cannot be overlooked. Highly recommended.
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56 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Political rage from a troubled, yet gifted songwriter, September 24, 2004
Immortal Technique had a very rough up-bringing. He was born in a military hospital in South America. He was brought to the U.S. while a civil war was breaking out in his native Peru. From there he resided in Harlem, where he developed a new set of problems. He was bombarded with the hip-hop scene, and started rhyming at an early age. He cut school frequently and was arrested time after time for his unruly behavior. Somehow, he was able to graduate and was excepted to a state university. He ran into more problems in school, participating in even more violent altercations. He was facing several charges of aggravated assault, and inevitably would be sent to prison. He started to write down his ideas and experiences of his troubled life. He came to embrace and understand his Latino and African roots, and the tangled web of racism involved. He eventually went to prison on a 1-2 year stretch. During that time he documented his lyrics, creating songs.
Paroled in 1999, he went back to NYC an discovered a new love and talent for battling. Immortal Technique quickly became known in the underground. His disrespectful brutal lyrics became his trademark, winning countless battles at contests, clubs and even on the streets. After recording several songs that he had written in prison and some new material, they unleashed "Revolutionary Vol. 1. Their hardcore brand of street politics became even bigger in a life after 9/11. His sophomore release "Revolutionary Vol. 2" was released on Viper Records, where he is the Executive Vice President.
After learning about his background, and being a fan of politically fueled lyrics, I immediately loved this CD. His captivating lyrics make you think. His brutally honest delivery, and the fact that he doesn't care what anyone else thinks makes the messages that much more interesting. He talks about several issues, such as war, growing up in the streets, corrupt corporations, corrupt record labels (even bashing on independent labels), racism, the war on drugs, unfair imprisonment, wack MCs, and so much more. Amazingly, after learning about his rough up-bringing, he is extremely educated on all of these topics, and comes off extremely well read and researched. Although he can come off a little too cynical, his inventive delivery brings him back to his educated frame of mind, which makes the album that more interesting to listen to. Although I don't agree with all the he has to say, I feel I've learned a lot from his music. Immortal Technique is starting there own signature style in the world of political rap; something I would love to see explode.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, October 6, 2005
Absolutely stunned, frankly there has never been an album that has changed the way i thought, and heard everything else as much as this. No rap album has come close to what this has done in the last few years. Immortal technique spits what he wants with absolute precision targeting everything from major label rappers, the media, religon, corporate america, life in the ghetto, etc.
His flow is abosolutely on point not missing a single beat and his rhymes go from vivid storytellnig to making fun of whatever he wants. The standout tracks are by far "Freedom of speech" which makes fun of major label rappers and them being controlled by their labels. "You never know" which paints a vivid picture of one of the saddest love songs you will ever hear over a beat and "Harlem Streets" whos title is pretty self explanatory as he tells everyone what MTV rappers wont tell you about real life in the ghetto.
In short, this is by far the album to get if your looking for political rap. It is the most moving, infuriating, amusing, well done verbal attack by any single rapper i have yet to hear.
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