Tha Blue Herb — Sell our soul
So what’s so good about them? Well, about everything... O.N.O beats, while remaining rhythmically orthodox to the hiphop tradition, have a very inventive vibe to them, bringing the music among the best things “progressive” hiphop has produced. Actually, there is a strong electronica feeling on every tracks which makes you think that all the tunes could stand on their own, as a purely electronic music album (one just has to listen to the 75% instrumental Only for the mindstrong –soon to be reviewed here- album to be convinced). Add to this some almost industrial (yet light) beats and some melodies provided by traditional-sounding instruments and you get a mixture I would wet my pants for.
But we shouldn’t diminish Boss the MC’s importance to what makes of this such an excellent album. There is something slow yet fast (ermm...), something chilled-out yet urgent, something melancholic to his rapping that fit perfectly with the music and add an extra-quality to the final result.. Not to mention the fact that his singing in Japanese give a mysterious feeling to the songs for all of us who have no clue about what he is saying. But do not despair as the lyrics are translated in English in the booklet...and they are as good as you are likely to get. Much emphasis is put on friendship and brotherhood (quote on the cover: "We think we have to fall into the darkness first to share our love with one another at last. Peace to you. We are in you."), on standing by yourself, for what you are and on what hiphop should be (as opposed to the MTV version of hiphop: “a porn flick”).
I’m private army is one of the good tracks, with its industrial press beats. Still standing in the bog has a damn catchy tune played on some sort of guitar (sorry for not being more accurate) and Smile with tears is for sure a really beautiful song, but all in all, describing the songs individually is really futile as they make a whole, and an excellent one.
In december, when it will be top ten’s time, all over the world people will be raving about El-P, Antipop Consortium or Sage Francis, which is fine by me, but Tha Blue Herb would most definitely fit in such fine company. I’m told they are getting some nice success in their home country and it’s the least they deserve. Let’s just hope that they’ll get some international fame without having to “sell their soul”.