Tusken Raiders

There has been some great music in 2011. I could go into great detail about everything I've heard, but instead I've decided to write three relatively concise posts as an overview of the year. I'll include links to the artists' webpages, music videos and song downloads where possible.

This is the second year that I've been listening to hip hop/rap regularly. In the Spring of 2010 my brother Scott introduced me to a group from Portland, Oregon called Sandpeople. It's currently comprised of nine emcees and a DJ and their output of work is simply massive. In addition to their group albums, most members have at least one solo CD to their name, and many of them have formed duets or trios, further increasing the size of the catalogue. And their work ethic is quite impressive! Many of these guys release multiple projects per year, and frequently make songs or entire albums free for download.

Two CD's stood out in particular for me. First up is Sapient's oddly titled Eaters Vol 1: Tusks!, which is the first in a series. This one deviates slightly from his other solo projects in that there is hardly any rapping on it. Instead, it's a collection of beats that have been worked up into tracks unto themselves. The flow is smooth; it's great music for lounging around and relaxing.
Sapient has produced much of the Sandpeople's discography, all of his solo projects and many others. Tusks! wholly embraces the sound that Sapient has been building. He’s a little bit indie rock, a little bit hip hop and whole lot of filthy electronic sounds. Sapient finds harmony between live sounds (guitars, drums and keyboards), samples, synths and his vocals (speaking, rapping and singing). This album is easily the cleanest of his solo work thus far and has such a wide variety of timbres that nothing really sounds out of place. Trifle With Me sounds like it belongs in the future with its heavy synth work, while Earbugs and Cool Walter work in trumpets, flutes and other orchestral sounds.

This is something completely new for Sapient, and yet it’s not entirely surprising. Saying he hasn’t left his comfort zone for this album isn’t for lack of doing something new—in a way he doesn’t really have a comfort zone. Past Sandpeople and Debaser albums have showcased some of Sapient’s work that isn’t “strictly hip hop” so Tusks! has a familiar feel to it, but he’s just brought it to the next level.

Next up is LAME from Iame; you could almost call it a concept album based around the mispronunciation of the emcee's name (I-am-me). Iame takes some lighthearted shots at himself and those who see him this way. There’s also a more serious examination at who he has become and how this misinterpretation of his name has potentially affected his persona. More than being self-referential and reflective, this is a meta-album. Lame is a real treat to listen to. With respect to his Sandpeople crew, Iame is less political than some, and maybe trash-talks a little less, but is just as outspoken and he has no qualms about expressing his beliefs.

As I've mostly only listened to Sandpeople, I've become fairly used to their type of producing (done mostly by Sapient, and former crew member Simple). Lame was produced entirely by Smoke M2D6; the beats fit Iame's words perfectly. The album is quite serious for the most part, and the beats are rather sober. Nothing is overproduced, there are no clashing electronic sounds or mismatched lyrics and music. There is a very organic feel. Despite the lack of progression in looped beats, it doesn't get stale.

It's hard to mistake Iame's voice for another's. It sounds like his mouth is just a little too big for the words he's saying (or the other way around). His rapping is rather straightforward, which is not a bad thing; rather it reinforces his message. Instead of getting lost in metaphors or hiding behind analogues, Iame is pretty honest. Which is still something that's pretty new for me. I'm rather used to listening to lyrics that are mysterious and ambiguous. I appreciate the change, however, and listening to rap has given me a new perspective on writing lyrics. It's given me more to think about in terms of rhythm, sentence structure, word choice and rhyming.

The features on Lame are perfect. Each featured artist matches Iame beat for beat, which I find it pretty rare. Neither outshines the other; it's just what the track needs.
Iame also gets a little sentimental on the track Domestikated; not something you hear too often. It's much appreciated.
For the last track on the album, if I close my eyes to listen I can’t tell if I’m dreaming, or if I’ve left this world and am floating away in the cosmos. The music is so spacey, the words pierce through the sound cloud and go right to your mind. Another song with a really important message, Iame finishes the album with a simple message: “This light fades in so many ways, don’t waste it.”

If you've never given hip hop a serious chance, or if you're looking for something new, now is the time! Check out the impressive list below for releases this year from the Sandpeople.

Sapient - Eaters Vol 1: Tusks!
Sapient - Use This Ark //free download - http://sandpeoplemusic.com/sapient_usethisark.zip
Sapient - Blissless Yield music video - youtube.com/watch?v=5mzMvQMGimo
Sapient - Inglorious Days music video - youtube.com/watch?v=t9LvDp2jQbg
www.sapientkills.com // @sapientkills

Iame - Lame
Iame - No Kansas (feat. Snafu) // free download - http://www.heavennoise.com/dl/IAME_NOKANSAS.zip
www.heavennoise.com // @iamemusic

Gold - Chainsmoke
@goldinibagwell

Al-One - Talk of the Town // free download - http://www.freshselects.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Al-One-Talk-Of-The-Town-EP.zip
@alonetheremedy

Illmaculate - The Green Tape // free download - irapbetter.com
Illmaculate - Skrill Walton EP // free download - irapbetter.com
www.irapbetter.com // @illmaculate

OnlyOne - Sandpeople Music presents: OnlyOne
OnlyOne - Muck (feat Chase Moore, prod Furtado Yuen) // free download - http://sandpeoplemusic.com/Leaks/OnlyOne_Muck.mp3

All info can be found at www.sandpeoplemusic.com // @sandpeople