 | | V / A
Futurism Ain't Shit to Me 2
Kitty Yo |
Have you ever seen Kitty-Yo's website? Man that is one packed website. They have credits, every collaborative effort, photos, a store, oh my god. What a website. And it's really cute. OK, I just wanted to say that, because in writing this review I figured I should at least look at what they had to say about this 2nd CD in a series of compilations by the label. Man it was an eyeful of a website. Check it out.
So anyway, hot damn this is one loaded CD. I've been listening to it over and over again trying to figure out how I could possibly pull it all together or even still just rip it apart and break it down in a review sort of format. The theme I came up with for this CD was actually kind of simple when I put it in context of other indie hip-hopish electronic type labels out there and what they're doing: It seems like kitty-yo is more interested in putting out music instead of making some weird point (a point like, we're so much more indie and weird than you… for one). A lot of these are admittedly the more well known indie people in the scene, but it's a broad spectrum of artists and you won't be able to walk away from it saying it was much too serious or worse, complete fluff. That said, I think the reason I should even bother doing a review of this CD is to say that the bigger names seem sort of incidental on this comp and the smaller lesser known artists really take over and rock this shit.
I mean sure, this CD has got Daedelus (everyone loves Daedelus right? I shouldn't waste my time even saying the song is good… but it is), Quasimoto, and Sole. But take for example the track by 8-bit, who apparently dress up like robots for their shows (who doesn't like rapping robots?). They have this great song about people player hating on their infinite lifespans and laser guns. This is a great song and not because it's just a novelty but really it's good rhymes and good goddamn times. Maybe I'm silly but that right there is my favorite song. I just listen to it over and over again. Soul Junk's "Ungst Func Slag Collision" has old school sounding rhymes over this crazy sounding jazzy ripped up beat, a good repeat listen also. General Electrics adds a great funky dirty sounding instrumental "Central Park" that sounds sort of like a 70's T.V. show theme song, and I mean that in a GOOD WAY I swear, and lastly I should mention "Hold Dat" by Prince Po, for all it's seeming mass appeal is still danceable and I catch myself with it stuck in my head and playing it on my way to work.
As a side note there are also some cute unforgettable throwbacks with an 80's electronic appeal like "Rock on" by Jackson and his Computer Band which is really soft and cute with synth sounds and broken down beats (lots of 80's sounding beats in here). "Common like Baseball Cards" by Malcom Kipe also has some 80's-ish samples. Although 80's type things seem to have some negative hipster-hater connotations I again make these references in the best of ways because these are both great songs.
Maybe the name of "The Return of the Menstruating Man" by Data MC RMX will freak you out …. and it should… because well, that's one of the only tracks I was thinking "WHAT?" when I heard it. It's funny but I can't imagine rocking a song about peeing when you have your period and plugging up toilets more than once…. Yea. So anyway, otherwise I have no real complaints other than that maybe a few songs are really take it or leave it, and "Tivoli" by Stacs of Stamina made me kind of stir crazy because it's just all over the place (or maybe too avant garde for me or something).
Forss adds his amazing bass heavy "Soulhack" which really seals the deal on this CD being worth every cent. Get it. Pedestrian's "O Silent Bed" is just… completely amazing old school rhymes and absolutely NOT old school mixing.
Kitty-Yo has a great collection here, I'd highly recommend if you can get it, get it, you won't be disappointed at all. In fact if you don't get it you're missing something if you consider yourself a hip-hop lover.
- Amanda Spadaccini | 2006-04-10
