Pao« S
RETURN
OF THE
BOOM
BAP
KRS-One
by Ty Jefferson
On his latest album project
Return of the Boom Bap, KRS-
One confirms his status as the
ultimate MC. He doesn't lose
an ounce of old school flavor or
street-wise wisdom on this entire
release, and that makes this
compilation his best narrative
lesson to date.
After kicking off with "KRS-
One Attacks." he moves into the
first released single. "Outta
"The Ref:”
out of
control with
Denis Leary
by Jen Dugan marriage counseling session.
, CctUgJ'&ir They slop at the same small
grocery store, where they meet
Denis Leary, the fast-talkin’. Gus. Well, actually, get
licotine-lovin’ stand-up' hijacked by Gus. Gus plans to
romedian, is now in a feature hide out at their house. Now the
ength film. “The Ref." fun begins.
His character in the movie. Caroline and Lloyd fight like
Bus. is a reflection of his stand- two little kids. Gus can’t take
q> material. Gus is a "career it “Shut up!" he shouts as he
criminal" on the run and tries to figure out what to do
stealing to stay alive. next.
The movie begins on There’s even more laughs
Christmas Eve. Gus is when the rest of the totally
f»«/miiring his biggest burglary dysfunctional family shows up
yet; the one that will allow him for Christmas dinner,
to throw in the ski mask for I wasn’t rolling out of my
good. Just when it looks like chair laughing over this film,
he’s home free, he runs into a but it is funny. If yon are
booby trap. He escapes and offended by “dirty" language and
ventures to a small grocery jokes, don’t go see this movie!
aU)fC I really like Leary’s stand-up,
la the meantime, t married and. although he doesn’t have as
couple Caroline (Judy Davis) and big a part as I thought, you get a
Lloyd (Kevin Spacey) are on good taste of his comedy. It’s
their way home from a harsh definitely a film worth seeing.
The sweet sounds of music
The latest releases in rap, R&B, and hip hop
Here." a lyrical autobiography
recounted in narrowing detail.
You won’t miss his regal flavor
because its accurately peppered
throughout sinister cuts like
“UH-OH" nd "P is Still Free.”
He flips philosophically on
"Black Cop" and “Brown Skin
Woman." flexing intellect and
finesse with an indisputably hard
care texture. While “Black Cop”
serves as a historical lesson,
“Brown Skin Woman” is a
shout-out to women and a call to
arms for men to treat them with
respect
The combined production
expertise of Kid Capri and Gang
Starr’s DJ Premiere is the perfect
complement to ti.e smoothest
vocal delivery hip-hop has to
offer, and that makes Return of
the Boom Bap another winner
for raps true microphone
champion.
IMiEIIWII
TRUE
LIFE
Funky
Poets
by Dia Harris
CotUfian Staff
The name Funky Poets is
misleading because form the
sounds of it, you’d think they’re
rappers, but they’re not
They are seriously fierce R&B
singers. Paul and Ray-Ray
Frazier, Christian Jordan and
Gene Johnson have created a buzz
in the industry with their debut
LP, True Life. This group uses
music as a vehicle through which
they’ll tell emotional stories.
Although they sing about dark
and dirty subjects, they kick phat
beats and silky smooth
harmonies.
Each of these young men
contributes lyrically and vocally
to the group.
Guided by the principle, "It’s
the music that counts,” the
Eve’s Plum:
making Jan
by Paul Lorio
CaffaftM&nP
Eve’s Plum is a New York
based quartet whose music
rekindles a fire that many people
thought burned out years ago.
Their name is a play on the
actress. Eve Plumb, who played
the middle sister, Jan, on "The
Brady Bunch." (Rumor has it
that the group leaves Plumb’s
name on the guest list at each
gig they play.)
What makes this band so
special is their lead singer,
Colleen Fitzpatrick, whose voice
can take on a plethora of
emotions at once. Fitzpatrick
sets a carousal of emotions
spinning effortlessly during each
song from their debut release.
Envy.
In the song. “I Want It All,"
Fitzpatrick delivers the title with
anger and determination that
makes one’s pulse quicken.
Funky Poets credit Earth, Wind,
and Fire, Bobby Womack, Blue
Magic, Curtis Mayfield, A the
Isley Brothers as their musical
inspirations.
SHAOLIN
TONGUE
FU
Shyhiem
by Ty Jefferson
CotUgiaii Staff
This must be phase two of the
Wu-Tang invasion. Shyhiem’s
debut is Shaolin-Tongue hu.
This album offerj a glimpse into
the mind of a rugged child as he
runs through the wild streets of
Staten Island. NYC, preparing to
assault your ears with his
proud
while delivering the next line
with a sort of child-like
innocence that has only been
matched by Julianna Hatfield.
This song is destined to be Eve’s
Plum’s anthem of success, but
this group isn’t a "one song and
out” type of group. They have
so much more to offer an
audience.
“Venus Meets Pluto” is a
song in which Fitzpatrick’s
voice creates a dream-like state
that sends the listener into a
hallucinogenic state between
restless sleep and stressful
reality. The song doesn’t end,
but rather the listener snaps out
of it!
But Eve’s Plum isn’t another
of those “girl singers with other
musicians" type band. No, this
is a solid band that is very
cohesive.
Michael Kotch comes off like
he is trying to push his guitar to
another level, while his brother
Thursday April 7,1994
astounding world premiere.
Hey, I was shocked! In the
music world, the little bastard has
some serious skills. It becomes
even more impressive when you
consider the fact that he wrote all
of his own lyrics.
The lead-off single, “On and
On,” features the harsh reality of
the ghetto.
The first song on the album,
“Here Comes the Hits,” lets you
know the deal as the prime time
manchild adapts to the gangsta
nomad way of life - dodging
lyrical death and paving the path
for his sound to conquer the lost.
All in all, Shyhiem is one of
the best shortie emcees out. lam
looking forward to watching his
style mature. Some want to
understand the hard core, but then
again the “life of a shortie
shouldn’t be so rough.”
Brady
Ben Kotch drives the band with
his exceptional drum
arrangements. Also, Chris
Giammaivo consistently injects
his bass lines that makes Eve’s
Plum come together and gives
them their distinctive musical
edge.
Some other noteworthy songs
off this debut include the
opening track, “Blue,” in which
Fitzpatrick’s voice takes on a
desperate tone of someone who
has just had salt poured on her
wounds. Also the song. "On
The Outside,” shows a lighter,
almost pop. aide of the group.
To my that I liked this release
would be an understatement.
Eve’s Plum has the talent and
determination to make a huge
impact on the music world. The
only thing slopping them is the
fact that they don’t have the
marketing team that commercial
groups such as Pearl Jam and
Nirvana have. Take a risk and
give Eve’s Plum Envy a listen.