Album Review: Sho Baraka – ‘Talented 10th’
Artist: Sho Baraka
Album: Talented 10th
Street Date: 1/15/13
Record Label: Lions and Liars
Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap
iPod Pick: Mrs…(ft. JR
)
‘Talented 10th‘ unlike Sho’s ‘Lions and Liars’ which was party ready and more pop oriented rap comes with an ambient, edgy and more creative sound. The albums starts off with the oriental base line toned ‘Bethesda’. You would think Aretha Franklin was invited to drop BGVs as the female vocal continually chants ‘Wade in the water children . . . God’s gonna trouble the water’. It’s simply beautiful at its best. ‘Michael’ slows things down with a heavy rap opening. We also hear a Coolio sound alike from the phenomenal ‘Gangsters’ Paradise’ hit as Sho raps ‘minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day’ he ends the flow saying ‘I got get some of that power. . . power’ nice!
The ‘Get Happy Intermission’ is a retro church organ with dance-around-the-altar gospel intro which flows into low keyed ‘Mahalia’. ‘Mrs. . . ’ which features J.R. one of the few artistes who does the ‘quirky’ styled music that has been featured since the first track of this album is the first song that brings in a pop feel to the album and sounds more like something from ‘Lions and Liars’. ‘Ali’ is likely to become everyone’s take home anthem from this album, an inspiring tune about greatness. You would love the unconventional style on ‘Denzel’ which features the amazing Suzy Rock. Think Esperanza Spalding meet Jay Z.
The African-esque tune on ‘Madoff’ is a ‘hit or miss’ one, I think I would leave you to decide that. The album flows from ‘Jim Crow’ to ‘Nicodemus’ in the same mellow vibe.
My concern about Sho Baraka‘s new album is the direction (let’s say) theme wise. Listening to it for me left me stuck at some point wondering about meanings and what particular point was really being made on some tracks. But they say art doesn’t always have to say something. I also think Sho’ took a good big risk to make Hip Hop which is ‘experimental’ in its experience leaving the listener to find for themselves the path they wish to take.
Sho Baraka’s ‘Talented 10th‘ is where art and hip hop cross paths. It’s gutsy, raw, old and still modern. Though we might not be meeting familiar sound we use know from Sho Baraka on this one, I think it’s an adventure any lover of rap with jazz or some form of ambiance should be willing to try.
