Lately, one can easily notice that in the underground hip-hop scene there has been a huge trend beginning - Producer albums. The producer albums certainly aren't anything new to hip hop by any means, but over the last two years they have become increasingly more and more present. Groups like Snowgoons have made their names off of albums like this (not withstanding their most recent release). It does make me ponder how this could be a sign of the music industry changing as a whole due to the fact it is estimated that an overwhelming majority of music sales will be over the internet by the year 2013.
So here is Italian hip-hop producer, Fabio Musta on the scene releasing solo album "Passport" on Babygrande Records. He's done hip-hop for years in Italy and has recently branched out and in an effort to expand more in the U.S. decided to release Passport with a who's who of U.S. emcees. Standout features include Jeru The Damaja, Termanology, T3 of Slum Village, Akrobatik, Strong Arm Steady, Substantial, Elias of Scribbling Idiots, Copywrite, Manifest (not to be confused with M.anifest from Minneapolis) Reks and Guilty Simpson.
As a whole, this album plays very smooth and relaxing. It's not an album that will have you nodding your head a ton but the beats stay fairly interesting throughout. Musta provides enough diversity in his beats to keep the songs different. Overall, I would say this album features six songs that get my thumbs up for quality tracks out of 16 of them. However, one must also consider two of those 16 features Italian rappers who speak not a single word of English except "I like macaroni." The first time I heard it I laughed because it's as if you are watching the Spanish channel for a minute and then out of nowhere the person on the show turns and looks right at you and yells, "I LIKE MACARONI!!!"... which I do love, but with the lack of English as a whole thos two tracks get automatic thumbs down from me.
On the song "I'm Ready," Elias has proven time and time again that he has the ability to sing some incredible hooks. This guys is a real sleeper in hip-hop and frankly I'm surprised that bigger underground artists have not requested his vocals for some chorus help (umm, Deep Rooted?!). In addition to Elias' vocals, Substantial is one of the few emcees that seems like he spits a verse that he puts his all into.
On a sidenote, I've never understood why an emcee would not give 110% on albums like these. This is a way to gain and reach a larger audience. Fans of Termanology are likely concentrated in the east, and by spitting solid verses, Detroit fans of Guilty Simpson & T3 also get the opportunity to hear him.
Other tracks worth giving a listen are Jeru's "Open Up Their Eyes," Termanology's "Hassa, Copywrite's "Italian Roots," Rek's "Real Rap Music," and Guilty Simpson's "Feel It." Overall it isn't a bad album, but there is a solid amount of filler mixed with rappers rapping in Italian. If you are a fan of any of the above mentioned artists it might be worth checking out.
Best Line: "I Like Macaroni!" - Paura & Clementino Antiopinionisti
Best Song: Real Rap Music (feat. Reks)
Rating: 4.8/10
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