| Having impressed with his Cosmic Cleavage breakthrough last year, LA-based emcee Busdriver returns sporting a different guise - an uncelebrated underdog of the indie rap circuit. The result is a quirky mix of verbal pyrotechnics and impressive beats, breaks and samples that mark the artist out as one of the most uniquely talented/bonkers of his generation. Fear of a Black Tangent (named as a kind of spoof/tribute to Public Enemy) focuses on the ins and outs of the underground rapper's lifestyle. It is filled with anecdotes dealing with touring, an unfailingly fickle fanbase, groupies, wack popular acts, racial-bias and self-doubt and is as goofy/inspired as anything Busdriver has done before. Given the success of his earlier work, however, it is clear that this so-called underdog indie rapper is amassing some heavyweight support, as Fear of a Black Tangent features production from the likes of Daedelus, Danger Mouse and Paris Zax, as well as guest appearances from fellow Project Blowed emcees, Abstract Rude, Ellay Khule, Mikah-9 (of Freestyle Fellowship) and 2Mex. The result is a musically diverse mix of Dizzee Rascal/Roots Manuva-style vocals set against some truly wonderful beats and melodies, that recall the hip-hop fun of Danger Mouse and Jemini and Sixtoo. It'll be an acquired taste, for sure, and not everything works, but stick with it and the album is sure to deliver ample rewards. Highlights include "Unemployed Black Astronaut," with its lazy acoustic guitar riffs and chilled beats ("It's the resurgence of the happy black rapper"), and "Happiness('s Unit of Measurement)," which features another of those increasingly common distorted vocal samples. The fast-talking frenetic energy of "Befriend the Friendless Friendster" is another enticing blend of rapid wit and bouncing beats, while the sweet rhythms and easygoing sentiment of "Lefty's Lament" bring the album to a suitably upbeat close. What's most refreshing, however, is finding an artist on the underground rap/hip-hop circuit that's prepared to have fun rather than lamenting over all the hardship. - Indie London |
1XLP/Out Of Print