Company Flow Funcrusher Plus Remastered Rarlab
Appearing like a bolt from the blue in 1997, 'Funcrusher Plus' single-handedly reignited this reviewer's passion for hip hop music. Shying away from the gunz, girlz and dollaz style of gangsta rap and the pop / rap crossover disaster that the likes of Will Smith bring to the table, Company Flow managed to create something entirely new with their debut album.
Although I am leaning heavily towards electronic music, this release, along with the Cannibal Ox album, the trilogy by Organized Konfusion and the Ras Kass debut album are in my book the cornerstones of hip hop. Mind you, I am not the expert though.
Company Flow Funcrusher Plus Remastered Rarlab Free
Sure, I just made a complete list without mentioning the 'golden age' pioneers. See, Funcrusherplus will never reach the sales of 'Doggystyle', will never get its own UNI poetry class that the likes of the demised 2pac had, and will never even be considered for winning an award. Like it needs any of the above.
This album is like a master of oddity. What you did not expect of a hip hop album, you received here. Not only is it awkward, it's that the weirdness is pulled off to perfection. Some make it strange for the sake getting the 'mischief' tag. Company Flow nailed the true to form B Boy aesthetic with a far-out, unpredictable approach to the genre, combining sci-fi beats (something EL-P would build upon later in his career) and a layered lyrical delivery, which was seldom discernible upon listening sessions. In my ears, this is a front to back great album, that excels on every conceivable level. The production is a foray into the future that never was, the lyrical department is chock full of themes and metaphors that it'll take more listens than you'll be aware of to fully absorb it all.
Although I do like dusty samples, jazzy tendencies in US hip-hop, this record delivers a robotic vision of the B-boy stance, and goes left just when the entire scene headed right. This record is closing in on perfection. Just revisited it today. These guys knew what they were doing.
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Not many others did. Even less followed. Play this, and then The Cold Vein next. Highly abstract awesomeness for the ones willing to provide the patience infrastructure.