And it don't stop............
T-Kash - Turf War Syndrome
A revolutionary classic.
by Spence D.
December 11, 2006 - While the rest of the Bay Area is caught in the grip of going dumb and getting hyphy T-Kash comes with one of the year's most incendiary and socio/political offerings. That it booms, bangs, and rips musically only adds to its magnetic thrust.
While the introspective politically oriented rap album has more or less gone the way of the dinosaur in the continued (and seemingly never-ending) era of bling, T-Kash shows and proves that volatile lyrics and a revolutionary stance can still connect with those willing to be moved by the groove and infiltrated by lyrical ferocity.
That T-Kash's debut bears the Guerrilla Funk logo should come as no surprise. Having cut his teeth contributing to some of The Coup's more recent endeavors, T-Kash is no stranger to the ways of revolutionary rap. That he teamed up with Paris, yet another "forgotten" raptivist, should raise a red flag in terms of what to expect. This ain't no candy coated, made-for-radio-airplay, soft, sissy rap, that's for damn sure.
Commanding a delivery that bears considerable resemblance to that of his obvious mentor, Paris, T-Kash kicks statistics, realistics, and inner city imagery with a gruff, somewhat stoic baritone that cuts through the lumbering beats that the Guerilla Funk CEO has laced up. Like any good radical album, Turf War Syndrome is chock full of vocal snippets from the news archives and while on lesser albums they might feel like filler, here they work to create a cohesive flow, turning the album into something of a raised fist mixtape.
"American Nightmare" may have a clichéd sounding title, but it's one of the many genuine burners on the album and accurately sets the tone for the remaining 15 tracks that follow, among them "American Nightmare Long Version" featuring The Coup. Undulating bass and down tempo synth create an immersive rhythm while Kash dishes positivity, grabbing back the reins of rap from the consumer oriented vapid expanse that has been dominating the airwaves and zombified minds of the masses for far too long. To say that T-Kash may have scooped up the revolutionary mantle left lying around by Public Enemy wouldn't be too far of a cry.
After he's set the hardcore tone, T-Kash does a 180 and busts some low-n-slow R&B slink on "In My Drawz" where he downright dips into crooning, between-the-sheets territory. Naturally it's all a guise as the lyrics aren't anywhere near R. Kelly nastiness, but instead go for positive message spreading instead as per the chorus: "I got freedom in my drawz/liberation in my chamber/president fightin' wars in my name/but I don't feel no safer…"
From the lull of the R&B swagger, T-Kash smacks us back upside the head with the lurching title track, which is a wonderful story told from the viewpoint of Kash being a street soldier running his turf with an iron fist. By utilizing the practice of adopting the viewpoint of a criminal kingpin, Kash exposes the ultimate fallacy of such a lifestyle. "Something To Me" keeps the lean and mean vibe intact. Meanwhile "Something To Me" returns to the R&B stylings without going soft in the least.
For the most part T-Kash's stance is strictly hardcore, going for a straight no chaser delivery that doesn't mince words or strive for stylistic convergence. Hell, even when Kash dips into faux ragga intonations on "Louder Than Words" it works. Ditto for "Superman" which features the great sing/song chorus refrain that turns one of the Man of Steel's most famous villains into a modern metaphor: "there's really no superman/'cuz actually you're the man/ to stop Lex Luthor's plan/and when I say Lex Luthor/I ain't tryin' to confuse ya/I'm only tryin' to be a lil smoother/but you already know who I'm talkin' about…"
Much of T-Kash's strength comes from twisting every day words and phrases into ghetto education that transcends the street corner and should infiltrate the bourgeoisies (following the time honored PE mantra to "rock the boulevard and reach the bourgeoisie"). Just listen to the double entendre displayed on "Liberty Mutual" where he manifests the Statue of Liberty and all she stands for as a potential love interest. He also relies on the simpler, the better method of teaching. For example "Stay Away" is a potent warning to those who aren't from the hood to do as the titles implies. The point is driven home with the straight forward chorus tag "if you not from/don't come."
Even when Kash dips into braggadocio, it rings with a sense of realness and still flares with an air of revolutionary tenacity as is evidenced on "Hustlematic," which instead of becoming a self-inflated boast ends up working more as a motivational speech for young guns in the ghetto. The album's last "official" track, "Shine," is a brilliant blast of serpentine funk about struggling for your art, message, and life.
On the whole Turf War Syndrome is a rumbling, pervasive blast of refreshing revolution that works as a rallying cry to those who have grown tired of the continued material excess of most modern rap. While the likes of Diddy, Jay-Z, and others continue to taut their wealth and rap about their latest jewelry acquisitions, T-Kash returns to what made rap so hypnotic in the first place: it's the CNN of the streets, telling tales and cautionary parables of the 'hood.
Musically speaking Paris' production, which in the past has had a tendency to be a bit heavy handed and somewhat overly simplistic, has matured tremendously. It goes straight for the throat with understated bass boom, deceptive synth ambiance, and a rhythmic sense that serves to highlight T-Kash's verbal stance with complimentary aplomb. This is one of those rare instances where the beats and the words work in perfect harmony, the music uplifting the message as it should.
After all is said and done, Turf War Syndrome may be the best rap album that most of mainstream America never heard this year. Which is a shame, since it returns rap to its revolutionary roots while still maintaining a sense of footloose party exuberance. Call it a revolutionary party, if you will. Who could ask for more, really? Intelligent lyrics matched with beats to move you're a$$. To paraphrase Funkadelic, T-Kash is urging us all to free our a$$es and our minds will follow.
Definitely Download:
1. "American Nightmare"
2. "In My Drawz"
3. "Turf War Syndrome"
4. "Superman"
5. "Stay Away"
6. "Hustlematic"
7. "Shine"
T-Kash - Turf War Syndrome
A revolutionary classic.
by Spence D.
December 11, 2006 - While the rest of the Bay Area is caught in the grip of going dumb and getting hyphy T-Kash comes with one of the year's most incendiary and socio/political offerings. That it booms, bangs, and rips musically only adds to its magnetic thrust.
While the introspective politically oriented rap album has more or less gone the way of the dinosaur in the continued (and seemingly never-ending) era of bling, T-Kash shows and proves that volatile lyrics and a revolutionary stance can still connect with those willing to be moved by the groove and infiltrated by lyrical ferocity.
That T-Kash's debut bears the Guerrilla Funk logo should come as no surprise. Having cut his teeth contributing to some of The Coup's more recent endeavors, T-Kash is no stranger to the ways of revolutionary rap. That he teamed up with Paris, yet another "forgotten" raptivist, should raise a red flag in terms of what to expect. This ain't no candy coated, made-for-radio-airplay, soft, sissy rap, that's for damn sure.
Commanding a delivery that bears considerable resemblance to that of his obvious mentor, Paris, T-Kash kicks statistics, realistics, and inner city imagery with a gruff, somewhat stoic baritone that cuts through the lumbering beats that the Guerilla Funk CEO has laced up. Like any good radical album, Turf War Syndrome is chock full of vocal snippets from the news archives and while on lesser albums they might feel like filler, here they work to create a cohesive flow, turning the album into something of a raised fist mixtape.
"American Nightmare" may have a clichéd sounding title, but it's one of the many genuine burners on the album and accurately sets the tone for the remaining 15 tracks that follow, among them "American Nightmare Long Version" featuring The Coup. Undulating bass and down tempo synth create an immersive rhythm while Kash dishes positivity, grabbing back the reins of rap from the consumer oriented vapid expanse that has been dominating the airwaves and zombified minds of the masses for far too long. To say that T-Kash may have scooped up the revolutionary mantle left lying around by Public Enemy wouldn't be too far of a cry.
After he's set the hardcore tone, T-Kash does a 180 and busts some low-n-slow R&B slink on "In My Drawz" where he downright dips into crooning, between-the-sheets territory. Naturally it's all a guise as the lyrics aren't anywhere near R. Kelly nastiness, but instead go for positive message spreading instead as per the chorus: "I got freedom in my drawz/liberation in my chamber/president fightin' wars in my name/but I don't feel no safer…"
From the lull of the R&B swagger, T-Kash smacks us back upside the head with the lurching title track, which is a wonderful story told from the viewpoint of Kash being a street soldier running his turf with an iron fist. By utilizing the practice of adopting the viewpoint of a criminal kingpin, Kash exposes the ultimate fallacy of such a lifestyle. "Something To Me" keeps the lean and mean vibe intact. Meanwhile "Something To Me" returns to the R&B stylings without going soft in the least.
For the most part T-Kash's stance is strictly hardcore, going for a straight no chaser delivery that doesn't mince words or strive for stylistic convergence. Hell, even when Kash dips into faux ragga intonations on "Louder Than Words" it works. Ditto for "Superman" which features the great sing/song chorus refrain that turns one of the Man of Steel's most famous villains into a modern metaphor: "there's really no superman/'cuz actually you're the man/ to stop Lex Luthor's plan/and when I say Lex Luthor/I ain't tryin' to confuse ya/I'm only tryin' to be a lil smoother/but you already know who I'm talkin' about…"
Much of T-Kash's strength comes from twisting every day words and phrases into ghetto education that transcends the street corner and should infiltrate the bourgeoisies (following the time honored PE mantra to "rock the boulevard and reach the bourgeoisie"). Just listen to the double entendre displayed on "Liberty Mutual" where he manifests the Statue of Liberty and all she stands for as a potential love interest. He also relies on the simpler, the better method of teaching. For example "Stay Away" is a potent warning to those who aren't from the hood to do as the titles implies. The point is driven home with the straight forward chorus tag "if you not from/don't come."
Even when Kash dips into braggadocio, it rings with a sense of realness and still flares with an air of revolutionary tenacity as is evidenced on "Hustlematic," which instead of becoming a self-inflated boast ends up working more as a motivational speech for young guns in the ghetto. The album's last "official" track, "Shine," is a brilliant blast of serpentine funk about struggling for your art, message, and life.
On the whole Turf War Syndrome is a rumbling, pervasive blast of refreshing revolution that works as a rallying cry to those who have grown tired of the continued material excess of most modern rap. While the likes of Diddy, Jay-Z, and others continue to taut their wealth and rap about their latest jewelry acquisitions, T-Kash returns to what made rap so hypnotic in the first place: it's the CNN of the streets, telling tales and cautionary parables of the 'hood.
Musically speaking Paris' production, which in the past has had a tendency to be a bit heavy handed and somewhat overly simplistic, has matured tremendously. It goes straight for the throat with understated bass boom, deceptive synth ambiance, and a rhythmic sense that serves to highlight T-Kash's verbal stance with complimentary aplomb. This is one of those rare instances where the beats and the words work in perfect harmony, the music uplifting the message as it should.
After all is said and done, Turf War Syndrome may be the best rap album that most of mainstream America never heard this year. Which is a shame, since it returns rap to its revolutionary roots while still maintaining a sense of footloose party exuberance. Call it a revolutionary party, if you will. Who could ask for more, really? Intelligent lyrics matched with beats to move you're a$$. To paraphrase Funkadelic, T-Kash is urging us all to free our a$$es and our minds will follow.
Definitely Download:
1. "American Nightmare"
2. "In My Drawz"
3. "Turf War Syndrome"
4. "Superman"
5. "Stay Away"
6. "Hustlematic"
7. "Shine"
