Zap Mama
Ancestry in Progress
(V2/BMG)
The highly anticipated follow-up to 2000’s A Ma Zone finds frontwoman
Marie Daulne using a pastiche of sound effects as metaphor for personal
and familial histories. Ancestry’s spread of Daulne’s trademark
chirping, raspy vocal gymnastics over chopped-up vocal samples and snippets
of movie dialogue combined with inspired guest emceeing by Bahamadia
(“Show Me The Way”) and Talib Kweli (“Yelling Away”)
was well worth the wait.
Deadlee
Assault with a Deadlee Weapon
(A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.)
After a three-year touring and recording break following his critically
acclaimed debut 7 Deadlee Sins, the underground legend
returns with a thicker, crispier mix of punk-tinged hip-hop. Standing at
the apex of Los Angeles gay Latino gang culture, Assault’s mix of bounce and
buzzsaw (“No Fags Allowed”) bravely conveys complex stories
on race, class and sexuality rarely heard in the genre.
Common
Be
(G.O.O.D./MCA)
Though viewed by many as a retreat from the wild experimentation
that marked the 2003 boundary-stretching Electric Circus,
Common’s sixth
album has effectively synthesized the disparate influences into a focused
ten-track personal improvement course in 4/4 time. Helmed by wunderkind
beat maestro Kanye West, Be is a decidedly grown-up take on a kid’s
game: serious and introspective, yet remembering to
have fun in the middle of it all.
Various Artists
The Souttrotta Series
Vol. I: The Blue State
(Trust Life Releases)
In a desert of neo-soul cliches, The Blue State
effectively mixes politics, partying and real life without degenerating
into vapidity or sloganeering. Project creator Hanifah Walidah, Mrk
DrkFthr, and Tim’m West headline
a talented medley of independent musicians that bravely speak truth to
power (“Negrolosophy”, “Do,Do,Do”), shake the
spirit and move the crowd simultaneously.
Juba Kalamka is a member of the queer hip-hop crew Deep Dickollective, founder of the label Sugartruck Recordings and curator of the annual PeaceOUT World Homohop Festival in Oakland, California.
