Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 09/16/2008
"Unclassifiable" is such a buzzword in the alternative hip-hop world, and while
One Block Radius' self-titled effort is just that, it's not always for the right reasons. This three-man crew features
Marty James and
MDA from
Scapegoat Wax -- who were signed to the
Beastie Boys'
Grand Royal label -- plus
Z-Man from the extended
Hieroglyphics crew. That's an exciting recipe for something different, but add a major label plus some production from hitmaker
Happy Perez and
OBR, who loose their
Sublime meets
Tribe Called Quest flow, and end up being pushed towards
Black Eyed Peas-styled slickness. The reggae flavors explored on many of the tracks suggest they'd much prefer
the Fugees but sometimes this expensive, near-perfect sound works. Take the lead-off single,
"You Got Me," which comes off like
the Flobots meet
Akon, or the positive
"Steppin' Away" which puts nylon-string guitars under
James' "check yourself before you wreck yourself" lyrics. It's not all about the message as the slacker anthem
"Screwin' It Up" gives alt-hip-hop its
"What I Got" while the ridiculous
"Choc-O-Lot" combines dancehall sounds,
Digital Underground attitude, and an electro beat. Sounds delicious, and while it is in tiny bites, this self-titled album never sorts its divergent sounds in any sensible manner, and the band's maverick attitude always seems at odds with the pristine production. Even if it falls short,
One Block Radius is an interesting miss refreshingly free of "get money" attitude and
T-Pain cameos.
~David Jeffries, All Music Guide
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