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ALBUM REVIEW – “Fatman’z Playhouz” from STEREOTALK…
The first thing that I noticed when I started STEREOTALK’s debut EP Fatman’z Playhouz was the use of actual instruments. For me, that speaks highly of a rap band. Rap band, something that you can’t say too often but when you do, it usually means you’re speaking of a talented group of people…the Roots come to mind.
STEREOTALK provoke class in their rhymes. There wasn’t any incoherent bullshit making up of words or pronunciation to ensure flow-ability to be found in Fatman’z Playhouz. Right away you are hit with the first song Fly Away, an awesome drum beat mixed with distorted guitar riffs on top of vocals that glide you through a well told story of being “taken away” from your current position or state of mind. The follow up is a sweet little ditty (yeah, I said ditty) called Supermodel that serenades some girl, who I am sure is quite lovely. What I like about STEREOTALK is that, like so many rap artists, they are not shy about how big or famous they are, or are going to be for that matter; rhyming often in Supermodel about how the girl knows that he’s a star. I don’t think STEREOTALK has hit that status quite yet but they rhyme about it with style and technique; and the difference is that they can actually do it with confidence. They blend elements of jazz and soul into rock and hip-hop, and they do it well. In the 3rd song, Kinky Combat, they even manage to sneak in a bit of politics…not speaking highly of the a certain government figure…do the John Kennedy, yuh, get your rocks off…then switching into lyrics about getting some girl from behind – you get my rocks off.
The remaining songs speak of everything from more girls to heartbreak. Song #5 titled Elated has everything from crooning vocals to screaming to well styled flows about lost love and pain, all wearing a crown of distorted guitars and high hat focused drums. Dirty Floor is a story about a girl abused by her father and accused of lying about it to her mother, as well as some of her struggles in life; ending up in Las Vegas being seduced by a pimp and talked into prostitution and later raped in an alley way. The final track Green Ottoman has undertones of spirituality and regret. It touches on an individuals wrong decisions and hopes for a better future, after living on the wrong side of morality.
All in all STEREOTALK‘S debut EP Fatman’z Playhouz denotes talent and originality. It features superb beats, amazing vocals…both rapped and sang, creativity and freshness. It is rap at its finest; reminiscent of older, fresher, free-styled inspired raps, not falling victim to mainstream rap’s over use of violence, the word booty or shake and incoherent use of ebonics or made up language. Not that I don’t appreciate some good gangster shit from time to time, but STEREOTALK manages to stay on par with what I would refer to as intelligent rap, such as Mos Def or Talib Kweli (fuck yeah Black Star), and many others I can’t think of right now. They do have whispers of mainstream influence though. SUPPORT STEREOTALK.
Upcoming shows:
Oct 9 2009 10:00P
THE VENUE Dalton, Georgia
Oct 16 2009 10:00P
The Local with Shotgun Opera Marietta, Georgia
Oct 19 2009 10:00P
Lenny’s Venue Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 6 2009 10:00P
Swayzes with Chase Long Beach and Morning Waits Marietta, Georgia
Dec 10 2009 10:00P
Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, Georgia
And STEREOTALK is added to our list of “band’s to do shows with next” here at beatlanta so be looking out for that.
