RIYL: Gym Class Heroes, B.o.B, Eminem, Linkin Park
Rather than revel in the endless boasting and beefs that permeate so much hip-hop these days, New York-based MC trio The Higher Concept aim for something a bit more radical: togetherness. On their newest album ‘Everybody’, which dropped in April, the group tackles a variety of social topics and music styles, creating a catchy batch of tunes with a broad scope. The three MC’s that make up The Higher Concept (Tekst, Matty J and IB Profyn) call Staten Island their home-base but aim for a more global sound on ‘Everybody’. Pairing slick production with catchy choruses and smart rapping, the best songs feel like radio-ready anthems of positivity and self-empowerment.
As the title suggests, there really is something for everybody here. Some tracks like “Raindrop” carry a harder-edged sound, some feature 40 mg levitra orchestration, and “Everything” sounds like Nicki Minaj-style bubblegum pop. The song structures are mostly a fusion of hip-hop verses and pop choruses, with a female vocalist providing the main hooks on tracks like “Runnin Away” and “Smile”. It’s a formula that has successfully pushed hip-hop elements into Top 40 radio in the past few years, but might be reaching a saturation level as of late.
The heartiest fare on ‘Everybody’ comes near the tail end with a group of songs that turn the mood slightly more serious and introspective. “American Way” is a standout here and uses catchy distorted guitar riffs to distract from slightly subversive lyrics about American culture.
The most moving moments come on “They Used to Say”, which features frank talk about one vocalists’ grandparents escaping the Holocaust. Over a dramatic mixture of piano and soaring synthesizers, the refrain “Back in the day when they used to pray/ They used to pray for a brighter day” repeats in the chorus until it feels like a profound truth.
To end the album, “This Is For” ties together the varied themes on ‘Everybody’ with one last impassioned call for unity. It’s a timely message given all the violence permeating the news these days. “Its time to wake up”, the band pleads. “One day we gonna realize we started as one.”
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.thehigherconcept.com
http://www.facebook.com/TheHigherConceptMusic
http://www.myspace.com/thehigherconcept
http://www.twitter.com/higherconcept
http://www.youtube.com/everybodythc
