Album Review: A ‘Lethal’ dose of social woes
Mac Lethal’s new album “11:11” has solidified his place as an independent hip-hop king and court jester in one stroke. Lines like, “Tell me goodbye, since you cannot rely on sympathy from me ‘cause my tear ducts are dry,” from the song “Tell Me Goodbye,” resonate the theme of misanthropy laced throughout the album’s 14 tracks.
But more than just a pessimist, Mac shows he has more facets than any diamond stud stuck in a mainstream rapper’s ear.
On “11:11,” Mac leads off with the track “Backward,” a song about his blue-collar roots and his emcee mission statement. On “Sun Storm,” Mac croons and raps a love song to his hometown, Kansas City: “I’m from the methlab city of broken dreams and cracked out dopamines where everybody is looking for an ocean-scene.”
Tracks like “Jihad” sound like Mac wrote every lyric in piss and vinegar. Lines like “Jerry Falwell’s dead, everybody limbo! Rap music is the new disco!” or “Fuck Dane Cook and his corporate ass too!” are sure to make virgin ears bleed and spark riots in the Bible Belt.
The production of the album is just as varied as the subject matter. The above mentioned “Sun Storm,” has a twanging guitar over a softer drum beat that sounds more fitting on an acoustic record.
Mac makes fun of this at the end of the song, addressing a fake crowd with, “No, No, No. Don’t get your lighters out. This isn’t Ben Harper.”
“Pound that beer” sounds like a drinking pep rally fueled by a marching band. Songs like “Crazy” sound like a lounge-y blend of reggae and hip-hop rolled into one big joint with lines like, “What I want you to do is tell your grandmother to stop bitching, load your bong up, and take a fat ass hit right now.”
If there is a detracting factor from the album, it is that Lethal sometimes doesn’t keep a constant theme in a track.
He always has something clever to say, but at times the message can be muddled by obscure comparisons or non sequitur rhymes.
Mac is always the social critic. He embraces culture with a smile, then drives a knife into its back – cutting into problems he sees while keeping the message playful to the ear.
Mac Lethal
11:11
Release Date: Oct. 9
Genre: Rap
Grade: A-
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 at 12:04 am and is filed under Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Print this post
Email this post© 2008 The Nevada Sagebrush
