Pharoahe Monch - "Desire" Review

Sound:
The album starts with a heavy gospel feel, but unlike many rap albums, it changes as it runs its course.

All the beats are head-nodders, especially "Push" and "Body Baby". The latter actually kind of has a drum beat that could be suited for a dancy, indie type of song, but has a clear swing leaning. The song probably has the best showcase of Pharoahe's vocal versatility out of the entire album.


The single "Body Baby"

Not all the songs have carefree, feel-good beats though. "What It Is" has a simple, ominous beat with Pharoahe's trademark halted, jarring flow similar to something you'd hear from Royce Da 5'9".



Many of the beats are simply innovative; especially the beat to "Trilogy". As simple as it is, it sounds like cinematic, ambient, crunk music, (if you can possibly imagine such a thing).

In the UK, "Agent Orange" was released as a bonus track. This beat is quite unconventional with an idiosyncratic stylophone-sounding instrument reminiscent of "Icky Thump" by the White Stripes, (without the crazy time signature). On the other side of the Atlantic, (the U.S. for you non-geography buffs), there is "Book of Judges", first released with Mark Ecko's game Getting Up. A hugely enjoyable funky guitar riff backs up Monch's indescribably unique flow.


The single "Push"

Lyrics:

The lyrics on this album encompass everything from politics to bullshittin'. Monch will fly from subject to subject and stay fresh with every line, for example, in "When The Gun Draws" (which is my favorite track on the album) the song floats seamlessly from a story to social commentary to political analysis.


The single "When The Gun Draws"

"Hold On" has a completely different style of lyricism, almost sounding like Saul Williams at moments, (but the flow staying all Monch). Likewise, on many other points on the album, you can hear clear influences in lyrics and delivery style (which may be a strength or weakness), such as "Welcome To The Terrordome" which is an obvious homage to Public Enemy and Chuck D, and the song follows suit.

"Trilogy" seems like a not-shitty "Trapped in the Closet" by R. Kelly, maybe it's the fact the beat changes along with the evolving story, maybe it's that the story does evolve, maybe it's the fact that "Trapped in the Closet" was a lot like the movie "Closer" in the sense that it was all assholes treating other assholes like shit and "Trilogy" isn't. Either way, Pharoahe can pull off a 9+ minute rap song without a hitch, which is an extraordinary feat.

Final Score: 9/10

In other news, new DMX slated for late '07/early '08, titled The Resurrection of Hip-Hop. The title is a direct response to Nas' Hip-Hop is Dead and X says that he will work with "only the real artists".

Also, Lil' Wayne's album The Carter 3 was leaked. Personally, if you heard one song of Wayne's, you've heard 'em all, (unless Carter 3 somehow wasn't about his car, shoes, bitches, or money), but if you care, listen to his ignorant, clearly fucked up, banter here:

The one and only Andre 3000 is set to release a solo album based on his cartoon Class of 3000 airing on Cartoon Network. It is slated to be released July 3rd.

Paris Hilton has been officially knighted, (pardon the pun), "gangster" by floundering record label impresario Suge Knight who stated that Paris "did more time than some of these though ass rappers". In semi-related news, Paris Hilton told Larry King that she had never done drugs. I had to put that one in there 'cause I thought it was cute.