They had me hooked with the album title, a nod to the crucial line in Karate Kid that seems to attract musicians like free liquor and prog rock (it was bastardized by the Chicago-based rockers “Sweep the Leg, Johnny!” in the 90s).
Like a Brooklyn-born Daniel-san kickin’ it in California, the rappers in Hangar 18 might seem a little out of place on stage with luminaries like Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli and Mos Def, not to mention KRS One.
But the boys – Tim “Alaska” Baker, Ian “Windnbreeze” McMullin and DJ paWL – after having rapped with those first three icons over the last few years, found themselves on a dais with the godfather of rap in NYC on a recent afternoon, discussing the state of hip-hop for some industry types.
The question is do they belong?
The answer: If you’re looking for an intimidating ghetto anthem, then no. But if you appreciate old-school rap, where the rhyme was as important as the ripped-off hooks, definitely.
It’s the kind of music you can imagine a young Outkast cranking out on a Casio and boom box, circa 1983; there’s a driving rhythm back there – syncopated with actual drum fills! – and not much else, which leaves plenty of room for the smart lyrics from Alaska and Windnbreeze to drip out your speakerbox.
They might not ever win a Grammy with this approach, but, to borrow another Karate Kid line (this one from the all-important third installment), “If rap used defend plastic metal trophy, rap no mean nothing.”
Pick up Sweep the Leg at eMusic.
Hangar 18 | Feet to FeetHangar 18 | Bakin Soda
Leave a comment
I just love the fact Feet to Feet uses the same beat as Call Me D-Nice
Comment by herohill 12.11.07 @ 1:32 pmHerohill,
That was the first thing I noticed, too. It’s from a Turtles track called Buzzsaw. Oddly enough, I posted about it awhile ago: http://somuchsilence.com/?p=758
Comment by Kevin 12.11.07 @ 3:17 pm[...] After his fast start – posts on Hangar 18 and Too Short – my man J.J. checks back in with a post. I’ve threatened to remove his right [...]
Pingback by So Much Silence 07.24.08 @ 11:29 pmLeave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
