HipHopIsDead by ONI, 8/9/07

They say hindsight is always 20/20. I think it’s only fair to wait at least a few months before making a definitive statement about music. Remember how quick we were to scream in unison that Common’s Be deserved the XXL rating that it got right when it first came out. I don’t think we all had the same sentiments after a year’s worth of listening. No one really considered Reasonable Doubt a classic until after Jay-Z’s 2nd or 3rd album came out. And only time will tell whether Lupe’s rookie release really was a breath of fresh air or just a mundane addition to the ever-growing population of conscious emcees that seemingly appear out of thin air. I don’t agree with the latter opinion on Lupe. But I do agree that one should really take enough time to decide things like this for oneself.

So in light of all this, I’ve waited till now to look back at 2006 and analyze how this year compares with other years in hip hop. Obviously there will never be another ’94 (the new ’87 for those that don’t know what’s up.) But some really standout albums did drop including Hip Hop Is Dead, Food & Liquor, Murray’s Revenge, and Hell Hath No Fury. What? You say you didn’t like all of these albums? Well, I’m sure not too many would disagree that at least three of these choices were solid releases. OK fine, at least two. Regardless, there was one album that was quietly dropped, never really talked about, and pretty much forgotten. The little hype that it got doesn’t fairly describe this incredible album at all. In fact, I believe that the Juggaknots release, Use Your Confusion was the best album of 2006.

It may be too cliché to describe this album as a novel. That has already been used to describe works like Ready To Die and A Prince Among Thieves. Maybe a better, more modern description would be to compare this project to an e-book with an online table of contents and links to different chapters. The project does tell a story, but more of a pick your own adventure sort of thing (anyone remember R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series). The analogy may be cheesy, but the truth. You don’t necessarily have to read the chapters in the given order. You can choose to click on the chapters you want in any sequence and the story still makes sense.

Let’s begin by choosing chapter 2: “Hey.” Just like other songs on this album, this is the kind of song where you want to listen and understand every word. It actually makes sense, too. Rhythm and reason coexist? What a concept. And just like the other joints, it does take a few dozen listens to fully understand the little vignettes given, simply because they are so complex and clever. When you finally understand the hidden meaning in a bar, you can’t help but pat yourself on the back with euphoric pleasure. The way Breezly Brewin’ and his sister Queen Herawin (the two vocalists of Juggaknots) play off each other in this song while exchanging bars is incredible. I haven’t heard a male-female duo this good since Jigga and Foxy on Volume Uno.

Staying on topic with Herawin, I’m gonna have to hand her the most improved award. She was definitely a disappointment on the group’s first LP, Clear Blue Skies and it’s only fitting that she has a larger role on this album. I can’t really explain what makes her better. I guess she’s just… well… better. Maybe Breeze wrote her rhymes this time. Who knows?

I believe that Clear Blue Skies, considered an underground masterpiece to many, doesn’t come close to comparing with Use Your Confusion. The new release is just simply more tangible than the first. Containing more reason, more logic, and more lyrical prowess, this is the perfect album for a true thinker. A lyric lover’s wet dream. It seems like 90% of what you listen to whether mainstream or underground is rapping just to rap. Finding words that rhyme and sloppily putting them together just isn’t fun to listen to anymore. El-P’s I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead is just as verbally inept as Fabulous’ From Somethin’ To Nothin’. One is abstract and indiscernible; the other is strikingly concrete, but boring. Both are lyrically lacking. We find a middle ground between these two album-types with Use Your Confusion. A perfect mixed drink with plenty liquor to stimulate an aural buzz, but just enough juice to flush it down with auditory ease. So fill me up another one, bartender, cuz I ain’t stopping till the last call.

But don’t take my word for it, just listen to arguably the best song on the album, “Leon Phelps” which starts out with Breeze convincing a friend to forget about his ex by going out to a club and having a good time by saying things like “you celibate from what, Nigga?/ I seen ya girl the other day lookin’ like she was trying to sell-a-bit o’ butt.” By the last verse, they’ve gotten denied so many times that Breeze questions his game with the ladies, “I don’t get numbers, I gets numb-er.” Hence Leon Phelps, the ladies man (Tim Meadows character from SNL). Other than the ill beat, creative way to describe a simple theme, complex rhyme scheme, easy listening, and animated flow, maybe I like the track so much because it’s so personal. The hilarious quips and anecdotes on each verse are more similar to my night life in college than I’m willing to admit. And did I mention that shit’s funny:

“I’m not a baller, I’m more the B.A.L.-ler/
Blood-Alcohol-Level-Sweller-Getter/
Think Will Ferrell in the role Frank the Tank/
Drinks spillin’ hell then I go blank and spank/
What ya mommy gave ya, Or ya money maker/
All my money take it, Girl you wanta drink?
You want penis-a-lotta (ewww)/ I mean pina colada/
That’s the meaning, I’m sorry, girl, it’s hard to think/
I sink lower and lower, I don’t care/
No after no, I’m like y’all all scared/
Going for broke and almost there/
In spirit of money, my lyrics to honeys/
Won’t cut it, so what it’s hysterically funny.”

Another highlight of the album is “Liar Liar” featuring Wordsworth who fits perfectly into this song all about lying:

“The truth, easier leaving it out/
Like when you 5 minutes away, but you just leaving ya house/
And the bassists needs to know/
Jus’ wrote this, I lied to Breeze and tol’ him that I had this verse ready a week ago”/

“So leave the art of storytelling to Slick Rick”, Breeze raps in Liar Liar. I don’t know about that, Breeze, maybe you’re not the ladies man, but you’re quite the storyteller.” If for some reason you didn’t pick up on the point of this article, I’m not going to use your confusion, I’m just going to spell it out for you. Give this album a listen.

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