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Just
when I gave up on finding an album that could make my spine
tingle the way Stankonia can, the Dungeon Family brings
another volume of unprecedented innovation to the table. I
forgot just how much I missed Goodie Mob. I forgot how
seductive Witchdoctor’s vocals were. I forgot how funky the
Dungeon Family as a collective could be. Perhaps the piles of
cellophane crap littering the new music racks at stores have
convoluted my memory – or perhaps it’s just been a year too
long to get that vibe that Stankonia delivered. Like slow
cooked gumbo on a cold day, Even In Darkness feeds your brain
cells and fulfills your quest for all things crunk – all you
can do is sit back and enjoy the feeling. Rico Wade heads the
feisty clan of soulful emcees: Cee-Lo, Sleepy Brown, Big Rube,
Mr. DJ, Bigg Gipp, Khujo, Backbone, Andre 3000, Big Boi, T-Mo,
Witchdoctor, Ray, and Freddie Calhoun – with each lyricist
bringing his own flare to the montage of musical mastery that
Even In Darkness serves.
I am hard pressed to find a favorite track. The first single
from the album “Trans DF Express” playfully bounces back and
forth as Andre 3000 drops yet another classic verse. “On & On
& On” pushes relentlessly with a coiling Arabian lick as Bigg
Gipp, Big Boi, T-Mo, Witchdoctor and Khujo do lyrical back
flips over the beat and R&B crooner Nivea adds a dainty touch
to the track. “Follow The Light” provides a hopeful view of
success with a contagious hook, while “Crooked Booty”
playfully reminds us that being broke isn’t the worst thing
that could happen. “Crooked Booty” is also the song most
likely to spark a dance craze. “Excalibur” pounds with
anthematic authenticity, fueled by ‘Cee-Lo Sinatra and the DF
Corral’ on the chorus. “What Is Rap” gives Witchdoctor and Big
Rube the podium to question what Hip Hop is really all about.
Cee-Lo’s high-pitched vocals spearhead the consistency of the
project, and his intellectual singsong is more soothing than a
deep muscle massage.
Overall the album is a continual highlight of creative
integrity, and the only setback is that fourteen tracks just
don’t seem to be enough. I’m just being selfish because, like
the old saying goes, quality counts more than quantity.
Perhaps some of these other emcees cramming fifteen tracks of
pure bullshit alongside five decent songs should take some
notes. An hour of solid performance is more satisfying than a
double dose of four-minute let downs, and it’s not hard to
press rewind when it’s an enjoyable experience. Dungeon Family
has produced a modern-day funkateer club – Hip Hop mixed with
blues mixed with soul mixed with humor mixed with metaphoric
genius. Even In Darkness is a truly satisfying slice of
southern style.
Dove
~Sheepish Lordess of Chaos~
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