Lushlife - Cassette City [Album]

Rapster Records

October 21, 2009, 05:29 PM

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Hip-Hop has gone through a transition of late. Yes it has broken through into the mainstream with artists such as Eminem, 50 Cent, Kanye and Jay Z, but most real Hip-Hop fans will tell you that is not the real Hip-Hop and that the essence of the genre has been very much lost along the way. Artists and groups such as Jurassic 5 and The Roots are few and far between these days. The classic Hip-Hop sound based on Funk and Soul, with old-skool R&B has been lost. This is what has made listening to Lushlife so refreshing. In my book "Cassette City" should go down as one of the Hip-Hop albums of the year. Lushlife, aka, Raj Halder is an East Coast rapper full of dynamic lyrical word play and immense production talent that with any hope will find him heralded in today's musical world.

"Cassette City" opens with 'Innocence' - a track that superbly marries an auto-panned harmonium synth sound with an acoustic rhythm guitar. It uses telephone filter effects and a grandiose brass section, until it opens the listener to the sublime rapping of Lushlife. 'Innocence' effortlessly moves into track two: 'Daylight Into Me' which really is superb. This is a proper throwback to 90's US Hip-Hop, with sublime sampling, excellent word play and scratching to boot.

Raj Haldar reminds us of an early Talib Kweli or Jurassic 5, using metaphors, syllables and words to sublime rhythmical effect, all the while reminding us that his music is meant to be enjoyed. Raj lets the instrumentation, classic hip-hop beats and intricate sampling take their hold on the listener. Track three: 'The Kindness' is a soul heavy inspired track, harking back to the 'Blackstar Records' - Gangstar release. The gated samples, rounded beats and crisp, clean snare all work a treat as Raj takes us on a lyrical journey with his past life being the subject. 'The Kindness' is representing gangsta rap in a good way, as Raj never loses touch with the genre's roots.

"Cassette City" is interspersed with "Air" like instrumentals, that break up "Cassette City" better than the norm and customary comical skit that features on one too many Hip-Hop albums. The instrumentals also show us that Raj Haldan has a real musical ear, and a love for true emotional music, facts that no doubt helped "Cassette City" become the gem that it is.

The second half of "Cassette City" has no less than five stand out tracks. Lushlife introduces us to a host of 'Crew' members that keep the album moving and hustling, adding to the intricate depth of "Cassette City". "Cassette City" is an album that you would be happy to add to your shuffle play-list or play in its entirety, as it never fails to keep moving or hosting fresh delights to your ears. I am not going to go into an intricate description of each song, just trust me that there are more than enough gems to keep the Hip-Hop fans appeased. For those of you that prefer the Jay Z and 50 Cent brand of Rap, stay well clear, as "Cassette City" is too full of Funk and Soul for your tastes.

Fans of Talib Kweli, Blackstar Records, Jurrassic 5, A Tribe Called Quest, 2 PAC and Biggie Smalls should go out and own a copy of "Cassette City". It marries very modern production technique with a love and feel for what is now old-skool or classical Hip-Hop.

A classic indeed.

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