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Album Review
by SashaS
5-2-2001
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| Spooks: divine rap |
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Spooks: 'S.I.O.S.O.S. Volume One'
(Antra/Epic)
Spooks deliver intelligent, insightful, inspirational and sexy rap
In this time of highly manipulative music industry strategies, it warms the cockles when something of quality arrives at a reviewer's desk un-hyped. Despite a surprise hit with 'Things I've Seen' the Spooks' debut album 'S.I.O.S.O.S. Volume One' wasn't promoed to death in the pre-release phase which immediately gave it an edge.
Spooks are a quartet of rappers, Mr Booka Taka Bookaso, Water Water aka Aqua Dinero, Hypno, J.D aka Vengance and a vocalist Ming-Xia, from the East Coast who met in 1994. No other specifics are given which is a bit strange but, hey, a smidgeon of mystique hurts no one. The group are big fans of old spy novels and named themselves after a book/movie 'The Spook Who Sat By the Door', but there are also other meanings to consider.
The press release states that this is where "hip hop damn well ought to be by now", and it would have been if the Fugees hadn't decided to do their solo thingies. Yes, Spooks' music is of that quality: intelligent, insightful, inspirational and sexy.
'Other Script' starts the parade with a nicely looped sample, quickly joined by cool phatty beats and vocals which sound like they're being transmitted straight from heaven. Moving through a mix of moods, atmospheres and styles several cuts have a tougher attitude -'The Mission' 'B**** Blood' 'They Don't Know', 'Deep Cutz' and 'Murder' -but we're not talking gangsta-rap here.
Chill-out moments come with 'I Got U', 'Flesh Not Bone' and 'Karma Hotel' and the exquisite 'Things I've Seen' that was only written when Spooks were asked by the producers to come up with a song about the central theme of the Laurence Fishbourne's directorial debut 'Once In The Life'.
Overall this is a feel-good album, but you can be uplifted AND appreciate the Spooks' informed lyrics and creative updating of hip-hop styles (even incorporating the tradition of American musicals!). From back alleys and nightclubs they have spun together 14 cool and tidy tracks that are remapping the hip hop lansdscape.
SashaS
5-2-2001
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