San Diego MC Crhymes Releases Aliens In The Hood: The Compilation

Aliens In The Hood: The Compilation

Crhyme Mate Ent., Sicko Records, DagoSD.com/2013

Review by: Lisa Baca

Artists: Crhymes, Kurrupt, Crooked I, Kendrick Lamar, Yelawolf, Ricky Rox, Shakezpeare, Thee Husstle, Mr. Dubie, Monkey Beezness, Ab-Soul, Cheech, El Gun Legro, Felix Nobody & Notepad

Groundbreaking. Creative. Unique. These are words that are seldom used in the rap world these days; the monotonous dribble that permeates the genre has even the most dedicated fans finally saying the unspeakable words: “Rap is dead”. But, just as rap is about to take its dying breath, it is shocked to its very core—revitalized by originality.

Aliens in the Hood is a compilation unlike any other; the subject matter is virtually untouched in the music industry– delving into a realm that is far beyond what we expect, and in turn has put this album on a higher level that is completely unattainable to the common rapper. Each track takes you on its own personal journey, mastering the lost art of storytelling; a step that is unfortunately surpassed in today’s world of “Gangnam Style” and “Harlem Shake”.

A.I.T.H immediately grabbed my attention with “Lil Star”—an intro that made me feel as if I was listening to a scene from a daunting sci-fi movie. Instantaneously I was put in a mindset that kept me guessing—and like any good film the built-up suspense was not disappointing. The tracks, “Aliens in the Hood”, “On Mars” and “We Are Not the Same” satisfied my craving for entertainment with thought-provoking lyrics and stimulating beats.

The mood changes to a more solemn tone with “Alien Abduction”, a short skit that reveals the possibility of abduction—a theme that continues with “Up Up and Away”. The hook is catchy as fuck (I found myself singing it moments later without realizing it), and the interaction with the alien at the end of the song is by far my favorite dialogue in the entire album, giving new light to the term “alien experimentation.”

Midway through the album the manner is much more light-hearted and even comical with El Gun Legro’s “Spaceship” and a strategically placed skit called “Hikaru Sulu Speaks”. Bringing in the Star Trek vibe is genius, considering the beats for the next song, “Way Out” sounds like it could be background music for galaxy flight. “Invasion of the Wack Rappers” is a prime example of the amount of creativity and effort put into this album to make it one-of-a-kind; Crhymes and Mr. Dubie make it a point to acknowledge the lack of talent in other artists with imaginative lyrics and a simple yet effective beat.

Formidable flows and a slightly slowed down rhythm take over the end of the compilation, creating an atmosphere filled with Mayan prophesies and Sumerian civilizations specifically in “Nibiru” by Ab-Soul. He brings to light the conspiracy-laden side of alien theories with lyrics like, “I hate to be the one to warn ya/your government knew all along and stay been tryin to spoil it for ya.” With talks of the Quran and mentions of Saddam Hussein, Ab-Soul brings a new political aspect to the album that fits right in.

The smooth style continues with “3^RD Eye”, “Channeling”, and “Alien Girl (today with her)” creating a fluid continuity through till the end of the album—or so I thought. Just as I was getting used to the R&B style , I was slapped in the face with “Alien Dive Bar,” a fast-paced and expertly executed track which turned out to be my favorite overall.

Intelligent, mind-blowing and artfully crafted, Aliens in the Hood: the Compilation is a beacon for what today’s rap should be. I was entertained, intrigued, and more importantly, inspired knowing there are still rappers out there that do the genre justice. Even though 16 tracks is relatively lengthy, I felt a twinge of disappointment as I got to the last song—I didn’t want this journey to end. In short, A.I.T.H is absolutely brilliant.

Download link

http://we.tl/vo7QsNVnTs