Hip Hop Site
Max Herman
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Bay Area's Quannum Projects has built its first-class reputation in hip-hop simply by consistently dropping quality material...
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Bay Area's Quannum Projects has built its first-class reputation in hip-hop simply by consistently dropping quality material since the mid-90s. From the early Blackalicious EPs to the Lifesavas' 2003 debut album, Spirit In Stone, this crews' momentum has yet to falter. But even as Quannum fans have come to expect nothing less than dopeness, heads may not be ready for the Maroons' Ambush EP potential classic collaboration between Lateef the Truth Speaker Latyrx and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious. Yes, the Ambush is only a teaser for their upcoming fell-length, Ashe. It's such an accomplishment in itself, though, that it stands as one of the year's strongest releases, EP or not.
Here, Chief Xcel's lush, bass-driven production sounds as vital as ever and Lateef boldly flows over it with his signature Oakland drawl and vigilant poetics. Naming themselves after the renegade 18th century Africans who refused to be enslaved was ballsy, but Lateef and the Chief are one of the few crews in hip-hop who could rightfully do so. Among the 34 minutes of this mini-album, every song has purpose. Granted, the bravado-heavy single "Lester Hayes" may not be as thought provoking as songs like the extra-reflective "Best of Me" (Gift of Gab) or Lateef's lyrical investigation of America's entry into the Iraqi war on "If". Sticking with the sprit of the original Maroons, however, every song on Ambush deals somehow with having self-confidence in trying times. The poised Lateef leads by example and Chief Xcel's upbeat production, full of rich bass and pleasant female vocals, gives him the perfect backdrops to reassure everyone in the struggle of their worth.
The chemistry between this producer and MC obviously comes from years of building and sharing ideas. Since the Ambush is only the first project from Lateef and The Chief after 12 years of friendship, then I can only imagine what's in store for the future from these two righteous Quannum reps. Hopefully their forthcoming long-runner, Ashe, will hold the same rock-solid consistency heard here--a consistency that's so rare in hip-hop today.
IGN.com
Jim Durig
Lateef and The Chief lay groundwork for good things to come.
Quannum's release of this mini-album marks the first products of the long time work...
Lateef and The Chief lay groundwork for good things to come.
Quannum's release of this mini-album marks the first products of the long time work relationship between emcee Lateef the Truth Speaker of Latyrx fame and Chief Xcel, the man behind the boards for Blackalicious. The 9 tracks on Ambush reportedly serve as an appetizer to the full-length effort slated to be released sometime next year.
The title cut is immediately impressive, starting the album with a smooth, funky bass loop. The heavy under-layer is kept fresh by understated rhythm elements courtesy of edgy guitar riffs and flighty flute instrumentals used to usher in the chorus. Lateef's voice blends seamlessly with the backdrop, answering all questions about the duo's ability to feed off of the strengths of one another. Xcel leaves the polish behind on "Matter of Time," keeping the 70's-style bounce vibe of the prior track but trading subtlety for a stiff kick in the pants. Classic funk bass trudges through grungy guitar, a densely layered concoction that Lateef navigates without so much as a stutter.
"If" should put to rest any doubt that the album was purposefully released a week before the election. The politically charged jam encompasses sharp attacks on the U.S. government, President Bush's handling of the war, and advice for the future, all conveyed through rhetorical "if" questions in the same vein as the Jadakiss hit "Why" from earlier in the year. Lateef blasts corporate influence on the government in the lines "If government wasn't a mesh with big business/ liftin' its status and stretching its limits/ having forsaken religion and educating the children/ maybe society wouldn't be so sick." Two verses of expertly crafted criticism lead to a final verse in which Lateef explains the choice society has - "'If' can be a positive future ambition/ or 'if' can be world war, death, and extinction/ the 'if' is a choice so proceed with caution/ which 'if' will you pick? It's your option."
Gift of Gab, partner to Xcel in Blackalicious, joins the fray on two tracks - the first, "Best of Me," showcasing his quick tongue against the meshing of comparatively slow bass kicks mixed with flute, keyboard, and trumpet interpolations. The real deviation comes on "Beautiful You," however, pairing Lateef and Gab over a dream-like haze of musical elements - including scratching, percussion, and classical cello. Xcel creates a uniquely mellow atmosphere that is leagues away from most hip hop conventions.
Those familiar with Latyrx should know what to expect from Lateef lyrically - intricate internal rhyme along with slick metaphor built for both entertainment and expression. Mic work stays true to his previous work as well, consisting of a mix between sing-songy rhyming and straight battle-style fierceness. As much credit goes to Xcel who overachieves behind the boards, taking what he already does well as a part of Blackalicious to a whole new level of unadulterated, funk-powered, bounce. If Ambush is a teaser of things to come, Lateef and The Chief will be worth looking out for.
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