Victory (Review) (2009)

Big things. Tommy Tee isn't the only Norwegian Hiphop veteran with a new album release nowadays.

The producer and DJ, The White Shadow, from Geilo released his third full length now in October on his own label Uncut Productions, and there's a thorough guestlist, impressive productions, and tight cuts on the menu.

The set starts crazy hard with the legendary Melle Mel, and in the well known White Shadow style we get a hard hitting beat dominated by strings, and scratched hooks.
From there the album continues with some great productions, but the first thing that hits me is some of the Rappers. As expected there's nothing wrong with the beats, but when it comes to the quality of the Rap part it varies a great deal.

Some of the Rappers who gets to grab the mic on the album are unfortunately close to wack, while several are average. In between them there's luckily some gems to save it.

The mood through the whole album is dark, and hard hitting, and as far as genre it doesn't move an inch outside of Hiphop, so look for the R&B-Rap is in a different place this fall. A totally different place.

Like I pointed out briefly earlier, we get quite a lot of scratches on this record, and for an old DJ enthusiast that's gold. I think there are few other DJ's in Norway who masters the same techniques that the Shadow from Geilo masters here. The cuts are advanced, varied, and very Hiphop in general. I'd say The White Shadow has found his own style of production a long time ago, and naturally that's the style of this album. As examples of that there's "Straight Bars", and "Verbal Assault". Other favorites on the album is "You Don't Want" featuring Ripshop, and the DJ Premier inspired title track featuring Craig G, Strick, and The Grindhouse Gang.

Those who had problems with Jaa9 og Onkl Ps "Ekkel Uten Truse" (a Norwegian Hiphop release with nasty lyrics) should steer well clear of The Pizdamen's very explicit "All My Friends" where we get treated to pornographic lyrics, and even some pedophilia. The faint of heart and easily offended is because of that now asked to leave the building.

This is absolute food for the IPod for dark nights of the fall, and the winter. A worthy soundtrack.

(4/6)

Review: Jon Are Masternes

Review in Norwegian at:

grus.as/?p=1125