2011 Half Life
Just north of our border, the great land of Canada sprawls far and wide, with more wild life and wilderness than people. A surprising hotbed of amazing music, this amalgamation of American pop-culture and French heritage has produced prominent artists from just about every genre. Despite achieving astounding success in Canada, hip-hop all star Classified is surprisingly underplayed and under ground in the land of the Red, White and Blue. Now, on his 14th album this rapper/producer proves he’s still got what it takes to be a name in the game, regardless of where he’s from.
After releasing 14 albums any artist would probably have a lot of fans, and just as many, if not more, haters. There is probably also a lot of variety in what people consider his best album, best song, etc… Classified released his first album in 1995, a decade in a half ago. Hip-hop was certainly in a different place then, and his experiences through the shifts in the genre certainly shows on “Handshakes…” which in summation is a refreshing recanting and reflection of his current life, and how far its evolved beyond the stereotypical hip-hop image. It seems that there is no topic too personal for the Canadian MC (“every shirt in my closet got vomit, chocolate and baby food on ‘em.”) discussing family life, his heavy use of marijuana, and his futile attempts at kicking the habit. This realism is a breath of fresh air after being bombarded by the “ring tone rap” that has dominated the genre for the last half a decade. It says something about the state of hip-hop when someone would rather hear about baby formula than indiscreet activities inside a club.
Another special talent Classified possesses is that he not only raps, but produces his own beats. Hip-hop is unique in that many rappers don’t produce their own music. Consider if Brandon Boyd of Incubus sang, but hired someone randoms to provide him with the music for which he could sing to. Not only does Classified produce his own music, but the production is good. Nearly every beat on “Handshakes” is catchy, addicting and moving. Instead of relying on one sound like most rappers, the 14th release from this Red Leaf lover offers up a variety of sounds. Tracks like “Unusual,” “The Day Doesn’t Die,” and “Hangover” are reflective, pensive, and emotionally charged, while there are harder tracks for the hip-hop head bangers like “That Aint classy,” “Danger Bay” and “Passion.” Each track possessing it’s own subtly genius word play, well thought out hooks, and earning it’s place on the record.
Like most hip-hop releases the album is lengthy. Worth a mention is the fact that out of the 15 tracks, all are songs (no skits!) and there is absolutely no filler. Never is there a moment where you listen to a song and think “this is here just because.” Even in the face of self-deprecation, Classified holds his own. Mentioning fading freestyle skills, creative droughts, and a nauseating reaction to the discussion of the record industry, this Canadian composer seems to be able to over come his personal and musical hurdles to provide a highly entertaining and enjoyable hip-hop album. There is a thin line between creative story telling using rhymed verse, and simply telling a story (A line often too blurred by acts like Sage Francis, and Atmosphere), and Classified walks it well. There is substance to his lyrics, but never so much so that we forget that we’re here listening to have a good time. While longtime fans may not find it to be his best, there is no doubt that this is a solid album, start to finish.
For Fans of: Brother Ali, Joe Budden, Sage Francis, Atmosphere, Eyedea and Abilities,
Stand Out Tracks: Maybe It’s Just Me, The Day Doesn’t Die, Danger Bay
Overall Rating: 8.0 out of 10
