Gibrilville deliver a unique blend of World Hip Hop & Alternative music on their latest project, “The Foreigner JJC Deluxe” album. After releasing a series of solo mixtapes, Gibril formed the collective to further his creative vision of showcasing Hip Hop from an African perspective. He does so brilliantly on a lineup of tracks that push the boundaries of innovation & originality. “Foreign Exchange Hustler” & “We Are Going To Make It”(ft. Kwabena Jones)are two spirited, uptempo cuts that present a joyous display of energetic vocals & live instrumental rhythms easily embraced by the masses. “Bad Girl” conjures up images of partying in a Caribbean dance club while “SEXY LADY” & “Take Your Life”(ft. Reggie Rockstone)bring understated yet potent arrangements to the forefront. The latter selection in particular is augmented by breezy rhymes that fit the track to a T.
“Streets Of Africa”(ft. Dead Prez’s M1)shines the spotlight on searing, authoritative lyricism from one of Hip Hop’s finest. The blurring of lines between the conditions of black males in Africa & the U.S. is VERY intentional. “Ghetto Youths”(ft.Blitz The Ambassador) is a personal fave due to it’s catchy, somewhat sinister production soundscape while “Righteous Gangster”(ft. Black Prophet) & “this is who i am” convey raw emotion live & direct from the streets! “Long Road” contains a downbeat vibe that evokes feelings of nostalgia while “Love Me Not”(ft. Faraji, Luke Larkin, and Malik Darby)serves up romantic sentiments over a bumping beat.
“What You See”(ft. M1)offers up another infectious dance groove before the “Ma Cherie Remix”(ft. Faraji)mellows things out. “Passports” is a funky tour de force of kinetic beats & rhymes while “All I Know” presents electronic grooves that wouldn’t be out of place on a Kraftwerk album. “I Am Guilty” wraps up the collection with more electro-funk that is especially fitting for a high-energy band that appears to be unstoppable!
– Kevin Keith
