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May
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Dope release from Hawaii’s Hunger Pains! By CyPhEr777
May 15, 2008 | Reviews
HUNGER PAINS-DIRTY ALOHA SIQ RECORDS
There’s gotta be something in the Hawaiian tap water because they’ve been producing some of the best Hip Hop recently. Hunger Pains are the next group to step up to the Siq Records plate, and they hit a grand slam with their debut “Dirty Aloha.” I’ve never enjoyed an album so much. They’re able to capture everything that’s currently missing in Hip Hop today. One of the more eye-opening underground releases of the year thus far. It showcases brilliant lyricism over mostly mid-tempo-head nodder beats. Every emcee does his thing without one weak track on the album along with a sound that will instantly take any hip-hopper back to the golden era of hip-hop.
“No Bluffs” sets it off with Seph1 and Risup rocking the mic and instantly shows that Hunger Pains are people with an agenda. Not so much as to welcome you amongst their midst, but to speak their conscience, but it’s really the Big Steve and Risup beat that stands out. There’s just something in that latter bubbly type horn that’s very dope. It can get a little repetitive after a while, but usually around that moment, the chorus comes in and some atmospheric layers add a little something. Next up is the sick “Close to the Heavens.” This song is equally pleasing and more, with a cool and somewhat different and up-tempo beat. Part of the quality of Hunger Pains is that they do wrap their message in a more or less fancy way of reciting it, but still spit their lines rather straight. In addition to two skilled emcees, the group features instrumentation uncommon in hip-hop these days, including lead violin, guitar, bass, drum and horns in virtually every track.
Over beats that draw inspiration from blues, funk, soul and etc, “Dirty Aloha” is a comprehensive underground release that boasts an impressive array of lyrics and delivery, content and personality, and sound plus head-nodding production. Thus this is your music and HP represents you with a well conceived and great sounding album. On several tracks HP and some of their cohorts show this same type of lyrical creativity, including some kind of mind-boggling rhyme, contradiction, perspective or intellectualism that will have you rewinding to hear verses over and over again. Like on tracks “Should’ve Told You,” “Kings Come Home,” “Rock Ice,” and “Weapon of Choice,” Creed Chameleon and Jonah the Whale rip ish and help make “Dirty Aloha” more of a memorable album.
This album is reminiscent of the true essence of hip-hop … that thing which made me fall in love with it in the first place. The lyrics are positive and conscious, the beats fun, soulful and bumping, and the overall vibe simply feel-good. Hunger Pains capture you by creating a vibe that is simultaneously boisterous and humble; old-school and brand new; positive and conscious. The only thing about the album I didn’t like was the 4:42 minute interlude called “Hunger Pains Messages”. I understand where they were going with this interlude but, it has been done many times before and unfortunately you can’t get that time out of your life back. Another dope song would have been a better substitute for the interlude. So, don’t go for the crappy artificial, synthetic, no nourishing, whatever crap. Go for some real grown, rugged, balanced, honest ish and pick up a copy A.S.A.P.! Support Hunger Pains by visiting www.siqrecords.com. -CyPhEr777
Comments
1 Comment so far
I’ve seen these brothers on stage… and though I don’t particualrly think they mix, they both are within their own right rather dope musicians. I guess if you’ve heard Seph with Tempo Valley or one of his other groups, then you would know where I’m coming from. But I will say that they are better than most of the HI hip hop acts i’ve seen perform here in the past few months. I haven’t “heard” the album (on a CD) but have been to a few shows they performed at and from what i’ve heard, i trust the album to be a good listen. my thoughts. pce
Juan P (The Perfect Median)