X: 144 and SPS- M.E. NONSENSE RECORDS
Central Florida’s own X: 144 has wisely upgraded his sound multi-fold since the release of “X: 144 and the Lost CD-R’s” and his solo debut “Art or Entertainment”, with many of the albums newest compositions taking on a much more original and inventive feel. He added the cuts of heralded DJ SPS of Andromeda fame and took his production to the next level. Let me tell you that right off the bat, M.E. was a breath of fresh air. It’s the type of LP that this Hip Hop generation sorely needs. Containing 13 tracks plus a hidden track, it’s an excellent collection of cutting-edge Hip Hop that bodes extremely well for the group’s future. Not only will fans of X: 144 and SPS enjoy this album but, it offers a lot for the discerning listener as well.
Many of the tracks manage to keep the disc from becoming a casualty of the been-there-done-that discard pile; a factor that gives them an advantage in an overcrowded scene where unoriginality is running rampant. It is fact that the album’s production match flawlessly with the quality of the lyrical output. Most of the offerings incorporate a light aesthetic, and atmosphere-enhancing subtlety to offer a little light and shade to the proceedings. X’s ideology is mostly conceptual with hints of in your face battle lyrics.
The opening track “The Call Out”, with its direct groove and instantly memorable refrain, is marked by perhaps the best rhymes delivered by X. Don’t count out the sterling performance by SPS who once again sets himself apart from many of his contemporaries. X and SPS deal with a multitude of issues, some that other artist would be afraid to cover. Like relationship issues on the epic track “If the Shoe Fits” featuring Travis Hampton and “Almost”. Industry issues are attacked on the track “From Self?” and again on “What If?” Throughout “M.E.”, you get a mixture of contemplative and introspective songs that will immediately get a hold of you and keep you in awe. To call this a classic is an understatement because, it is beyond that. X: 144 has a knack for penning deep and utterly infectious tunes that will embed themselves in the listener’s head after a mere listen or two. I can’t say enough about the skills of SPS. He incorporates himself as an instrument rather than lying idly in the background. X & S are a formidable duo that is not to be reckoned with.
A couple of years down the line people will still listen to this record and enjoy it. That’s an achievement one can not attribute to many current releases. As I stated earlier, it is utterly refreshing to hear an album that is as unwaveringly “Hip Hop” as M.E. undoubtedly is. Please support them by visiting http://www.nonsenserecords.com/x144andsps.html or http://www.myspace.com/x144andsps Thanks, CyPhEr777
