Thursday, May 19, 2005
Calgary's News & Entertainment Weekly
FFWD Weekly
CD REVIEW
by FFWD Staff
DJ FORMAT
If You Can’t Join ’Em… Beat ’Em
Pias/Genuine

· Old skool for the new skool.

DJ Format is a great composer – his selection and arrangement of samples and MCs are always inspired and energetic. If You Can’t Join ’Em… Beat ’Em is another chapter in this noteworthy career, and it finds Format partnering with the linguistic talents of Abdominal and the positive intention of D-Sisive – both of whom are Canadian.

There are many layers to this record – humour, politics and punctuated dexterity – and while the lyrics from Format’s collaborators stand out, Format is not afraid to take the lead on instrumental cuts and scratches. Even the striking chords of Chali 2na and Akil from Jurassic 5, who appear together on a track, give the DJ his dues.

If You Can’t Join ’Em commands respect and delivers impeccable groove, so listen while you’re dancin’.

4/5

JANE McCULLOUGH

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