RHYMEFEST
Blue Collar
Sony BMG
· Debut album from the co-writer of the Kanye West hit "Jesus Walks."
In 2004, a successful Chicago based producer by the name of Kanye West stepped in front of the mic and gave us a respite from the cartoonish gangster rap that was clogging the charts. Disguised by mainstream beats and hooks, West delivered thoughtful songs that were as self-deprecating as they were boastful, and created a whole new genre known as backpacker hip-hop. Since then, Chicago has been a hotbed for similar artists – the latest being West’s protégé Rhymefest.
Until now, Rhymefest was known only as the co-writer of West’s hit "Jesus Walks," but that in itself was enough to create huge anticipation for his debut album, Blue Collar. Verse by verse, he seems intent on bringing the public perception of rappers down-to-earth; as on the opening track, "Dynomite," he busts out the lyric, "I know more niggaz at U-Haul than haul crack." There are a few times on Blue Collar that ’Fest devolves into typical rap bragging about how much more street he is than you, but for the most part he proves that his name is well-deserved. There might not be another emcee around right now as consistently worth listening to as Rhymefest is on his debut.
If that’s not enough, purchasing the album is worth it just to hear Ol’ Dirty Bastard sing the hook from The Temptations’ "Build Me Up Buttercup."
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