CLASSIFIED
Hitch Hikin’ Music
HalfLife/Urbnet
· See Classified live at the Hifi Club on Monday, October 9. Almost every emcee in town wants to open for this guy.
It’s been more than a decade since Halifax emcee Classified came on the scene with his 1995 debut cassette Time’s Up. Since then he’s used his time well. Including EPs, the guy has released an album a year perfecting his rhymes and beats every step of the way. It all pays off on his latest, Hitch Hikin’ Music.
Lately, hip hop albums are only good for a handful of tracks and usually it’s the guest stars who bring the best material. It’s true that "Hard to Be Hip Hop" featuring Maestro Fresh Wes is smart and catchy, but Classified has as much to say as his hired guns. Hitch Hikin’ Music still has an underground hip hop feel, but it doesn’t sacrifice the sound of the album. The beats are big, the samples are unique and even though the record is a little light on hooks, the tongue-twisting rhymes more than make up for it.
Surprisingly the album’s best track is also the showiest. On "Beatin’ It," Classified talks you through the construction of the song – adding samples, drums and equalization – all the while rhyming more than you would think possible. It’s the kind of jam that smacks of ego and if Classified hadn’t proved his staying power, that might be the case. Luckily, in his hands, the song illustrates how much he loves to make music. All the better for us.
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