Step Brothers
Lord Steppington Review
By JaCasta Barber-Holmes
Step Brothers' debut album Lord Steppington is a classically crafted hip-hop album by producer Alchemist and Dilated People's emcee Evidence. It was rumored to originally have come out early 2013, and although they made us wait, Step Brothers prove it was well worth it for the combination of their skills. Aside from for the third track "Byron G," which was solely produced by Evidence, Alchemist produced the whole album.
The first track, "More Wins," starts the album off with a heavy drum kick and deep bass line countered by smooth lyrics that set it up. Their two styles are evident in this album as Evidence rhymes; "This is motion upping' poetry/ bullet in the chamber/ wait till they get a load of me." Alchemist counters with "Back fresh recuperated/ brothers in step, highly awaited," obviously working well together and pulling energy from one another.
As the tracks flow, you encounter audio tracks and samples that seem to have no context in the verse. But as you listen, Alchemist's true talent is shown. He obviously believes there is no such thing as a bad sample and doesn't constrict himself in what he uses.
Seeing there are more artists on the album than just Alchemist and Evidence, the lyrics allude to spirituality and life in verses so eloquently spun that if you don't pay attention they go right through you. They even have a song devoted solely to weed called 'Buzzing Away' and rap about the sticky icky more often than not.
The only reason this album doesn't get a 5/5 is because for listeners who are not avid hip-hoppers, the album is a bit incoherent and jumbled. Their lyrics are at the forefront of the album, with chemically mastered beats the mix can get to be a bit overwhelming at times. However, the meld of artists and the fact that it stays true to who the Step Brothers are makes it a must listen.
Step Brothers RAPstation Album Review
Step Brothers
Lord Steppington Review
By JaCasta Barber-Holmes
Step Brothers' debut album Lord Steppington is a classically crafted hip-hop album by producer Alchemist and Dilated People's emcee Evidence. It was rumored to originally have come out early 2013, and although they made us wait, Step Brothers prove it was well worth it for the combination of their skills. Aside from for the third track "Byron G," which was solely produced by Evidence, Alchemist produced the whole album.
The first track, "More Wins," starts the album off with a heavy drum kick and deep bass line countered by smooth lyrics that set it up. Their two styles are evident in this album as Evidence rhymes; "This is motion upping' poetry/ bullet in the chamber/ wait till they get a load of me." Alchemist counters with "Back fresh recuperated/ brothers in step, highly awaited," obviously working well together and pulling energy from one another.
As the tracks flow, you encounter audio tracks and samples that seem to have no context in the verse. But as you listen, Alchemist's true talent is shown. He obviously believes there is no such thing as a bad sample and doesn't constrict himself in what he uses.
Seeing there are more artists on the album than just Alchemist and Evidence, the lyrics allude to spirituality and life in verses so eloquently spun that if you don't pay attention they go right through you. They even have a song devoted solely to weed called 'Buzzing Away' and rap about the sticky icky more often than not.
The only reason this album doesn't get a 5/5 is because for listeners who are not avid hip-hoppers, the album is a bit incoherent and jumbled. Their lyrics are at the forefront of the album, with chemically mastered beats the mix can get to be a bit overwhelming at times. However, the meld of artists and the fact that it stays true to who the Step Brothers are makes it a must listen.
