The Upperground Community - The Procussions

The Procussions do it again on their sophomore album "5 Sparrows for 2 cents" released on the legendary Hip Hop label Rawkus Records. Much of the album's style mirrors the first album (As Iron Sharpens Iron), this time progressing into a few darker subjects and tone, but still amazingly retaining their soul and jazz Hip Hop roots. With the diversity of rhyming styles and strong delivery between the three emcees (Res with the average joe attitude, Mr. J with the high tone crazy lyrics, and Stro with his deep soul) they have all bases covered. A few seasoned guest emcees didn't hurt either like Ahmad Jones and Talib Kweli.

Beats: Stro really lets loose as producer, catering to each emcee's strengths, ranging from elements of synth, jazz, and golden era hiphop, etc. Reoccurring themes keep it cohesive such as great drums and prominent melodic bass. Another noticeable trait is his proper switching up of beats, many times a song starts off nothing like it sounds like for rest of the song, giving tracks lots of hype and energy.

Content: Lyric wise, there's a strong message about social ills in America focusing on a message to the youth and media. Most tracks are so full of quotables, it's like they were ripped straight out of a sermon. Amen to that! Fast paced urban plight is addressed on "Carousel", idolism on "For the Camera", and Mr. J ends out the album with a personal story of caring for a harlot on "American Fado." Most potent address of an issue for me was in "Little People," a haunting track about the effects of neglecting our children. At the end of that track, Res speaks for a father who questions "what kind of man am I, what kind of mother are you, what kind of life did we subject a child to?" It's these kind of messages need to be spoken about in the music we choose to hear, which makes this album a fresh breath of air. Much props to The Procussions showing truth in love, walking us through a Christ-like perspective and not just chanting it out. For all it's diversity across the board, it's hard to pin this album down to a simple definition. But make no mistake though, this is no departure from the art, this is where Hip Hop should be.

Choice tracks: Anybody, Simple Song, The Storm, I'll Fly (F/ Tara Ellis), Little People, Carousel, For The Camera, American Fado

Mr J Medeiros
Seated under the Son rallying trumpeters
from the alley's the thunder is heard
have we the Comforter in the valley of death
run the track till no calories left
and my salary check is that of the promises cavalry kept
and it goes deeper then religion
the speakers keep the rhythm f
or the meek who seek the wisdom in the music of life
and you will know it when you doing it right
when its you on the mic
pursuing the light
in the darkest of times

Stro
too often the blind will lead you and miss the target i'm already sick
and tired of tryin to rely on liars they feeding me bits
the pieces don't really fit, so i refer to the script
sure i'm in line for the time being, my future exists
on a glorious list, created by a designer higher than cumulus tips
and i'm telling you this because it's relevant to the divine evidence
found in every bone in my body and this sound

Rez
they'retrying to tear us down we stand face to the crowd
till the moment that the stones rip the skin from the bones
then the veins start falling off the muscles that’s hanging
from a wound that gaping ( ) my heart start aching
for the lives that taken so the world can be shaken
weather shot hung or hose down they’re never forsaken (those)
names are the bricks on the path that’s laid?
so we Shabach in praise because they paved the way

Hook
i can't help but explode to this sound
i've grown with this sound, behold it this sound
this is an offering up with this sound
get up or sit down only if it ain't loud enough
(then turn it up!) is this loud enough
(c'mon turn it up) if it's loud enough
lift your head to the sky and sing loud
with us now sing loud with us

Author's Review

You gotta hear this..., Wednesday, 31 May 2006

Written by Audible - See all my reviews - Top 10 Reviewer

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The most soulful energetic Hip Hop I've heard in a while. A good balance between pushing the boundaries of known Hip Hop yet intergreting Soul/Jazz rooted vibes with a haunting bass on every track that will make sure you feel the music if not their message of grace & guidance. These guys are blessed to be a blessing, hopefully with this new label they'll get heard. If you find you like this, I recommend checking out Longevity Crew's Everything Builds which tries to do the same beautifully.