Bin-diver Tim Fite follows up the over-eclecticism of 2005’s Gone Ain’t Gone with a not-so-subtle meditation on mainstream hip-hop’s consumerist embrace. Fite fiddles with hooky, lullaby loops and snaking song structures, sarcastically throwing on ride-or-die posturing regularly handled at face value. Fite learns how to exercise his range while staying true to the genre, from captivating orchestral hooks ("It’s All Right Here”) to humorous and mocking rhymes (“I’ve Been Shot”). Yet, his most interesting work remains his most challenging, like the deconstructionist “Hey Man,” a lyrical and rhythmic translation of what it means to “break beats” layered over dusty desert guitar and vaudeville organ loops. This musical Marxist manifesto is worth a listen.

Save This Page

Digg This!