NLY10 MUSIC REVIEW
By Daniel Armendariz
Last November Roc a Fella releases a DJ’s wet dream, Jay-Z’s Black Album a cappella edition. This LP gave opportunities to mix masters around the world a chance to rework a hip-hop masterpiece. While big name producers like 9th wonder, Kev Brown, and DJ LT. Dan made renditions of the Black Album, it was a little known LA based producer that constructed what would be the most praised and controversial album of the 21st century. He imagined the impossible collaboration of Jay-z and the Beatles.
By taking the a cappella’s of Jay-Z’s “Black Album” and reworking the music of the
Beatles’ highly acclaimed “White Album” he released the “Grey Album”, a celebration of art through music. It didn’t take long for EMI, the Beatles parent company, to take action. Responding with a cease and desist order to Danger Mouse and indie record shops around the USA selling the copyright infringing CD. I was lucky enough to get a hold of a copy of the original pressing: therefore, I have the honor to review the biggest grassroots promoted hip-hop album of all times.
The LP starts out of order with PSA in place of the intro. The biggest accomplishment I noticed on this album was the placement of each chopping sample loops, drums snares and guitar riffs through Jay’s words. The best example of Danger Mouse’s craft can be found in “What More Can I Say”, he managed to take the guitar sample of “When My Guitar Weeps” and infuses Jigga’s verses perfectly in sync with the Fab Four’s music and top the entire track with Lennon’s chorus as the main hook.
Other highlights tracks are the heavy bass track “Encore”, Helter Skelter inspired
Track “99 Problems”, and drum kick favorite “Allure.” While the Grey Album sounds like a basic studio album it doesn’t stop Danger Mouse from experimenting a little. One of the most exciting songs is “Lucifer 9” which matches John and Yoko’s backward masking classic with backward vocals of Jay; probably the spookiest hip hop song ever made.
While the record has a lot of praises, there is a misstep to this highly praised album. The biggest complaint of the album I have is that it doesn’t sound like a finished project. The songs are nicely engineered but I would love to have seen more Beatles verses used as hooks or choruses in between Jay’s raps. If you’re going to use the entire album, why not the words Danger? I think it would have been more complete to add a Paul McCartney guest appearance on “Moment of Clarity” or John Lennon’s lyric on “PSA.” I wished Danger Mouse would have had another day with the album before submitting the final product. Even with that in mind, this album will surprise anyone who hears it.
To sum up, the “Grey Album” is a must have for any fan of music and is an easy frontrunner for Album of the Year. I hope this release opens a lot of doors for Danger Mouse and an a cappella album. It’s a disappointment that EMI can’t release this album for the public, but I know that the work of Beatles is not a laughing matter.
It is off limit to experiments, however did it stop the Beatles from reworking the Let It Be Album?
12 Inch reviews
THE GOOD
Pitch Black - It’s All Real
This single is a must for every Primo fan.
The beat is so hot that your 1200’s will melt on contact.
THE POP
Jay-Z - Encore
Forget about the Timberland track, the b- side is the only reason to
own this single.
THE INDIE
Mr. Complex - Scrape Your Back Out
This track has a smooth beat that will have all backpackers nodding their
heads for weeks.