J Rawls / The Liquid Crystal Project II

Trough hip hop I’ve learned so much, I remember the jazz explosion in the early to mid 90’s (Digable Planets, Jazzmatazz, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, US3) we’re all sampling jazz so I discovered jazz through hip hop. I remember reading the cd booklets then going to buy the original jazz albums that we’re sampled. One of my classic is Straight No Chaser from Blue Note but eventually this sub-genre faded and I listened to less and less jazz.

Now, who is J Rawls ? This cat is best know for his work with Black Star’s (Mos Def & Talib Kweli) “Brown Skin Lady” and “Yeah Yo”. I discovered him through “It's the Dank & Jammy Show by J Rawls & Declaime "Then rediscovered him with Middle Child (One of the best R&B albums I’ve head this year) and one more time with “The Liquid Crystal Project II”

This album is just slamin’ (I slept on the first one) I kid you not, this is a musical revelation (think fusing jazz into hip-hop or hip hop into jazz), it's sounds fresh and new without beign pretensious or feeling like a stranger in a strange land. The last jazz album I was feelin’ was Roy Hargrove’s “Rh Factor” but this is just so delectable. Imagine, take what is familiar to you in hip hop, smooth it out on the jazz tip then you got something new but somewhat familiar and it works on all the levels.

If you’re into jazz I know you gonna dig this, you a hip hop head you gonna feel it to. I’ve seen a few different covers (artwork) so it may vary.

Buy it, steel it, download it but you got to make sure to check it out. One of my fellow bloggers has it posted :http://hiphoprevol.blogspot.com/ (Keep in mind that the album downloads are for promotional purposes only). You can also get a copy on the WordPress website : http://wordpress.com/tag/liquid-crystal-project-2/

4.5 horns outtalk 5

PEACE & I’M OUT

Ron