What’s that?
You’ve never heard of Hezekiah? Well, think Lupe
Fiasco…except for the fact that Hezekiah didn’t go
from rapping about bustin’ his guns to becoming the quintessential “conscious”
emcee. No, things have been pretty straightforward with the Philly native.
After his 2005’s Hurry Up and Wait, Hezekiah is back with an
eclectic range of sounds for his new release I Predict a Riot.
The album starts off with a funky intro of sorts with the
appropriately-titled “The Beginning,” and segues nicely into “Wild and Wreckless”:
“I wrote this rhyme the same day that Dilla died/My
man, so please excuse my manners/Pardon me, sometimes I go off on a
tangent/Tell me, how many times and I gonna be forced to explain this/I’m a
nerd, I’m a freak but yeah, I’m dangerous.” Hez rips
through the track with a righteous indignation, and the track is accented by a
very jazzy beat.
“If One Falls”
showcases Hezekiah’s versatility perhaps better than any
other track on the album, as he mixes serious subject matter with a quirky
sense of humor: “I’m a revolutionary – well, sorta kinda/Got an African
medallion but it was made in China/I’m a poster child, a troubled teen
survivor/I look back now, damn I thank God for my father/My friend, he got a
father but he don’t bother”
Fellow Philly emcee Freeway stops down for “That Filling.”
The stark contrast between Free’s harsh voice and Hez’s
relatively smooth flow is quite evident, and can make or break the
song, dependant on whether or not you’re a fan of the Roc-A-fella
mainstay. Things get a little odd with “Single Now,” a song dedicated to the
exploits of today’s modern bachelor. The subject matter isn’t necessarily out
of Hezekiah’s comfort zone, but the execution is just awkward.
Even more awkward is the decision to add a love song immediately after, as it’s
nearly impossible to take “Let’s Get Involved” seriously right after a track about
random sex.
Things get back on track with “Bombs Over Here,” though “I See Yaw” has
Hezekiah rhyming lazily about his doubters, completely
interrupting the flow of the album. Thankfully, the album finishes out very
strong, highlighted by the title track and “Ghetto People.”
I Predict a Riot is a flawed album. With four interludes, the album
could certainly flow better; however, it’s a pretty easy thing to deal with
when you consider how dope of an emcee Hezekiah is. Not only
is he dope, but dude has a hell of a lot to say – a dangerous combination
indeed. He possesses a rare combination of lyricism, charisma and passion on
the mic, backed by an equally impressive musical backdrop. So while I
Predict a Riot is indeed flawed, it is for the most part a great success.
