Strange Music has the independent music scene by the neck. As album sales decline and the likelihood of surviving as an independent artists lessens by the day, Tech N9ne and Travis O’Guin‘s Missouri imprint has thrived. Through a fiercely loyal fan base and year round touring, Cognito has been slowly introduced to the Strange Music supporters. His album, Automatic, is now another release that Strange Music pushes forward with hopes of a continued success.
The world is introduced to Cognito on “I’m Going Crazy.” The production is stellar and instantly the listener understands that Cognito possesses a gift lyrically and vocally. His confident-but-aggressive delivery is top notch and stellar lyricism supports his cause. “I’m Going Crazy” is as good as it gets from hook to verse. It’s a great lead track that captivates the listener instantly. “Outcast,” the album’s lead single, follows the stellar “I’m Going Crazy.” “Outcast” features the album’s best production and arguably Cognito’s most honest and telling lyrics. When he finishes the first verse with, “In 50 years when I look back at my past / All that I want is for both of my daughters to be proud of their dad / What else do I have?” You see an artist who is grinding and creating for the right reasons. Quite simply, “Outcast” is a diverse addition to the Strange Music cannon.
The listener could say that the album peeks early, but with two great tracks leading off the album, it allows the listener to invest into the rest of the album. “Hip Hop” is plagued by a poor hook and a tired concept, even though it features an always-welcomed B-Legit verse. “Pill Poppin’ Music” is an Eminem-esque track which unfortunately doesn’t live up to the expectations. The topic, which can tend to get tired and repetitive, is exactly that. The album then hits its absolute low point with “Seven School Sins.” Here, Cognito went right with honest lyricism and dope production on “Outcast” he goes wrong with juvenile lyrics over shaky production. This track along with the failed Eminem impression on “Me Be Me” is where the album sinks.
The project is constantly balancing between these two extremes. When Cognito settles in, the middle with tracks like “Born to Be Fly,” you see an emcee who could have a radio hit. “Depression” is another more intimate look into Cognito’s existence while “Hollywood” sees the emcee get absolutely busy on the track showing off his multi-syllable rhyme schemes and wordplay. “I Live My Life” fails to be original and will ultimately get Eminem comparisons, and “I’m So High” provides the listener with a skip moment. The album finishes with superb crew track, “Stranger.” The production is solid and each emcee rises to the occasion and leaves his blood and sweat on a track blessed by hungry label-mates.
Cognito’s introduction to the world is ultimately a success. Though Automatic has its blunders, its high points allow the artist to soar. With a little time and maturation, Cognito could easily bring a more polished album to the table next go round. With a successful label backing him, and a commitment to tour, Cognito has the potential to be the next big artist not named Tech 9ne bearing the Strange Music emblem.
great first album bringing the STRANGE music
WOrst ALbUm Ive Ever Heard, No Joke
so why even say something about it?
SO peeps dont make the mistake of buying this garbage, obviously faggot.
again…. why even say something about? I know! so you can hide talent from those who’s opinions are different than yours! I get it now. Sorry to even say something about it. You must be in politics or something because I’m loving all the bullshit coming from your mouth. Grow up and open your mind. It’s just music… calm down
There’s a difference between Haters and Honest opinions. This guy is obviously just a shit talking hater. Since he gives no real opinion on what makes the album bad.
I like that he worked outside of the camp, but I wish Strange took more veterans like Lynch than all these new guys. i like krizz a lil though
yo everyone on strange has been in the game for over a decade none of them is new, you just probably never heard of them.
Kutt Calhoun, Prozak, Krizz Kaliko, Brotha Lynch Hung, Skatterman and Snug Brim have all been around probably longer than you’ve know who Tech N9ne is…
I knew who Tech N9ne was in 1998. Were you even born yet?
should matter, Zion. Fact being fact, you hate being proved wrong…. so go ahead with another stab at me…do as i say
Stay in the sandbox, kid.
you gotta be a rookie before you can become a vet.
1.) Lynch is with Strange.. 2.) New guys? Krizz was on his Angellic album hes been with him for years and Kutt.. they all have been in the game for a while
Wow, you knew who he was in 1998. Even so, you are still a clueless dummy.
Really, this is a 4, but HHDX haters need some balance. So there it is. Like always, I agree with the overall tone of the review but it seems out of sync with the rating itself.
15 REASONS WHY HIP-HOP IS DYING MORE AND MORE:
1. LITTLE BITCH DRAKE, B.O.B., LIL WAYNE, RICK ROSS, WACKA FLOCKA, MORE GARBAGE RAPPERS AKA ETC.
2. FUCKIN HOMOED OUT HIGH TOP KICKS, NEON CLOTHES, MOHAWKS AND SKINNY JEANS.
3. DEATH OF BIG L, DILLA AND GURU.
4. GZA DROPPING ALBUMS ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS.
5. ALBUMS FROM CHANNEL LIVE, DITC, DAS EFX, WU TANG CLAN, BLAHZAY BLAHZAY, ETC. BARELY DROP AND IF THEY DO, THEY ARE USUALLY BULLSHIT QUALITY!
6. AUTO-TUNE HORSE SHIT.
7.GANGSTER BLOGGERS AND CHATROOM GOONS.
8. NOT ENOUGH STRONG RAPPERS, MAYBE ABOUT 30-40 RAPPERS TOPS.
9. THE CHANGING TIMES OF LIFE/MUSIC GENERALLY.
10. QUALITY OF MUSIC EVEN BY GOOD ARTISTS BACK THEN IS SOMETIMES ON THE DECLINE/INCONSISTENT.
11. FAGS LIKE YOU WHO ARE GOING TO COMMENT ON THIS!
12. 7 WORDS AGAIN: WACKA FLOCKA FLAME, DRAKE AND LIL WAYNE.
13. EYEBROW PIERCINGS AND SMALL NOSE STUDS ON BLACK DUDES
14. THE REALISM AND RAWNESS IS NOT THERE ANYMORE, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE HIPSTER GARBAGE TRENDS.
15. LITTLE BROTHER IS NOW CALLING IT QUITS! DAMN!
BY THE WAY I GIVE THIS ALBUM A BIG FAT 0/5
i give everyone a chance, this kid is fuckin wack. when your normal rap voice doesnt sound good on a record, rarely does a put on voice sound good. this kid trynna flip all kinds of vocal effects, when his vocals aint all that. brother lynch, tech n9ne, real vocal power. cognito… not so much. some decent beats, decent push, but nothin id wanna spin again. peace to tech for puttin his homies on.
Calm down wet nap, your opinion don’t matter to those who appriciate music within its self, not the artist who delivers it
15 REASONS WHY HIP-HOP IS DYING MORE AND MORE:
1. LITTLE BITCH DRAKE, B.O.B., LIL WAYNE, RICK ROSS, WACKA FLOCKA, MORE GARBAGE RAPPERS AKA ETC.
2. FUCKIN HOMOED OUT HIGH TOP KICKS, NEON CLOTHES, MOHAWKS AND SKINNY JEANS.
3. DEATH OF BIG L, DILLA AND GURU.
4. GZA DROPPING ALBUMS ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS.
5. ALBUMS FROM CHANNEL LIVE, DITC, DAS EFX, WU TANG CLAN, BLAHZAY BLAHZAY, ETC. BARELY DROP AND IF THEY DO, THEY ARE USUALLY BULLSHIT QUALITY!
6. AUTO-TUNE HORSE SHIT.
7.GANGSTER BLOGGERS AND CHATROOM GOONS.
8. NOT ENOUGH STRONG RAPPERS, MAYBE ABOUT 30-40 RAPPERS TOPS.
9. THE CHANGING TIMES OF LIFE/MUSIC GENERALLY.
10. QUALITY OF MUSIC EVEN BY GOOD ARTISTS BACK THEN IS SOMETIMES ON THE DECLINE/INCONSISTENT.
11. FAGS LIKE YOU WHO ARE GOING TO COMMENT ON THIS!
12. 7 WORDS AGAIN: WACKA FLOCKA FLAME, DRAKE AND LIL WAYNE.
13. EYEBROW PIERCINGS AND SMALL NOSE STUDS ON BLACK DUDES
14. THE REALISM AND RAWNESS IS NOT THERE ANYMORE, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE HIPSTER GARBAGE TRENDS.
15. LITTLE BROTHER IS NOW CALLING IT QUITS! DAMN!!
I’ve been following him for awhile, and to me this was just amazing album. I do agree over time he will grow and we will see more of his talent. Being signed to Strange Music Inc. is a huge part of it though.
This albem is the shit
Cog is AWSOME ya hear!!?? Much respect!!
This album is dope, great lyrics/hooks/production. Only thing i skip are the skits.
cogo bang bang bitchniggaz4life
this album is fresh from intro to stranger, it takes more than one listen to understand where Cognito is coming from in all his songs. these people bash it for no reason. Cognito is the prime example of unexpected talent. I listen to a wide varied of music from The Eagles to ICP and Cognito is definatly in my top 5 Favorite
STRAAAAAAAAAAAAAANGE…MUSIC! Seriously cop it and give it a few listens before judging.
COGnito!~~ my nigga
Loved the album, some songs way more than others. completely disagree with seven school sins being one of the weak tracks…. the line “He’s got all the cheerleaders on birth-control” cracks me the fuck up every time. Yes he sounds very eminem-ish on a bunch of songs which is super whiny and unbearable time to time, but his flow is just sick. He’s definitely going to need time to warm up to people who aren’t familiar with all of what strange has to offer…
COgnito isn’t that talented a rapper. I can’t really get down w/ his style or the style of strange music. Their is SO MUCH BETTER SHIT to listen to out their. Seriously, the first 2 tracks on the album are DECENT @ best. The production on them is top notch, and Cog even carries those 2 well. But carry an entire album? No way.
Don’t buy the album.
This album did have a few week points, but overall it was a damn good album. I haven’t heard any of Cog’s earlier stuff but after hearing this album I’m definitely gonna cop his first solo. Since this album came out I haven’t been able to stop listening to it. I agree with NSNJGGLA, “Seven School Sins” is one of my top tracks and laugh every time I hear the line “He’s got half the cheerleaders on birth control”. I’m looking forward to his next album for sure. As for the people thinking Tech is signing newbies your wrong. Do your research, you’ll find the entire label has been in the game for a decade or more. Shit, I heard Prozak before I ever heard Tech.
does anyone know that cognito is “the jokerr” look him up on myspace its his better personality
A lot of sex appeal on this album.
I give this album a 3/5. It’s got some good lyricism and Cognito comes hard but it lacks any real replay value except for a few songs. Still lookin forward to hearin Cog on future Strange projects.
Pure shit
You have no taste in real Hip-Hop what so ever.
Straaaaaaaaaaaange music
sux.
this album is mostly whack
i didnt find that album had any low point. it was complete and it goes hard the whole way. dunno why ppl are lookin at it like that. straaaaange
This WHOLE ENTIRE ALBUM gets a 5* rating from me. There’s no way this could get anything less than MAYBE a 4! That’s an insult if you ask me. Cognito is a nice well rounded lyracist, so of course he’s going to have people hating.
-Rizky
Album was good only because appearances! Like Tech,Krizz,Brotha Lynch,Kutt,Scoob. If you put alot of good artist on someones album “You better be as good as them” I am a True Technician!!!!!!!!!! So I cant hate, Just think Cognito needs to put more time to his verses.
Production is good, only reason it gets 1 star. I do have a question for all the Cog dick riders tho, do you REALLY think that his style is not modeled after Em, despite what he says? Please think before you respond, because I already know the facts from HIS mouth. The bay doesnt show him love, unless he’s paying ppl. I preferred to listen to his older shit, honeslty the older production was more suited to his rapping style i.e. Knuckleheadz, recognition, etc.The production carries this album. He’s doing the same thing that all white rappers are doing, only somehow, he was able to get a deal so now ppl know who he is. I like Cogs older shit, when he wasnt trying to do other ppl, this album sounds almost ghost written.
I think the whole album is Solid. Enjoyed it more than other Strange Music debut albums.
I received this CD as a part of my VIP package and all I have to say is that I love it. The music gets me pumped. It gets me moving and that’s what I look for; music that speaks to people. He is an amazing artist just like Irv Da Phenom. They aren’t big yet, but you best watch out. They’re comin. It’s their time to shine.
I really appreciate EVERYONES opinion on this Hip Hop DX review site. Not everyone is gonna like the record, thats just a fact. I wouldn’t be a real artist if my reviews didn’t have LOVE & HATE! lol…. thats how it goes. There will always be people saying I sound like Eminem, BUT thats the people that haven’t REALLY listen to the record AND me as an artist. There are so MANY RAPPERS OUT THERE THAT SOUND LIKE OTHER RAPPERS but since there are FEW white rappers we get compared A LOT MORE, SIMPLE. The fact is I have one of the biggest indie labels in the world backing me, the biggest indie RAPPER BACKING ME and thats all that matter. All the people and other RAPPERS that hate don’t cut my paychecks…lol. Sooo, it don’t really mean shit.
Thanks for the love AND THE HATE…. IF I DIDN’T HAVE BOTH I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SAY “IM MAKING IT”….I love y’all!
STRAAAANGE MUSIC all day HATERS! (PLEASE KEEP HATING, THATS WHAT CREATES THIS BUZZ! I NEED Y’ALL!!!!) YEEEEEE!!!! loooool And to my real fans lets keep it going, I have had a GREAT YEAR WITH EVERYONE and I have had a great time being on these national tours this year so I can HANG OUT with all y’all!!! Lets get it!!!
ya boy,
COG
Automatic was f’n awesome. I love that album. And Cog gettin on here shows he likes to address the fans and care what they think. And by the way….Strange Music tore it up here in tha D.
You killed the stage in Brooklyn Cog, I loved Automatic and am lookin forward to your next release. Pill poppin music, all day all night
DOOD COGNITO FUCK THE CRITICS, YOU MY NEW FAVORITE RAPPER BRO, YOU KEEP PUTTING THESE DOPE ASS SONGS OUT MAN AND ILL ALWAYS BE LISTENING TO YOU. “Depression”, “Pain”, “Im So High Part 2”, “Pill Poppin Music”, “Im Going Crazy”, “Stranger” those my favorite from the album. YOU MY FRIEND ARE THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE AND THE WORLD WILL SEE SOON! KEEP IT GOING AND FUCK THOSE HATERZ
it’s kind of reminds me of eminem but more strange!!
What the hell is this reviewer saying that seven school sins was a weak point and so was pill poppin music and me be me, I love those songs I got that shit on repeat all the time! My favorite line is probably off seven school sins, “I wouldn’t raise my hand in class so the teachers would get suspicious he misses half of the day and when hes here he never listens/ he dissed the ugly kids talks back to adults and worst of all/ he’s a freak he’s got half of the cheerleaders on birth control!” I swear I almost crashed my car listening to that cuz I was laughing so hard. Seriously this reviewer is a moron, 5 stars all day
Usually I dnt really agree with DX all the way to the T, but this was bout a 3 star album cuz the beats were slighlty above average overall and the lyrics were just expected….I mean Cog on Im Goin Crazy went in and Stranger sound like a Tech joint, but yeah this time they got it bout ryt…..
Automatic is really one of the best albums to be put out by The Snake and The Bat, I don’t even understand how or why this album is a 3 star. It’s hit after hit after hit till you pass out from all the pill’s and chronic smoke on this album. Song’s like I’m Going Crazy and Pill Popin’ Music easily boost this album to at least a 4 start rating, without even talking about Born 2 Be Fly or Hip-Hop. This album is a straight 5 star banger from strange music and needs a better rating period!