There has always been a niche in Hip Hop for current events, and over a few decades the culture has seen its share of emcees who take pride in the oft-undervalued fifth element of Hip Hop: knowledge. Ras Kass, Canibus, Public Enemy, dead prez, and even Tupac Shakur (when he felt like emphasizing Black Panther references and social issues like Brenda’s baby more than how he sees the same hoes in every city he goes) managed to solidify their names in the distinct sub-genre of Rap. In the last few years two emcees and a producer came together to form the East Coast Avengers, most notably known for the single “Kill Bill O’Reilly.” Fast forward to the present, and the emcees hand the spotlight to the producer of the crew, Massachusetts-based DC the Midi Alien, to provide the musical backdrop for a newscast brought to listeners by some of the underground scene’s heavyweight spitters known as Avengers Airwaves.
DC the MIDI Alien fittingly deserves the bragging rights on Avengers Airwaves, as he consistently provides the LP with strong instrumentals that fit the theme and goal of the album perfectly. Most of the project is fueled with musical energy and aggression forceful enough to be appropriately labeled as “fight music,” and the sound goes hand in hand with the mostly revolutionary subject matter. Although it is filled with notable features such as Showoff frontrunners REKS and Termanology, as well as Vinnie Paz, Esoteric, and Reef the Lost Cauze, on a lyrical front Avengers Airwaves loses its momentum from time to time, and it’s DC’s work that will force the listener to stick it out until the next track.
The standout of Avengers Airwaves is “Ride For A Cause” featuring Reef the Lost Cauze, Doap Nixon, Blacastan, and REKS, with DJ Kwestion on the cuts. REKS delivers the high point of lyricism on the LP with his verse over DC’s gritty sounding beat, which is certain to get heads nodding. On the flip side, low points are found in tracks like “Riot Gear” featuring trademarc, Termanology, Singapore Kane, and Big Shug, It’s not that the track is particularly bad, it’s more an issue of knowing that each emcee on the track is capable of better verses. This particular beat from DC the MIDI Alien is also heavy on the ears, and when coupled with such serious subject matter it at times feels overbearing.
Immortal Technique fans who are waiting patiently for The Middle Passage to become more than an urban legend will find satisfaction in Avengers Airwaves, as will liberal-minded listeners with youthful, revolutionary spirits with a fascination in current events. For the rest of rap’s audience, however, DC the MIDI Alien’s latest won’t likely prove to be a frequent listen. Without death threats to Bill O’Reilly to send it into a media frenzy, any jabs equivalent to it, or absolutely incredible lyricism utilizing unique approaches to the content, Avengers Airwaves doesn’t seem poised to make the impact that the previous East Coast Avengers release achieved. On an individual scale, however, DC the MIDI Alien has successfully reinforced his skills as a producer.
I think this is a dope release!
Great beats and Esoteric, Reks, Reef, Blaq Poet, Blacastan, trademarc all comes through with great rhymes.
The last track (Reks : Birth Of A Nation) is one of the best tracks this year so far!
Can we get a fund to try and convince Termanology to retire? Dude is theeeeeee worst.
you dont know shit termanology dope man listen to other songs from him you see
agreed. That dude sucks dick. fuck Lowell.
the album is great with dope lyrics and production.
Any album with Termanology on it should not be acknowledged.
hahahahahahha…”1981″ hahahaha
huh. no one told me Non-Phixion was making a come back.
Now tell me DX, are you serious about 3/5?
Fuck. 5/5
I was excited when I clicked this, because I personally bought this album, and have been rocking it for weeks now, I thought for sure this would be ATLEAST a 4/5, maybe 4.5/5 considering you gave Kayne’s release a 4.5… lol. This is an amazing concept album, verse after verse is dope, and DC has really ranked up in my list of producers because of this release, Disposable Heroes being my favourite song on the album, there really isnt a bad song on here. and its a great concept, unique… creative… You aren’t gonna get much better, are you giving it a low rating because its a mix-tape? Strictly showing off a producers talent, and giving a message rather than a specific artist? I don’t understand…
You are right man.
good points.
and i still cant beleive kanyes new crap got a 4.5/5.
dx is getting paid off.
the game is rigged!
maybe you should listen to Kanye’s new shit…I rock Immortal Tech, Diabolic, Ill Bill and all that revolutionary shit all day, but that don’t mean MBDTF isn’t a dope album
Yo, FUCK DX’s rating..the real rating is 5/5. If the amount of people that listen to all the latest Hip Pop (Kanye, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj)actually heard this shit, then America might be turned upside down, or should I say right side up…eventually. There’s at least enough hidden truths revealed here to be a catalyst. This is the real Hip Hop, the kind that matters, the kind that sticks to the blueprint of bein the poor people’s CNN. The kind “THEY” don’t want you to hear..
Word!
Word!!
dx should be ashamed giving this a 3!???
fuckin site has eminem and jay-z articles everyday. wtf?
we all know dx has little cred when it comes to rating anything.
dx must have something against real rap that has a message and influences people to be critical and think for themselves.
Is this review a joke?