Now that the producer has eclipsed the deejay as the second-most important member of a Hip Hop group (and sometimes overshadowing the role of the emcee – just ask Dr. Dre, Pete Rock or Marley Marl), it is now fashionable and profitable to make an album wholly focused on the work of one star producer and a slew of guest rappers to add lyrical spice to the hot beats.
Fakts One, a Boston-based underground Hip Hop producer and member the Perceptionists crew, attempts to follow in the footsteps of other heralded beatmakers with the release of his debut album, Long Range. His hard-hitting tracks are filled with the gritty vocal nuances of new and old rappers alike, including his long-time collaborator, Mr. Lif, the almighty Boot Camp Clik and Boston up-and-comer Chan. Nevertheless, is this full-length release a good way for Fakts One to show the world that he is more-than-ready to become a “super star” in his own right or does he still need more time in order to create a sound that is truly his own?
From the beginning of the album, “Ridin’ Dirty,” the listener is reminded that Fakts One is not a prima donna like other more famous beatsmiths (e.g., Kanye West and Timbaland) who have capitalized on their sough-after audio treats by becoming mainstream celebrities. The slow pound of the 808 drums hints at the scope of the man’s ambition and his desire to be respected and known for his awesome production skills. Other standout tracks that showcase Fakts One‘s magic on the boards include the dark but funky collaboration with Greyskul, “Set the Mood,” the bouncy burner, “OK” (featuring Kingsize and Outerspace) and the laid back precision of “Born for This” (featuring Chan).
Unfortunately, a few of the songs on Long Range do very little to prove that he has found the right sonic formula that will catapult him to the level of other notable producers of his generation (i.e., 9th Wonder, J Dilla and Danger Mouse). In such cases, Fakts One‘s beats are good enough to give the guest vocalists enough incentive to provide moments of lyrical brilliance but the anonymity and mismatched nature of his sonic creations make it hard for them to shine even brighter.
For example, take “Grown Folks” and “Moments Matter”. On the former, Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother try their best to bring A-level lyricism to the table but the blues-inflected beat is a bit too sparse for their comical and rambunctious style. As a result, the aforementioned rappers sound decidedly less assured on the mic, especially compared to their past collaborations with Nicolay and 9th Wonder. Last but not least, “Moments Matter” is a nice moral tale provided by Tajai (of Hieroglyphics fame) but the uptight synthesizer noises make his staunch verbal eloquence sound more kitschy than urgent.
There comes a time when a talented producer must show the world that he is worthy of focused attention by letting the music reveal his unique sound. Fakts One attempts to do just that with his debut release, Long Range. Although this particular album is not necessarily going to push him to superstar status just yet (especially due to the heavy mismatching occurring between certain beats and rhymes), Long Range is a very good start and is just one small step in a long and illustrious career for the Boston beatsmith.