Lucid dreams are the original virtual reality. Succinctly put, they are dreams in which the dreamer is conscious they are within a dream and what they are experiencing is different from the conventional, waking world. In lucid dreams, the dreamer can alter what happens in their reality, making it an invaluable tool for creatives who can harness such an experience.
Meechy Darko, Erick Arc Elliott and Zombie Juice, better known as the rambunctious Hip Hop trio Flatbush Zombies, are lucid dreaming all over the group’s studio debut 3001: A Laced Odyssey. Inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s zany and partially prophetic 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the zombies of Flatbush stretch their voices to their limits of animation, excavate the zaniest sounds fit for a sci-fi acid trip and deliver constant, extensive lyrical displays not normally found on debut albums from commercially unproven artists.
3001: A Laced Odyssey sounds nothing like the conventional world. There isn’t a chorus to break up the stream of consciousness or to give any semblance to a traditional song until the third track, “R.I.P.C.D.” Zombie Juice employs, by my count, about six different flows on five different songs by the time Meech’s solo song “Ascension” appears midway through the opus. Erick, the “mild temper venter” (“R.I.P.C.D.), intensifies his usual calm flow on a few songs but it’s when he glides memories over “Good Grief” that he delivers one of the most replayable verses on the album.
Then, there’s Meechy Darko. The idiosyncratic MC is the “LSD drops in my iris” that reminds us that we are listening to life from a lucid dream vantage point. He raps “they hog tied my grandmama and whipped my grandpa with pistols, that’s a fact. OG reefer, hash, wax,” on the titular intro, expanding on escaping realities. He’s the only one that would stop a verse in the middle of rapping about drinking Hennessy and rappers copying him just to remind fans “whoops, I wrote this in another dimension.” He’s steering this odyssey, one sheet of LSD at a time.
Meech’s “R.I.P.C.D.” verse is the axiom of that lucid rapping and currently one of the best rap verses of 2016. For nearly 2 ½ minutes, he is “grimy and vibrant like Busta Rhymes in the early 90s,” he “wants the head like ISIS” and by the end he warns you “it’s about to get violent” so you should “take this lyrical dose Dr. Meechy Dark prescribed ya.” It’s a truly dizzying display of unhinged lyricism that by the end has Meechy expelling the last remnants of breath he has left just to tell you to pass him the lighter.
Produced entirely by Erick “The Architect” Elliott, the 12-song mind trip is hodgepodge of haunting strings, ambient sounds fit for a sci-fi film and hard-hitting drums. “Bounce” is an infectious balance of acoustic guitar licks and light drum hits that crescendo into power strings that could overshadow the brightest ultralight beams. The myriad of violin strings of alternating keys on “Good Grief” will induce dream like hypnosis. Reminiscent to the floaty goodness of 2013’s BetterOffDead standout “Club Soda,” the dreamy “A Spike Lee Joint” is a soundbed of baritone hums and soft horns ideal for Erick’s storytelling about growing up in a “street full of wolves” and having “ADHD, smoking weed before church.”
But, it’s the production that proves to be the odyssey’s only signs of turbulence. While there are numerous heat rocks throughout and impressive sequencing, there are some clunkers that disjoint the momentum. The keys on “Trade-Off” are Fisher-Price piano weak and the hi-hats sounded like rustling leaves. “Ascension” is a noteworthy attempt at a power rock songs that sounds too paint-by-the-numbers compared to the dynamic soundscapes he blessed the album with on songs like “The Odyssey” and “New Phone, Who Dis?” There is enough fire for the weak production to not be a total entertainment deterrent, but also keep the project from transcending into a true gamechanger.
The ending outro “Your Favorite Rap Song” bridges six minutes of audio recordings from fans speaking on Flatbush Zombies from over their initial five years of activity. It’s the perfect way to remind new listeners, this is not their first trip, and will not be their last.
5/5. This album is so fucking sick ????
Really good album. 4.5/5
You can’t tell me that NY hip hop has fallen off with quality acts like Flatbush Zombies around. Fuck that.
I will admit FBZ not for everybody but if you willing to open your mind these 3 are some of the sickest rappers of our generation. Their flows are complex and they never stick to one way to deliver their drug fueled messages. 5 out of 5 for sure. I hope these guys stick around for a long ass time.
Them Zombie boyz are too fire! Lets support that quality Hiphop yall. Be Healthy
Dopeness
Nice album!
Grimy beats and gritty Lyrics! Bars on bars! Creative and innovative! 10 out of 10!!!
Amazing
Beast Coast !!! NY hip hop is the best!!!!! Meech for president!!!
Probably the most creative Brooklyn niggas in the last 15 years for sure. Great album was well worth the wait
Bull…this was a bought review.
I loved the album, and the review was solid. One of the few reviews I’ve seen that actually mentioned the fact that Erick raps too. 4.5/5
Whole album is lit, meechy ,arc, juice in that order imo
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irrelevent. porbably paid for the review. Drake better get a 5 on the review hhdx.
Let me tell you something, man…First off, these dudes already blew their chance at making it big. They basically WERE big like 5 fuckin years ago. You’re telling me that they’re JUST NOW dropping their DEBUT?!?! FOH! The other thing, the production just ISN’T good enough. It just ISN’T. It’s not original enough, it’s just not good enough. What hip hop is so desperately lacking right now, is GREAT PRODUCTION. There haven’t been any exceptional producers to come out in the last 15 years, man. I’m talking game-changing, new sounding, original ones. It’s sad. I think these guys could be really dope but their producer just isn’t cuttin it.
They haven’t blown anything. The zombies have been touring to create more presence in the music industry as independents. They don’t have the budget provided by large labels, so exposure is minimized by touring and whatever presence they can create through a website, social media, etc. Just because they haven’t “succeeded” within your imaginary deadline doesn’t mean that opportunity has diminished. This record is just another stepping stone of their rise. On another note, the production on this record is genius. This album has a great variety of tempos/sounds and still manages to have a consistent theme throughout. E.A.E can produce AND rap his ass off. In addition, he’s accompanied by Meech and Juice – PURE FIRE. I’ve seen this group live and they’ve put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Lastly, this is one of the most original releases this year has received thus far. Quite frankly, YOU’RE TRIPPIN. Take a seat, hater!
All to respect to Flatbush Zombies but when were they ever big? They are not that well known to begin with so it doesn’t matter that they dropped their debut just now.
I guess that’s why their show in May in MD is basically sold out already….
How big is the venue? Smaller artists can sell out in a small space.
Ok yea granted its a smaller venue, probably 4-5000 , but tickets went fast and it was over two months in advance they went on sale. Shows a solid fan base imo
garbage
boring, repetitive, lyrically decent, interesting at times
Solid 4. Dope alternative boom bap beats. Dope rhymes. 12 songs. An hour long. Can’t be mad at that.
been riding since d.r.u.g.s. trade off is that crack the perfect blend of east coast rugged shit mixed with the south’s playfulness. bringing back that feeling if you feel me but fuck a review decide for yourself. but bring white owls.
alternative rap makin waves
whack af only meechy did his thing
To hell with whoever don’t like it. This an independent group blowin up in the industry. This debut album proves it. Flastbush ZOMBiES get a perfect 5 from me.
to devilish for me
Just listen for the fence poll. Damn. Nobody is doing this as a group. Nobody. Every aspect of the album was excellent.
Maan you know why I gave this a 5
Production is VIVID! Lyrics are thoughtful! My fav so far this year.
Albums like this don’t come around often.
One of the best albums this year. The Zombies outdid themselves. This is one of the few albums I can listen from the beginning to the end because every song is unique. I cannot wait until their next album because they are only getting better.
every song is good. a rare album where you can listen beginning to end and not get bored or underwhelmed by any songs
ericark kills the beats and juice and meech lyricism is unmatched by any, a gem
Sure it was a dope album but it was their weakest project, D.R.U.G.S., BetterOffDead, Day Of The Dead & Clockwork Indigo were so much better
This album is crazy dope
A perfect album. Underground and unique talent like they have on this album aren’t well understood or received mainstream industry/media/listeners. If you know what’s up before being told what’s up by whatever – cheers, homie! Deserves 669 ?, sadly the limit is 5.