If Hip Hop’s golden era was all about superhuman emcees with names like Redman and equally ourterworldly claims like Reggie Noble’s threat to, “Snap Michael Myers’ neck”, on “Rated R,” then the second decade of the aughts has placed us squarely in the era of the everyman rapper. The likes of J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar have mostly made their mark by picking up where Kanye West left off circa 2004. They rhyme equally well about their flaws, hedonistic desires and anything other than the actual craft of emceeing. The most commercially successful rappers generally eschew intricate wordplay for being relatable. It’s a decidedly different time period. Enter Detroit’s Red Pill and Hir-O, who manage to succeed as a hybrid of both eras.
Red Pill may currently lack the name recognition of Cole or Kendrick, but he’s every bit their kindred spirit in terms of crafting relatable rhymes based on his experiences and emotions. He’s very effective at painting vivid pictures without resorting to the dreaded “struggle raps.” Likewise, Hir-O juggles melodious offerings that compliment his partner in rhyme while still keeping the listener’s interest. And he really rises to the occasion on “Architect” and “Half-Remembered Dream.” The project occasionally stumbles when listeners are presented with what are essentially third world rapper problems such as being the opening act for an unreceptive audience as on “Best Rapper.”
Generally, what Red Pill offers is himself. “Half-Remembered Dream” showcases anecdotes about an alcoholic mother and struggles with poverty so detailed that they include references to clothes reeking of cat urine. And while it’s billed as a single, “We Are Not Like Them” is arguably one of the more nuanced looks at Occupy Wall Street offered by any emcee. Guests are kept to a minimum, and there are enough references to Christopher Nolan’s 2010 blockbuster, Inception, to tie the proceedings together without drifting into concept album territory. The project draws its title from the jarring sensation used to wake both Inception’s fictional characters stuck in multi-level dreams and those still figuratively sleeping on the duo’s skills.
If The Kick has one major flaw it’s that Red Pill and Hir-O rarely display the kind of passive listening, entertaining offerings that ultimately separate elite emcees from the faces in the crowd. As Red Pill points out on the title track, he makes a conscious choice to sacrifice some entertainment value for a positive and uplifting listening experience. But enlightenment and entertainment don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Relating to the everyday struggle and uplifting listeners is as noble a cause as any, but over the course of 52 minutes, it can get repetitive.
It’s hard not to spin The Kick and feel the only thing preventing Hir-O and Red Pill from gaining more recognition is time and an overcrowded marketplace. They already roll together as a dynamic duo in the fashion of Gang Starr or Eric B. & Rakim, and they sport names that could easily fit with 90’s rhyming superheroes. As it currently stands they’re respectable—more than solid but not yet spectacular. But even rhyming superheroes sometimes have humble beginnings, and The Kick serves as a great platform to display Red Pill and Hir-O’s growth since 2012’s Dream Within A Dream.
I’m shocked DX reviewed this album. Wow, dope.
Thank you for taking the time to review the album, Omar. We really appreciate your input!
nice bro, mitten music! I digs the pic’s with the State hat – keep up the hard work i will put everyone I know on your music – im thankful to hip hop dx for the review I would have been in the dark about you for way to long! come to Lansing and do a Show! and if you have a show in the city make sure i know haha!
Thanks man! If you have Twitter, follow me @redpillrap and we can talk about State, Lansing, etc… !
Interesting review. I felt this this album is an introduction to a new era of Detroit hip hop. I’m looking forward to seeing how Detroit emcees & producers will use it as an example.
Thanks for reviewing!
Damn, wish I could download it somewhere but no iTunes, Amazon…nothing. Shit sounds too good for me to pass up. A little help please !
http://redpillandhir-o.com/album/the-kick
Thanks! I just broke down and ordered a physical copy. I went digital on all my music a few years ago when my retro video game collection started getting out of hand and I needed more room, lol.
25 years as a hiphop head in Michigan and finally a white boy that doesn’t have to rap about chopping people up or being a serial killer. Just let the kid rap. Production is great if not superb and I’m a hater, hell, I’m a super hater…. however, I can’t hate this and I’m trying. Howell, MSU, etc. I wanna hate so hard but I just can’t stop bobbing my head. Well done gentlemen, it’s straight forward hip hop with no gimmicks and it’s a very good listen.
Dawg shut the fuck up
Yeah Shut the f#@k up man cuz this sh*t is garbage. What were u listening to, garbage.
sucks dawg
DAWG! Me and ma man Wickedy Will and Flippity Flip are hotter then dis shit! Bahaha! Yo Yo what r u a Yo Yo is just 1 hot line I spit.
RAPPERS ^^^^^^^^^
Never heard of them but the title’s clever reference to Inception was enough for me to click the link and check them out and i must say they sound good im getting that album.. you sirs, just got yourselves a new fan lol
Extremely dope album
solid
sa purb
Great subject matter and content I can personally relate to, I enjoyed this joint a lot. Can’t wait to hear more Red Pill and Hir-O!
This album is dope from beginning to end! Amazing production. Well placed features! Incredible lyricism displayed! This is exactly what a hip hop album should sound like! Great job!
So incredibly dope. Many props for this!
This is going to be a tough CD to overplay!
DOPE!
Red Pill and Hir-O are great, cant wait to hear what else they will have in store for us!
Amazing album, top knotch lyrics by Redpill, and phenomenal production by Hir-O. What out 2013, these guys are sure to make headlines.
They good! I play lots of time already.
Great album
Dope!
Redpill does it again. Another album in his arsenal that’s just fantastic. Keeps on getting better and better.
Really great music. Love it.
DOPE album!! Can’t wait for ‘UGLY HEROES’ to come out. Verbal Kent, Red Pill & Apollo Brown dropping soon….
“I can’t conrol the past and whats already done, keep looking back on what I can’t change need o learn to let things goooooooo” That’s that Life Water. Daily Bread. Props to Red Pill and Hir-O on this one.
this album is sick. hands down. perfectly produced, perfectly written. they worked so hard on this album, so glad that it turned out so great.
Anybody know where to download The Kick online? I can stream it but I’m hoping to download it
Thanks for your interest. The album just went on iTunes today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-kick/id600605702
Thanks for asking. You can get the album on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-kick/id600605702
Been watching Red Pill grow for a while now, dude is sick. Hir-O took that vibe and ran with it. I liked Michigan the most, but Hir-O Told Me is dope too. Cop this shyt!
Glad you enjoy it man, thanks for the support
How can you NOT give this album a perfect rating? I was unfamiliar with them before I saw this review but I went out and listened… WOW. BLOWN AWAY! This is that real hip hop shit right here! I found it on iTunes too! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-kick/id600605702
The lyrics are very good. I like the honest and personal lyrics. On the production this really shines. I couldn’t decide which is better: raps or production. Wonderful album, I am proud!
3 1/2 isnt bas, but this album is better than that. These two are a dope duo
wow this is not a 4.9, dx trolls. i just spent nearly an hour listening to… “pretty good rap”, but not “basically perfect music.”
3/5
sounds great guys!
I’d like to sample a few tracks from iTunes before buying.
HHDX crowd, what should I start with?
Most peoples’ favorite songs so far have been “The Kick,” “Architect,” “Waiting On A Train,” “We Are Not Like Them,” “Simple Words – Nana” and “Home.”
You can stream the album here:
http://redpillandhir-o.bandcamp.com/album/the-kick
Thanks for your interest!
Pretty nice production, not really great rapping. A good listen but nothing super new.
Out Cold
it’s alright..
This is surprisingly good. BEats knock, homeboy can rap and damn, good music.
the mix is really messed up man. over compressed and the high ends could be better mixed
Excellent album. Ill rhymes and excellent production. Its just unfortunate this is such a time with so many amazing emcees or I’d believe Red Pill is an emcee we’d be talking about alot more.