Many fans of Backpacker Rap enjoy listening to this particular subgenre more than commercial Hip Hop because of the enormous freedom given to the MCs in the way they are allowed to express their personal beliefs and individual styles. Take, for example, Kev Brown (of the East Coast-based Low Budget collective) and LMNO (of the famed Visionaries crew, hailing from Southern California). Both rappers are considered by many to be proud representatives of the underground scene, having garnered unyielding admiration for their ability to rock the microphone without fear and compromise. For example, Kev‘s brilliance is best heard on songs where the Maryland native gets to playfully flex his soft-spoken lyrical skills while displaying a knack for incredible production – both subtle and soothing to the ears. LMNO, on the other hand, relies much of his lyrical ammo on death-defying precision and mellow articulation, bound together by the Long Beach, Calif. wordsmith’s intense religious beliefs.
In a move that is bold, puzzling and unprecedented, the two have decided to team up and collaborate on a full-length album together (entitled, Selective Hearing). Backed primarily by Brown‘s buttery-smooth beats and with the vocal help of a few of their talented peers (e.g., Dudley Perkins and Oh No), the album manages to be largely entertaining and retain trace elements of what makes these underground MCs a joy to hear. Nevertheless, their newest effort might not be a strong enough to convert new listeners due to the varying styles that both rappers display in both content and delivery.
This dichotomy does prove to be a winning formula when one member receives additional support from another like-minded vocalist while the other one steps away from the mic. For instance, it ain’t hard to tell that guest rapper Dudley Perkins and LMNO match well together and are, lyrically and spiritually, brothers-in-arms. On “Show Up,” both MCs sound thoughtfully energized and lyrically precise while Kev makes his non-vocal presence known through the song’s thunderous beats. Another gem on the album, “Make a Way,” features the same deadly trifecta: Dudley provides a much-needed dose of aggressively funky Yin to LMNO‘s spiritually thoughtful Yang while the Maryland producer (who is also absent in lyrical contribution) fills the rest of the space with an indelible musical tapestry of simplicity and soul.
On Selective Hearing, LMNO and Kev Brown have made a commendable batch of mellow and inspirational Hip Hop songs for their rabid fans to enjoy. Their latest offering will definitely quench the thirst of die-hard followers who either want to hear Brown‘s laid-back sonic creations or L‘s conscious-driven poetry. However, the combination proves to be less solid as one would hope for, especially when they are in the presence of other rappers who complement their individual styles to a T. Let’s hope that, in the future, these talented MCs will find a way to make their “selective” creations work on a much more “universal” level.
