These days, Hip Hop artists are in complete agreement with the mainstream acceptance of this once underground phenomenon and are using it to further their financial and worldly success. Nevertheless, there is a small minority who has forsaken the current preoccupation with shallow desires and uninspired subject matter, relying on their keen appreciation and understanding of Golden Era Hip Hop to create powerful music with soul and depth. Cymarshall Law and Skit Slam (aka Everliven Sound) represent the latter and valiantly attempt to change the status quo with their debut album, Freedom.
The New Jersey duo brings the consciousness in their rhymes with earnest appraisal, more so than many other MCs who have been dubiously pegged in the past. Cymarshall and Skit share a similar view that Rap is becoming a caricature of it’s former self and in definite need of more integrity, truth and objectivity. Injecting their focused rhymes with plenty of personal insight and keen observations, This full-length effort is a joyful reminder that much more relevant issues can still be discussed in this day and age of larger-than-life egos, fake beefs and excessive materialism.
No other track on Freedom is more indicative of the Everlivin Sound‘s socially conscious musings than in “Green Cream”. This exemplary track discusses both the financial hardships that many Americans are facing due to a failing economy and the ill treatment of those who cannot afford the finer things in life. They also shed light on mainstream society’s laughable obsession with rich celebrities and the incessant need to impress others with material wealth. “Que Sera Sera”, which takes the famous Spanish saying of “whatever will be, will be,” is another standout cuts that fuses Cymarshall and Skit‘s uplifting lyrics with the power of introspection, peppering their lucid lyrics with thoughtful wisdom rarely found in more commercial releases. Other songs worth checking include “Freedom” (the title track), “So Cruel” and “What if” (Featuring Underground stalwart, Wordsworth.)
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Nevertheless, Everlivin Sound‘s album is not without a few flaws. For example, take “Dying Breed,” a misaligned song that features Pace Won, a battle rapper and New Jersey affiliate who is evidently more in tune with the grimier aspects of Rap music than Everliven Sound could ever muster in their socially-conscious verses. The dichotomy proves to be too problematic and reveals how much their conscious raps are in contrast to the mindless apathy of Gangsta music. “Outside Ya Door” is another blunder where Cymarshall and Skit attempt to demonstrate their pure mic skills with playful bravado. Unfortunately, this particular approach feels over-the-top and easily overshadows their innate talent to move the audience with more inspiring lyrics.
For better or worse, the growing worldwide acceptance of Hip Hop has diluted the music’s ability to effortlessly reveal societal ills. Everlivin Sound, the tag team of Cymarshall and Skit Skam, challenges the notion that important issues ought to be swept under the rug as a result of the art form gaining a much wider mainstream audience. Freedom, their debut album, is a testament to the power and validity of Conscious Rap. While many will find it to be a bit unfair to judge contemporary Hip Hop music to the way it was before, particularly the Golden Era, the album’s call for more social responsibility and positive lyricism is refreshing to hear. Let’s see if their approach is powerful enough to “free” the hearts and minds of Hip Hop fans from the mindless self-indulgence of today’s music.
