“I started out as a poet. I started out as a storywriter. My mother used to make me read the dictionary as a kid growing up so my vocabulary was always expanding and a lot larger than a lot of my other peers my age.” – Illogic
Listening to Capture The Sun, it’s easy to catch remnants of these memories. As Illogic freely admits, the expansive vocabulary and poetic style are still integral parts of his emceeing. With this skill set honed from an early age in Columbus, Ohio, Illogic built a name for himself in the independent Hip Hop scene in the early aughts. Now, Illogic has teamed up with Manhattan, New York’s Blockhead for Capture The Sun, following their two Preparing For Capture EPs.
On Capture The Sun, Illogic exercises those poetic songwriting skills. Whether optimistic and upbeat (“Beautiful Sunday”), skeptical and upset (“Justified” featuring Blueprint) or melancholy (“Finally Free”), Illogic maintains these strengths with thought-provoking metaphors.
“There’s a gaping whole in the baskets we’ve placed our eggs in,” Illogic says on “Lighthouse.” “This explains the constant eggshell walking.” He also allows for personal introspection. “They found cancer in my retina when I was two,” he rhymes on “Bridges.” “Didn’t understand my blessing, thought it was a curse / Felt that God had forsaken me because I didn’t know my worth.” Later, he addresses his mother and father on “Last Breath (Family Fabric)” with a deeply personal dedication to their affectionate guidance. His start as a poet works well throughout the album, as Illogic crafts thoughtful and thought-provoking compositions to pair with Blockhead’s production.
“I used to find samples in my parents’ record collection. I would just sit there and my dad had a bunch of cassettes. I would go through old Duke Ellington albums and I’d just find stuff.” – Blockhead
Blockhead’s appreciation for samples certainly drives the sound on Capture The Sun. From string loops (“Pillow Dreams”) to jazzy instrumentation (“One Way Ticket” featuring Zero Star) to catchy up-tempo cuts (“Live from the Horizon” and “Beautiful Sunday”), Blockhead shines as a producer. He also provides versatility in that regard. Moreover, Blockhead experiments to great success, for instance, going through an entire verse that tops the one-minute mark without drums (“Lighthouse” featuring Kristoff Krane). Block also adds to Ill’s lyrics with instrumentation to compliment his words. Check the thunder and rain on “Finally Free” and how it blends into “One Way Ticket” or the speeches incorporated in both “Justified” and “One Way Ticket.” With all of this, Blockhead shows what can happen when a producer and an emcee fuse their styles successfully.
Overall, Illogic and Blockhead collaborated on a strong release here. Detractors may complain about Illogic’s flow being unorthodox. Others may criticize Blockhead’s instrumentation for also being unconventional. However, both artists bring some of their most inspired work to date to the table with this offering. Earlier this year, HipHopDX named Capture The Sun one of the site’s “Most Anticipated Albums of 2013.” The expectation was that the duo would create “evocative music and intimate songwriting.” With Capture The Sun, Illogic and Blockhead delivered on both counts.
Haven’t heard this but Illogic is tight, I don’t normally get into poetical wanna-be deep rhymes but Illogic does it right. Good metaphors that are interesting and make you think. Blockhead kills it too, y’all should check out the free albums on Bandcamp.
really like both singles they released. can’t wait to hear the album
I’m making $86 an hour working from home. I was shocked when my neighbor told me she was averaging $95 but I see how it works now. I feel so much freedom now that I’m my own boss. This is what I do, wow55.com
You can listen to the whole record At MTV Hive. Its streaming right now… http://www.mtvhive.com/2013/04/09/illogic-blockhead-capture-the-sun-stream/
Damn i love the sound and style of the album just on the first listen!
Illogic is possibly the greatest lyricist of all time. That may be a stretch and is subjective, but he’s easily top 5 just in that regard alone.
Great review, great album.
great review, excited for this album!
Finally some REAL hip-hop. A classic producer, real lyricism, and….zzzzZZZZzzzzzZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZzzzzzz
This album is no joke. Not a bad song on it.
I wanna get this.
Not trying to troll on this page but, can HipHopDX do a Chamillionaire – Elevate review? Thanks.
meeeh
Fucking brilliant. No more needs be said for these two amazing musicians.
ILLLLLLLLLLL. THANK U ILLOGIC AND BLOCKHEAD!! 5 STARS
Sounds dope!
Breath of fresh air. Hoping for an instrumental release as well.
A simply awesome album with heavy beats and deeply meaningful verses. Illogic and Blockhead continue to work extraordinarily well together. This now rivals “Pillowfight” for my top new album to play on repeat.
Solid project
Beats fit the rhymes perfectly….great album
kid cudi who?
The aural landscape that was engineered by blockhead and Illogic is electric to the sense of hearing. When it absorb into the cerebral its released into the hiphop pleasure centers. O-H to the dime.
http://www.freewebs.com/site-13665825289035242011469827591230/expression.htm
blockhead beats are so overrated and this record is no exception, illogic rhymes ain’t helping to make this a dope record either.
Not feeling this at all, the beats are average as all other blockhead stuff. Illogic got some bars tho.
Illogic stays true to his niche and identity in Indie Hip Hop, he continues to deliver cerebral poetry with an assured and precise flow…monotonous at times, but his ability to dissect concepts with an armory of coherent vocabulary speaks volumes of his proficiency as an intellectual. Blockhead provides the desired platform for Illogic to manifest his lyrical skills…this is arguably his most cohesive album since Unforseen shadows, I give it a 4.5 stars…
I’m feelin Qwel & Maker’s new joint a lil more
I don’t feel this mofo. What the hell is this!
solid album.
Very talented artists on this album.