If an album begins with a speech by Fred Hampton, it better have a message. If that album is titled REBELutionary, the stakes are raised. Massachusetts emcee REKS and Florida producer Numonics chose to kickoff their collaborative project, REBELutionary, in this manner with their intro, as Hampton’s words set the stage for REKS’ lyrics and Numonics’ instrumentation. The album sets itself up to either bring forth a strong message or disappoint. The duo elected to do the former.
As REKS writes with rage about his reality, perhaps “Unlearn” is the perfect track then to start the album off. “Fuck what you heard. Forget what you knew,” the chorus chimes. “Time to unlearn. System reboot.” The rage enters like Zack de la Rocha when he laments that his school didn’t have a Langston Hughes mural or “conversations on the Willie Lynch theory in history class.” Knowing that many others also lacked the teachings or influences, REKS puts it on himself to speak on injustice, inequality and racism without sacrificing flow or delivery for message. Instead, songs like “Bang Bang” and the Jon Connor assisted “Shotgun” provide infectious cuts with intriguing meaning to back the album’s theme. Later, Termanology joins the Rebelution on the inspired “Ignorance is Bliss.” Using Numonics’ soulful blends, REKS also speaks on women inventively on “Avarice” and the 9-5 grind on the George Carlin supported “Obedient Workers.”
Numonics and REKS compliment one another. Numonics’ ability to blend styles makes for a versatile project. “Bang Bang’s” soulful nature is a welcome addition to the project while the Spanish chorus and Latin flavor on “La Luna” add another element of diverse efficiency. The horns on “Obedient Workers” show more range while tracks like “The Edge” show his ability to create throwback ‘90s era beats with a modern flair, something REKS is also able to pull off with his rhymes.
REBELutionary may strike many with a message of empowerment and, as Sage Francis once put it, a healthy distrust. His political and social commentary may be just what is needed in this election year for fans but others may be slightly put off by its relentlessness. Still, it is worth noting that the album also shines by highlighting ways in which people can improve upon themselves, a sign of self-awareness and growth that speaks beyond political diatribes. It may not be for everyone, but with REBELution, Numonics and REKS prove that they have a message to deliver worth hearing.
Reks comes through on this one SUPPORT THIS MAN.
DX loves handing out REKS4’s…
I think this is the better album than Straight, No Chasers. Statik Selektah and Termanology should go move to Fire Island together and let REKS do what he do – make dope music.
This is better than SNC but would you give it a 4.5? I wouldn’t, it.s not a good enough project overall and I would say SNC is too good to be a 3.5. R.E.K.S for me was a 4.5 though.
Oh, and this was NOT better than Large Professor, Aesop Rock or La Coka Nostra.
Ummm yes….it is. Lyrically this is one of the most impressive albums of the year.
Ummm no it’s not. Damn sure ain’t better than that Aesop Rock. It is tight though.
Ummm yes
After listening to Shotgun by Reks & Jon Connor I really think they should make a LP/EP together like Hell: The Sequel!
Um, except on Showoff Records, and selling 237 copies.
The fucks that got to do with it?
yeah it’s just about 2 great MCs going back and forth!
It’s just not a valid comparison. Sit back down.
What I got from Hell: The Sequel was that it was Em & Royce trying to outdo each other (fuck the Lighters track we all know what that was for) and when I heard Jon Connor & Reks trade bars on Shotgun I thought it would be really dope if they did a project like that.
How about that for a valid comparison?
Em needs to sign Jon Connor, dude is putting in mad work trying to make a name for himself.
That’s what I’ve been saying for like a year now Jon Connor is doing a joint EP with Mr. Porter soon so surely Mr. Porter must’ve pointed this dude out to Em if Em didn’t already know. If Shady 2.0 is going to be about signing mean MCs then Connor needs to be snapped up.
Reks killing it atm
Reks, a Nas without the sellout intentions. Real shit right here.
Shut the fuck up, Reks wishes he was on Nas’ level. Homo
1. Why have a go at REKS for that comment
2. It’s almost like your dissing somebody for wanting to be on Nas’ level
3. Calling him a “Homo” like if your gay your comment automatically invalid!? And also acting like a 10 year old by doing so…
4. Being so quick to jump on Nas’ dick, are you sure you don’t have latent homosexual feelings towards Nas?
Make sure you clean the dribble off your chin their you retard.
@CJonno90 destroyed FU
I wonder what happened to that Reks/Soul Theory album?
Fuck man 2 dope as fuck albums 3 months apart from each other!! That is unbelievable work ethic.
Yeah, man. Dude been on an unreal grind since he came back with “Grey Hairs”, I wish El had some of that.
Yeah but El (I’m gonna take it that your talking about El-P) puts out damn near masterpieces every time he puts an album out.
Very fare rating. I enjoy this record a lot. “Bang Bang” is my jam! Good review Andres!
Ill! Love the George Carlin track; DC da Midi Alien did a very similar song called Technology Takeover.
Reks just does not disappoint. DOPE
Ehh
Straight No Chaser was better
Nah those Statik beats are generic as fuck.
Why cats always hatin on Statik?!
Statik is one of the top 20 producers out right now, I think people were just expecting more when artists of the calibre of REKS & Statik Selektah team up for a whole album. I think for that album Statik’s beats were sub-par but their was like 3 joints on Straight, No Chaser that were just straight fire!
Without Statik, we would’ve never heard anything from Reks after “Along Came The Chosen”.
I agree with Soul Supreme. But, imagine how hot the album would be if he combined the best tracks from Straight, No Chaser with the best tracks from this one.
Fuck what you heard, forget what you knew. Time to unlearn, system reboot. Tellin you the truth…or is it lies? Claimin it’s the truth…but are they lies?
Reks has only gotten better since Grey Hairs and I have to say this project is his best piece of work to date.
Termanology kisses dudes.
Namely Statik Selektah.
On the penis.
Reks is a fucking beast. I’ll love it when he’s on his political trip.
In no time he dropped another heat !!!
This album is so awesome, Reks is coming out with a ton of hot shit recently, and he does not let up here.
Tight intelligent Album..
Got to say this is one of my top 5 albums of 2012.
really great album
Content: 5/5
Guest Spots: 4/5
Lyrics: 4.5/5
MC: 4.5/5
Production: 4/5
Applaud this nigga, he’s always keeping it real and can rip a beat to shreds at any given time.
dopeness
I like Reks a lot and this album is dope, although “conversations on the Willie Lynch theory in history class.” – that’s because it’s not a real thing..
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070317125804AA9AB9q
Very good album from Reks
The tracks I wasn’t feeling were The Edge , The Jones Shotgun Remix because I felt the featured artists’ verses weren’t good. Also, I like La Luna but I don’t know if it fits on the album. Everything else is fire
4/5 (don’t do the half a point stuff)
“4/5 (don’t do the half a point stuff)”
Then rate out of 10…
no
plus you can’t do it with stars even if I wanted to
Reks always bringing the hot shit. This album is straight fire from the beginning to the end.
dope big up Reks one of the best MC’s to come out after 2000
Yeah, man. Dude’s straight fire.
Reks is certainly one of the most reliable since.
UNREAL is master piece
Well put together.
YEAH , REKS LAST 3 ALBUMS KILLED
wanna be, never gonna be’s.
Killer album, Reks last two years proves hi to be a monster at making coherent albums. 4.5.
Good album. Better than Straight, No Chaser but not better than R.E.K.S. Instead of recording a full album with one producer, he should go back to having albums with various beatmakers and sounds, like on R.E.K.S.
Very good album. That guy is deep, he rocks, and still improves
Shouts from France
REKS comes in clean again, dudes always rocking the set.
awesome album and rapper
one of the best in 2012
Reks is a real MC. Another great album from him.
get a clue.