Cunninlynguists A Piece of Strange
The only strange thing about this album is how good it is.
Incorporating so many different genres while maintaining a strong tie to southern hip-hop is something that hasn't been seen since Outkast's early days (think Aquemini or a more organic ATLiens). To add to that solid foundation, the rhymes are so intimate and personalized they feel like a confessional, especially on tracks like "Hourglass" and there is no posturing to be found (thank goodness). The opener "Since When" incorporates rock guitar licks and an organ riff in a very timely matter, it never overpowers the rest of the production or the vocals for that matter, but rather set the tone for the rest of the album. More of this, particularly the rock influence can be found sprinkled throughout the album and in that regard, the heterogeneous nature of the music presented makes the experience all the more interesting, not to mention entertaining. Other highlights include the provocative "America Loves Gangsters," which deals with the issues of the iconic status that gangsters have carried in much of the media, and the centerpiece of the album, the atmospheric "The Gates." The latter track is probably the one in which all of the previously mentioned elements reach their pinnacle, as the avalanche of incredibly smart lyrics match perfectly with the sleek guitar and gospel based production. Overall this is yet another superb album from the southern rap group, and well worth the wait.
Overall Rating: 97
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