Thinking man's hip hop
This is a landmark album in the history of hip hop. Though it did not have the mainstream appeal of todays corporate rap machine, it enjoyed huge popularity. And was very important in terms of guiding hip hop into its concious activist, and spiritual movement. However, the album is by no means preachy. Brother J is one of the most gifted lyricist of all time. He paints beautiful images with his metaphors and analogies which allow the listener to be immersed in a world of intellect and spirituality outside the eurocentric philosophies.
Beyond that- the beats are just banging. X clan ignited the use of old school(70's/80's)samples. But they go a step further and incorporate tribal rhythms which connect the modern urbanite to a time past when the wisdom of the ages was not lost. This album is a must for anyone that wants to hear truly inspired and purposeful hip hop.
Pan African Classic. Period.
This LP has aged quite nicely. Twelve years down the road and it remains unmatched. The most compelling quality of X-Clan is the fact that the music was at least as good as Dr. Dre's tracks and the lyrics were at least as intriguing as Rakim.So, within X-Clan you had what was the ultimate mix of funk + philosophical flow = Funkin' Lesson. The epitome of Pan African hip hop.
I remember the first time I saw their album in late 1990. It was just out and I'd never heard of them. Based upon the LP cover (photos of Malcolm, Fannie Lou Hamer, etc.) and the song titles I had to have it. What blasted through my speakers was unlike any other music I'd ever encountered. It was like they uncapped my brain and unleashed my very own thoughts in musical form. Fascinating. Thrilling. Compelling. Fantatsic-in the truest sense of the word. They were Black men obeying their musical-spiritual-emotional-mental call. Props Due!
I love X-Clan like they are my own brothers. RIP Sugar Shaft. I'm hoping for more from this camp some day.
On a side note, Professor X (Lumumba Carson) is the son of Activist Sonny Carson who was the subject of an obscure 70's film called The Education Of Sonny Carson. Check for it.
AWESOME ALBUM
This CD album was not excepted because black teenagers and adults reject there own culture and religion, and "ALWAYS DISS>" so to speak! they diss it! which is a shame ! they do not study any philosophical book .All they want is "Sex and perpetrating like they the mack or the pimp" and flaunting there "Im tough" attitudes , but like I said : The blacks around my way diss it! they like Snoop Dogg for example as he always rap about partying and getting with some woman in a bed him and others as if thats the only goal in life! But as for me ......I give this album 6 stars if there was a such thing as six stars !!!!
Fresh, Very Fresh
This album is very good. I could go on about this album. When I first purchased and heard this album, I realized that I was a sleeper. I needed to wake-up to reality. The fact that blacks have lost our culture(s), language(s), and even our god. We only know what is popular or what our parents taught us. X-clan brings us the truth.
P.S. I can never get enough the Red, Black, and Green.
THIS CD- IS PERFECT!
You know whats funny? This X-Clan CD was ignored in the 1990s all the FM radio staions focus on LL cool J.back then , Brother J is religious and a philosopher! and quess what? The humble old school artists did not make near as much money as the so-called new school artists today, and these guys sound and teach better than these new hiphoppers in 2004 teaching and glorifing "PIMPIN, and SEX "-Brother J perfers to live the humble life- they can keep there titles,belts, and 12 cars.....suckers! Hay! check out the movies: THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY 1 + 2 1984 this movie will teach every one about the BUSHMAN! Little people that live in Africa - check it out someday!
