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Artist : LMNO
Album Title : P's & Q's
Styles : Organic Hip-Hop / Underground Hip-Hop
Label : Up Above Records
Reference Code :
UPA1015-2
Released : 2005/08/23
Running Time : 61:23
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REVIEW >>> P's & Q's comes with 16 tracks and a bonus track all packed LMNO's trademark lyrical positivity that in this day and age of over violent and egoistic wannabe rappers comes across like a fresh morning breeze on your face on a tropical island. LMNO makes it clear from the beginning that he's not out to kiss ass and chew bubblegum after and it's obvious that the man is not out for the fame and money or the magazine covers. LMNO in the past has been critisized about preaching too much about god and religion and on "Industry Revival" the first single cut from the album the rapper explains that he's not out to do what the media wants him to do and speaks for individuality over the industry's need to shape the artists to cash magnets. On the production side of things The Visionaries have been in good hands since the beginning and this time like always the album doesn't dissapoint. Production team consisting of LD, DJ Khalil, J Thrill, Keykool, Life Rexall & Polyhedron bring on very new yorkish mellow styles on the table with organic soul samples with enough emotion to make the lyrics and the beats work together as one and make the whole experience gentle for the ears. The album is also balanced quite well and the overall quality of the production would make anyone in the game proud to bless it with their skills. LMNO's style for those not familiar with his earlier works might come across as monotone at first but on the positive tip his style grows on you in the finals and his lyrical offerings got a lot of personality to them. Also on the lyrical side what is offered here is not your average bullshit from a mouth of a "could as well be 5 year old" gangsta rapper and really pays it's dues to those buying the albums for the message between the lines. One welcome surprise is the "must have love track" (Deeper Feat. Ariano) of each and every one of today's releases which this time around on this particular record is handled without the usual cliches and shows that the love tracks can be done without the cheese and the cream. Hopeman (LMNO style version of the NWA classic track Dopeman) on the other hand pays homage to the old school and is a welcome idea but does not quite stay on the level of freshness as the rest of the album. One of the albums more powerful cuts is definitely "Clutch" where LMNO talks about his stepfathers role in his life after his father biological "didn't bother". While hip-hop has been on the rise in the rest of the world and going down in the North America it's always good to hear people reppin it for the culture and doing it for the right reasons. Hip-hop already has become a tool for the businessmen and their big companies to make more millions to their already fat pockets and the reason why LMNO's album is different from the masses is the fact that it has avoided the so called curse of the dollar that has become the biggest problem of the industry today. It's all positive and fresh on the P's & Q's and when the music speaks for itself it's easy to support it. All in all this is an album that stays consistent from the beginning to the end and stays away from cliches and club bangers. If you want hip-hop that stays true to the culture's roots without selling its soul for the massmedia then go and get LMNO's P's & Q's from the stores when it drops on August 23rd. Rating : Words By : Jesse Viinikainen |
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01. P's & Q's 