Y-Society
consists of MC/Producer/DJ ‘Insight’ and DJ/Producer
‘Damu the Fudgemunk’. Both are fast-approaching veteran
status within the hip-hop scene due to asserted careers which
has seen them release and produce acclaimed work over the last
decade. With ‘Travel at Your Own Pace’ (TAYOP) Insight
furthers his lyrical tenacity over a multi-dimensional and broad
range of musical styles which are provided courtesy of crate-digger
and record-collector, Damu. Together, they create a 16 track slice
of contemporary and edgy hip-hop which is deeply rooted in the
raw abruptness of old-skool hip-hop whilst stylistically embracing
a full range of sixties and seventies genres including soul, funk
and Jazz.
From the outset it is evident that the duo creates synergy and
play off each others talents. On the multi-layered Guru-esque
pomp of ‘This is an Introduction’, Insight flows rapidly
with real conviction and soul. It sounds like he’s having
real fun flowing on the mellow beats and fitting samples provided
by Damu. On cuts like ‘Dizzy’, ‘In Command’
and ‘At My Own Pace’, Insight shifts to sixth gear
and spits complexly constructed and meaningful sentences, swiftly.
The lightening-speed lyrics sit surprisingly naturally over the
smooth and melodious soul-funk backdrops provided by Damu. Damu
obviously sources top quality material, (even the Skits rock),
and as such, the album doesn’t suffer from the languid Soul-Funk
and elevator Jazz of others who attempt this style. In fact, they
are strong enough to warrant an Instrumental release of this album.
On ‘How Many of Us?’ and ‘Peace I’m out
the Door’, Damu provides lush sonic-environment’s
of key-heavy jazz funk which is brought right up-to date with
thumping skittering beats and needle rubs. The sound brings to
mind Gil Scott Heron meets J-Live on an East Coast tip. As the
album progresses there seems to be an increased layer of instrumentation
resulting in a swinging sound with increased body. Tracks like
‘Setting The Example’ consume the listener with its
perfect fusion of Soul, Funk, R&B, Jazz and Hip-Hop.
Unless expertly done, Hip-hop and Jazz can make for strange bedfellows
and the result manages to put-off fans of both genres. If however,
the rapper is able to spit complexly and energetically with quick
shifts in tempo and if the producer/DJ has the ability to source
and slot-in expertly chosen records and fuse them with fresh urban
motiff’s, then you have a winner. ‘TAYOP’ by
Y-Society is amongst the few artists that occupy the latter, and
as such, ‘TAYOP’ is the intellectual’s urban
soundtrack to fall 2007. (AM)
For fans of: Guru Jazzmatazz series, Roots, Gangstarr,
J-Live, Ty, Cyne, Gil-Scott Heron
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