Various Artists Ropeladder 12 LP This is one of those albums that I got knowing only about 3 of the people on the whole project. So when I put it into the stereo I wasn’t sure what to expect, but to be honest I’m still not sure! Its one of those albums that the more times you listen to it, it grows on your like hairs on your dick at puberty. The problem I have, is I’m one of these people who hates large change especially to something I love so much like hiphop. Now that’s not to say that hiphop should stay stagnant, but it does take me a while to re-adjust to totally new stuff. There are some really nice tracks on it though, first off on my favorites is Aesop Rock ‘The Active Element’. Some really nice Spanish guitar with other space age samples allows the weird backing for the blokes equally weird voice. Nice lyrics on this track aid it being one of the nicest on the album. Lulu Mushi ‘I dream’ is another nice track, no lyrics but well nice production that changes loads times to keep the track feeling fresh all the way through. The cutting by DJ Signify puts another layer onto the whole track making it feel more like a composure than a simple beat and sample layering. Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician ‘Rain Dance’ has some real mellow production which is just the job when you feel like chilling. Nice rapping executed over this difficult beat fits into the unconventional style, but I must say this has to be the nicest track on the album. My last track that I pick has got to be Nickodemus feat. Apani ‘The Spirit Within’. The beats on this are really sick with nice chimes, nice and off beat kind of feel, buts its not so off beat that it gives you a headache. The rapper Apani is one of the nicest female MC’s I have heard for a while, she can really hold down the mic and uses lyrics other than ‘I have big booty’ which is always rather refreshing! I would suggest aging B-Boys who don’t like change or people who like there hiphop how it is should stay away. But if you have a more open mind to the world of hiphop then this is certainly a nice album. Its taken me a while to get my head around the album, but now I have I’m liking what I hear even though my first feelings were that it was just to different. But hey, hiphops changing, don’t be left behind… - 2Hip | profile © ukhh.com 1999 - 2000