4 ninja starts out of 5
Here’s the back-story… Pharoahe Monch one of the game’s best lyricists released his last album Internal Affairs 8 years ago to both critical acclaim and commercial success due largely to the Godzilla sampling lead single “Simon Says (Get the F’ Up).” Then as a result (and on the verge of going platinum) of not getting said sample cleared the album was pulled off the shelves which sent Pharoahe tumbling into a series of label disputes and almost signings (he was once rumored to be signed to Shady Records).
But now he’s back “ridin’ the baseline like Ginobili” with the aptly titled Desire (a 7 year vet returning to the game after an 8 year hiatus must either really love hip-hop or not be able to get another job) and he’s mad. And although venting about the industry is nothing new Monch makes it fresh with lines like “I get it poppin’ without Artist and Repertoire ‘cuz Pharoahe is a monarch minus the A & R”, and his take on the ambiguity of song right ownership where he states “when you sample a snare your payin’ the klan.”
Desire is not just an industry bitch session, other highlights of the album include the soulful bounce of “Body Baby”, “Bartap”, and the beautiful three part epic of murder and retaliation called “Trilogy.” The latter two which show off Monch’s highly underrated story-telling ability.
Once on the cutting edge and rivaled by only Eminem and possibly Black Thought in lyrical creativity and inventiveness (he’s still pretty damn good), nothing save of the return of some sort of religious messiah is worth waiting 8 years for but, it’s great to have him back and hopefully we won’t have to wait another 8 for his next one.
Gander On!
