Hitch Hiking Music - Classified

From BC about this Album:

Classified is a toss back to the days when rap was about, well, rap, before it was basically a 3 to 5 minute add for various products set to a beat that makes you wanna move. The Nova Scotia born Classified has been dropping albums sence 1995 and his elder statesman of the canadian scene status shows more and more on every album. He comes with very few gimics and would rather stand alone on a track or put up other lesser known outside of Canada MCs then to drop tracks with huge names. Its roots raw canadian hip hop, and I must say, I like it.

Most would say that Class is akin to the likes of Eminem and other white rappers, but really, he's not. Where Em aims to be more controversial in an attempt to gain headlines and fuel buzz for a new album or something, Class would rather rap more intelligent like, he shows he's progressed as the world around him has, he makes referances to message boards and other internet related things, as well as taking a stance against his naysayers and even references the way the hip hop world works, explaining "first they liked LL, then they hated him, then they became indifferent" and other things of that nature, he also takes shots at the fact alot of rappers get into coke and groupies, he stays true to himself and to his beliefs and bangs beats of them as good as anyone on the charts in the states.

I find that one of the most stand out tracks in "Beatin It" in which he raps wile creating the song's beat, wile rapping over it. Yes I understand how unheard of that sounds, but its an incredably revolutionary idea, much like when Nas dropped "I gave You the Power" in 1996 telling the story of a gun, I see alot of imitators coming along and doing this very same thing.

What I find though, that I enjoy the most, is the fact that he's not really "hollywood" but he still manages to make an album that sounds like his lable was aiming for it to be their big seller for the year. And it makes it more meaningfull when you find out that Class himself produced most of the album himself. The few guests he does have all sound solid and actually compliment each other on tracks instead of that odd not really meshing thing we find to often here in the states.

I would say this album is for those that believe in there still being good rap being made, but know that you need to go outside of the states to get it saddly. I would say the tracks that stand out the most are "beatin it", "Hip Hop Star" and "Its all about You". Give it a try if you're up for something new.

Artist: Classified
Album: Hitch Hiking Music
Genre: Hip Hop/Underground

Hitch Hiking Music - Classified

By BC