once i saw this group in a concert with Cypress Hill and Group Home in my Hometown Bielefeld ,Germany Finding a copy of this on compact disc or vinyl is damn near impossible!!!!! This LP is a MUST for anyone who is serious about their Hip Hop (by that I mean, people who regard Public Enemy's - 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back' as one of the finest Hip Hop Albums ever made as a pose to 50 Cent's latest long-player!!). Released in late 1996 to a floundering UK Hip Hop scene, 'Elementalz' must rate as one of the Pinnacle's of British Rap. From the smoky, brooding opener 'One' the listener is surrounded with the atmospheric yet pounding backdrop of The Underdog's beats. Added to this are the happily contrasting vocal styles of emcee's Shylock and Mr Spyce ,who chant and spit well thought-out and audibly pleasing lyrics throughout this 15-track classic. Occasional scratches and hooks were laid-down by deejay Mr Dexter, who lazily compliments The Underdog's first-rate production. The album is a work filled with familiar references of everyday life and culture in the capitol of the UK, but to be honest a lot of the clever-writing may not be appreciated in the US. Lyrical references span the full English gammet including such subjects as: Chris Eubank, 'Drop The Dead Donkey', Eric Cantona, Marc Bolan, Frank Bruno, Barry Sheen, Eric Sykes, Syd James, Fred West, 'Rhubarb & Custard', Robinson's Jam, Bob Hoskins ( in the British Telecom TV Adverts) and Ultravox (amongst others too numerous to list). Shylock's vocal delivery is a 'Chuck D' to Spyce's 'Flavor Flav' (for want of a better Hip Hop comparison). Mr Spyce adds a more gruff and less eloquent vocal style to Shylock's mid-range and intricate pattern of speech, but the two voices compliment each-other in a way that most Rap collaborative's strive to achieve. The whole package still sounds fresh and original 11 years after it's initial release (and eventual deletion). It's also worth noting the effort and talent that went into the artwork and image for the group's releases. All the 12" Vinyl and CD sleeves from the Album and the LP's artwork itself was provided by legendary graphic novel Photographer & Artist, Dave McKean. His trademark style of brooding, dark and ethereal imagery fits snugly with The Brotherhood's sound. For me personally, this is one of the classic Music / Art collaborations and ranks near the top of that list with Pink Floyd's collaboration with the surreal Artist Gerald Scarfe on the 1979 album 'The Wall'. If you are someone who digs in the crates for quality 'Brithop'. Or someone who enjoys Gunshot, Hijack, London Posse, Katch 22 , Silver Bullet and Derek B. Then you will go nuts over this if you have never heard it before - It's THAT good!! However, If you are not fast approaching 30 Years Old (like me) and/or do not have an unhealthy and obsessive love of Hip Hop (like me), this will probably just be an eye-opening and entertaining look into another tangent of Rap Music. It's a classic album from the ranks of British Hip Hop and (for me) a classic landmark in UK Rap's struggle to be heard during the late 1990's. It veers in tone from the ridiculous to the sublime and never seems to suffer for it. The Underdog, Shylock, Mr Spyce & Mr Dexter handle their honed material far better than 75 per cent of Hip Hop's, current 'Mainstream'artists can. The music is talented, crafted and clever (The Underdog even uses a repeated sample of the late 80's 'Speak 'n' Spell', electronic kid's game at one point!). And the vocals are witty, incisive, satirical, moving and original (track 14 even being called 'British Accent' and blasting UK emcee's who feign an American one). If you can find this album and it sounds like you would be interested, Buy It!! You won't be disappointed I promise you.

• published: 10 Feb 2009
• views: 8770