ARTIST: The YMD
TITLE: Excuse Me, This is the Yah Mos Def
LABEL: My Pal God
GENRE: Hip-Hop
BITRATE: 129kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 21m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-02-12
RIP DATE: 2008-02-16
Track List
----------
1. Charles Maggio's Real Last Name 4:05
is Ash
2. Drown Yr Hamster in Nail Polish 2:07
Remover
3. New Direction 2:50
4. Stockton to Malone 3:46
5. The Beat That Makes The Native 3:19
Nod
6. Jive Like Jehu 2:27
7. Major Taylor Goes Awol (Feat. 2:51
Dino-kale)
Release Notes:
Shit, if itÆs going to be this kind of party, with two new b-boys on the scene
making with the freak-freak, IÆm sticking my dick in the new potatoes.
Yah Mos DefÆs debut full length, Excuse Me, This Is the Yah Mos Def, bears a
highly familiar sound, but itÆs refreshing to have finally found a revitalizing
direction in unpolished, low-budget recordings. On ôCharles MaggioÆs Real Last
Name is Ashö the YMD chant ôcausing hysteria, on, on the stereoö and it is a
fitting introduction to the funky punk rap these two bring to each song. Front
to back, the YMD assault eardrums, demanding that motherfuckers get with the
program.
Shouting out every neighborhood in Philadelphia on ôNew Direction,ö the YMD
command attention by borrowing a style originated by the Beastie Boys circa
Check Your Head and Ill Communication, blurring the lines between punk and hip
hop. Sampling Minor Threat, Bikini Kill and CapÆn Jazz, the YMD bring the big
beat matched with quirky rhymes heavy in reference. Never complex or intricate
in wordplay, B. Awesome and Distro stick to what they know, talking shit,
flowing on point and referencing NBA legends to describe their rhyme style. As
Distro blacks out with the flow on ôNew Directionö he reminds us all that ôyaÆll
donÆt wanna mess with the Yah Mos Def / You know my shit list is way longer than
my guest list / You can come and test this / Straight AÆs, teacherÆs pet shit /
YMD writing text books on how to wreck shit.ö
It is difficult to ignore the obvious comparison when B. Awesome and Distro have
chemistry and vocal stylings reminiscent of Ad Rock and MCA (omitting Mike D);
in addition, the two record with heavily distorted vocal effects popularized on
ôSo Whatcha Wantö and ôB-Boys Making with the Freak-Freak.ö
Similarities aside, the YMD capture a manic hysteria the aging Beasties seem to
be incapable of tapping into anymore. B.Awsome and Distro have mastered the tag
team rap style, building off the otherÆs energy and coming together to add
powerful impact to special moments like ôbring who you want, weÆll take on Anal
Cunt.ö
The strength in YMD comes from tracing a blueprint, then painting with wild
style over it, until it is barely recognizable. The YMD gives me hope that if
itÆs possible to revamp my favorite Beasties era, then an actual Native
Tongues/De La Soul second coming of happy young black men rapping over obscure
yodeling samples could still happen.