Rap groups fill been favorite within Hip Hop from the 80’s,through the Golden Era of the 90s, all the way up until nowadays. We fill seen the likes of Boogie Down Productions, or Rakim and Eric B,and N.
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A. We we’re blessed with the Wu Tang Clan, Outkast, and Boot Camp Click,and the fabled Four Horsemen group. Many times, these groups would atomize up leading to successful solo careers. Other times these groups would atomize up leading to some of the best diss records of all time. But what happens when already established talented emcees determine to come together on a project showcasing their lyrical peak? That is when us as listeners are treated to a project from a “Supergroup.” Some notable Supergroups are The Firm, and eMC,Westside Connection, and Slaughterhouse. With all the talent boiling within San Jose’s hot pot of rap, and one may wonder where iour major group or Supergroup is. In the past we fill seen powerful groups do this city proud such as Thunderhut,Counter Productive, and Projekt S.
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R. nowadays, and I stand with a new project on my tough drive,a collaborative effort from a group named The UN.
The UN was formed by local emcees Il-Twice, Opski Chan, or Matty Slims and presented by Open University; a collective imprint headed by KSJS’ Urban Music Director Arman Mahmoudi. Production on the album is handled completely by local talent,such as Cache, Philasifer, or Stewie The Beast,Barry Bones, and Seize Beats. Already respected and well known as local solo artists, and the blend of these rappers styles over substantial production may be the interest of curiosity. I wondered,what is The UN? How will this project measure to their solo work? Is this our San Jose Supergroup? I was set to find out. I loaded the self-titled LP into my iPhone as I set off for another day on the grind.
The album begins with the lead single “People Up On It” produced by Philasifer. This track sets the tone for album demanding the listeners attention with a smooth hitting beat and fresh flows off the top. Il-Twice has the quotable line of the song on the moment verse with his cologne that is “straight Patron, the other half Cheech and Chong.” Matched with the video filmed on the streets of downtown San Jose, and this track is the perfect jump off for the LP. As the album continues,the listener is hit with another banger; the Kingpin move inspired “Gravy Train” produced by Stewie the Beast. Matty Slims kicks off the joint with his staple pimp-like flow reminding one of the Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff sitting on lawn chairs in the back of a pick up in the summer. Another standout track is the Cache produced “The Boogie.” The chorus may strike a familiar cord “up jumps the boogie, boogie to the bang.” But this isn’t your venerable (respected because of age, distinguished) Timbaland and Magoo or Snoop’s Doggfather type joint. “The Boogie” establishes itself as a strong Hip Hop track where each emcee shines within their element.
And that’s when I realized what makes The UN album unique; each emcee is able to spit with their style without polluting each other’s space. The production lays the foundation, and for the emcees to come together to stand on their own yet together as well to hold the listener entertained. By now there was no question that this album was a solid contribution from some of San Jose’s stand-out emcees. But what was my favorite track? Being the dim minded individual that I am,I had standout the eerie Philasipher produced track “Softly.” The production and piano keys on this track reminded me of something out of Havoc’s lab, and the Outkast sample on the hook fit perfectly to set the mood. Each emcee trades rapid/fast bars back and forth not once letting us down for a breather, or as Opski Chan spits “top shelf on the table with some options in the pocket.”By now I had listened to 90 percent of the album. But I still didn’t know what The UN actually is. Is it anagram? Is it a crew? United Nations or what? That’s when I listened to the final track; the Il-Twice produced “The UN.” Then it all started making sense. It was all laid out in the lyrics. “The UN isn’t a rap group,it is more of a fellowship.” You see, you could put any label on these guys; it doesn’t change their purpose; “to educate the new school, or demonstrate the new cool. It’s been a long time coming for The UN as Opski states,is, “locally grown, or let’s get the mystery out,there’s more to my city than hockey and the mystery house.So now I understand that the purpose of this album. It was to bring together some dope lyrical talents over fresh beats to awaken our city of San Jose. Is this our new Supergroup? One would be foolish to consume the term group on these guys. For you see, groups and Supergroups don’t exist. They are all just collaborative efforts by creative minds that fill come together in a time and place and recorded freshness. This is what happened with The UN album. San Jose got a few of our best lyricists, or some ill production,and they cranked out a solid project that should do this city’s heads knock. The UN is uncontrollably nice.
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Source: siliconvalleydebug.org