“Charity Case”- Vandalyzm’s Megatron Majorz
GENERAL By Patrick M. on January 12, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Hailing from St. Louis, Vandalyzm represents that rare artist who is equally capable in the production chair and behind the microphone. It shows on Megatron Majorz, where over half of the eighteen tracks are self-produced. His sound, like his hometown, draws influences from many different regions. “Ol’ Girl,” a dedication to the riper berries, utilizes the old school soul sampling that Kanye made famous from Chicago. “Frontin’,” has that slow, grimy sound of the Dirty South, complete with high hats and synths. Moreover, Vandalyzm isn’t afraid to take chances, with his beats or rhymes. “Charity Case,” creatively turns a Billy Joel sample into sonic crack. Vandalyzm sends a message to those who’ve been utilizing his production skills without showing proper patronage:
Cause I aint really much for the being broke/Bein’ insulted bein’ the butt of your jokes/The game’s unbelievably cutthroat/man i’m bout to cut throats and slash a bitch/turning St. Louis into a slasher flick.
Like many rappers out there, Vandalyzm feels underappreciated. He believes he deserves to break through nationally and be recognized for his talents. Lesser rappers gripes about lack of recognition are tiresome, but the St Louis native handles the subject well by using self-deprecating humor about his situation. An example of this comes from “Trickin’” where he spins a cliched hip-hop chant into a sharp dig at goldiggers.
“Laaaaaaadiees/My Merceeeeedes/doesn’t exist/Now look at all the frowny faces acting all pissed/but chickens dig this/ ya’ll wasn’t gettin’ in even if i had that whip
Such honesty & humor are refreshing in hip-hop, and Vandalyzm portrays himself in this vain throughout the album. He’s not a criminal mastermind or the newest fearless gangster to idolize. He’s not the savior of hip-hop. He’s a struggling artist working to make it big by making quality music. “Chip,” another self-produced gem, crystallizes this philosophy over a beautiful, soft, string loop that contrasts well with Van’s hard lyrics. “Three The…” featuring Wafeek and Finale, is a killer posse cut that gets your head boppin’. “Hands High,” is a solid hip-hop party track featuring Big Pooh from Little Brother, one of several Justus League collaborations featured on the album.
Hip-hop has been built by young, hungry artists looking to prove themselves over its history. As hip-hop has evolved into big business, hip-hop fans have grown used to production and mixing standards afforded by big labels. This hinders independent artists, including Vandalyzm, Some of the beats on Megatron… do not have the same level of polish. At 18 tracks, the album is too long, perhaps because Vandalyzm is concerned with exposure. On Megatron Majorz, Two “freestyle” tracks “Studio Gangstas” and “Dreams Freestyle” utilize popular samples and belong on mixtapes. His MCing could also use some polish and refinement. His wordplay is impressive, but his flow slips off-beat occasionally, like at the beginning of the third verse on “Charity Case.” Maybe it’s my east-coast ears getting in the way, but he could also stand to work on his enunciation.
These flaws make Megatron Majorz the album before the breakthrough, instead of Van’s big moment. But the potential is definitely there. If he stays hungry and gets a little bit of good fortune, we’ll be hearing more from Vandalyzm as a producer, a rapper, or both. Grab a copy, and hopefully in a few years, you can brag about how early you jumped on him.
For more info, visit www.myspace.com/vandalyzm.
Posted in GENERAL, MUSIC, REVIEWS, STRAY SHOTS — Tags: Megatron Majorz, Vandalyzm
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44 Comments
uno
I’m not sayin’ I’m number one
umm, I’m sorry I lied, I’m number one…
two…
three…
four…
…and five!
What’s hood with that Ali Vegas mixtape. I know somebody got that ish.
^what he said.
Ali Vegas was ‘pose to blow up like, 10 years ago and shit.
anyone got that new guilty simpson? I went to get it from another post but the link expired. Also would be coo if its hosted by anything but rapidshare. thanks in advance! PEACE
oh shit! this Vandalyzm jawnt got production by Khrysis, Flying Lotus, & FlyamSam!
http://www.whatupthough.wordpress.com
yadig.
Sir Gotty, can your boy get a link exchange.
thanks for this. flying lotus is dope as fuck. shame the dude has so few production credits for rappers.
and vandalyzm is cool too.
Yo does anyone know anymore music where I can download albums other than album hunt thanks in advance.
This Vandalyzm dude is cool, I agree with what Patrick said about his rhymes and production. Is this an ‘07 or ‘08 release? Does anybody know when that Jay Electronica is supposed to drop? I’ve been listening to some of his shit and I’m hooked!
Guilty Simpson (Black Milk)? Anyone got it?
Lookin good Pat
Ill cover…..
Jay-z Voice
Its black Super hero Music Baby
You guys hear American Ironman Yet?
New Blog at ….
http://somethinglikearapper.wordpress.com/
New Soulja Boy… SMH, you took your fame, now invest and come back like Bow Wow, name yourself Soulja, and improve your flow
XXL got a nice poll with a shitload of commercial releases… might be something interesting to look @
Alchemist Chemical Warfare
Andre 3000’s Solo Album
AZ Undeniable
Bun B II Trill
Busta Rhymes Back On My Bullsh*t
David Banner The Greatest Story Ever Told
DMX Walk With Me Now and You’ll Fly With Me Later
E-40 The Ball Street Journal
Eve Here I Am
Fat Joe The Elephant In The Room
Flo-Rida Mail On Sunday
Foxy Brown Brooklyn’s Don Diva
The Game LAX
G-Unit Shoot To Kill
Ice Cube Raw Footage
Ja Rule The Mirror
Jadakiss’ Roc-A-Fella debut
Jim Jones & Styles P The Ghost & The Capo
Juelz Santana Born To Lose, Bred To Win
Kidz In The Hall The In Crowd
Killer Mike I Pledge Allegience To the Grind 2
Lil Jon Crunk Rock
Lil Keke Loved By Few, Hated By Many
Lil Wayne Tha Carter 3
LL Cool J Exit 13
Ludacris Theatre Of The Mind
Mike Jones The Voice Of The Streets
Mistah F.A.B. Da Yellow Bus Rydah
Murs Murs For President
Nas N*gger
Nelly Brass Knuckles
Pete Rock NY’s Finest
Prodigy H.N.I.C. 2
Remy Ma PunisHer
Rick Ross Trilla
The Roots Rising Down
Saigon The Greatest Story Never Told
Shawty Lo Units In Da City
Slim Thug Boss Of The Bosses
Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin’
Three 6 Mafia Last 2 Walk
T.I. Paperwork
Trina Still The Baddest
Webbie Savage Life 2
Plenty of gold in there commercially, add that to the underground, and the potential to have all these CD’s fall in ‘08, and it should be a decent year
Oh Yeah… Tom Brady > Brett Favre > David Garrard > your Favorite QB… those 3 put on a show today
P.S. My album im anticipating the most out of ‘08 is
Bishop Lamont – Reformation, and
Atmopshere – When Life Gives You Lemons…
2 CD’s not featured by the XXL list
For albums you can try http://www.musire.com/
Not as good as albumhunt, but it works. or you can do this:
If you’re looking for something and can’t find it do this:
1. Go to Google or Google Blog Search (http://blogsearch.google.com/)
2. Use a variation of seaches or key words such as:
artist name rapidshare
album name zshare
song title megaupload
Alter your searches with the different uploading sites at the end of each search.
For example, I put in Kanye West Rapidshare and this came up…
http://www.rlslog.net/lupe-fiasco-the-cool-retail-2007/
which lead me to this…
http://link-protector.com/363531/
Boom!
I meant Lupe Fiasco rapidshare.
I got that tutorial from Gotty a while back. It works pretty well.
^ That’s need to know info right there
Good look Big Fonz thanks for the info.
Cristiano [4-2 Playoff Picks] Searl
Meet “XXL’s Most Anticipated…”
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=2704
Those Google search tips listed above are the truth. I use’em daily for the most part, esp. when it comes to recently released stuff that’s all over the net.
google + zshare > radio
What’s the radio?
We The Best
big fonz THANK YOU!!!! been trying to figure that out.
dude this shit is dope as fuck
Dilla anthology vol 1 2 3 4 & 5……
Who got dat? or doe’s?
Obscure Ish…
MC Hammer=Too Tight(Unreleased Death Row album)
http://rs92.rapidshare.com/files/65676253/hammer.rar
for albums, also try http://www.shareminer.com.
yall should have been stepped yall google-fu up, i been on that is daily too. thats like basic interrnuts knowledge lol
@ Gotty
DAMN i missed that HOW !?
So much for writing for you lot
Van’s joint is the truth..craziness on the production and fly lyricism,…St.Louis has been killing the Smoking Section..y’all ask somebody man..this shit is like the Bronx 88 all over again..lol
I dream about eating out Keyisha Cole
Megatron Majorz, yessir…a quality project indeed.
and when its all said and done, i’ll be able to say i helped Van name his first EP release:
I Ain’t Shit (Seriously, He Ain’t Shit)
yeah that’s right. the subtitle is all me….
(shameless plug)
you can find Vandalyzm on many DJ Trackstar mixtapes!!!!
http://www.djtrackstar.com
http://www.hurtmesoul.com/2007/07/lets-get-free-mixtapes.html
lol at TC
YERRRP
Goodlooking on the love folks…
Show that to my page though lol
http://www.myspace.com/vandalyzm
HOJ FA LIFE!!!
Easy
-Majorz
Check out the feature on Van in the Riverfront Times; link and MP3s here:
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2008/01/vandalyzm_feature_in_this_week.php
Van is doing his thing, bringing some light to our scene here in St Louis MO. Much respect to Majorz! Oh yea Van can be heard on my newest mixtape 4$ale But Not 4$ale Vol.3 along with some other hungry St Louis artist (Jia Davis, Toyy, The Perfect Strangers, Santone, J Biggs, Nato Caliph, Nite Owl, Rockwell Knuckles, and Wafeek to name a few.
Ay Van my cuzzin B
Dis dude been doin it big 4 a minute
One of the best out of St. Louis
I’m Standin on it
Ay errody get his album Megatron Majorz
And Get Gotta Be Karim’s album 2
Dey hot
Saw em at Vintage Vinyl