“Revolutionary Bullshit” - Review Of Black Spade’s To Serve With Love
ALBUM REVIEWS By TSSCrew on April 6, 2008 at 7:27 pmWords By Patrick M.
Many an album has been ruined by a rapper’s misguided ambitions to inject his half-assed singing or shoddy production into the mix. Most MCs, producers, or singers are good at one thing and are better served sticking to it. It’s rare to find an artist that’s able to combine rhyming, rapping, and musical production at a sustained quality. But there are those that are capable of weaving these three skills together into something greater than the sum of the parts. And we can add Black Spade to that list.
What merits his inclusion is his latest joint, To Serve with Love. On this album, Black Spade builds a successful musical work by thematically combining jazzy beats, soulful singing, and a laid-back style of MCing. The album is centered on a theme of maturity, echoed in Spade’s reliance on a subtle approach, both musically and lyrically. Neither Spade’s beats nor his voice overpower, but the balance between the two keeps the listener at attention. The title track exemplifies these traits, as Spade weaves a tale of early love over a soothing piano and drum loop. The music relaxes the listener and prepares the mind for Spade’s tale of a relationship gone wrong:
“Ma You couldn’t wait after a month/Before you started turning them stunts?/Ahh shh, Ok We like officially done/I had plans to make it even by you having my son, But I was dumb/Punch-Drunk in Love stuck by your gun/shit you fuck over my feeling hope you having some fun/but you say ‘you look way cause you’ve got nothing to say’/see you accuse me for months/ but I got you today/but you like ‘fine go ahead leave me alone then/Typical relations at least it was good bonin/you’d rather be a freak make babies like you was clonin.”
On other tracks, Spade relies more on his singing capabilities. “Love’s Right Here,” is dominated by the soulful chorus where Spade contrasts verses packed with commentary on societal ills with a message of hope. “Actioneer” is an inspirational hymn over a bouncy synth beat that gets you snapping your fingers and ready to take on the world.
If there’s a flaw to Spade’s work;’, it’s that his rapping never wows the listener in the way the true great MCs are capable of. He displays neither breakthrough lyrical trickery nor incredibly tight flowing. But he compensates by bringing in some killer guest artists who help raise the quality of the MCing. The best example of this is Wafeek and Rockwell Knuckles domination of “Her Perfume She Wore.” Spade doesn’t even rhyme on this track, but dominates in his own way by singing the bridge. Tef Poe’s performance on “Good Crazy,” where he vividly portrays St. Louis in the mid-90s, is another stand-out guest shot worth rewinding.
Quality guest shots are great, but you don’t want them to outshine the star of the show. What helps keep Black Spade in the spotlight is the unique sound he creates through his production. Tracks like “The Half that’s Never Been Told,” “Enjoy the Experience,” and “Not For The Bullshit,” all rely on different dissonant loops, from flute to tambourine to random gospel snippets. What they share is a driving rhythm that keeps the album moving, and serves as a template for Spade to rhyme over. And while his flows and rhymes aren’t complex, the lyrical content always is. He delves deeply into the complexities of relationships on songs like “She’s the One,” and offers pointed social commentary on “The Half That’s Never Been Told” and “Revolutionary Bullshit.”
For those tired of Hip-Hop that sounds the same, pick up this album. It will serve your ears, and your soul, well.
For more info, visit www.myspace.com/blackspade.
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL, WE GOT NOW — Tags: ALBUM REVIEWS, Black Spade
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26 Comments
foist
Album is definitely different & well worth the listen & the price of admission.
was the link for this ever upped?
*late pass*
yeah, this was mos def a good listen.
for me, a very welcome change of pace
http://rapidshare.com/files/84272359/Black_Spade_-_To_Serve_With_Love__Advance___2008_.rar
courtesy of the good folks at hiphopisread.blogspot.com
HHIR Exclusive: KRS-One & DJ Premier - Premo Production Vol. 2
http://rapidshare.com/files/105003350/hhirexclusivekrsonedjpremiercollabs.zip
01 Intro: KRS-One Attacks (Prod. by DJ Premier)
02 Outta Here (Prod. by DJ Premier)
03 ‘P’ is Still Free (Prod. by DJ Premier)
04 Mortal Thought (Prod. by DJ Premier)
05 I Can’t Wake Up (Prod. by DJ Premier)
06 Slap Them Up (Interlude feat. DJ Premier)
07 Higher Level (Prod. by DJ Premier)
08 1,2, Pass It (Prod. by DJ Premier feat. D&D All Stars)
09 1, 2 Pass It (DJ Premier Remix feat. D&D All Stars)
10 Rappaz R N Dainja (Prod. by DJ Premier)
11 MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know (Prod. by DJ Premier)
12 Wannabemceez (Prod. by DJ Premier feat. Mad Lion)
13 Bring It to the Cypher (Prod. by DJ Premier feat. Truck Turner)
14 The Victory (Prod. by Marley Marl feat. Blaq Poet & DJ Premier)
15 Classic (DJ Premier Remix feat. Kanye West, Nas & Rakim)
16 Criminal Minded ‘08 (Smirnoff Signature Mix) (Prod. by DJ Premier)
i love me some Primo production
MORE STL GREATNESS. YEAH KID.
Spade is a legend in the circles I run in…solid album, excellent guest appearances…don’t sleep…
fuck man, your postin all the dope shit.
Just copped it from the store a few days ago, sure fire classic. Dude has been one of the nicest producers/MC/singers from St. Louis.
oh and also….
“Good Crazy” is on Boogie Bang 13:
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=3760
and “Her Perfume She Wore” is on Still Dreamin:
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=3637
good looks Mista Misfit
one of the best albums i’ve gotten to hear all year. definitely worth buying.
Lotta STL love going on around here, starting make me home sick guys. :) Keep up all the good work
is it me or does every album seem to get 3.5 cigs?!
not knockin’ though, solid reviews..
definitely different….and got that Barakism…..fresh out the box wit a whole lotta change and that’s from a brother reppin’ P’cola, Fla.
@ whawhat
U kidding?
…..
HI!
Mariah Carey, E=MC2
http://rapidshare.com/files/100866770/Roxio.Toast.Titanium.9.MAC.OSX-HOTiSO.part3.rar
^^^woops, that was some other shit I was, um, ‘evaluating….”
One mo again:
Mariah Carey, E=MC2
http://rapidshare.com/files/105252735/Mariah_Carey-EMC2-2008-ESC.zip
Actually, we had a lot of debate on giving this one & Guilty more. But specifically this one, there were factors that kept it from going all the way over the top & us going on a ledge for it.
Believe though, no matter if you see 1.5 or a 4, it was questioned, debated & thought about before you saw that rating.
peace yall..check it out:
SADE TRIBUTE
live mix by DJ Dmadness (Oakland, CA)
recorded at SF soul party Devil’s Pie
all vinyl selections
email: sademix@gmail.com
for download link
1 i will be your friend
2 smooth operator
3 slave song
4 hang on to your love
5 never as good as the first time
6 pearls (somalia mix)
7 paradise
8 turn my back on you
9 kiss of life
10 clean heart
11 cherry pie
12 war of the hearts
13 keep looking
14 the sweetest taboo
15 tar baby
16 love is stronger than pride (mad professor remix)
17 king of sorrow (guru remix)
18 cherish the day (ronin remix)
19 is it a crime
20 no ordinary love
21 by your side (the neptunes remix)
22 your love is king
Lil Wayne - The Leak Chopped and Screwed (2008)
01. Lil Wayne_The Leak Chopped and Screwed - Im Me
02. Lil Wayne_The Leak Chopped and Screwed - Gossip
03. Lil Wayne_The Leak Chopped and Screwed - Kush
04. Lil Wayne_The Leak Chopped and Screwed - Love Me or Hate Me
05. Lil Wayne_The Leak Chopped and Screwed - Talking About Me
http://rapidshare.com/files/105473967/LWayne-TLCaScrewed_2008_upsmack.rar
“rhyming, rapping, and musical production”
what’s the difference between rhyming and rapping?!?
spade’s the TRUTH!!!
i know a lot of rappers who can’t (or at least don’t) rhyme…
It feels good to see this album getting some pub,Black Spade is actually my older brother and probally the best musician I ever met on all levels rather it be hip hop,soul jazz, experimental stuff..it doesn’t matter.In my opinion he’s money in the bank all day long.
I’ve seen this dude take a broken piece of garbage keyboard out the trash and bring it to the studio and make timeless shit.His lyrics are a mixture of simple minded compelxity.He’s not gonna spit a “Eminem” multi-syllabic verse filled with punchlines and off the wall metaphors.He just paints the picture good enough for the chick that listens to Musiq Soulchild and doesn’t really know that much about Mos Def can dig his music.He has the ability to bridge the cap between Madlib and Marvin Gaye.I’m proud to be on this album in mind its a classic and in St.Louis this represents a turning point for us the sameway Barack Obama offers the rest country hope for a brighter future –To Serve with Love is the musical embodiement of such a movement for the 314…
This album is nice never heard much about this guy before now but I’m definetly interested in hearing more he kinda reminds me of Common but its not quite the same he’s not biting just has a simular feel but his music is some of the dopest shit I’ve heard in years
impressed by this dude’s ability to do it all…would neva guess he’s from st. louis…kinda reminds me of phonte of lil bro(singin’ and rhymin’)…beats are nice…i would say he’s carved his on niche in the game…hip hop definitely needed this joint…keep puffin’