“On Our Way” - Review Of Tanya Morgan’s Brooklynati
ALBUM REVIEWS By K1NG on May 11, 2009 at 11:42 am
It’s been a relatively good year for Ilyas, Donwill and Von Pea, collectively known as Tanya Morgan. Their stock has risen from an unknown group mistakenly refered as a R&B group, to a respectable Hip-Hop conglomerate with rising stock in a profession flooded with competition from all angles and regions. Their latest album Brooklynati seems to have them in a great position in the Hip-Hop conscious to get them acquainted with a myriad of new listeners.
Brooklynati, the fictitious city that plays the background to the Brooklyn and Cincinnati Ohio’s natives tales, is a destination that would seem to be a part of the real America if America was what it should be. Much like the rappers, the city seems to be as communal as it gets. Whether it’s helping out the local DJ to keep his business open or it’s celebrating their most prized Hip-Hop act Hardcore Gentleman, Brooklynati is there to help. The album itself is a great introduction to the trio’s style and personalities with a backdrop of soulfully exquisite beats with the production styles of Von Pea and outsiders Aeon and Brick being showcased for the wordsmiths to bounce their lyricism off of.
Songs like “Alleye Need” and “So Damn Down” are the kind of smooth songs that cover the majority of the album. The lyrics and wordplay are interesting (albeit not worth transcribing,) the flows are air-tight, and the beats are exactly what you would expect out of a group whose mixtape was sponsored by Okayplayer. There are a few shining exceptions from this trend that keeps the album pushing along like “Plan B,” which is a describes the trio’s varied perspectives of career choices if Hip-Hop wasn’t a reality.
Another example is the double time flow that Ilyas displays on the song “We’re Fly” that would make even the most close minded doubter crack a smile. The amount of features is kept at a minimum, but fortunately where they are present they are utilized well. On “Morgan Blu,” the three MC’s trade bars with the incomparable Los Angeles rapper Blu over a subtly enticing sample with a interweaving vocal snippet that keeps your attention. Elsewhere, Phonte croons on the aptly titled “Without U” which is seemingly a 2009 version of Common’s classic “I Used To Love H.E.R.”
While the album is very well put together and the rappers are more than adequate without a glaring weak link, the production is rather bleak and doesn’t do much to compliment the spirited lyricism. For those who found their mixtape Tanya Morgan Is A Rap Group to be enjoyable, the LP is a pleasant addition to the group’s growing catalogue. Newcomers may not be sold right away but a few visits to Brooklynati should get them feeling right at home to TM’s disposition.
Download — Tanya Morgan - “So Damn Down”
Video — Move To Brooklynati
Previously Posted — Your Official Brooklynati Survival Kit | Video: Tanya Morgan’s Official Brooklynati Tourism Guide
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL — Tags: Brooklynati, Phonte, Tanya Morgan
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22 Comments
I haven’t given this a listen yet, but I look forward to sampling it once it hits the comments section, and if I dig it like I’ve dug their other material I will be copping a hard copy.
On another note, word has come out that our Panamanian cricket team flicks are indeed photo-shopped.
Somehow, the original version just isn’t as enticing:
http://therapup.uproxx.com/2009/05/weve-been-had.html
**goes back to Rhi-Rhi posts**
Was @ the sold out Houston show… it was crazy.
Drake - Successful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKA9VT7vbqo&feature=channel_page
Unstoppable + Uptown (with Bun B)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIqZf1tFQ78&feature=channel_page
Best I Ever Had
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aJqF724leQ&feature=channel_page
Here’s some more footage from the SneakerPimps Event
Wale and Bun B - Back in the Go Mode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPD3R5kP8Bs&feature=channel_page
Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68sHb6KMVLQ&feature=channel
Wale - Chillin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylUfwFdEc-8&feature=channel_page
Scarface - Mind Playin Tricks (plus - explains what the original lyrics were)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j-UzJVu9xc&feature=channel_page
Scarface - Singin his ass off lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRnTC1qKUHg&feature=channel_page
I stopped reading after multiple errors in your first sentence.
I’ll say it again, step it up or get an editor.
@Brian, man everyone is entitled to a mistake here and there.
ain’t no tanya morgan new shit link
Brian, do everyone a favor, go check if there’s traffic outside, and if there is, go ahead and play in it for awhile, you know just to see what happens.
^ Eat a dick, Brian. That petty nitpicking shit is real lame.
Good write-up, though.
Artist: Me-One
Album: As Far As I’m Concerned
Year: 2000
Label: Universal Island
Producers: Me One, The Science Room, The Roots
guests: michelle gayle, evil dee, mixmaster d, guru, dice raw, tone da backbone
will appeal: To fans of D’Angelo, Rapheal Saadiq, Q-Tip, John Legend, Beatminerz, The Roots, Erykah Badu
tracklisting
1. Old Fashioned
2. Twist Of Fate
3. La La Hey
4. Gameplan
5. Robin Hood
6. Chapters cuts by Evil Dee
7. That’s The Flex
8. In My Room w/ Michelle Gayle
9. Do You Know feat. Guru
10. Message 4 U
11. Frenemy feat. Dice Raw
12. The Feel Good One
http://rapidshare.com/files/165648848/M1-AFAIC.rar
http://therapup.uproxx.com/2009/05/weve-been-had.html
———————————-
dammit….
@B.Payton, the art of illusion fella, strobelite honies in effect.
It’s okay. Brian probably wrote for print & has nothing else do w/his days right now.
^^hahahaha I probably shouldn’t laugh at that… but you aint never lied, Gotty…
No, you shouldn’t lol. Dah well.
Anyways, I’m “the editor,” even though I wasn’t on this one. If that sentence or any other one distracts you from reading, then…hey, you’re gonna see more. Feel free to email me @ any time.
john.gotty at gmail dot com
@Gotty, can I fix you a plate guv’na?
DON’T TAKE A PLATE FROM BABY PAW, GOTTY!
HE’LL PUT SOME OF LUNA B’s FISH IN IT (ewwwww)
@El Rosado, oh man that’s gross, I’ll have to drink a whole bottle Dentyl PH Artic Fresh Mint mouthwash just to wipe out the after taste.
i don’t even take plates from males waiters.
You’re scaring me Paw lol
Luna Tuna !
Baby Paw ate the Luna Tuna with Tomato Sauce. No wonder he is mad at cooler chicks; he ordeded Luna Tuna and ended up with Crabs!!!
LOL
lmfao @ I don’t take plates from male waiters.
I can imagine Gotty going into a restaruant late night, it’s towards closing, maybe 1 waiter left and it happens to be a dude. He’s prolly like “nah nah, man, nah, the manager, cashier, one of the cooks, someone back there has to be a female. Have her bring my plate. Look, have one of these female customers bring my plate. Anyone but a guy.”
LOL @ Bigga ha ha that’s a good one! :)
tanya is hot