The CounterParts

CounterParts :: The CounterParts LP :: Beat Rock Records
as reviewed by Patrick Taylor

CounterParts are a multiracial crew made up of MCs T-Know, Braelan B, Otayo Dubb, and producers Fatgums, Gamma Ray, and Vesk One. The crew hails from Norwalk, California, near Long Beach, and the San Francisco Bay Area. They mix the Golden Age hip hop sound of SoCal with intelligent, positive lyrics that reflect Bay Area culture.

The beats are sample-heavy and loaded with cuts and scratches. Fatgums and Gamma Ray know how to work a dusty break, and create some classic boom bap that fans of old school hip hop will love. There are no synths here, just old funk and soul served up hot and fresh. They sample the Clash's epic "Guns of Brixton" on "Guns of Cali," using almost the entire song but changing the lyrics to reflect gang violence in California rather than gang violence in South London's notorious Brixton district. "Re:Act" samples a dirty jazz bass riff, working it into an ominous beat which the rappers use to as a call to action.

They hit their peak on "Dreams Deferred Remix," which has a bouncing beat, and deals with being a struggling musician. "What does it matter," they rap. "My wife once joked 'My husband thinks that he's a rapper'" The sampled chorus says it all: "I still feel the fire/I'm like an addict hooked on drugs." It's a recurring theme in their lyrics: they work hard, don't see any financial rewards for their labors, but love what they do too much to quit. Or as T-Know says on "To the Top," "Time we spent rapping, we coulda been doctors."

They take things down a notch on "Until," which has downtempo, subdued beat, and talks about growing up in a broken home, and not letting adversity get you down:

"Growing up I swallowed hate and government cheese
Roaches in the bath tub
Pigs in the street
Street pharmacists prescribing crack to the fiends
Crips and Bloods throwing up they C's and B's
While my momma raise us seven alone
Broken home
My father left my momma alone
A rolling stone
Don't know much about him
Only what I was told
And the saddest thing about it is that momma never moved on
But regardless of the hardships
I see the beauty of it all
Cuz from all this nonsense I'm still standing tall
Now I got two of my own that I don't raise alone"

"Until" sums up the CounterParts' approach to life. They've all had to struggle to get where they are at, they've all known hardship, and yet they focus on the positive rather than wallowing in self-pity or negativity. They also use their diversity to their advantage. The members are African-American, Asian, and Caucasian, and grew up in different cities in different parts of the state. This allows them greater insight into the problems facing their respective communities. It also leads to the best song on the album, "Home In The Bay," which pays homage to the unique culture of the Bay Area, "Appreciating how all my people flourish/Their history of struggle and their legacy of courage."

CounterParts are yet another solid Golden Age crew that fans of People Under the Stairs will definitely want to check out. Their album mixes serious conscious rhymes with feel-good tracks, providing a healthy range for your listening pleasure. It's all delivered with honesty and intelligence, and backed by stellar production work from Gamma Ray and Fatgums. "The CounterParts LP" is like a blast of Cali sun, and sure to warm you on these cold autumn nights.

Music Vibes: 8.5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 7.5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 8 of 10

Originally posted: December 1, 2009
source: www.RapReviews.com - Rap Reviews

http://loudvine.com/blog/interviews/the-counterparts-interview#more-2149 - loudvine.com

Sometimes when I wonder off to music land, I get lost in the quagmire of mash-ups, nursery school rhymes/overused snare drum loops & auto-tuned vocals. This leaves me in a discombobulated state, which makes me wonder, where has real hip-hop gone? When I listened to The CounterParts debut LP, a thought bubble appeared above my head which said "Oh, there it is". This is accompanied with a "I missed you" grin from my ears and mouth.

The group's self-titled LP is a refreshing sound of hip-hop which brings me back to the golden age of hip-hop / late 80's - early 90's. The CounterParts is in the same mold as Hieroglyphics, Native Tongues, Visionaries, and the LA Good Life Cafe collective (Jurassic 5, Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude & etc.). This group edu-tains you with their verbal political discussions & editorials about society and dealings of life issues, as presented in tracks TRADING PLACES & GUNS OF CALI (featuring Native Guns).

One of my favorite tracks is Re:ACT, which features a deep pulsating bass-line sprinkled in with battle scratches and a verbal barrage by the 3 MC's on social complacency. It plays like a "carpe diem" militant street anthem and encourages to start a self-revolution from within to motivate and inspire oneself through today and beyond.

The content that is presented are themes that are real and relatable - the balance of the love of rhyme & sounds versus life & family, steady optimism through the roller coaster of life and paying homage to friends and family, like the track UNTIL. The crew also gives some home Cali-love from the Bay to LA (and the battle of LA taco's vs Bay burritos as mentioned in the tight track HOME IN THE BAY). WHAT WE DO brings a funky Oakland funk sound as the 3 MC's rhyme about the non-glorified part of being an MC, spending late nights with a bunch of dudes in a cramped studio booth. Though they wouldn't mind the money, glory & fame that comes with being a hip-hop heavy, being true to their values and family is above all.

This multi-ethnic 5 member crew consists of 3 MC's - T-Know, BraelanB and Otayo Dubb. These wordsmiths met at a UC Santa Cruz (Banana Slug Life!!!) where they reveled and honed their craft in hip-hop cyphers, passing the 40 oz's, participation in bong circles and various other recreational college narcotics (which I may have been a privy to�things are a bit hazy whenever I think about those days). Now they've grown up and matured, much like their lyrics. The remaining 2 are producers, Fatgums & Gammaray, who provide the foundation of the well versed lyrics with choice samples, beats and cuts.

Their love of hip hop is obvious and infectious in the midst of family responsibilities and life priorities. I almost think that they daydream in beats & rhyme. Marketing and promotion is often mistakingly used as a barometer of what's "good" in popular society. This leaves many independent artists overlooked. Quality of rhymes and beats should be the measure of good, motivational, and real music. This is what independent artist like The CounterParts provide.

So from the fickle purist to the casual fan into frivolous pop rap, I suggest you deviate from your norm and pick this one up. CD's or downloadable versions can be purchased at independent label Beatrock Music.

While I was listening to their album I was reminded why I will always love H.E.R.. Let the love affair continue... - Comics & Dakine 12/23/09

http://vimeo.com/8336599 - Mook Genius