Addek

This interracial Bay area hip-hop duo offers a grab-bag of top-notch flow, lo-fi beats, assorted original touches and mixed messages. At their best, Eajae, Addek and friends (J-Root, Kasper, producer Robert Schaefer) meld spectacular lyrics on individuality and quashing the fake-gangsta pose with cool, raw production and entertaining flourishes. Highlights include opening tracks "The Next Chapter" and "CandyMan," with its singsong chorus; in fact, the first six cuts, up through the righteous "Indivisible," are largely untouchable. At their worst, the pair work some generic sounds that might get lost in a mediocre Friday-night urban-radio mix ("Poetic Assault," "Last Man Standing") and contradict their own best themes with thuggish and misogynist rhymes. Even that stuff is better than average, though, on the strength of clear, capable vocal performances and an up-front tone that borders on hardcore, but largely avoids that subgenre's hyperbolic clichés.
3 1/2 Planets out of 5

- Weekly Planet By Scott Harrell

With a mixture of posturing bravado and righteous anger, Addek burst onto the Podsafe Audio scene like a hip hop car bomb. Utilizing New Order-esque synth lines and a brooding, almost Gregorian chant style of rapping, Addek still manages to squander the first half of "Infamy" by resorting the usual hip hop hokum-taunting the competition and blowing his own horn.

To be fair, Addek has a lot to brag about. The Internet is full of gangsta wanna-bes rapping trite gibberish against been-there, done-that beats. While Addek can swagger with the best of them, he also relentlessly and intelligently decries the Bush administration and the war in Iraq at the second half of the song. When he delivers the line, “Intifada fighters, American occupiers, American liars, weapons suppliers,” you can feel Addek’s vitriol hit like a slap in the face. In a hip hop landscape littered with the bling-laden cadavers of gansta rap dinosaurs, Addek helps reinvigorate the concept of rap as social and political commentary. “Infamy,” despite some shortcomings, is razor-sharp protest music for the 21st century.
- Podsafeaudio.com by Ben McCombs

What Addek and the album "Hip-hop 9/11" are...is REAL TRUE hip-hop. Before hip-hop became big industry & in turn was flooded by copy-catting cookie cutter artist, hip-hop was more true, more REAL! M.C.'s came out authentic. There primary goal was to have something to be unique, and show there talent. They were there own men (and women) who let there own personality,style and point of view shine thru there music. Addek is a return of this type M.C.!! But does he make a good album? The simple answer is YES HE DOES. But more complicated, at least in my point of view isthat Hip-Hop 9/11 is a tale of two albums. One (tracks 2 to 9) very solid, but not amazing and then the other half (tracks 1 and 10-16) STELLAR and borderlining on CLASSIC!! The solid side basically relies on one thing. Addek's lyrical strength. Lyrically Addek never lacks. While not using much wordplay he crafts his words to create a verbal picture of his topic. He makes you understand and he makes you think. The problem on these tracks is that his flow does not neccesarily stand out and the solid but unspectacular production does not push the song to a higher level. No track from 2-9 is bad. In fact I was pleased with my purchase figuring the rest of the album was at this level. I was particular diggin "Da A Double D" and really respected Addek was doing. Then from tracks 10 on Addek blew me away! Same producer, same studio, same M.C.....unbelievable step up!!! He declares his take over on "stayonthemove". Flow and production now up to par with Addeks relentless lyrics you can literally feel him advancing on the industry. Then on the next 3 tracks Hip-Hop 9/11 touches the next level of music. Addek shows fearlessness and drops three CLASSICS! "reason to cry for me" has a inner reflectiveness and honesty rarely found in hip-hop....reminiscent of what made Tupac so special. "Audio Fantasy" is a beautiful blend of a club hit, with an r&B hook thats made for lyric lovers. I honestly can not figure out anything to compare it to. It's a song that is just a push away from mainstream appeal yet is above underground criticism. But the highlight on the album, to me is the bare bones produced "Our Last Days". A tributed to his grandmother who passed you can feel his heart merge into the track. Deeper and more insightful then any hip-hop tribute I've heard before. Recently losing a family member myself, quite honestly this song brought me to tears. SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. Addek finishes the album off well, with a politically charged gem, a cool southern jam, and a warning shot of upcoming music. Overall tracks 2 thru 9 are worthy of a pick-up and a wish that more M.C.'s were like Addek. The rest of the album will make you play the album for everyone you know, and question whether Addek has any peers at all. I've been posting my critics of albums all over cdbaby. Now finally everyone gets to be critical of me and my group. After you put this album in your cart check us out. cdbaby.com/cd/absolutepower We welcome all reviews.
- TheMoJoKing of Absolute Power