Capital-X

Reviewed by Mistadave
3.5 out of 5

The "X", the unknown, related to the great black leader of the past. 305375, the identification number he had known in his days in prison. An explicit reference (Voice of The Voiceless) to Mumia Abu Jamal, perhaps the worlds most famous convicted prisoner on death row. Once you've come to understand these concepts, then you're ready to plunge into the universe of Capital-"X", Puerto Rican origins, Brooklyn, New York born, a world which consists of strong feelings, blind fury, a desire for revenge, for justice, feelings that often collide with his hope for a better world, less corrupted, less cynical, one that needs a fresh start with a new youth education system. The albums mood is often nervous and obscure, related to a person that strongly believes that his prison experience deteriorated his life instead of correcting it, in a system that hides the motives of profits, the abuses, and the structures' precarious conditions. 305375 is a portrait of reality equivalent to a punch right in the stomach, a wake up call against the death penalty, which the artist fights against with numerous and praiseworthy activities (identified by the artist himself by the word "Raptivism"), with many interludes that brings directly to you the voices of the condemned. Goin' to the album specifics, "305375" a 23-tracks work, comprising interludes, brings back an imaginary connection with the militant and controvercial Rap once performed by Public Enemy and Paris, specifically in songs as the symbolic "Criminals Of War", by exposing similar conspiracy theories against America's powerful side, the one that tentatively crushes minorities, and by bringing to every ear that listens the prisons' inhumane conditions, being that experience of living in those places are something that a person carries with them forever.
The truth and passion exposed are well represented by the musical choices, the beats are raw and hard, the drums are tight, the keyboards are often solemn, and they contribute in creating a freezing atmosphere (“Stop Snitchin” fits the example very well), there are malinconico piano loops ("From The Frontlines", "Prison Of The Mind"), and there's little variations on the main themes, as many songs start and finish with the same combination of beat/loop. The overall work, despite its notable length, is interesting even after many listens and the number of skippable songs is reduced to a minimum, it is very good from a lyrical point of view, even if X's lyrical style is sometimes hard to comprehend (X eats many words, so possessing the written lyrics is fundamental to really understand what he says), a characteristic that collides with the urgence of the message involved. The best episodes are "Face The Music", a heavy boom bap which spits in the face of the corruption, the imposing "Conspiracy" and its anti-American dream, the touchy "999330", dedicated to Anthony Haynes, and the hypnotic/militant "Fight The Apathy", the discs highest point. "Spic In Black" also remains well impressed on the listener's mind, a sort of ballad accompanied by an acoustic guitar where X explains his legacy with the color black, honoring the lost and the defeated ones, a Johnny Cash-inspired concept track. It is a truthful album, a monothematic one but very important to listen to, often controversial, sometimes extreme, there are some concepts that some will disagree with, and can discuss for months, about the cruelty and the worst parts of this world that not everyone knows. - RapManiacz

The "Spic in Black", the raptivist, the MC, or the voice of the voiceless? I call Capital X a real OG. What do you get when you have a young OG, super hard production, raw lyricism filled with truth and a delivery that channels all of the great speakers of our time. You get Capital X and his new album which is now available on i-Tunes.
Redemption – A fierce song that gets you hyped. As I write this, the kids walk around saying "Redemption." What is crazy is that the imagery he creates is the real deal and the effect that it has on your spirit is like gasoline to a fire.
Violent Resistance – interlude
"the United States taught us very well how to be violent"
"for those that know the truth but choose to live a lie instead"
Face the Music
"Especially if you in Texas cuz you gonna die" What is dope about Capital X, is that he is not preachy, he just spits hard. Political truth in the vein of a G therefore the end result is mad quotables that just go hard but at the same time real information about the lies of world government. 90’s sounding NY hip hop beat.
Bullshit – interlude
G.Bush reciting poetry and witchcraft secret messages. Like that recent billboard somewhere in the US on the side of the road with a foto of Bush and said "do you miss me?"
Conspiracy
Sick voice……adrenalin song….slower beat, just real hard….like funeral sounds..Capital X delivery is exceptional here.
Prisoner Anthony Hayes from Death Row
"I make today count"
999330
Another slow banging anthem. Production on the whole album reminds me of old Mobb Deep, dark and banging. Feeling the grimy melody in the hook. Music you can ride to because has the main elements necessary for eternal shelf life:
Timeless banging production
Raw Delivery
Real person behind the music
I Want Justice
Crazy intro, like some Asian movie sample? Seen him perform this song live in front of kids, older people, hip hop heads, everyone singing along. One of Capital X’s anthems.
Channel 4 interlude
Walk for Life Journey, Capital X speaking live on the news regarding the death penalty and his walk from New Jersey to Texas protesting it.
Walk the Walk
Here gets down on some old school West Coast funk, "I leave cracks in the asphalt like San Andreas fault." The man from South Bronx speaking his mind.
Frederick Douglas - interlude
"if there is no struggle, there is no progress"
Spic in Black
Nice moody guitar that drops into a heavy guitar riff, then the strings come in. 40 seconds of instrumental set the tone of the warrior and his living word. "I wear black for all the millions locked down on all cell blocks ‘cuz I’m still mourning Biggie, Pac and Scott La Rock."
On the Run
One of my favorite songs. Hook is real solid. "Raise your fists red white yellow black and brown…I’m murdering with the sound." I’m not fully quoting him, I know..this one is hard though.
From the Frontlines
"hella gunfire while locked in a cage" this is the song. Seen him perform this one. The Production kind of reminds me of "Shook Ones" from Mobb Deep. This is gangster music right here. There is a lot of talk about a rapper named Shyne who recently got out of jail. As a hip hop fan and person with a strong dislike for greed and senseless murder, Capital X is what I would hope that Shyne would sound like after being locked up.
Life – featuring Akir
Slow and twisted. "Serving life in this game now, without parole with nothing to lose, like I’m stranded on death row." Yes, another solid banger.
Criminals of War
Ill drum roll intro, this beat is sooooo sick. A slow and rumble with a vocal sample repeating. "Ignoring international laws, ignoring international courts." The hook goes metal which caught me by surprise but compliments the song nicely.
George L.Jackson – interlude
"brutality leads to more resistance"
Fight the Apathy
The chase scene song, this song is a serious rumble. The hook is catchy and the violin starts making it another anthem for the album.
"Fuck signing a petition, we need urban guerillas with high power ammunition."
That’s all you need to know.
Stop Snitching
Crazy beat. Super hyped up. There are a lot of tracks on this album. I bang this while
I wash dishes, get me and the kids hyped. A perfect blend of traditional MC cadence and gangster, aggressive content as well as delivery. The ill voice.
Prison of the Mind
"I got the razor in my hands ready to cut my veins"
"In the prison of the mind, this is where I’m living"
Real and raw. Introspective. Go out shooting, suicide, or allow the power of your mind to
carry you to a beautiful place where you find solace and nourishment for your spirit.
Runaway Slave – live in Norway 2009
Acapella like a beast. Just over 1 minute. Like a beast on the mic I said.
Revolutionary
Last song on the album, only right he leaves us with another anthem. Homie declares war on the sick and steps up to the front line of the battle and puts his fist in the face of the fascist bastards.
Been listening to this for about 2 weeks. Different settings, times of the day & night. I wanted to make sure that I absorbed the vibe in its entirety. I’m real picky about what I actually buy, then listen to more than a few times. This is music that actually has longevity because it bangs. There are many "conscious rappers" or "political minded rappers" that really lack the energy in their delivery and live show but not Capital X. Myself and Kiawitl have been blessed to perform a few times with brother and he gets all walks of life grooving, chanting his hooks. One of the few people in the world that actually has a CD that I still play and its been what, 2 years since our last show together?
Cop this album on i-tunes.
- iLLumunati 2G