(Anti/Shock)

A party-starter that offers something more with it

San Francisco Bay Area producer/MC Tom Shimura AKA Lyrics Born, with his links to people like DJ Shadow and the Quannum collective, has long been at the forefront of that city’s innovative hiphop scene. But since his last album, he’s brought a live sound developed on the road into the studio, cutting back samples for a more real-time funk-flavoured hiphop. And even when samples do come to the fore, as in B.T. Express’s Mental Telepathy used in Whispers, funk is still the key. Often built around the kind of clap-slap rhythms, spidery guitar and fiesty horns initiated by George Clinton in the ‘70s and enhanced by ‘80s acts from Chic to Cameo, it all helps fuel the non-stop party feel of these grooves. All the while, Lyrics Born shows off his verbal agility, switching easily from tongue-twisting raps to smooth-flowing vocals. But a closer listen reveals themes beyond either the usual hands-in-the-air or fist-shaking clichés, from the issue of racism in Is It The Skin I’m In? to Whispers, about the death of his best friend. Even straight party pieces like Hott 2 Deff has this guy sounding on the ball in more ways than one.

*** ½

BILL HOLDSWORTH

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