Flatbush Zombies Better OFF DEAD Album Review
Electric KoolAde Records
Released September 11, 2013 Genre: Hip Hop, Psychedelic Rap, Cloud Rap
Electric KoolAde Records
Released September 11, 2013 Genre: Hip Hop, Psychedelic Rap, Cloud Rap
Trippy, grimy, and erratic: these are the words that describe the new mixtape from New York oddballs Flatbush Zombies. This three-emcee outfit hits hard with bold lyricism and adaptable flows. These guys straddle the line between hilarious and scary, making “Better OFF DEAD” a project that any rap fan does not want to miss.
Kicking off the album with bangers such as “Amerikkkan Pie” and “Nephilim,” it’s apparent that Zombies pull-no-punches. They are not afraid to venture into uncomfortable territory and expound upon gritty themes, like racism, with skill. Every rapper can switch topics multiple times in each song and stay interesting.
Erik Arc Elliot, a member of the trio, produces most of this project, finding wonky beats to match the idiosyncratic nature of the group. The beats, just like the emcees, are unpredictable, innovative, and diverse. Whether cloudy, grimy or psychedelic, they are captivating and nasty (in the best way possibly). For example, “Live From Hell” has a trap-influenced beat, but it is far from rudimentary. It is atmospheric and eerie, but intriguing. They can also be hilarious. The banger, “MRAZ,” features a genius sample of “Ice Cream Paint Job,” a reference that will surely have the listener laughing uncontrollably.
Despite the abundance of great tunes on this project, there are a few downsides. A handful of tracks in the second half of this album fall flat, tracks that don’t represent what Zombies are good at. The sleeper “222” meanders around, never finding an interesting groove or hook. Lyrically, it’s lazy, talking about things unrelated to the listener. Other tracks delve into girl problems, promoting misogyny to a disgustingly gritty degree.
Overall, this is a tape to definitely check out. Despite the flaws (which are few and far between), a hardcore rap fan will love this, and a casual fan will dig it. PRETTY NEAT MUSIC Fav Tracks: Amerikkkan Pie, Nephilim, G-Tears, Regular and Complex, Club Soda, MRAZ, The Results are In Least Fav: 222, TP4, My Team Supreme Score: (8.6/10)
