Super-group of Rawkus Records Alumni gets together to make another tight album. Led once again by super producer DJ Spinna, Polyrhythm Addicts kinda takes the idea of the Funky Four + 1 and meets it with the style reminiscent of Natural Resource with just a hint of the Fugees. New member Tiye Phoenix fills the shoes of Apani B Fly Emcee and fits right in. I will admit i wasn't necessarily excited with Break Glass's lead single "Reachin'" feat. Pharoahe Monch, but after a few spins, it really grew on me. I really like the energy and feeling on songs like "Reachin'" and "Kerosene" which feature some of the most rugged drums I've heard Spinna arrange. The song is pure heat. If you're a fan of Spinna's beats with creepy samples, try "Ugly World". I really dug the hypnotic sounds and heavy drums of "The Purist". A song strictly for the Hip-Hop Purists, it features all to familiar classic song titles and lines from the golden era, dropped in every verse. This type of song has been done hella times before but thankfully it's done the right way on this track. Large Professor is on the hook and final verse and yes, he kills it.
"Going Down" might just be my favorite cut on "Break Glass" and mainly due to the beat. I hit repeat 3 times before moving on. Just like "The Purist", "Going Down" borrows lines from all the great hip-hop love/lust songs of the past(Think Big Papa, Pink Cookies in a plastic bag, etc.). Mr. Complex also references his own joint "Scrape ya back out"(still a hot joint). There is a lot of soulful hip-hop on here. Everyone is so Dilla crazy you almost forget how dope Spinna is(which you shouldn't) and thankfully this is not one of those albums where the Production completely outshines the Emcees. As for who stands out lyrically, it's really a toss up. All 3 Emcees rip it pretty hard. I really like the chemistry and for a project like this, chemistry is key. "We Kno" might be the best cut showing off how Mr. Complex, Shabaam Sahdeeq and Tyie Phoenix work so well and it'd be kinda hard to not rip hard over Spinna's beats(Unless you're the Jigmastas...hehe just kidding). Other hot stand out cuts are "Revamp", "One Chance" feat. Planet Asia, "It's My Life" feat. Phonte and the not to be slept on "Four Corners" which brings back my favorite DJ Spinna rubbery synth bass tone. Polyrhythm Addict's "Break Glass" will most likely end up on my top 15 Hip-Hop Albums of 2007, but hopefully not on my top slept on albums of 2007.
This review is also on www.smokingsection.net a very dope site i'm now doing record reviews for...scroll down on that site to find my review. Depending on when you go to the TSS site you may have to dig deeper.
