El-p
Fantastic Damage

THE REVIEW

El-p (which stands for El-Producto)... born Jaime Meline, former member of Company Flow, a cornerstone of New York's independent hip hop, with his label Definitive Jux, released a memorable album in 2002 that seems to have been entirely conceived and recorded in a parallel galaxy, light years away from planet Earth.

5 stars are not enough for those who love hip hop and its underground side, because this work (as well as much of the releases by El-P) writes one of the most important pages of electronic productions and the history of rap, the one unbound by any form of mainstream constraint. This is basement rap where words aren't measured and jewels aren't flaunted, but gentlemen, El-P's is more than a basement — it is a research laboratory, where he has found the cure for the tumors infesting the commercial matrices of current hip hop productions.
And if "Funcrusher Plus" from his former group in '95 and "The Cold Vein" in 2001 by the superhero duo Cannibal Ox (entirely produced by him) weren't enough to propel him into the unconventional Star Olympus, our beloved carrot top with a somewhat dark and mysterious look in 2002 showcases all of his "enhancements", of how much he has learned, and how far ahead he is, but so much, so much, so much.

In this album as futuristic as it is metaphysical, the sounds are those of a cerebrally evolved civilization, perhaps assimilated to machines and capable of making them sound with just the power of thought... yes, because the connection between El-P and the samplers, the drum machines, the sequencers, and so on is telekinetic; all seasoned with a touch of refined intrinsic irony because in this album you will obviously find a perfect alchemy between the classic funk of James Brown and the electro-creative potential of Kraftwerk, you will travel aboard a DeLorean and will most likely remain trapped in the web made of El-P's sound particles and you will never return to today's days.

Lyrically visiting El-P on this album are: Aesop Rock (whose tongue has a mutant nervous muscular network), Ill Bill (loaded with new techniques and structures as evolved as they are malicious) in Delorean, Rob Smith in the chaotic Truancy, Cage and Camu Tao also worthy in Not in Accidents Don't Happen, Vast Aire (always one of my favorites) in Dr. HellNo Vs. The Praying Mantis, and Mr Lif & C Rayz Walz in the last track Blood.
Lastly, I just need to point out track no. 3 Deep Space 9mm[..] Where's God? Buy a car, Kick tires[..][..]Thank god for the drugs and drums[..]

Forget every traditional sound and make room for these of "Fantastic Damage", as visionary as they are incredibly anchored to a reality called Hip Hop.