The Polyrhythm Addicts are a supergroup formed by four heavyweights of underground rap, namely the MCs Shabaam Sadeeq, Mr. Complex, and the lady Apani Bee Fly Emcee, plus that sample genius known as DJ Spinna. The four decided to join forces and, in the now distant 1999, released "Rhyme Related" on the Nervous label, with the result, as could be expected, being excellent.
10 exquisite tracks, where the intricacies and rhymes of our artists blend perfectly with the extremely original musical backdrops created by Spinna, where twisted grooves, heavy drums, and jazz influences dominate. It's impossible to resist tracks like the edgy Motion 2000 with its super bouncy bass, the magnificent Take Me Home, boasting the always superb Pharaoahe Monch feature, then continuing with the hypnotic Big Phat Boom, the instrumental No Limit and its astonishing sonic kaleidoscope, the irresistible old school Nervous Breakdown, up to Seven Steps Behind, where the rhymes of Joc Max and Spinna's longtime partner, Kriminul (the other half of Jigmastas), further enrich what proves to be the worthy conclusion of a fascinating and unjustly underestimated album.
Sure, maybe "Rhyme Related" is not a work for everyone, it's particularly suited for lovers of more underground and unique sounds, but despite that, it remains a worthy representation of true rap, the kind that smells like street corner freestyle and has an attitude to sell, which today is somewhat absent from TV and radio schedules saturated with bejeweled rappers proud of their (supposed) sexual feats, two-bit gangsters, and such.
As long as their musical proposals remain dull, personally, I'll continue to prefer albums like "Rhyme Related," we'll see what happens then...
Tracklist and Videos
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