Soon Come: Hip-Hop Perfection. Review on Soon Come - Asheru

I'm not going to f-ck around and pretend I know everything there is to know about Asheru and Blue Black. All I know is that they made one of the best underground tracks with Truly Unique a few years back, and I initially forgot about them. Not finding any album that I would find listenable, with the exception of Freddie Foxxx's AKA Bumpy Knuckles' Industry Shakedown, I remembered the names Asheru and Blue Black and decided to pick up the album. Although I was heading home not knowing what to expect. Worried that this would be more commercial Hip-Hop, it ended up being some of the best underground Hip-Hop around. Before I start the review, Asheru and Blue Black (from now on referred to as The Unspoken Heard) aren't gangsta's, they're not club-anthem creators. They’re positive emcees. They kick rhymes about themselves, Old School braggadocio, up-lifting messages and social consciousness. Enter Soon Come and prepare for a Hip-Hop a revelation. Prepare for fresh messages, subject matter and beats. This is so fresh I hang it in my car mirror. Without a doubt, the best album of 2001.

Beat wise, this isn't typical Hip-Hop. There are simplistic drum loops and bass lines as with any Hip-Hop record, but this is more jazz-inspired. The similarities between Unspoken Heard and A Tribe Called Quest begin here. They consist of a DJ (can anyone say Ali Shaheed Muhammed) constructing the sampling which is original in this day and age of Hip-Hop, as well as pre-programmed drums and sampling that reflects on the overall sound. However the minimalistic sounds complement the jazz-influences quite well. It’s been awhile since these influences mixed with an album of sampling and some Old School vibes to create a truly listenable album in the beat department. The production, however, is some of the best around. The elements and arrangements of each beat and sample is mixed incredibly well and is introduced critically well. Being more than half of what utilizes the overall sound, it’s crucial that it’s recorded and arranged to perfection, and it’s nothing short of which.

Most of the album is a mixture of Hip-Hop and Jazz. Sounding somewhat like A Tribe Called Quest with a few Jay Dee influences, but overall, horns, piano keys and percussion construct the sound. More relaxed and up-lifting rather than darker or, more or less, low-key sounding. Even with that said, the interpolations of these elements mixed into somewhat Old School sounding soundscapes makes it all the much more listenable. While other albums may have a bigger and more varied selection of these particular influences, the laid-back vibes and innovative sound propels the album forward. These aren't anything danceable; they enhance the art of head-nodding. The percussion and drum loops are the main enhancement of the sound. While the overall utilization is worth hearing, the elements and arrangement are classic. Never have I heard an album blend underground-influences, Jazz, live instrumentation to vocal samples that enhance the overall track. This is musical perfection at its finest.

This is absolute perfection. Production and beats don't get any better than this. Sounding close to something A Tribe Called Quest would make, but more laid-back and creative. It creates a vibe that enhances the lyrics and the two emcees flow and cadence quite well. With this said, the varied elements, samples, simplistic drum loops and bass lines to strings and piano keys, its musical perfection. With this said, it fits the style of the album well. Instead of creating beats that rarely fit the lyrics and subject matter, it makes them all much more listenable.

Lyrically is where Soon Come truly shines. Once again, another A Tribe Called Quest reference comes into play. There’s social consciousness, but then there’s braggadocio, battle raps and descriptive tracks that few emcees would think of doing. With this, the lyrics and vibe closely resemble that of Tribe's. Instead of focusing solely on social consciousness, there are tracks that are them just rhyming about nothing in particular, metaphorical rap's, the state of Hip-Hop and Old School braggadocio. Although its not quite as deep or as educating as a Common or Talib Kweli album, The Unspoken Heard are great lyricists and it shows throughout the entire album. Their cadence and flow fit the top-notch beats perfectly. Even though there aren't that many lyrical variations, the style used are undoubtedly good as they take on a form of positivity and messages rather than bragging again and again. With this said, the subject matter is just as good as the https://lyrics.

Social consciousness is The Unspoken Heard's best form of lyricism. Touching down on topics such as children that don't have socially aware parents, and therefore create a future that is unpromising and are negative due to their poor past. It gets deep sometime as there’s even racism, rights and equal treatment thrown in. This style itself makes Soon Come worth the purchase. Hearing the two emcees rap about problems in society, as well as some original topics bring the subject matter up. Even though most of the album has them rapping and brining positive messages and subject matter forth rather than a lot of social consciousness, when it is utilized, it’s nothing short of perfect. Varied lyrical stylings and topics bring a refreshing change from the materialism that plagues many albums. The consciousness even subtlety attacks materialism, showing the listener that The Unspoken Heard are going to bring creativity and originality back.

The subject matter and lyrics alone make this album worth the purchase. The positivity and up-lifting messages provide originality and innovation to the album they complement the production and beats incredibly well. Although the Jazz influences are rhythmic and provide better backdrops than Old School stylings and simplistic break-beats, the Jazz itself is a breath of fresh air when paired with https://lyrics. The ability to blend these two elements in subject matter and messages along with up-lifting vibes makes Soon Come all the much more listenable. Original and creativity are the main goals behind the lyrics and subject matter. With that said, Soon Come reaches those goals with amazing results.

The only guest artist on the album is Ill Will who has a relatively short freestyle. At the end of the track This Is Me, he kicks one of the best freestyle verses I've ever heard. His rhymes and flow are of his own style, as are the wordplay, metaphors and similes. Making sure his freestyle verses is full of the aforementioned; it’s humorous and original content creates one of the most memorable moments throughout the duration of the album.

Dropping a verse that is both original and creative make This Is Me one of the best tracks on the album. Even though the whole album is pure Hip-Hop perfection. The track as a whole is top-notch due to Ill Will's verse. The humorous aspect of it makes it all the much better. Although there is only one guest artist (which isn't even necessary) its one of the best verses I've heard on a Hip-Hop record.

Asheru and Blue Black create one of the best albums of the last ten years with Soon Come. The albums wide range of lyrics, subject matter and beats make it classic. Every single thing about this album is perfect. With no downfalls whatsoever, this is one of the best albums I've ever heard.

Do yourself a favor and pick up Soon Come. This is as good as Hip-Hop gets.