Styles of Beyond
2000 Fold
[Hi-Ho]
Rating: 6.0
Though they call themselves Styles of Beyond, the style in effect comes
from the early '90s Native Tongue scene. Modeling themselves after the
East Coast collective that included Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers and
De La Soul, Los Angeles- based Styles of Beyond are trying to break it down
to the nitty grit and show those Puffy motherfuckers why they ain't shit.
2000 Fold features unadorned beats, spare samples, and prodigious
microphone flow in the old New York style. And it translates well to record,
but instead of getting down and really doing it to you in your earhole,
these guys are content play it safe in that "underground" way.
I can hear you asking, "How does one play it safe and remain underground?"
If you're following hip-hop that doesn't feature album covers with a dude on
a throne surrounded by pit bulls clad in diamond- studded collars, you know
what I'm talking about. You keep it underground by using some drum machines.
You keep the sounds and samples minimal. You steer well clear of the top- down
rolling funk of latter- day Death Row and No Limit records. You don't rhyme
about bitches and money-- you keep the lyrical focus on your superior microphone
skills. You throw in some offbeat references and a decent vocabulary and you
get the underground. But you don't get entertainment.
But I don't want it to sound like 2000 Fold is a bad album, 'cause it
isn't. I'll take this shit over Master P or Nas any day. It's just that we've
clearly heard this before. And when you combine rap music's paralyzing genre
restrictions with such a simple sound, the end result is nothing to get
excited about. Bottom line: if you're going to keep the production so
minimal, you'd better be able to rhyme like Q-Tip or Rakim. Otherwise, beef
up the sound and give us some damn ear candy. The hardcore graf writers in
East L.A. will be on 2000 Fold like flies on shit-- it keeps the
hip-hop "pure" with the scratches, beatboxing, real DJ work and admittedly
strong rapping skills. But those looking for something new-- say, a style
that actually comes from beyond-- had better keep on looking.
-Mark Richard-San