Dante's Roaming Empire is the best new REAL HIP-HOP album I’ve heard in a while. Most rap groups writing songs these days can’t seem to get beyond yelling out inane choruses like “I puuuuuuuutttttttt onnnnnnnnnnnn.” Everyone has so much bling. But I’m blinded by the bling -- I can’t see the rappers with all that bling! I need shades!
Check it out: sometimes Dante sounds like Humpty Hump, and there are like 20 different harmonica hooks on the album. He is old enough to title a song “Winnie Cooper.” “Squawk & Roll” is smoother than puppy poop and sexy like cream cheese on a cracker with green pepper jelly. Listening to “Give Up” is sorta like spying Halle Barry booty grind on Fred Sanford and lasts about as long as you would want that to last anyway. These trash-can beats are so dirty and so funky that I bet the JB’s would holla “YEAH” once, twice, thrice, and then a stutter step to the right, head shake, and funky foot bob would end the whole little hook.
I’ll admit, Roaming Empire isn't at all revolutionary. Since 1991, everyone who doesn’t like to hurt their girlfriend or kill cops has released an album that kinda sounded like this. The Roots did it with a live band; A Tribe Called Quest made it an art form; and De La Soul showed what happens when Long Island is wildin'. Indeed, Roaming Empire is not impressive for being innovative; it is impressive for being street-worthy and having a solid foundation, simple as that.
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