One of the reasons why hip-hop has been so successful in the last 20 years is its performers' ability to stretch the musical borders. Beyond the acceptance to mainstream and the hybridization of hip-hop with all different kinds of music, including funk, jazz, R&B, metal, etc, hip-hop music has diversified its sound since its inception. Yes, hip-hop will always have a set core of instrumentation -- the beats of the DJ and uniform cadences of emcees -- but what if you remove one of the vital elements? Is it still hip-hop? For sure it is, recognizing that the new structures and arrangements adapt and metamorphoses into an admired amalgamation. Nothing else can render the musical style more respectfully than when it reconstructs itself.
Food For Animals' Scavengers EP is reconstructed hip-hop. Sharing comparisons to Dalek's apocalyptic tactics, Food For Animals (aka Volture Voltaire and Ricky Rabbit) scour and grate the listener's minds with politically mocking banter and deranged instrumentation. While Voltaire's emcee delivery is reminiscent of a fiery and possessed Boots Reilly or Michael Franti (remember the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy?), Scavengers' music accompaniment is idiosyncratic, leaving listeners astonished and mind-boggled. Not classified as customary hip-hop (but is in fact hip-hop) Rabbit's beats fall between epileptic drum 'n bass and electro-hop, while Voltaire's anti-Bush lyrics permeate ferociously and violently, painting an unpleasant but necessary picture of today's political evil. And without Rabbit's scattering hostility, Voltaire's argument would not succeed or evolve.
Food For Animals' disposition is truly authentic, reinventing hip-hop (again) to convey its message for a new context, accurately and convincingly. The musical soundtrack is ideal for the thematic subject matter of the album. Songs like "Cut and Paste" and "Scavengers" exemplifies Food For Animals' ruggedness and affection. And while today's electro hip-hop becomes convincingly more mainstream, Food For Animals hammer its context with brutal energy and frenetic force.
1. Oh oh oh
2. Elephants
3. Brand new
4. Feedback
5. Muckrackers
6. Ncorrected
7. Trash
8. Cut and Paste
9. Scavengers
10. TTFN
More about: Food For Animals
