Instrumental hip hop, when it is produced well, can be innovative, creative, and listener-friendly, without the need for accompaniment by the ubiquitous rapper. When it’s done poorly, however, it is nothing more than a tedious, repetitive beat over some often trite, overused loops; designed to be nothing more than background music for rap. The Bay Area’s Meanest Man Contest, consisting of producer Quarterbar and vocalist/producer Eriksolo, have produced a rather downbeat and damn near aesthetically perfect record in Plug Research’s Merit. Vocalist Eriksolo’s delivery is similar to the Anticon Collective’s Alias; his stream-of-consciousness, freestyle vocals, however, are to be heard on only two or three tracks on Merit. But this is not to say that the album suffers in any way by being primarily instrumental.
The album begins with the undeniably brilliant “Sorry.” From here, a progression of gorgeously produced tracks ensues. No scratching, no turntablistic theatrics, just one tight assed beat after another. Comparisons, production-wise, to DJ Shadow, UNKLE, and RJD2 are obvious. MMC take an extremely melodic, compositional approach to the production on Merit. It should also be said that MMC share, to a lesser degree, the deconstructive take on hip hop that is utilized by Prefuse 73 and Machine Drum as well. There exists, on Merit, the subtle influence of IDM; specifically Boards of Canada and perhaps Squarepusher. And, like a great deal of IDM (and certainly DJ Shadow and UNKLE), there is a dark, subterranean vibe on this record.
MMC mercifully share an appreciation for the virtues of brevity on Merit. The entire album (fourteen tracks worth) clocks in at under forty minutes; most tracks are between two and three minutes in length. Despite the length of the record and the individual tracks, MMC display a stunning restraint and dedication to diversity (some tracks contain three or four completely different drum breaks). And the album may just contain the most interesting use of a Daryl Hall & John Oates sample…ever!
1. Sorry
2. Science Diet
3. Not Sorry
4. Carpal Twist
5. Don't Die on Christmas
6. Alive in Sweet Bad Times
7. I Have Changed My Plans
8. Macarthur to Glen Park
9. Knock Knock
10. The Most Intrusive Places
11. Pirate Style
12. Odd Predicament
13. Excitement of Students
14. So Glad
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