Single Body BabyM, while an anthem to physical desirability, is genuinely odd, adjusting the Pharoahe's NYC hip hop to a brassy juke joint swing that even inspires him to sing the lecherous, retro chorus. Sexwise, Bar Tap segues from conversational bluster to masterful Monchian language tapestry to inebriated half crooning to Midwestern slang parody to a backdrop that evokes the most bubbly, buzzy phase of intoxication. Every time Pharoahe Monch approaches these subjects that could be considered obvious, there is a novel perspective, idea, sound or conceit to justify their presence. Sex and violence are not avoided, but not flaunted, either. Conspicuous consumption and materialism are noticeably absent and presumably irrelevant. He is not, however, a typical mainstream rapper who happens to have exceptional skills. The album covers a plethora of moods and subjects, but it never feels like he is resentfully boasting about his own superiority or chastising the failures of the rest of culture. Pharoahe Monch also has a gift for avoiding the insufferability that tends to infect some high minded independent hip hop. Everything can be followed and enjoyed line to line, but the retrospective accumulation is what dazzles. Though it takes multiple listenings to begin to grasp a great deal of what Pharoahe Monch is doing with his words and how he says them, it is never impenetrable. It is a little bit overwhelming, but not oppressively so. Every track is dense with layers of metaphor, pun, reference, punchline, and linguistic dexterity. The delivery is peerless, booming and energetic without ever seeming to shout, relaxed and prodigiously nimble and quick tongued, confidently dancing around complex clusters of words and ideas that would tie up and vex even a competent, experienced rapper, then adjusting, skewing, and twisting this skill set to make specific songs and verses distinct. As refreshing and crisp as the music can be, however, the words cannot help but be the show. The rhymes are not allowed to overwhelm canny production and beats by 99 Fingaz, the Alchemist, Black Milk and others including Monch himself. That was over seven years ago, and label red tape has prevented Pharoahe Monch from delivering his follow-up until now.ĭesire confirms that Pharoahe Monch is indeed one of the greatest emcees alive, not a legend inflated in his absence. The famous sample that song was based around, from the Godzilla films, was unfortunately not cleared by the label, leading what should have been a triumph to be ceased and desisted, complicating the distribution of a promising, classic first album. That album's leadoff single, Simon Says, was a monster anthem, indelibly commanding the world to get the fuck up. After an innovative run as half of the underground duo Organized Konfusion in the 90s, his solo debut, Internal Affairs, was released on Rawkus when they were still the strongest, most prominent force in independent hip hop. Pharoahe Monch, leading up to the release of his long awaited disc, Desire, has been a notable victim of industry boondoggling. Pharoahe Monch Desire (Street Records Corporation / Universal)
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