August 25, 2004

{ Louis Logic - Sin-a-Matic }

�Slept on� does not begin to describe how underappreciated Louis Logic�s 2003 release Sin-a-Matic truly is. I know �03 was a big year for the scene, and there was a lot going on in both the mainstream and the underground to distract, but it�s a fucking tragedy that this piece didn�t get more play. With some of the smoothest delivery this side of Detroit, Lou wraps witty and gritty lyrics around production by a host of talents (including The Avid Record Collector and Celph Titled, who also pulls guest-lyricist duty) all polished up to a nice shine by mixologist and partner in crime JJ Brown. Somewhere between backpack and Benz, what emerges is a true working-class rap album. It�s the kind of gold that can only be mined by a man forced to hold a day job, whose true passions only come out in those late-night off-hour recording sessions, or on stage between-jobs when touring clubs. Sin-a-Matic is a meticulously crafted work, and if its creator occasionally spits lyrics with a confidence usually reserved for the more-often-heard it�s because he�s got every right to be proud of this production. As for the lyrics themselves, I haven�t heard such a hook-laden batch of cleverness since forever ago. While a few tracks wax autobiographical, others are told through hyperbole-laced first-person character narratives. �The Ugly Truth�- with it�s racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic invective give us a window onto the thoughts of a soon-to-be-inaugurated political candidate (smells like Bush to me), while �Coochie Coup� clowns off some porno-obsessed stereotypes and the tendency of men to turn women into sexual objects. Lou manages to turn the usual rap tropes on their ear, even when getting a little more personal on tracks like �Postal� and �Best Friends / Revenge!!!� by way of some smart exaggeration and comic posturing. Production-wise, Sin-a-Matic serves up some devastating beats, scratches and samples, intelligently layered to round out each piece. It�s not that cookie-cutter-crap rap-track, but something fresh and innovative, unafraid to experiment with non-traditional sounds and instrumentation. Props out to JJ Brown for holding this side of the album down. So basically, what I�m saying is- you need to put this in your ear. Right now. Put it on your playlist and I guarantee you it won�t easily find its way off. There�s just something classic about Sin-a-Matic that will have you asking yourself �Why haven�t I heard this?� Go right to track two, �Street Smarts� for instant proof that you and everyone else who dodged this piece have been sadly missing out. The Drunken Dragon is currently in production on The Odd Couple, a collaboration with Jay Love produced by The Avid Record Collector and JJ Brown. Also in the works is a full-length follow-up to Sin-a-Matic (also with JJ) that promises to keep breaking new ground. I�ve got a feeling that this upcoming slab from Lou will be some next-level shit, incorporating his unorthodox tastes and influences into something the hip-hop world has never seen before. Stay tuned to Crown Dozen, I�m committed to bringing you the Louis Logic noise. Many thanks to Jesse Clark (aka DubOne) for turning me on to this piece. He�s been offering the Jesse Clark Money Back Personal Guarantee on this album, and so far hasn�t had to buy a single one back.

» LouisLogic.com
» Buy Sin-a-Matic

By Adam in Music | Comments:

Comments

You might want to check out sandboxautomatic.com as they have several exclusive Louis Logic releases. 03 was a big year for the Demigodz crew and this album was heavily slept on as everyone focused on the Demigodz/Cage/Def Jux beef. While this year is also turning out to be an enjoyable year in "indie" hip hop, I also recommend picking this one up when you get a chance. Nice post, Adam.

Posted by: Eric at August 26, 2004 6:49 AM

That's a damn good album. You also gotta give props to Todd James aka REAS for the dope illustrations.

Posted by: Al aka ENM at August 27, 2004 3:45 AM

Cool cool

Posted by: Twinks at September 22, 2004 12:09 AM