Tag: Natural Elements

Natural Elements – “aligNmEnt” review

Baychester, Bronx, New York outfit the Natural Elements are making their long-awaited full-length debut under Fat Beats Records. Consisting of A-Butta as well as Mr. Voodoo & Swigga, they would go on to sign with Tommy Boy Records in late ‘90s off a debut extended play only to leave after their major label album was shelved. They would return in 2013 with the NE Definitely mixtape & a handful of EPs including All Hail NE, Death Comes in 3s, 3 Kings & 3Times Dope. Over 3 decades since their formation, they’ve made great timing for this aligNmEnt since all of hip hop’s O.G.s have been coming back in recent memory.

“As We Should” opens up with them talking about evolving & adapting with the times since that’s a crucial focal point of the way life works whereas “This Isnt a Drill” produced by the group’s founder Charlemagne finds the trio trading cutthroat bars with each other over a symphonic boom bap instrumental. “Whole Foods of Rap” explains their style being why it’s been so long to get here since Tommy Boy didn’t know what to do with it leading into “We Could Exist” representing their home state.

Meanwhile on “Naturally (Natural E)”, we have the Elements sampling “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan decades after the latter’s court battle with the late Biz Markie changed hip hop & the music industry at large forever just before the hardcore “dopamiNE” talks about still having their touch. The soulful boom bap crossover “infiNitE shiNE” continued with them boasting that they’re unstoppable while “Alive & Well” thanks the most high for allowing them to still be here.

“Cosmos is Calling” begins the 2nd half of aligNmEnt venting everything that hits their minds looking at the nighttime sky pondering our existence while the title track hooks up a chilling sample mixed with kicks & snares carrying the same words they honor to this day. “NilE River Flows” sticks to the traditional boom bap sound meshing some keys & occasionally melodic background vocals talking about getting better with age while “Book Smart Street Smart” explains the way they prefer their women.

Things go for a funkier direction for “Y.K.T.V. (You Know the Vibes)” boasting that they’re always on fire while “nooNE Can Tell Me Shiii…” returns to the boom bap & putting an atmospherically soulful twist to it feeling confident of themselves. “Time Doesn’t Exist” explains the very reason they consider themselves timeless & the beat embracing a more nostalgic tone but after “Demon Frequency” confesses to the thing that’s been fucking with their collective vision, the outro “3-Card moNtE” ends NE’s debut album trading bars with each other 1 last time.

Notable for having the late Ka as a member of the Natural Elements at some point during their early years, an official LP from these guys excluding the 1999 compilation has been long overdue & it’s like they never even went through all that label drama 3 decades earlier to begin with. The production mostly handled by Charlemagne brings a durable take on boom bap to the table in enhancing the feeling of the types of songs these guys’ cult following worldwide has become accustomed to since Day 1.

Score: 4/5

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Ka – “The Thief Next to Jesus” review

Here we have the 9th full-length solo LP from Brownsville, New York emcee, producer & firefighter Ka. A former member of the Natural Elements roughly 3 decades ago, he eventually went solo in 2008 off Iron Works followed by Grief Pedigree & The Night’s Gambit. Honor Killed the Samurai in 2016 became his most well received body of work as did Descendants of Cain & A Martyr’s Reward, but the frontman of Dr. Yen Lo and Hermit & the Recluse is coming off both Languish Arts & Woeful Studiesto fully produce The Thief Next to Jesus by himself.

“Bread, Wine, Body, Blood” starts by cautioning not become the weapon they use to harm you & that there’s a sheer struggle we all go through over an organ sample whereas “Beautiful” takes the soulful route instrumentally continuing the art of sampling hoping everyone listening lives a nice, long life. “Tested Testimony” hooks up a crooning drumless loop boasting that he doesn’t have any money in the safe because he took the safest lane just before the bluesy “Borrowed Time” hoping for exactly that when his time comes.

Moving forward, “Collection Plate” keeps the drums out the fold hopping over another soul flip pointing out that he would’ve had the titular item by now if anyone really wanted to bless him while “Broken Rose Window” brings the bluesier flare from earlier back in effect talking about being economically disadvantaged. “God Undefeated” samples gospel once more assuring that God sides with the winners leading into “Soul & Spirit” keeping it drumless suggesting to build fences instead of needing bridges.

“Lord Have Mercy” works in some pleasant keyboard passages to talk about needing real freedoms, but then “Such Devotion” gets back to the gospel sampling telling everyone that they ain’t ever see this much loyalty or devoutness. He later expresses the hope that every “Cross You Bear” is gold accompanied by a bare organ while “Fragile Faith” talking about being born air-prepared for ground war over crooning background vocals.

Nearing the conclusion of The Thief Next to Jesus, the penultimate track “Hymn & I” comes the straight out the gate discussing hearing so many Christians using the “n” word as well as gathering strength on the daily & learning heartbreak from the most loyal prior to “True Holy Water” perfectly finishes up what could very well be the most religious body of work that Ka has ever made with 1 more drumless cut letting everyone know he’s here for all y’all.

Literally every single album in Ka’s discography has their own distinctive concept & after going back-to-back a couple years ago, he unsurprisingly carries on that tradition throughout The Thief Next to Jesus to the point where I firmly believe it can hang with Honor Killed the Samurai as my favorite solo effort of the 9 he’s given us in the last 16 years. Heavily building its drumless sound around samples of both gospel & a hint of blues music, the production makes for some of the best in Ka’s entire career as he puts his uniquely poetically spin on the themes of religion.

Score: 4.5/5

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