Music Reviews
Artist:
Marco PoloTitle:
Port AuthorityLabel:
Soul Spazm/Rawkus Records
“We taking this shit back” claims Marco Polo, at the beginning of 'Port Authority', “back to where it all began”. And, sure enough, these 18 tracks – as strong as most of them are – do find old M.P. clinging to the past like some sample-obsessed Canadian limpet.
However, it's only my being a bit of stickler for some originality on a record that drags this review down because, on the whole, this is a very good hip hop album.
Marco Polo's beats - while never once even approaching the boundaries, let alone pushing them – combine beautifully that souful twinkle and classic boom bap drum pattern that's made Premier the guru (like what I did there?) for so many hustling New York beatsmiths and acne-ridden Kent teenagers. Only 'Low Budget Allstars' – a poor man's refix of P Diddy's 'Bad Boy For Life' - really lets MP (and this album) down; otherwise it's pretty much track after track of decent 90s head-nod business.
The guest spots are very impressive too. D.I.T.C. veteran and 'Time's Up' creator, O.C., is excellent on 'Marquee', as is Jo Jo Pellegrino on 'Speak Softly'. Large Professor's cameo on 'The Radar' is very good also – mainly due to his referencing “Shaggy's 'Boombastic'” in the first verse – however, the title of best track on this album has to go to the Kardinal Offishal-assisted 'War', which exposes “fake ass dudes with no clues and Pro-Tools and Bathing Ape shoes” in between a brilliantly booming, doom-filled chorus.
'Port Authority' is certainly a worthy addition to any hip hop fan's CD collection but it's unlikely to turn any heads or convert any non-believers.
Rating: 3/5
Label: Soul Spazm/Rawkus Records
Website: www.marcopolobeats.com
Words: Tom Ellen
