Although I do like dusty samples, jazzy tendencies in US hip-hop, this record delivers a robotic vision of the B-boy stance, and goes left just when the entire scene headed right. The production is a foray into the future that never was, the lyrical department is chock full of themes and metaphors that it'll take more listens than you'll be aware of to fully absorb it all. In my ears, this is a front to back great album, that excels on every conceivable level. Company Flow nailed the true to form B Boy aesthetic with a far-out, unpredictable approach to the genre, combining sci-fi beats (something EL-P would build upon later in his career) and a layered lyrical delivery, which was seldom discernible upon listening sessions. Some make it strange for the sake getting the "mischief" tag. Not only is it awkward, it's that the weirdness is pulled off to perfection. What you did not expect of a hip hop album, you received here. See, Funcrusherplus will never reach the sales of "Doggystyle", will never get its own UNI poetry class that the likes of the demised 2pac had, and will never even be considered for winning an award. Sure, I just made a complete list without mentioning the "golden age" pioneers. Although I am leaning heavily towards electronic music, this release, along with the Cannibal Ox album, the trilogy by Organized Konfusion and the Ras Kass debut album are in my book the cornerstones of hip hop.
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