Reviews: Alphabet Stew and Sleepyhead
Alphabet Stew. Mentil Soup (self-released)
[HUNGRY HIP-HOP] Just minutes into Mentil Soup, the debut record from Alphabet Stew (a group concocted, naturally, from a host of PDX hip-hop luminaries, including Sandpeople members Al-One and DJ Sparks, producer Andy B, and DJ Wels), you get your first local name-drop: gone but still revered Northeast bar Billy Reed’s. And while the record is undoubtedly a product of the scene (“The Fridge” also gives a shout-out to this very paper), musically, it’s rooted 10 years and 3,000 miles away.
Mentil Soup is an East Coast-sounding record filled with Pacific Northwest signifiers; while Al-One spends a considerable amount of time reppin’ for his home city, Andy B samples vintage A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan. The production is very key-heavy, with lots of warm Rhodes chords, jazzy drums, and the occasional smooth-soul chorus that sometimes works (Zelly Rock’s hook on “Price is Right”) or falls totally flat (the cringe-worthy “handprints on your booty/ feels good because it came from me” line on “Handprints.”)
Though they claim to be “one of Portland’s more rowdier crews,” the record’s biggest fault is its lack of fire—too much of the first half relies on lazy rhymes and drums that just don’t kick hard enough. It’s not till the end that a few songs shine. Best of all is “Iocane,” a dusty, classic-sounding track that sounds like Gang Starr collaborating with Prefuse 73. With its stuttering, half-step beat, it pushes boundaries that some of the clunky earlier tracks could only dream of.
Sleepyhead. No School (Dismal City)
[SLEPT-ON HIP-HOP] Sleepyhead’s Kevin Elder has remained low on the Portland hip-hop radar for reasons that are at best unclear and at worst downright confusing. The rail-thin Stumptown native has six years of spitting under his belt, with endorsements from the likes of Copy and Corban Lester to boot, and No School only further proves his ability to contend with the city’s finest rappers.
Most of No School’s production sticks close to Sleepyhead’s pre-established aesthetic, which favors synthesizers over instrumentation and shouted hooks over vanilla singsong. Though he functions best when rapping over something with a certain helping of grit, Sleepyhead drops consistently memorable rhymes on the album’s 14 tracks.
The LP’s centerpieces, “No Pussyfooting” and “Lost Gospel,” feature some of the finest examples of Sleepyhead’s comfortably aggressive flow, showcasing his ability to latch onto a beat and ride its momentum for all it’s worth. An unfortunate consequence of this strength is that No School tends to lag on its mid-tempo numbers, but when Sleepyhead is paired with an able backing track—such as on the Copy-produced “Move”—it’s hard to find fault with his performance.
SEE IT: Alphabet Stew plays a CD-release concert at Hawthorne Theatre on Friday, Oct. 31. Sleepyhead’s album is out now.
Matthew
says:The Stew is exactly what hip hop game needs.. I dont think they will be on the radio much or anything but it reminds me of the first pharcyde album. It might take people a little while to catch on.
Posted @ October 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkPete
says:I was one of the first to cop the album off of Cd baby when it was announced, so I’ve bumped “Mentil Soup” for a few weeks now.
I really couldn’t disagree with you more. Taking the line from the album, “one of Portland’s more rowdier crews”, and then saying because the’re not living up to the claim of “being rowdy” shows the album “lack fire”. From that logic you could also take the line from track 2, “We’ve got the body of an elephant / head of an eagle” and say their living up to their potential of being half mammal half bird. I think your missing the point.
This album is lighthearted, fun, laid back, soulful, and has the sound of classic hip hop, not east coast. Most of all I think its a complete album with something for everyones taste buds.
Posted @ October 29th, 2008 at 5:33 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkDJ Spark
says:I agree that Alphabet Stew includes Sandpeople members, but its Al-One and DJ Spark. DJ Sparks is not in the group despite popular demand.
Posted @ October 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMarita
says:Yeah I disagree this guy. The album is hella funny and not only makes me laugh, but makes me want to dance too. And east coast? Doesn’t make any sense… This review was not well-written or well thought out. Overall, I think the reviewer needs a second helping of “mentil” soup.
Posted @ October 30th, 2008 at 2:36 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkDJ Spark
says:TONIGHT!! (as seen in the Portland Mercury)
ZOMBIE PROM: ALPHABET STEW, GRAY MATTERS, THRILLA
(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) The scariest thing I can conceive of happening this Halloween is for Alphabet Stew’s CD release party to be lost in the mix. The emcee duo of Al-One (Sandpeople) and Andy B—plus DJs Wels and Spark—have recorded one of the best albums to come out of Portland in ages, Mentil Soup. The disc is a funky, funny, offbeat, and technically astounding piece of work—the kind of lighthearted, but still really real (for real) hiphop that is seldom seen this side of the 21st century. So on this big night, do yourself a favor: Cut out of the costume party early and get to this show. There will be candy, there will be rappers, but there will be no candy rappers.
-GRAHAM BAREY
Posted @ October 31st, 2008 at 1:11 am (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkZebulon Dak
says:Alphabet Stew is WEST COAST at it’s finest!!!
People who say something sounds east coast or west coast don’t really understand hip hop and shouldn’t be trying to describe it to other people.
WEST COAST!!!
Posted @ November 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkDj Spark
says:Hey, you and Manic D agree on something besides not football.
Posted @ November 3rd, 2008 at 3:32 am (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkstayin' alive
says:An entirely different view…
http://www.portlandmercury.com/music/rip-city-rap-city/Content?oid=935086
Hmmmm.. something to stew over..
Posted @ November 8th, 2008 at 6:14 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkAlphabet Stew: That’s my cousin, yo! « the controlled release of diamonds
says:[...] cousins for the first time in a while. Damn great news. He just released a new album with his new group: Alphabet Stew (a group concocted, naturally, from a host of PDX hip-hop luminaries, including [...]
Posted @ November 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm (October 29th, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalink