Black Sheep
From The Black Pool Of Genius

Written by Dominick. Published: Monday, July 5, 2010.

In 1991 a thoughtful emceeing duo from Queens that prided themselves on being conscious in their rhymes and eclectically funky with their production burst onto the Hip-Hop landscape with a sound that fit perfectly alongside their fellow Native Tongues camp member’s. Almost 20 years after he and his mans stepped in the game with an album that far and away is considered one of the best ever constructed, Andres “Dres” Titus is back with a brand new offering for all of the “outside the box” type heads, who first checked for his music all those years ago as well as a lesson plan for a whole new generation whom desperately need a tutor.

The initial apprehensiveness I encountered when I heard folks discussing Dres’ new LP From The Black Pool Of Genius was the disdain for his decision to continue using the Black Sheep name, despite the fact that Mista Lawnge is no longer his recording partner. Maybe it is a bit egocentric, but hey, it was a 50/50 thing back in the day (I assume) and by my estimation Dres has as much right to use the name as Lawnge would. Aside from the internal politics of what was going on with the Black Sheep brand, there is no other negative undertone to this LP whatsoever. In fact, what I heard when I pressed play was absolutely on point and if there was a product that you would wanna slap the Black Sheep label on in this new decade, this undoubtedly would be it.

From the commencement of this surprisingly solid album many of you should’ve been able to sniff out what Dres was up to. The subtle, yet all to head nodding intro hints at the goodness that will ensue the rest of the melodious way. Dres flexes his old school flow proudly and it instantly mesmerizes. From the enthralling intro we’re taken into one of the album’s nicest cuts (and that says something on an album as dope as this one) in “Forever Luvlee”; a sort of personal manifesto for Dres as he breaks down his affections that will never change and the surroundings that he adores, while a lazy horn skips along with a showy bassline. It’s a minimalist track that thanks in large part to Dres’ phenomenal aptitude for narrative is brought to life and even glows. This formula is littered all over From The Black Pool Of Genius, providing a hefty amount of vintage feel for all those that pine for the good old golden age days. Relatable themes pour in and “Elevation” is a pure triumph in that regard also. Without sounding grumbling, our protagonist highlights the constant hustle and bustle of life with high accuracy over a distinctive sound pallet that anyone who appreciates inventive beat work will surely dig. Right through the entire first half of the album you get something that is ever so elusive in Hip-Hop albums these days–consistent quality. Even when Dres takes a moment to breathe with underground empress Jean Grae on “Party Tonight”; a much lighter, more broadly appealing cut, he still comes up a winner, providing an upbeat, jazzy vibe that has grown & soulful written all over it.

This album is special. There’s a lot of actual music (15 tracks) and it all has meaning and depth. Not so much unlike Black Sheep’s early albums where they pushed awareness of self and social issues while concurrently pointing out the positive things one may find in their urban context, this LP has a high degree of reflective qualities that encourages deep and positive thinking. “Born To Che” and the Psycho Les blessed “Important Fact” channel these insinuating premises and still maintain high amounts of Hip-Hop mannerism. It’s not that Dres is disguising his bottom line, but rather, I think, he just chose to present it in a more digestible way, backed by aesthetically appealing production . In addition to the perceptive and perhaps camouflaged upbeat lingo, there is an ample dose of tremendous guest emceeing provided by some of Dres’ New York City contemporaries in AZ , Q-Tip, Mike G (Jungle Brothers) and Trugoy (De La Soul). AZ chimes in on the converting beat concoction that is “Winner” and dishes one of his reliable 16’s while Tip, Mike G and Trugoy drop by for a Native Tongues reunion of sorts in “Birds Of A Feather”, that is simply amazing from a lyrical standpoint and thrilling in the possibilities that might spring from it.

Rounding out this consummate endeavor are three much more somber, yet still vital tracks that complete it’s standing as decidedly memorable. “For The Record” boasts an entrancing make up of piano keys and Dres lobbing about his ideas concerning the current state of good artists who are sadly languishing away while less skilled purveyors of the art trade in their souls for monetary gains while everyone else seems to just apathetically accept it. It’s important he threw this cut on the back end of the album; I think it has a better chance to resonate in this position. The outro I also found really impressive. It features renowned slam poet (and actor from the HBO series Oz) muMs [The Schemer] waxing his concise and unbridled brand of slam verse…Just a magnificently artistic way to end anything, let alone a Hip-Hop album.

Evolving from a nearly 4 year recording hiatus to the forefront of where Hip-Hop should be taken in the twenty teens is a huge feat and Dres wholly deserves some credit for coming correct. Giving voice to all that was good about this genre in the early 90’s through a modern album that not only finds him reprising his old style; which is still technically sharp, there’s little Dres could’ve done to make this jaunt more enjoyable or innovative in it’s presentation. He embraced some of the newer aspects of our beloved culture and also brought back in force those that we may have forgotten at our own peril. For that, every self-respecting Hip-Hopper of the 90’s must bow down and pay reverence. Even more notable, he managed to twine together a humbling amount of rich beats that dripped with enviable aural appeal. At the end of the day I think From The Black Pool Of Genius is deserving of the highest praise any artist or album can garner in that Dres didn’t speak at you here, he spoke to you. Now the only question is whether you’ll listen.

$19.50 out of $20.00

Dominick “BIG D O” Ledezma

Category: Reviews