Q-Unique
Between Heaven And Hell

Written by Dominick. Published: Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Life by nature is duality. Good, bad and perhaps every human’s own capacity for both. Many artists attempt to paint that complex picture with their work, and also fail by the droves to do so. Q-Unique is not one of those who failed. In fact, with the Arsonist crew member’s new album, the aptly titled “Between Heaven and Hell”, might just be a proper template for other MC’s to follow when they try and dive into the same waters.

The album begins masterfully, as the Al Tarba produced “Listening Problem” cascades in after a strikingly stark intro plays out, notifying whomever is listening that this LP will be drenched in realistic storylines and darker, no-nonsense boom bap production. As we progress quickly into the 3rd track, “Crack Era” we get our first taste of Q’s production chops, which to say the very least on this track are stupendous and magnetic. Q handles the imagery on “Crack Era” equally well and transplants you to another moment in time when he strings together verses about the crippling plague that was the 1980’s Crack epidemic in New York City. It’s not a new song idea or theme, but it’s one that Q put his own (forgive the expression) unique stamp on and totally made work. “Mr. Lopez” follows and once again is another decent example of Q pulling off a solid twofold performance in the rhyming and beatmaking arenas…the beat especially is inventive; transforming several times, adding to the tragic story of the unfortunate Mr. Lopez and the wayward souls who decided that robbing him would be the thing to do. Captivating stuff honestly, Q wields tales like this pretty seamlessly and are his main arsenal on “Between Heaven And Hell”

“Between Heaven And Hell Prologue” is a treat that finds Q getting up with his Psycho+Logical Records brethren Necro, who issues Q a head nodding, somber beat that registers as one of the best on the entire album. Alongside that gem is yet another dose of weighty subject matter backed by excellent production in “Just Because”, which boasts one of Q’s strongest chorus offerings. By now you should see what type of listening experience your in for and that doesn’t vary a heck of a lot going forward. Q sticks to his script and tackles a lot of real issues and topics this go round’. If grave matters like sex abuse within the catholic church (which Q does a whole song about) rub you the wrong way or just aren’t really what you seek out in ya Hip-Hop maybe “Between Heaven And Hell” isn’t for you.

I dig that Q takes a stab again and again at involving his audience more deeply with heavy areas of focus and slightly affecting production, but in spots he just overdoses. I mean, one of his greatest assets as an MC is his flow and he barely flexes it in all of it’s witty and rhyme flipping glory on this outing. He didn’t leave us hanging, but he didn’t issue an album that was classic in it’s verse for verse accumulation either. His inclusion heavily of Quincey Tones on the boards was welcomed in some spots and in others I think I would’ve liked to hear more of Q’s beats actually. He definitely over excelled in that area as well, which is impressive.

As the back half of the album commences you get absolutely nothing but really good looks. A Twisted love story in “Dead Roses”, the Psycho realm collab/title track “Between Heaven And Hell” and the ode to two of NYC’s most beloved boro’s “BK, BX, BK” all lead the pack, but honestly, tracks thirteen through eighteen are all bumpable…heavily bumpable.

I don’t know if this is the album you want to reach for if the wifey and kids wanna go have a picnic or something, but if you do happen to be a fan of very vivid, very sobering and true to life, “survivor music” than Q-Unique has created a transfixing and reality driven sophomore LP for you. There are a couple grimacing mis-steps, but those moments are quite few and far between…This is for the most part a no holds barred look at the bowels of New York City in a time when there is a lot of “anti-love livin’”. Q places himself in this harsh and unforgiving landscape and raps his as off about it. He doesn’t get lost in bitterness or overextend himself, he simply just gives you the accounts of his undoubtedly vast experience. Chock-a-block with catastrophe, tragedy and veracity underground heads should find “Between Heaven And Hell” their perfect Hip-Hop purgatory.

$17.99 out of $20.00

-Dominick “BIG D O” Ledezma

Category: Reviews