Statik Selektah & Termanology
1982

Written by Newadmin. Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010.

From the lineage of Gang Starr (Guru and DJ Premier), Eric B and Rakim, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo we have the talented offspring Termanology and Statik Selektah with their strong effort, 1982. With Termanology’s body of work and strength being focused mainly in the mixtape/underground realm as well as Statik Selektah, the arduous task they face is to live up to the name and the bar set by the aforementioned MC/DJ combos. The album title 1982, of course, is a reference to the 80’s era, but what that truly reflects is the 90’s era of hip hop, what many consider, myself included, as the Golden Era of hip hop, the age the mighty Boom Bap. Now, will we speak of the 1998 hip hop classic Moment of Truth by Gang Starr in the same breath as Termanology and Statik Selektah’s 1982….No. Do they have the potential to release a project of this magnitude in the future…maybe.

It may seem unfair to compare, but the duo themselves discussed these references in a brief vocal interlude and when you state that your father is Michael Jordan, if you’re not performing a Christ-like air walk where press flashlights look more like applauding halos and the universe comes to a slow halt as to witness the birth of a new age, then everything you do will pretty much look like a lay up. I must repeat that this isn’t a comparison with any classic work or any other duo’s work, but we must recognize there is a bar set in the conversation of MC/DJ duos and also music reflective of an era where 95% of what many deem “classic” comes from.

We begin 1982 with a steady moving intro that get the head nod at a steady bop as Term spits a familiar mix of lyrics with a mature realization and readiness for what’s to come. “…was born 11 days after Lil Wayne, so I understand young money/ because Pun, Em and Jay blew in their mid-20’s” A great quick jab set up for a knock you on your ass “Goin’ Back” featuring Cassidy and X to the muthafuckin’ Z, Xzibit (and shame on you if I had to tell you that). Statik constructs a quick paced forward moving track with a cracking snare that smacks you in the face and evokes nothing but a stink bitter beer face as soon as it first comes on, nasty. Cassidy starts it with his signature voice and in tact sharp skill and goes straight into Termanology’s brazen bravado and then on to the west coast husky growl of Xzibit. No chorus, back to back barrage of bars reminding you of those classic crew cuts where everyone is a monster. One of the albums best tracks.

Term and Statik both display some range and diversity with tracks like Still Waiting. Here we find a smooth back drop that sonically touches your soul. You automatic nod and drift into a hazy cloud of nostalgia and self reflection as Term gives us a look into his thoughts, insecurities and an honest reality. This is where we see Term the artist, more than great lyrics, which come easy to him, but the honest man, which is difficult for most. Statik flips a smooth soul sample with a clap and quick high hat for “Tell me lies” featuring Styles P. This is a satirical double barrel shot at all the music and rappers that blatantly lie about their success, street life and wealth. It reminds me of Special Ed’s “I got it made” in how they make ridiculous exaggerated claims “…son I’m a star/ so major, that I got a waiter waiting for me in the backseat of my car” and Styles P adds “I got a trillion bucks and a million cars/ bought a spaceship and a crib on Mars” A big belly HA HA at all you lying ass rappers.

“Hood on fire” featuring Inspectah Deck is another great song. Statik constructs an aggressive snare laden, almost military-esque, track with an urgent energy to it that’s feels like a call to action with a chorus/chant sung by children that is eerie and haunting. Term’s signature consistent syllable style matches perfect with track. He perfectly mixes his lyrical ability and cadence with purpose. Inspectah was actually a little lack luster in my opinion. First, his vocal tone and pitch seem a bit different making it difficult to recognize him and his delivery, style and flow are a long ways away from ‘Triumph”. A track that makes me feel like I’m back in 1998 is “Radio”. A beautiful and strong boom bap, sample flip and signature scratching on the hook makes you feel like everything is right again in hip hop and what you heard on the radio three hours ago was just an auto-tuned IQ-lowering figment of your imagination.

Term makes an attempt at a sound a little more commercially viable with “Wedding bells” featuring Jared Evan where we have a story of a woman that sees wedding bells and a man that may see otherwise, and “You should go home” featuring Mr 5Mic Bun B and Masspike Miles. Where “Wedding Bells” doesn’t sacrifice lyrics, he also has some humor in the story, for audience accessibility “You should go home” finds him dumbing down a bit and simplifying his flow and even unnecessarily utilizing auto-tune to reach the listeners. Considering a good verse from Bun B, great vocals from Masspike Miles and an overall better track from Selektah, “You should go home” still has more promise as a radio directed effort.

Not all the features were as good as the Saigon and Freeway assisted “Life is what you make it” where we have a perfectly striped down track where the music and the artists themselves zone out with no chorus. Other features included Reks, who actually sounds a bit like Saigon , and frequent collaborators M.O.P. and them just as discussed with Inspectah Deck don’t deliver the same energy or skill as they once did. At times you feel like your parents at that soul concert watching those acts they grew up on, but just aren’t as sharp anymore.

Statik’s tracks showed a great range and skill and were pretty consistent throughout. Him and Term pair perfectly together, a perfect mix of a classic sensibility and foundation and the modern forward moving times. With Termanology, his downfall in this project comes from what makes him so special and respected as an MC, his street flow and his, at times, Pun-like delivery. As many points in the album you feel like “I’ve heard this before”. It’s not just the drug and street talk, but it’s how it’s delivered. When you hear the same subject matter delivered in the same way it can get repetitive and forces you to wonder if this is the only verse he has. The points where Term has a song that’s makes you connect to him as an artist or where he perfectly executes his style get overshadowed in the surrounding songs at times. This is the crossroad where if Term wants a wider audience or to be considered as an artist he needs to develop his song writing. Considering the direction he wants to take his career he will need to grow a bit from just a ‘spitter’ to an overall artist with depth. There are a few songs such as “Things I dream” featuring M.O.P., Thugathon 2010 featuring M.O.P. and “People are running” that are good tracks, but seem more suitable a mixtape than an album. If this fat were trimmed, you would have a great offering that shows a diverse collection of songs and if the listener never feels the need to skip a song it wouldn’t matter if you had a few less songs. The extra songs make the album a bit one dimensional at times and make the more diverse songs looks a bit out of place. Trim these and everything makes more sense. This is the plight of Termanology and of the ‘spitter’, where it’s difficult to balance song writing, diverse styles with being vocally impressive an MC. This is where we see great mixtapes and features, but not a good album or we see that dope MC/battle rapper that can’t deliver a sound project.

Overall, I am very happy with this album overall, was excited to listen to it and have much hope for the future. My critiques may seem small or trivial, but they prove vital in producing a great album, being an artist and advancing to that next level in your career. This album makes me more and more happy that I was born in the 80’s and was raised in the best era of hip hop every time I listen to it. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll go listen to it again right now…

$16.00 out of $20.00

-Jamal Frederick

Category: Reviews