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Hip-Hop has for awhile now been seeking out in vain a new face to spearhead the next generation of legitimate female emcee’s. Rita J is officially my nomination for that very role. After you listen to the Chicago bred, ATL based and lyrically inclined young woman’s debut Artist Workshop, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better, more authentic candidate to place atop your list of the most promising contemporary artist’s, female or otherwise….
So what has me laying it on so thick with the praise? Her music yes, but also the personality that she has chosen to step to the masses with. Of course in today’s rap game you find a broad majority of the female superstar’s (and I use that term loosely) being a bit more, well how do I put this, easy on the eyes, than what they are talented. Hey, I ain’t sayin’ there’s anything wrong with being a looker and tryin’ to get ya rhyme on at the same time ladies, but what I am saying is that when your the equivalent of a video girl with a mic in her hand who can only posture like a real artist, we, and moreover the culture, got problems.
Rita is a throwback to better times when labels sought out women that had more to offer than some recycled diva act or an overly raunchy and tasteless disposition. The All Natural Inc. artist divides her time on her opening LP between proving her glaring skill rocking over musically correct soundscapes and helping return the role of lady MC back to a position of positivity and respect.
As soon as you begin to play Artist Workshop you hear her comand mightily “This ain’t your average fickle, female flop…” over a Jazzy beat construction. This is what we’ve been waiting for, this is a woman that is aware and has something to say worth listening to. I was captivated by her dense lyrical pennings and thoughtful beat selections. Her sound is pure Hip-Hop with a dash of spoken word and it’s present on the uptempo and sing songy “Listen”, which is a high note early on. Showcasing the ever so rare femcee rapper X’s male crooner combo, you should get a feel for what Rita aims to acomplish best right here.
I found nothing more refreshing and introspective than her storytelling capabilities. “The Address” is an enchanting quasi-love sonnet done with a Hip-Hop twist that will surely leave you wishing you could spend some down time around Ms. J reciting some of your lamest poetry. She probably would be gracious and just encourage you to keep trying. Containing several Alluring moments, the record seems to promote the idea Rita could be a true rap nerd’s dream woman. I doubt that’s what she was going for, but naturally it only adds to her appeal, at least to me anyway.
She’s really not someone that will amaze through shock value or reciting something too sour, rather she’s more of a free spirit poetess who denounces materialism and pays respect to her Hip-Hop foremothers all while being so secure within her own skin. It’s because of her special personality that we have an album that to me is a true cross between intellectual and feel good, i.e. what some of the best albums of all-time strived for. “conscious”, “alternative”, “wordy”, whatever you’d like to label her sound, it goes without saying that Rita delivers a general positivism that is all too rare in rap circles now, especially amongst her gender. Even when teaming up with Detroit bruiser Guilty Simpson she stays in her lane, and doesn’t try to be anything she isn’t. She shows her teeth a bit more there than anywhere else on the album, but remains grounded. Further speaking on her collaborations, I must applaud her for seeking out the talents of Black Spade and Rashid Hadee, their contributions were very complimentary and not a bit over powering or show stealing.
If I could give you a recipe for what Rita J is I would say one part Monie Love and one part Lauryn Hill with just a pinch of Jean Grae, but honestly she has set out on a path all her own. Artist Workshop is a great debut for this daughter of Hip-Hop and a admirable example of how being yourself and maintaining artistic integrity pays off (and hopefully sets a trend/example). There will be some technical complaints about her somewhat monotone, dead pan flow, but I wouldn’t let that derail you from introducing yourself to one of the finer Hip-Hop albums a woman has created and released to us in some time.
-Dominick “BIG D O” Ledezma
February 12th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
“conscious”, “alternative”, “wordy”, whatever you’d like to label her sound, it goes without saying that Rita delivers a general positivism that is all too rare in rap circles now, especially amongst her gender.
Not to say that I’m not for positive or empowering themed music because I am. But I don’t necessarily want a legitimate emcee/album labeled conscious, alternative or wordy. I want to check it out because it good music, its thought provoking, it gives voice to a perspective that hasn’t been heard in a while but at the top of that list is rhymes and beats. You can be all these other things and have an album that sucks. Not saying that Rita J sucks because she definitely doesn’t– but I checked for the album cause she’s an emcee with a solidly produced album first and foremost.
And especially for her gender almost sounds like yeah she’s conscious for a girl, when the prepounderance of the male presence in the industry would indicate that this would be more of an anomaly if she were a he. Let’s not get it twisted.