:: Solid Records
The second generation of angry, crass, obnoxious and hilarious rappers is poised to take over Eminem's throne. Many have been paying dues in the underground for years, only to be scorned as Marshall-Come-Latelys or dismissed as "backpackers" so their legit skills and vicious snaps go ignored except in indie circles. Despite the odds against his coming up out of the underground, MC's like Mr. Eon, Thirstin Howl III and J-Zone have carved out cult niches in rap, and combining the best of their skills will make Louis Logic the next to appear on the map.
Already known in the headphones of b-boys for hilarious songs like "Loudmouth" and "Guilty as Charged," Logic is stepping up from twelve inches to full length LP's with his debut LP "Sin-A-Matic." The double entendre is entirely appropriate - his verbal skills craft detailed stories, but his sinful talk would offend anybody who couldn't deal with Chino XL in a heartbeat. He wastes no time getting offensive with the J.J. Brown produced opening song "Street Smartz":
"Faggot asses doin the Sisqo thing in a thong
Y'all ain't never had an inklin of thinkin of bringin it on
Take my advice shorty, before I make your life story
the sad shit R&B bitches sing in a song
[...]
When it comes to sendin sleep rappers to the mortician
I'm like Kevorkian, you all fit in
Cause my schedule is open-ended as your whore's kitten
Clitoris drippin after two or more listens
I'm the porn magician, every deflowered chick's source of friction
Forced to fit in 'til the drawers are splittin"
Logic's wit will either have you laughing at the inappropriateness of songs like the (literally) perverted "Freak Show" or saying "oh no he didn't!" Mixed caucasians often get the rep for sounding nerdy or not having thick bass in their vocal tones, but he sounds totally natural dueting with Celph Titled on "Celph Hatred." His growling flow gives a smooth aftertaste to what would otherwise be well-written but nerdy, and the swiftness of his snaps doesn't sound punched in even though the verbal pugilism might punch you in the face:
"Whoever you cool with will forever be losers
I'll hit you so hard your kids'll inherit the bruises!
Malevolent moodshifts attached to Satan
And a sick fascination with Patrick Bateman
Then disguise the crimes from the pigs at the station
And missed that arraignment cause I slipped past probation!"
If clever lines were the only thing Logic had going for him, there probably wouldn't be a buzz about "Sin-A-Matic." Thankfully, this is one of those cases where the rubber met the road through beats and samples as clever as the rhymes. "Dos Factotum," his ode to drinking, lifts lines from Black Sheep, Redman and The Beatnuts among others. Thanks to J.J. Brown's smooth swinging jazz and guitar licks, the elements of samples and lyrics combine together into a breezy affair of simultaneous head-nodding and laughter. There's no shame in Logic's drinking game:
"So I hop to my feet, my hands are both clasped stoppin the stream
If I puke the cop'll probably see
But he was watchin me flee on wobbly feet
At least that's what I'm thinkin
That's when he tackled me, staggerin and stinkin
I said 'No way ossifer, I don't do da drinkin'
Then he said 'You're under arrest kid, and we're going back to the precinct'
{"Pass the 40 cause my mother's not lookin"} -> Chi Ali"
None of the songs will overwhelm you with seriousness. From playful sex in "Coochie Coup," to a triple beat style in "Mischievous," to the Avid Record Collector produced "Best Friends" featuring Apathy the Alien Emcee, everything's a joke to Logic - even on the latter track where Ap is clearly setting up Lou while he's boning his girl. Perhaps appropriately enough' the following track is titled "Revenge" and reads like Logic getting even with the help of his homeboy Celph Titled - all thanks to a beat by Memo of the Molemen.
As for beats, you really can't go wrong on this album, from Memo's internet ode "Fair Weather Fan" to J.J. Brown's lightly comical "The Rest" to a darkly disturbed keyboard by Avid Record Collector on "The Ugly Truth." It's all held together by Logic's rhymes though, which on the latter track will deeply upset anybody who doesn't get the joke. Save to say for that reason we won't reprint it here, but it's a mockery of any and all stereotypes made about various ethnic and racial groups. If you don't get South Park, it's not for you. That's true of "Sin-A-Matic" in general, but if you appreciate rappers with no restraints you'll be with Logic from the opener until his closer - the Se7en inspired "Dust to Dust":
"Son let me help you see the light, and put two and two together
She got sick of the kid, and ran off with whoever
The guy couldn't take it, he blew open his cakehole
A modern day facelift, suicide, case closed"
Louis may offend some with his Logic, but for beats and rhymes he proves the buck didn't stop at 8 Mile Road.
Music Vibes: 8 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 8 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 8 of 10
Originally posted: July 10, 2003
source: www.RapReviews.com