Phonix & Purpose :: Those Who Don't Hear :: Listen In Records
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

[Those Who Don't Hear] Only after I had pressed play on "Those Who Don't Hear" did I realize that this was a UK release. I went back and checked the e-mail that alerted me the album was available to review - yup - co.uk domain name. We're a little too early for UK month here on RapReviews, but I'm not willing to sit on this one for the next four weeks. "Those Who Don't Hear" intrigued me by just how much they were willing to offer in one shot - a full album of new tracks and another full album of beat tape samples. On Bandcamp this is listed for a minimum of 7 pounds, which works out to just about $11 U.S., but apparently a free download is also available. If you're that determined to get for nothing try entering 0 and see if it works.

So far as I can tell (the press release was minimal) Phonix is the emcee and Purpose Lee is the maestro of the beats. It's possible that Phonix pulls double duty as a producer, but it's also possible that a third member not even named as a featured artist has a big hand here - Majestic is listed in the credits as mastering, mixing, and recording the album. Still I'm going with the assumption that Purpose Lee is the key producer and wizard behind the boards. The "Lee" is key as he shouldn't be confused with the Purpose from the tandem of Purpose & Confidence. Mr. Lee shows off his love for soulful horns and strings on "Rhymin Spazm."

Phonix has one of the thicker British accents these Yankee ears have heard in a little while. It's not unfathomable: "I'm not a bad guy, just not one to be f%@#ed with" comes across loud and clear. So does an all too familiar amount of hip-hop homophobia: "Rappers are washed up like dinner plates/acting funnier than that DOOD in Will & Grace." It's not the most vitriolic bash ever, but the casual way it works into bars on so many albums proves we've got many years (perhaps many decades) to go before it's no longer an acceptable method of establishing manhood on records. Overall Phonix is a freestyler showing off his skills on the song, bragging we should all "bear witness to a divine demonstration of syntax." He also brags he can "beat the pussy up until it smells like tuna" on "Hoola Doola."

The album is a bit of a mishmash to my ears. Purpose Lee's got the basics of production down, but on songs like "Casualty of War" the high pitched backdrop not only drowns out the slightly hard to understand Phonix but eventually gives you a headache. I understand he was trying to loop organ pipes and be gothic, but it just makes me reach for the skip button. At other times the exact opposite problem occurs - "iWord" sounds like an interesting melody, but Phonix is cranked up so loud that you can't really make out much other than a guitar and a faint hint of orchestral sound.

There's a lot about "Those Who Don't Hear" I want to like, but the technical flaws keep me from giving it higher praise. It's not just that Phonix has a stronger UK accent than most British rappers I listen to - it's that at times I feel like he's trying so hard to be clever that he's tripping over his own tongue. It's almost as though he's overthinking a flow that should just come natural. The same goes for Purpose Lee - if he'd settle down into a groove with how he mixes his beats it would benefit him and any emcee he chooses to work with. I don't regret the time I spent on this album, nor that I jumped the gun on UK month, but by the time their next album comes out I expect serious improvement.

Music Vibes: 5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 5 of 10

Originally posted: September 9, 2014
source: www.RapReviews.com