Koncept

‘Awaken’

Soulspazm Records

Release Date: Jan. 17

4.5 out of 5 decibels

Sounds like: Common

Gone are the days when classic hip-hop songs topped mainstream music charts. Unlike the ‘leggo’ and ‘YOLO’ filled tunes that get plenty of airplay, those classics combined a simple mix of good beats and solid rhymes with an actual message. But Brooklyn rapper Koncept offers the solution to this problem with ‘Awaken,’ his uplifting yet hard-hitting debut album.

This up-and-coming rapper is definitely an artist to watch during 2012. Koncept is an emcee who has been in the game since 2008, when he joined the rap group Brown Bag AllStars. Since then, he has released two EPs, ‘Playing Life’ and ‘More than Meets the Eye.’ With his debut album, Koncept gives his audience clever lyrics about his life and the world.

Although he may have street cred in Brooklyn, Koncept has yet to break into mainstream outlets. That’s why audiences will be pleasantly surprised with this album. He got excellent production from Brown Bag AllStars members The Audible Doctor and J57 as well as Marink, DJ Goo and Marco Polo. He also collaborated with Soul Khan and Bad Meets Evil’s Royce da 5’9. Not too shabby for a debut album.

A lot of big hits today utilize sampling, from Watch the Throne’s ‘Otis’ to Common’s ‘Blue Sky,’ and Koncept is no exception in following the trend. He mixes old and new in tunes like ‘Aspirations,’ in which he samples The Chi-Lites’ ‘Give it Away,’ and he uses Dusty Springfield’s ‘Let Me Get in Your Way’ in ‘The Crash,’ putting a new spin on his music by adding elements of soul and pop.

However, in ‘October 10,’ the chorus and background music sound like a tribal chant. As bizarre as it might seem, it actually works. The only thing that doesn’t is the sample’s abrupt ending —during some of the songs, the sample starts the song, fades out and comes back in.

One particularly good sample was ‘What the World Needs Now’ by Jackie DeShannon in ‘The Only Thing.’ The song puts a more street-style spin on the classic tune, talking about ‘the passion within’ and, quite frankly, how dope he is.

His level of dopeness is supported simply by his lyrics. Koncept, unlike other current mainstream rappers, actually has important things to talk about in his songs, ranging from enjoying life in ‘Aspirations’ to his family in ‘Save Me.’ However, the standout was definitely ‘The Crash.’ On the surface, the song has a smooth and old-school sounding beat. Koncept’s aggressive performance of the lyrics undoubtedly gives it a head-bobbing feel. But he touches on the human condition when he says, ‘Mistakes aren’t made when there’s meaning behind it/Intentions are made when you see and you try it/Sorry’s worth s*** when you believe and you’re lying.’ Music with a message, you can’t get much better than that.

‘Awaken’ is a great album, especially for a debut. It has refined production, wonderful collaborations with established artists and even better lyrical content. Keep an eye out for Koncept. He’s got what it takes to really make a difference in the rap world and maybe even ‘kill the game.’

ieinyang@syr.edu

Published on January 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Ibet: ieinyang@syr.edu