Once upon a time, hip-hop was about having a good time and (brace yourselves) getting down! The Black Eyed Peas are bringing that mentality back to the future. They reinvigorated blasé dance floors and seduced discriminating heads with their debut, Behind the Front, and they do it again on Bridging the Gap. In the open-minded old-school tradition of producers like Afrika Bambaataa, the album is diverse and delicious, a grab bag of influences from reggae to drum & bass and beyond. [Read More...]
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow - this album rocks. I am not normally a hip hop fan, but purchased this CD after ‘Weekends’ made it to number 1 in the Australian charts. I absolutely love this album now - it remains one of my favourites 2+ years after it was released! I am now up to date with all of their new, and old stuff.
For new Black Eyed Peas fans, this album was recorded prior to the girl joining the group (I must admit, I was very diasppointed when I heard they sold out to sex appeal to increase their market, and added her to the group) - so most of the songs are just the original boys knocking it out. Their tunes are so mellow, smooth - and really cruisy. Easy listening that’s for sure - but upbeat enough to get your body moving to the beats.
Bridging the Gap is less commercialised that their new stuff (Let’s get retarded/started, Hey Mama etc..), however it was this album that first brought them international recognition - and started them on their ladder to success.
If you love the new Black Eyed Peas, buy this album and you won’t be disappointed.
This LP overshadows their debut in my opinion. Not that their first album was wack, I just think they raised the bar a bit,nah mean. Of course, some heads complain about the simplicity of their rhymes, but yo, not everyone can be Pharoahe Monch,nah mean. The beats are still authentic. Although a few lean towards too poppy, you won’t hear Timbaland speakin in the back ground(that’s a plus!!!). All featured artists fit the same mold as the Black Eye Peas(Wyclef, Mos Def, De La, Charlie 2na of J-5), and also bring thier own creative juices to the table makin’ it one of the better LP’s of the year. I recommend this joint right here to any true HIP-HOP fan.
First let me say that I only gave this album 4 stars instead o 5 because I’m a hip hop snob. If it isn’t very close to heaven then I won’t be giving away 5 stars yet I was still close in this case. This album is one of a recent influx of hip hop albums that prove in the face of pop culture that the art of hip hop is not dead. However I warn you, do not watch MTV or BET hoping to see a Black Eyed Peas song… you won’t find it and you’ll once again revert into thinking that rap is dead. This CD is good… not a must have but definately a must listen. I had to have it and I like it’s diversity. Features Wyclef (who is good on the album despite his recent abomination with THE ROCK), Macy Gray, Les Nubian & Mos Def, and De La Soul and others. Very few traks that aren’t at least good and several that earn the rank of excellent (eg.- weekends; hot; gogo; rap song). If you like sounds like the roots, common, mos def, then just buy it. If you tend to like harder rap then give it a listen before you buy. All around, it’s excellent rap/ hip hop.