- Mon, 2010-08-16 12:28
Canadian hip hop collective Sweatshop Union formed in 2000, when the politically minded acts Dirty Circus, Pigeon Hole, Innocent Bystanders and solo act Kyprios joined forces to weave together their sounds, style and message.
Sweatshop Union’s Metty The Dertmerchant and Mos Eisley have finally released a record that’s been years in the making. As part of the Union, the duo have released five albums and scuffed the road on tour over the last ten years, supporting a diverse selection of artists including De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, Jurassic 5, Planet Asia, Tegan and Sara, Black Eyed Peas and Kokane.
Their ode to traditional, classic era Hip Hop is Alive and Well, a 13 track album featuring vintage cuts echoing the original Sweatshop style, produced by the group plus Slakah The Beatchild, legendary DJ Rip One and Swollen Members producer Rob The Viking. Spitting licks alongside Metty and Mos are Bootie Brown of The Pharcyde, Moka Only, Blame One, Geo of Blue Scholars, Shad K, Dynas and DJ’s Grouch, Cysko and ES Nine. Slick beats with carefully tuned samples push this selection of beat heavy, scratch entwined cuts forward into the modern era. The often over-looked stalwarts of Vancouver hip-hop continue with a lyrical delivery based on an honest message – believable, achievable positivity without an edge of cringe, alongside their darker, more political musings without an edge of self-righteousness.
There are some first rate samples littered throughout Alive and Well, including an interview with a young b-boy and a ‘Lee Scratch Perry’ moment, plus the record pulls horns, jazz and swing sensibilities into the beat effortlessly, maintaining the vibe whilst expanding it’s musical colour.
Tracklisting
01. Alive And Well
02. In To The Sun (feat. Shad & Geo)
03. Return To The Basement
04. Never Die
05. Where I'm At
06. Like It's Supposed To (feat. Moka Only & Bootie Brown)
07. Drama Free
08. The Adversary In Me
09. Overstand (feat. Blame One)
10. Tryptamine Dream
11. Them
12. The Remains
13. Bonus: Donkey Punch
