G-4rce Album Reviews: 3001: A Laced Odyssey

Alright, McG back on the mic once again. School is killing things here and I've only had time to make lists on TTT, but now, I decided to do a review for an album that I should've thought of doing a review for a long time ago, 3001: A Laced Odyssey. I watch a guy on YT called Bigquint, who does album reactions, and he's literally the only album reactor I watch because he's entertaining and his reactions aren't watered down. But yeah, I watch his videos to keep up with the new sh*t. Just a little advertising. Check out his channel, it's good. Anyways, let's get into it...

3001: A Laced Odyssey
By Flatbush Zombies
Released March 11, 2016

Before this project, I've never even heard of this group, but this is their debut album and I was a bit reluctant when I saw the cover art, thinking that this group may not be that good. I gave the first song a listen and... yeah, I continued it from there. As a matter of fact, this album was quite a shocker. Before we get down into the main review, let's talk about the group's background.

The Flatbush Zombies is a group of rappers from Jamaican descent who grew up together in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn. During their teenage years, they began experimenting with psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin. Two members, Erick the Architect and Zombie Juice, started looking into the indigo lifestyle, which is a New Age concept where people are believed to possess special and sometimes supernatural abilities. The third member, Meechy Darko's ego died his first time doing mushrooms and had sort of a rebirth in his conscience, thus becoming a "zombie."

These guys have a very unusual and wild background, but their experiences are what make their lyricism rock solid for modern rap music. In each song, the Zombies state their overall beliefs and thoughts on society with insane strain in their voices, with Meechy Darko being the most recognizable. This gives listeners a huge insight on how street life and drugs have manipulated their thinking, which is a simple plus. It provides a very strong theme for the project as a whole. Their storytelling is progressive and their flow is very diverse. They never rap the same way each time.

Another huge plus for this project is the rhythm production, which is the aspect that caught my attention to this album in the first place. It's definitely some of the absolute greatest production I've heard in a while. The slow, strapping drums and background violins of Odyssey, the 808 thump and strumming guitar of Bounce, the classic Roots bump and jazzy saxophone of A Spike Lee Joint, and the simple running piano and violin of Good Grief. In tune with its theme, the rhythm provides a very dark atmosphere, complete with a creepy and distorted setting of Ascension. The production of the album as a whole is unique, sort of like a Roots and Nujabes vibe to it. If you've never heard Nujabes or The Roots, screw you. They're just two artists that can change your musical perspective. Each track basically had some kind of solid jazz background to it with light melodies.

In retrospect, 3001 is a very dark and generally creepy album, but these guys are very talented when it comes to bringing something new to the table; something that I'm looking for.

Best songs: Odyssey, Bounce, R.I.P.C.D., A Spike Lee Joint, Fly Away, Smoke Break (Interlude), Trade-Off, Good Grief, New Phone Who Dis?, This Is It, Your Favorite Rap Song
Worst Song: Ascension

Overall 8.5/10 Great:
Strong lyrics, insanely good rhythm, and thought-provoking storytelling. This album is not one of the most memorable of all time, but it brings the overall aspects that are right up my alley. Unlike my usual choice of music, this project took it slow and gave me an experience rather than a flyby. It goes directly in my top 10 Hip Hop albums of 2016, just because of how different it is from today's rap music, and I am excited to see more from this group.

As usual, I'll continue with the reviews as soon as possible. I may do one on Endless by Frank Ocean...
We'll see how it goes. Until then, I'll check you guys later.

Comments

Good review. I'll check it out - ProPanda (10/22/2016)

I love this album. A lot. - WonkeyDude98 (10/22/2016)

Good review. - Skullkid755 (10/23/2016)

I've been looking for an entertaining YT album reaction channel for a long time. thanks. - visitor (10/28/2016)

No problem :D - visitor (10/28/2016)