Many people may view producer 9th Wonder and duo Little Brother as the faces of North Carolina Hip Hop, yet the reasoning behind Justus League’s exponential rise to the mainstream cannot be discussed without mentioning Cesar Comanche. A co-founder of JL in 1996, Comanche spent his earlier days booking shows nationwide and overseas for his crew. He could also rock the mic. The veteran released his first album, Wooden Nickels, in 2000, and since then has gone on to put out three more albums, along with a slew of tours to spread the name. Now, in 2009, he looks to deliver the goods with Die in Your Lap.
The album starts off with a short intro, then immediately hits a pensive tone with the somber title-track. Weaving in and out of life and professional pressures, Cesar ponders his mission as he raps, “You know that faith has a habit to distract / You know that faith doesn’t ever come gift wrapped / Ain’t flirting with hate, cause on a date / It will never kiss back.” As the track winds to a closing, an echoing ghost-like voice pleas: “don’t be afraid to die.”
The collaborations between Comanche and 9th Wonder sound organic, but that comes as no surprise; they have worked together in the studio since the mid-90’s. Riding the soul-bop of “Hands High,” Comanche kicks rhymes about his team and his sincerity on mic, while on “Choose,” 9th’s uplifting beat allows inspiring lyrics to flow out of Comanche like a fountain of renewed youth.
Arguably the LP’s gem is the Marvelous Beats-laced track “Everything.” With a melody building at the right moments, Comanche takes a thought-provoking stance as he rhymes, “There ain’t never been a time where I’ve taken the shine that someone else grew / Fit in the frame that someone else drew / Beautiful landscapes create and dictates / what the picture should show up next to.”
With five albums under his belt, nobody can discredit Comanche’s dedication to the booth. However, what seems to be missing on Die in Your Lap is direction to accompany his lyrical prowess. While the aforementioned “Choose” provides a telling theme with synergy, tracks like “Lamb to Lion 2″ and “What’s Wrong” sound uneventful by comparison. On the former, a laid-back beat matches his flow in expression; stagnant.
On another track, Comanche attempts to paint a verbal picture with the grooving piece “Ghetto World,” but his lyrics begin to lose focus throughout the record, and confusion ensues concerning their purpose. His biggest blunder though comes on “Shame,” a record repetitious in lyrical content in which Comanche tries adamantly to quiet his foes. However, the only item memorable from “Shame” is a weak hook that characterizes this three-minute performance (It’s a sin / It’s a shame).
Cesar Comanche has often said that he does music the way he wants to, without allowing pressure from labels or big wigs to change his mind. In retrospect, these words are seemingly apparent with Die in Your Lap. Whether this is the first album you have heard from him, or you have been following since the beginning, one thing is certain; Comanche does Comanche.
62/100
Standout Tracks:
“Mercy”
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“Everything”
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“Hands High”
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Welcome back Edwin!!
Edwin, dope piece. I especially liked the line: However, the only item memorable from “Shame” is a weak hook that characterizes this three-minute performance (It’s a sin / It’s a shame).
Regardless, great review and on point!
I love new sounds. This doesn’t fit the classic pigeonholes that everyone likes to categorize hip-hop into. Good coverage Edwin. I love 9th Wonder and his beats allow so many different types of artists to take them and push a record one way or another. Thanks for the post!
I’m a big Cesar fan and loving the new album. Anyone know much about Marvelous Beats? Not heard of this producer before and his contribution on Everything is sick!! Nice review Edwin.
definitely cesar fan, anything JL really
didnt mind his last effort and dig his guest raps so gonna have to check this one out!
i thought it was a solid album with the standout tracks being:
dont be afraid to die
shame
hands high
whats wrong
ment to say die in your lap *not dont be…
Man i love JL but this dude flow and delivery is terrible. There is no 9th wonder beat to save him.
on point, homie.
but let’s be real… Cesar isn’t very good. at all.
Yeah, i listened to this this morning and i was pretty disappointed. I consider myself a JL junkie, and this album was a huge let down. “Hands High” was the best beat. But really, did 9th just give Cesar a bunch of leftover beats? totally uninspiring. I REALLY can’t believe 9th sampled that Willie Hutch song for “Choose”. I mean, once a sample becomes part of a famous beat, leave it alone unless you gonna flip tha shit out of it! 9th needs to follow up with something big after this or my next article will be “how 9th Wonder fell off”.
Will, Marvelous Beats got a myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/bloodygoodbeats
I just checked this and I’m mad disappointed. The main beef I have with Cesar is that on the first track he keeps promising something new that’s never been there before and then he goes on and uses samples that HAVE BEEN flipped in a non-original way and even incorporates loops as interludes from records that are not so rare and doesn’t even change a thing to em. If this was meant to be something groundbreaking, the shot certainly backfired. There are some nice joints on it, but on the whole the thing sounds like something that was quickly put together just to release something. The weak-ass cover echoes this