If you’ve been following the site here for a while, you know that one of my favorite American Gangster remix albums is Eye Am Gangster, produced by Eye Am Productions. Eye Am Productions is the production side of the Southern Californian hip hop group The Breax. When I got wind that they had released an album around this time last year, I had to give it a listen and offer up my review.

In a day and age where we have corporate radio dictating what good hip hop is and what we should be listening to, The Breax are breaking all the rules; pushing racial, spiritual, political, and musical boundaries. Some may call it intellectual hip hop. Some may call it progressive hip hop. Putting all labels aside, I’d like to just call it hip hop.

The album opens with a jazzy little number, making myself question if I put the right CD in the player. When DJ Beleaf scratches in The Breax and the drums kick in, I realize this is not your average radio hip hop. Right off the bat, I notice the refreshing sound of live instrumentation. Hip hop has always been fueled by drum machines, samplers, and other electronic instruments. When a group uses live instruments, you can tell a difference. That’s not to say that The Breax doesn’t use any of the above mentioned equipment. Samples are used and DJ Beleaf scratches at the appropriate moments as if he were DJ Jazzy Jeff in his prime. Overall, production on this album is spot on and is everything I was expecting after only being introduced to Eye Am Gangster.

Lyrically the album is very intelligent. Most of the verses are performed by emcee Ruslan, who speaks his mind without holding back. Discussing topics such as religion and the racial barriers he encountered growing up, the whole album sort of reads like an autobiography. At times the lyrics can get a little repetitive and maybe even a little self involved; if I had any problems with this album, that would be my only complaint. But it is very evident that Ruslan was born behind the mic and is very comfortable as his flow is flawless. When DJ Beleaf gets his turn at the mic, it’s usually during the few spoken word interludes, which are amazing. Beleaf has a knack for word play and you can tell that he has his audience’s attention as he twists his words into a story you weren’t even expecting. Beleaf’s spoken word interludes are a welcome addition to their musical journey. I hope The Breax consider including more of Beleaf’s poems in future albums.

Overall, The Breax show promise and hope that hip hop can evolve, but I’m afraid that this album may not be for your average hip hop fan. This album takes an open mind and an appreciation for intellectual music. Once the listener understands the album’s message and where The Breax are coming from, then I guarantee they will enjoy this album.

Notable tracks: “Ask A Simple Question”, “Yes”, “Why Fall In Love”

• Buy The Breax online
• The Breax Official Web Site
• The Breax MySpace Page

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