Mr. Len “Class-x (Tribute to Company Flow)” 2003
Alex really likes rap music, (I will call it rap music just like I insist on calling punk “punk music”!) but he keeps a lot of his rap records (mostly singles) in a separate place with his djing records- will I ever get to that area of our house? I think they’re in the basement right now...only time will tell. But occasionally a rap record slips in to the regular collection section. I think the last one I reviewed was Biz Markie “The Biz Never Sleep” And now I’m reviewing Mr. Len “Class-x (Tribute to Company Flow).”(Alex has this flied under C for “Company Flow.”) Will it be a problem that I’m not familiar with the band they’re tributing to? Group? Alex just clarified to me that Mr. Len was in Company Flow so that this album is actually more like b-sides than a tribute. I’m feeling confused! And it’s a double LP! Ahhh! I’m mad already!! Let’s put it on.
The first song, “Juvenile Techniques” has a very sweet description underneath it that is making me feel happy. “This was the first song we released and it was the song that sparked our friendship and respect for each other's musical direction.” I like the slow beat mixed with faster rapping but it’s hard to really hear all of the words. I just noticed a mention of Tina Turner and a “Fisher Price mic.” I think this song is about being awesome even though they’re inexperienced. I think that’s a good message.
Every song has a line or two written underneath it on the back cover by Mr. Len. The next one, “People Are Shady” has “always been a favorite” of his. This one has quiet vocals that are making me squint my eyes to hear better. It’s funny how some lines just stand out to you like, “sucking dicks up in the bleachers,” and then others you just do not hear at all. This is a very quiet and slow rap song. I can’t really hear anything special about it, but it seems like if you were stoned, you would enjoy it. There is a great piano sample that they keep playing in the background. I wonder how they thought to sample it- it’s definitely not your typical hip-hop sample sound.
The next song, “Fire in Which You Burn” says “Wouldn’t you Have been angry if this wasn’t on here?” underneath it. So, I just asked Alex if this song was famous and he said yes, and that it was the first song he ever heard by them and was blown away by the rapping. I’m not really getting it. It just sounds like people are talking really fast to a random drum and sitar in the background. It kind of sounds like poetry when you can hear what they’re saying.
I’m trying to let it wash over me. I promise.
The next song “Weight,” sounds like a woman rapping to me. Which perked my ears up immediately. Alex just googled it. Her name is Queen Heroin. I want to hear more from her.
I just noticed there is a song on side b called “Linda Tripp.” Haha throwback. Alex said it’s really good and clever because the premise is they secretly record a phone call from another rapper and play it in there song. On to side B then! But first, the song “End II End Burners (remix)”
I’m trying to let it wash over me, but I really can’t understand what they’re saying. I feel so lame saying this. But it just sounds like a person talking really fast. And I like fast talkers! I’m from New Jersey! But, I feel like it’s not connecting in a part of my brain that it’s supposed to be. Maybe if it was just lyrics and no beat in the background to distract me. I guess that’s called poetry. But it’s hard to hear a beat and fast talking my brain feels like I really just want them to slow down. Am I supposed to feel this way? I just told Alex that I don’t know what they’re talking about and he said, “They’re talking about how great they rap, basically always.”
On to Linda Tripp! It starts with the phone call. This one feels like my favorite so far. I like how the beat comes in and I like how they’re sort of finishing each other’s sentences as they rap. I can tell that they’re definitely being mean in this song.
OH! A sample from Popeye!! I know this! That’s at the end of the LInda Tripp song. Best ending ever.
The next song starts with beat boxing that is making me feel good. This is “Lil Johnny’s Interlude,” very good rhythm!
Alex is enjoying this a lot more than me. He says it’s “atmospheric and smart and dense. The production sounds creepy, it sounds like it’s from the future, it sounds like blade runner, it sounds like it’s from another planet. It’s awesome. It’s also super dirty and sounds like it was recorded in someone’s basement, so I can understand why you don’t understand it. But it’s really good!” We all know Alex loves music that sounds like it’s from another planet- I’m talking to you Helious Creed! So, not surprising. All it’s done for me so far is made me feel like I want to go watch Popeye instead of finish listening to this DOUBLE LP!!
But I must press on. On to side C.
It starts with a song called “Patriotism.” I can tell I like the message of this song, I’m going to look up the lyrics and start it over. Alex just said, “Oh shit, Sarah’s on Rap Genius.” I really like the sound of these words together: “Join the census, censorship sentences sentence.”
Also: “My favorite flavor of gas is mustard.” I’m actually having a flashback. I’m pretty sure my college best friend who was a crazy hippie played this song a lot- I’m going to try and confirm that statement. Hold on. Yes! Confirmed through text message. Memory Moment!
Alex just said that the sample on the next song “Infokill,” “Sounds like you’re in a opera house in the future.” It doesn’t sound that special to me though.
On to side D! I might keep looking at Rap Genius, it’s helping a bit. AH! No lyrics for the first song! “Lencorcism.” I’m liking the beat to this song a lot. I don’t really know what this youtube comment about this song means, but I love it. “Mr.Len kingin' it. This cut smells like pure '82 linoleum. Love this shit.” I mean, I think I know what it means emotionally just not literally. I love the idea of remembering the smell of pure linoleum from 1982. There is a song called “Linoleum” on this side though- so, still confused. Under “Lencorcism,” it says “Because I’m Vain” and under “Linoleum,” it says, “Me being vain again.” So they must be related. Can anyone explain this mystery to me?
All and all, this was a very long album that had some moments for me but ultimately just made me want to watch Popeye instead.
Alex says: In the summer of 1998, I was living in Ypsilanti michigan. I was depressed, I was bored, my band had just broken up, and I was living with a bunch of dickheads (I’m talking about you, Jason). I felt like the vibrant scene I was a part of in high school was fracturing, people were moving away, venues were closing. I was totally lost.
So I was constantly pulling for those little moments of magic, and in order to manufacture them, I would do basically anything. I would follow around people I barely knew, I’d try any drug, I’d stay up all night drinking coffee at the diner, I’d skateboard aimlessly around town at three in the morning with complete strangers - anything to feel like I wasn’t alone.
One evening, I was hanging out with a friend, and he was hanging out with a bunch of other folks I thought were “too cool” for me. You know, people who had better records than me, were funnier than me, were more comfortable in their own skin. I looked up to them and wanted more than anything for them to think that I was cool too. So when my friend took off and left me alone with them, I was totally over the moon. It was a magic moment. I wasn’t alone. It wasn’t even manufactured, really.
It was weird, because I was walking into a totally normal day for these kids, but for me it was a cascade of perfect incidents. First, we got high and ate vietnamese food, which was amazing and delicious. Then they took me back to their pad and I watched Wild Style for the first time, which was just an overwhelming and exciting experience. And then, afterward, they put on Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus. Stoned, coming down off of Wild Style and Vietnamese food, Company Flow was hard to process, but then there was a track called “Help Wanted” that featured a bunch of samples of this movie I was into at the time called The Holy Mountain, and I was totally sold.
I went home feeling like I had broken through into an awesome new clique. The next day I went and bought Funcrusher Plus and listened to it nonstop in the cold, sober light of day, it was still amazing. I listened to that album on repeat all summer. But I never hungout with the cool kids again.
