Thanks to the likes of Eminem and Kanye West, recent times
have seen introspective lyrics become as popular within hip-hop circles as the
scene’s traditional gangster-and-pussy content. Although it's fair to point out that rhymes often tip from
being insightful to egotistical, the progression from gangster rap to the kind of emotional freedoms and individuality that is now established can only be a good thing (and almost certainly more in line with the intentions
of the original pioneers of the sound, such as Grandmaster Flash and Afrika
Bambaataa). These changing circumstances and the evolution of the sound have
allowed artists, such as Lyrics Born to bloom into musical forces to be reckoned
with – as his fifth studio album confirms.
Reassuringly, whilst Lyrics Born is introspective about
himself and his surroundings, things don’t go down the path of the ego-trip
that has hampered certain hip-hop artists of late. Instead we get astute
observations about the compromises he has had to face with success in I’ve
Lost Myself, relationship insecurities in Lies x3 and, later, a soulful tale of love reknindled in (What Happened 2 Our) Love
Affair? Like in previous outings, Lyrics’ delivery is solid, whether crooning
soulfully or spitting fast rhymes - the content is consistently smart, entertaining and insightful.
So far, so good and constituting what we’ve come to expect
from previous records of Mr. Born. However, whilst the lyrics provide a powerful
emotionally and intellectual core, it’s the beats and arrangement that cement
the record’s success. Embracing pop sensibilities, whilst staying genuinely innovative
is a very difficult task, yet it is in this respect that As U Were succeeds. Nearly each track consists of melodic hooks that get stuck in your head for hours and would
fit in with many radio stations’ output, yet at the same time Born has
sprinkled his album with warped synths and keys (such as in the bridge between tracks I’ve
Lost Myself and Lies x3, and We Live By The Beat) that allow interesting musical ideas to nestle amongst the
guitar, soul and funk riffs you’d expect from mainstream hip-hop.
Innovative and pushing the envelope creatively whilst at the
same time being an utter joy to listen to; embracing the mainstream (a number
of tracks desperately deserves some Radio 1 airtime) whilst sticking to his
experimental kudos; lyrics that soul-search one moment and wise-crack the next –
just three of the reasons that this album deserves to be held as one of the
best hip-hop outings this year and certainly cement Lyrics Born as one of the best uncelebrated rappers around.