JOE BIRD SOARS
Joe Bird, a UCR alumni with a degree in History and a rapper who proudly hails from Victorville. His self titled album "Joe Bird" is available at the Student Exchange, Mad Platter music store at the University Village, iTunes, and CDbaby. The album took roughly three months to make the album starting with the beats and writing lyrics to fit these beats. For the album to be made in such a short amount of time, it is the beats and music are fluid and are paired together nicely. That level of artistry is hard to find in many underground rap albums.
The artist states that he first fell in love with Hip Hop in Hampton, Virginia, where his mother, an Air Force veteran, was stationed. As he started to listen more, he fell in love with the music of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The G Funk era. He believes that Ice Cube is the greatest rapper of all time. Just like Ice Cube, Joe Bird has been exploring other avenues of entertainment. In 2006, Joe Bird was cast in Professor Rickerby Hinds play "Straight From Tha Underground" in which a B-boy goes back in time during the time of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
As for the album, it is refreshing to hear a distinct voice in the midst of a somewhat constrictive genre. Bird has a way with words and a talent for creating beats and music to deliver those words. With that being said, it is a little disappointing that someone so talented resorts to the tired old clichés (making money, drugs, sex) that makes a lot of rap music little more than explicit lyrics set to nice beats. All of the songs are worth listening to, if not for the lyrics, for the beats. The beats are catchy and dance worthy, the kind of songs you can imagine hearing at the club or pumped up loud in someone's car.
Joe Bird states that he was exploring his versatility as a rap artist. He explored many different themes such as being a college student, living in the High Desert, and many other personal and non personal. Bird has an amazing talent for versatility, which is undeniable.
Several songs such as "Back It On Me", "Ballot or the Bullet", and "Any Day of The Year" are points where the music and lyrics are at its best. "Ballot or the Bullet" is one of the more poignant songs on the album, but with other songs with less thought put into the lyrics, the message is a bit muddled. Bird's lyrics are brutally honest, regardless of what he is talking about. His honesty is to be appreciated and with this honesty, he could reach a wider audience.
Overall, the album was enjoyable. The effort is commendable and the CD is worth listening to, if not for the lyrics, for the fluidity between music and lyric. Bird states that his album is made for anyone that likes different styles of hip hop. If he were to choose a specialty of the genre perhaps the more poetic and thoughtful side of hip hop, he has the potential to go far and become a big name in local music. He states that he likes the vulgar rap, but he also states that it is not his entire persona. The album explores different sides of Joe Bird, but as a listener, I want more. Joe Bird has talent which if, nothing else, should be recognizable and defines Joe Bird as an artist to look out for. Check him out at http://www.myspace.com/birdjoe.
The artist states that he first fell in love with Hip Hop in Hampton, Virginia, where his mother, an Air Force veteran, was stationed. As he started to listen more, he fell in love with the music of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The G Funk era. He believes that Ice Cube is the greatest rapper of all time. Just like Ice Cube, Joe Bird has been exploring other avenues of entertainment. In 2006, Joe Bird was cast in Professor Rickerby Hinds play "Straight From Tha Underground" in which a B-boy goes back in time during the time of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
As for the album, it is refreshing to hear a distinct voice in the midst of a somewhat constrictive genre. Bird has a way with words and a talent for creating beats and music to deliver those words. With that being said, it is a little disappointing that someone so talented resorts to the tired old clichés (making money, drugs, sex) that makes a lot of rap music little more than explicit lyrics set to nice beats. All of the songs are worth listening to, if not for the lyrics, for the beats. The beats are catchy and dance worthy, the kind of songs you can imagine hearing at the club or pumped up loud in someone's car.
Joe Bird states that he was exploring his versatility as a rap artist. He explored many different themes such as being a college student, living in the High Desert, and many other personal and non personal. Bird has an amazing talent for versatility, which is undeniable.
Several songs such as "Back It On Me", "Ballot or the Bullet", and "Any Day of The Year" are points where the music and lyrics are at its best. "Ballot or the Bullet" is one of the more poignant songs on the album, but with other songs with less thought put into the lyrics, the message is a bit muddled. Bird's lyrics are brutally honest, regardless of what he is talking about. His honesty is to be appreciated and with this honesty, he could reach a wider audience.
Overall, the album was enjoyable. The effort is commendable and the CD is worth listening to, if not for the lyrics, for the fluidity between music and lyric. Bird states that his album is made for anyone that likes different styles of hip hop. If he were to choose a specialty of the genre perhaps the more poetic and thoughtful side of hip hop, he has the potential to go far and become a big name in local music. He states that he likes the vulgar rap, but he also states that it is not his entire persona. The album explores different sides of Joe Bird, but as a listener, I want more. Joe Bird has talent which if, nothing else, should be recognizable and defines Joe Bird as an artist to look out for. Check him out at http://www.myspace.com/birdjoe.
Najela
1 comments:
very well written critique
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