Search - Grip Grand :: Brokelore

Grip Grand "Brokelore"- 4.25 Stars

Shaun Borowski | Buffalo, NY | 05/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard about Grip Grand's sophomore album, "Brokelore", earlier today in the hip hop forum (where else). The album was getting props from many educated posters, so I went out and bought it. And I'm glad I did. Grip Grand has a unique style and flow, both of which he switches up regularly. The lyrics on the album are metaphor heavy, but at the same time, deep and insightful. A portion of the album is about living in poverty in an area called "Brokelore". The lyrical content reminds me of Cunninlynguists Will Rap for Food in a way. The production on this album is handled by Grip Grand himself and West Coast producer DJ Design, and they do a great job. The production is soulful and jazzy throughout with a curveball or two thrown in. Guests include A.G., Richie Cunning, Darondo, and my personal favorite on the album, Percee P. The guests really stick out, even with Grip Grands already fine tuned lyrics. This 2008 LP is a solid, well thought out piece of work, and is recommended to anyone looking for something different.



Lyrics- 8.5/10

Production- 8/10

Guest Appearances- 9.5/10

Overall Sound- 8.5/10



4.31



-Shaun B."

How To Live In Brokeland (4.5 Stars)

Alan Pounds | Minneapolis, MN | 03/25/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had never heard about Grip Grand until yesterday. Since then I've spun this album 7 times, bought the CD, and will be following his career from this point on. Simply put, Grip Grand is an extraordinary talent in hip-hop today. Not only is he a very gifted songwriter, he also produces soundscapes on par with some of today's finest beat-makers. Grip Grand is a very soulful & introspective songwriter that shines new light on reflective consciousness. He avoids gimmicks and mainstream trends at every turn and delivers a well-constructed gem that will stand the test of time.



Skip material? You'd be hard pressed to find any weak material on the album. Though I do skip a couple from time to time. "Handle That" is one of them. Though through further listening, it's actually a very clever parody of today's redundant gangsta rap scene. "But Anyway" didn't do much for me, though there isn't anything glaringly bad about it. The standouts definitely trump any notable weak material. The opening cut, "Showtime (That's Entertainment)" is one of my favorites on the disc. One listen to the infectious samples and Grand's clever word-play, and I knew this would be an LP I would dig. My favorite tracks would be the more soulful and reflective tracks, like "Hip-Hop Classic". "Love/Drama" is particularly reflective, and a bit tongue-in-cheek as Grip dissects how "whack" he is. He brings some of his most memorable verses on this joint. The impassioned "A Penny" featuring Richie Cunning is definitely my favorite track here. I swear, I can listen to this track all day long. "Poppin' Pockets Remix" featuring A.G. may just be the most infectious beat on the entire album. "Paper Cup" featuring Percee P is notably dope. Though it's almost entirely produced by Grip Grand himself, DJ Design & DJ MF Shalem (known for his work with Adeem & Adverse) do lend some heat to the mix.



Overall, I can't say enough positives about Grip Grand's sophomore album "Brokelore". He executes his talents beautifully, and definitely deserves the spotlight in 2008. Don't miss out on one of the relatively new talents from the west coast. Definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. Keep on doing what you do Grip Grand."