Search - Juggaknots :: Clear Blue Skies

The Ever-Elusive Masterpiece of Independent Hip-Hop

professor_jook | New Haven, CT | 03/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Breezly Brewin may have single-handedly changed the way I think about Hip-Hop. For those of you that don't know, Breeze is the front man from the Juggaknots, an MC who ranks up there with the best of all-time (make no mistake about this). He does it all with intelligent rhymes, a complex and unorthodox rhyme scheme, and the smoothest of flows. And that's not even the half.
It's incredibly difficult to talk about hip-hop other than adhering to the conventions of describing it in terms of flow, subject matter, etc. This album, and all of the Juggaknots' music, makes those bars that they normally rank hip-hop albums with look straight up silly. To reduce their music to production value, rhymes and cuts takes everything good out of it. There's something in them, unmistakably, but it doesn't amount to nearly half of what this group accomplishes. Some of my favorite lines: "But hard rocks become rock hard with rigor mortis/ and respect is the commandment the divine trigger taught us..." "To inspire thought to the mic, there was marriage cause the competition, Verbal mis/carriage of the mental fetus, greet us with the rugged rhythm that I'm showin/ I think I feel my water break and thus I'm flowing..." "I seen honey, and yo, I tried to hide the bulge, I'm thinkin of indulgin in an all-out makin', call out Breezly Brewin session of the flesh, and as this matter was discussed, this lust/expressed through my reasonin' would help in seasonin' that rump roast. Gassin up the blunt, most incredible, edible vision with precision -- had her fiendin' for incision."The album is loaded with classics. On "I'm Gonna Kill U," Breeze delivers perhaps one of the best lyrical songs ever in hip-hop. There's the original title piece, "Clear Blue Skies," a dialogue between a son and his racist father that still strikes a chord with its "vision of perfection", the "clear blue skies". Intelligent, beautiful, political, amazing...this album is out there so buy it."So that's your vision of perfection; that's your clear blue skies, through those clear blue eyes, which seem to make you think you're better. But instead of simply sinking/ to the level of your thinking, I'll be ghost...""

A hip hop Classic!!

A. Martinez | Brooklyn, NY United States | 09/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most incredible albums from an era when hip hop was actually good. This album ranks as my second favorite album behind Yeshua and SIah DaPoed's EP, get this album for Breeze's incredible lyrical style and rhymes. Not only is he mad talented he is also a real cool cat I met him at Fat Beats where he was working. This is one of the illest albums ever unless you are a fan of corny Hot 97 rotations or are pumping Right Therre or Lumidee in your car SUCKER!!!"

ONE OF THE FEW MASTERPIECES OF INDEPENDENT HIP HOP

? | United Kingdom! | 04/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The triumphant return of a lost classic! This is one of very few albums that hits you as soon as you press play, and keeps you hitting the rewind button. Now, I could easily sit here for days trying to convince you why this is some of the best material ever to be brought back for hiphop fans, but you need to listen to this album to truly appreciate it's brilliance.

The Juggaknots are made up of the frontline Mc; Breezly Brewin (one of the most underrated Mc's), his little sister heroine and last but not least buddy slim on the boards (who also establishes his presence on the mic a few times too). Now, anybody who knows Breezly brewin will know that he is not only known best for his unorthodox rhyme style but also for his ability to tell vivid stories so well that he is actually considered one of the best to do it, up there with slick rick. A perfect example of this, is track 20 on this album (bonus track), where he portrays the conversation between a a white son who has a black girlfriend and his white Dad. Considered, to be one of the most important hiphop songs ever made, highlighting the issue of segregation of race in America, it sets a standard so high it would result in, for another group, their album seeming inconsistent and one-track based. Make no mistakes, Clear Blue Skies is one of the most consistent hiphop albums you can buy. Now, considering 11 of the 20 tracks were made back in the mid 90's, you would expect that typical NY hard hitting bass and dominating drum pattern that keeps your head nodding. Not here, Well, it definately keeps your head nodding but buddy slim blesses breezly with some of the most elegant piano loops, jazz breaks and addictive samples you will ever hear... resulting in each track having its own memorable individuality.How hiphop used to be. Whether it be the loungin' vibe you get from "loosifa" or the raw hardhitting feel you get from "trouble man", you can bet there is a track for every occassion. Now, aside from the amazingly fresh beats and the thought provoking lyrics there is something about the Juggaknots and their music that words can not describe. They give off an x-factor that, for me, no other hiphop group posess. Clear Blue Skies is as an album that any TRUE hiphop fan can not ignore, it has done wonders for me see what it does for you! PEACE P.S. this album is actually OOP now, so it will be tricky to find (but its worth it!)



Lyrics - 10/10

Beats -10/10

Originality - One of the most original yet, up there with Bizarre Ride II

Replay Value - 10/10

X Factor - IT has it!



If you found this helpful, check out my other reviews"