Search - L.A. Symphony :: Composition No.1

What the funk?

jojo | adelaide, Australia | 02/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tired of verbose 'underground style' posturing? Sick of 'banging' hip-hop overrun with commercial interests? Can't find that perfect album for driving around on lazy summer days? Well look no further because la symph have the remedy. Don't be put off by the 'christian underground' tags as they do nothing to reflect the unabashed mid 90s hip-hop ethic that these guys espouse. Valuing fun over multisyllabic wizadry and antagonistic battle rhymes, la symph sounds like de la soul circa '3 feet high..' collaborating with Jurassic 5 and Black Eyed Peas of present day. Derivative yet still creating their own distinct sound, this group will bring you back to the native tongue years as they rip tracks such as 'composition no 1', 'night after night', and 'everybody get'. Production does fall off at times resulting in weaker songs such as 'little shirts', but this is made up for with tracks such as 'look at me dancing' - a sort of love or hate song in the vein of the freestyle fellowship.LA symph have brought the fun back into hip-hop without objectifying women or caricaturing the 'ghettos'. With God on their side these guys can't really go wrong."

Christian hip hop is the true underground (see jurney big)

tchevyolson@hotmail.com | minneapolis, mn | 06/30/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation from LA Symphony again proves that the most creative hip hop being made today is rising from the California "Christian Hip Hop" underground. In 1995, LPG renewed a movement begun by SFC in the 80's that countered the hedonism that overpopulated mainstream hip hop with an emphasis on the original elements of hip hop. This movement has been rejuvenated once again by the collective mc's of LA Symphony. This album is an excellent blend of east coast verbal acrobatics and west coast new school beats. The lyrics are light and upbeat, but still have you pressing rewind. "Composition No.1" introduces you to several members over a tight instrumental with the flyest guitar loop since "Gone till November". I was visably shaken as B-Twice and Pigeon John took turns shredding the beautiful melodic structure of "San Diego". Strangely, the track kinda had me thinking jingle bells. "Everybody Get" is the kinda track that has the head bobbin and the low end in motion. And the cameo by Sup (da Chemist) seemed to tie everything nicely together on "Night after Night". I could go on about every song on this kid, but I only have 1,000 words. If you are as sick of the current state mainstream hip hop as I am, check for yourself for real. This CD is full of promise for a new style of hip hop to take over."

Hip-Hop at its best!!!!!!

jojo | 09/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you buy one CD this year make it LA Symphony. Think of pharcyde, jurrasic 5, and black eyed peas all rolled into one, but with clean lyrics. For once a group where each member is as talented as the next. If you're as tired as I am of hearing Juvenile talk about money and Missy talk about the matrix, then check out LA symphony for some fresh/original hip-hop."