Comments on: MELAPHYRE / “Wonderful” http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/ a conversation about black music Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:07:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: Ari G http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/#comment-19011 Tue, 22 May 2007 16:23:02 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/#comment-19011 One might think that since I've known Melaphyre from our collegiate days since '91 that I would be less critical of his music. However, the opposite holds true----I am more critical because I have been consistently exposed to his music from pre-L.O.T.U.S production, to L.O.T.U.S., and now to Ugilness. Ugliness, in my opinion, is one of the most heartfelt albums ever, compromised of the dichotomy of love/hope and apathy/despair in Black life. On this album, much akin to De La Soul on "Stakes is High", Melaphyre "dumbed down" his lyrics so that the AVERAGE rap fan can hear/feel his music. And although his flow may be more succinct this time around, the content is as precise and possibly, more potent, than ever. Sometimes less is truly more... The production is also much more crisp this time around to, with a myriad of beats that range in tempo in comparison to L.O.T.U.S.'s predominant melancholy sound. Don't get me wrong, I truly enjoyed L.O.T.U.S., and it was an excellent debut of my man Melaphyre. As a sophmore joint though, Ugliness is by far an evolution is production AND style, and only leaves one yearning for the third installment from this talented MC/producer. PEACE One might think that since I’ve known Melaphyre from our collegiate days since ‘91 that I would be less critical of his music. However, the opposite holds true—-I am more critical because I have been consistently exposed to his music from pre-L.O.T.U.S production, to L.O.T.U.S., and now to Ugilness.
Ugliness, in my opinion, is one of the most heartfelt albums ever, compromised of the dichotomy of love/hope and apathy/despair in Black life.
On this album, much akin to De La Soul on “Stakes is High”, Melaphyre “dumbed down” his lyrics so that the AVERAGE rap fan can hear/feel his music. And although his flow may be more succinct this time around, the content is as precise and possibly, more potent, than ever. Sometimes less is truly more…
The production is also much more crisp this time around to, with a myriad of beats that range in tempo in comparison to L.O.T.U.S.’s predominant melancholy sound.
Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoyed L.O.T.U.S., and it was an excellent debut of my man Melaphyre. As a sophmore joint though, Ugliness is by far an evolution is production AND style, and only leaves one yearning for the third installment from this talented MC/producer. PEACE

]]> by: AlondaNicole http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/#comment-19015 Tue, 22 May 2007 20:22:39 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/#comment-19015 Melaphyre is one of the hardest working independent artists in Atlanta. He is an entrepreneur with a desire to demonstrate that rappers don't have to wait for a record deal to be successful. His music speaks to real life situations while creating a beat and rhythm that motivates and inspires. Melaphyre is one of the hardest working independent artists in Atlanta. He is an entrepreneur with a desire to demonstrate that rappers don’t have to wait for a record deal to be successful. His music speaks to real life situations while creating a beat and rhythm that motivates and inspires.

]]> by: Ronald McDaniel http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/#comment-19018 Tue, 22 May 2007 22:06:42 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/05/20/melaphyre-%e2%80%9cwonderful%e2%80%9d/#comment-19018 I listened to the song listed with the article and didn't really feel compelled to dig any deeper about the artist. I couldn't get past the beat, which was drawn out and uncreative. The thing that made Gangstarr so great was the fact it was a perfect marriage of rapper and beatmaker (producer). The same can be said about Pete Rock & CL Smooth. CL Smooth was not the greatest writer, but the marriage between he and P-Rock caused you to nod your head. This on the other hand caused me to nod off and go to sleep. Sorry, just keep working at it brother and keep the positive attitude. I listened to the song listed with the article and didn’t really feel compelled to dig any deeper about the artist. I couldn’t get past the beat, which was drawn out and uncreative.

The thing that made Gangstarr so great was the fact it was a perfect marriage of rapper and beatmaker (producer). The same can be said about Pete Rock & CL Smooth. CL Smooth was not the greatest writer, but the marriage between he and P-Rock caused you to nod your head. This on the other hand caused me to nod off and go to sleep.

Sorry, just keep working at it brother and keep the positive attitude.

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