“The 5% Album” is a conceptual debut solo release from Lord Jamar, one of the founding members of the legendary group “Brand Nubian”. This twenty one (21) track release features other renowned heavy weights such as RZA, Raekwon, Sadat X, Prodigal Sunn among other talents who are hungry for notoriety. The release is packaged with a ninety (90) plus page collector’s booklet that illuminates the influence of the 5% ideology and its relation to the development of hip hop. This means fans are in store for extremely reflecting music and reading material to stimulate mental growth like a bottle of Ginkgo Biloba pills.
The most impressive factors behind the music are the conceptualism, realism, and information. The science behind the words is positively enlightening giving fans some much appreciated schoolings. The most impressive songs featured on the album are “I.S.L.A.M.”, “The Corner, the Streets”, “Deep Space” and “Greatest Story Never Told”. The leader of that pack is “I.S.L.A.M.” and a close second is “Greatest Story Never Told” which features some of the most enlightening lyrics that a fan could ever hope to absorb from a song. The beats are spectacular and refreshing. The production is always on point. The lyrics are extremely well written & delivered. Each rhyme’s recipe contains a pound of quotes, 2 pounds of realism and 2 cups of refreshing flavor. There are no sour songs on the album. “The 5% Album” is strictly hip hop music at its brightest point. Listening to Lord Jamar on the mic is like starring into a gold plated grill point blank on a mid summers day.
The guest appearances add positively to the album. With highly renowned hip hop heavy weights contributing to the cause, it’s hard not to produce an exceptional album that will generate buzz. The interesting fact about the guest appearances is that we see the next generation of some heavy weight seeds that are attempting to reach for the sun and blossom in their own. It was a creative move that turned out to add a fair amount to the overall freshness of the album. “The world is clearer through a child’s eyes”.
Some critics will critique the album for its use of interludes and skits which don’t contribute any flavor to the musical buffet; however, the interludes and skits are like subtitles and help you travel through the listening journey. Other critics will critique the introduction which acts as a cheerleader chant before the big game. It’s got flavor but fans today want to jump right into the music with a fresh song that could accomplish the same thing as the introductory track.
Overall “The 5% Album” is highly recommended listening. Due to its intensity, knowledge, tight rhymes, hot beats and on point production this is surely destine to be one of the most talked about albums released this year. This is a destine keystone piece to any hip hop collection.
Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. Original Man feat. Raekwon & Kasim Allah
3. I.S.L.A.M.
4. Supreme Mathematics (Born Mix)
5. W-G.O.D. (Skit)
6. Freedom (Pap Wu) Interlude
7. The Corner, The Streets feat. Grand Puba
8. Same Ole Girl feat. Prodigal Sunn
9. P.S.A. (Skit)
10. Revolution feat. Reality Allah & Horse
11. Deep Space feat. The RZA Listen
12. Young Godz feat. Young Justice, Young Dirty, Young Lord
13. Yakub The Jewler (Skit)
14. Advance The Game
15. The Cipher feat. 40 Bandits (Jasik Allah, Ralo, Nat Turner, Rated G)
16. The Interview (Skit)
17. Givin’ Up
18. Study Ya Lessons feat. Sadat X & Queen Tahera Earth
19. Freedom (Papa Wu Reprise)
20. Greatest Story Never Told
21. Supreme Mathematics (Knowledge Mix)
