ABS :: Sandstorm :: Shadow Zu
as reviewed by William Ketchum III
With hip-hop´s ongoing globalization, the U.S. is seeing a lot of international releases. At their best, these records can result as high quality, enlightening listens. Kardinal Offishall put Toronto on the hip-hop map with his music, making it accessible to all hip-hop listeners while concurrently representing his hometown by giving his music a Canadian twist. At their worst though, international projects can go to either extreme—they can either be so different that listeners of different cultures can´t keep up, or they can lack originality by simply copying the latest fads in the States.
ABS—made up of Shadow Zu´s Sandstorm Ja and Boobah Siddik, and Big B—is determined to make their mark in the hip-hop world. Their new album, Sandstorm, is a fusion of "normal" hip-hop and their African and Jamaican extractions.
ABS wears their roots on their sleeves with this release. Whether its Sandstorm Ja talking about "making it to New York with $40 in my pocket" on "Immigrant," or the Jamaican flavor found on the dance-ready "Boum Ya," it´s evident that the group isn´t ready to compromise their cultures for mainstream acceptance...
Read the rest at
http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2004_07_sandstorm.html" TARGET="_blank">Rap Reviews
Also check out our previous review over at
http://www.reactmag.com/reviews/feature.php?nid=40" TARGET="_blank">REACTMAG ONLINE
and don´t forget to swing by
http://www.shadowzu.com" TARGET="_blank">SHADOW ZU DOT COM
He who swallows a coconut, trusts his anus...
