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Some five years since his last release, Bay Area MC and producer The Grouch drops his newest LP Show You The World. Far from laying idle in that time, he has produced a stack of releases with different collaborators and this new LP drops the same day as the latest from his super crew Living Legends. The biggest question is can The Grouch cut it as a solo emcee?
The answer to my question is, yes he can. Production wise, though, he leaves me wanting so much more – a trait too often present in the music of creative West Coast emcees. Maybe it’s my upbringing on the funk heavy sounds of LA, not the glitchy underground noises clearly influential to The Grouch, but I just cannot get into most of the production on this release. It’s not just this release though. Too often albums from Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude, Aceyalone and so ob leave me thinking, ‘Wow, these lyrics would sound great with some better beats’.
When the sound is better put together here, for tracks like The Bay To LA, Mom & Pop Killer and Hot Air Balloons, it gives the feel of a much more complete package. Lyrically, The Grouch has definitely matured a lot and continues to do so with each release. Mom & Pop Killer takes aim at big corporations, Show You The World offers some nice sentiments, while Shero is a nice tribute to the lady in his life. Just when all is going smooth though, there is the pointless nerd rap of Artsy, complete with the hook “I am more artsy than you.” Umm, hooray?
If you get into the underground sounds from the left coast of the USA you will no doubt be championing this as a fantastic release. Personally, I just wish this had a little more bass.
