Forsaking the usual
hip-hop standbys (drum programming, samples, constant mic checks), the Cincinnati
hip-hop trio
Iswhat?! debuted with a challenging record -- beginning with the title but extending to the entire set. A complex, difficult album,
You Figure It Out... is much more musical than lyrical, a fiery fusion of
Matthew Anderson's strong, dexterous work on upright bass;
Jack Walker's fluid explosiveness on reeds; and the human beatboxing of
Napoleon.
Napoleon's speedy rapping, closer in effect to a live
poetry slam than usual in
hip-hop, is difficult to decipher but offers much to listeners willing to devote the time to message tracks like
"Parachutes" and
"Can't Get In." Anderson's prime influence comes out in a pair of late-period reworkings of
Charles Mingus' material:
"Fables of Faubus" and
"Trust." Surprisingly, for a first record
Iswhat?! was able to get some outstanding collaborations, including Cincinnati's own
John Doe (from
1200 Hobos) on scratches,
avant-garde jazz luminary
Hamid Drake on drums for three tracks, and
rap theorist
DJ Spooky on a remix of
"Parachutes" (also found on his own remix album,
Dubtometry). A bold and refreshing first effort,
You Figure It Out... is often frustrating but often stunning. ~ John Bush
