Style 43

Washington DC’s DJ and producer Sharkey teamed up with Def Jux rapper C-Rayz Walz to become Monster Maker, -the freshest thing the other side of the Atlantic.

This album felt hyped from the moment I heard about it, with Sharkey already having collaborated with an impressive list of hip-hop heads such as The Pharcyde, Jean Grae, Eminem, Jedi Mind Tricks, and Cannibal Ox.

This record proves experimental throughout, mixing hip-hop, rock and electro amongst C-Rayz raps. -I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of his but this album does work, with Sharkey reminding us how he got to work with so many artists I admire. This album is what hip-hop should all be about sometimes, -its just fun.

“Jumping Off at the Jump Off” is a great summer track with vocals from Maia Banks (she features throughout the album and adds an awesome flow to a number of songs). Following this is an electro version of Eddy Grant’s classic Reggae/Pop song “Electric Avenue”. Despite being a South London girl; I’m not into this song at all. And it doesn’t sound like Sharkey. That pushed me off course for a little bit, but the next track “Might She Shoot” got my attention again; a lush, chilled out track reminding me of a lot of other stuff I’ve been enjoying lately.

Although the electro element of this album is incredibly noticeable, at no point is it over-done or wrongly placed. “Forgotten” has a deep bass-line putting a bit more hip-hop back into it and getting your head nodding a little bit.

Its fair to say that what I like about this album is Sharkey’s beats and production. The tune and the vocals at the end of “Loss of Niche” are gorgeous, and a really fast change in mood from the rest of the album, -but I love it. I reckon you might need an open mind to enjoy this album if you’re expecting something similar to most of the hip-hop you’ve been listening to, -but I think that’s the point.

http://www.myspace.com/thisworldisamonstermaker
http://www.myspace.com/sharkey

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