Hip-Hop is such a global and diverse genre of music. From Japanese sneaker freakers spitting over somebody beat-boxing to the chopped and screwed sounds of the South up against the swinging and swaying melody of the Mid-West, Hip-Hop is set apart. I don’t know too many Country artists from Australia strumming about their kangaroo and crocodile-hunting neighbor nor do I know too many Irish Reggaeton artists dropping it like it’s hot to bag pipes in skirts. Okay, so you get my point and not only was that possibly stereo-typical but I say all that to enforce that Paradox is not someone you may typically find in your stereo either. But he should be with his latest release, “Called To Mind.”

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We are well acquainted with the swag of the East, the sway of the West, the swing of the Mid-West and the style of the South but what about those who don’t necessarily fit into these four categories? What about the emcee spitting from Oregon who you’d have to practically be blind not feel, let alone see. Then there are those artists such as Paradox who do come from states that have an identity in Hip-Hop and don’t follow the “typical” style, if you will. This is Paradox at his best. Lyrically he is what it is to taste fresh lemonade on a hot summer day after being dehydrated from the dried up styles of so many, he is some aspirin for your headache caused by listening to the swaggajacker who jacked his swag and her swag yet can’t even spell swag. You will find every word pronounced and executed to perfection, no hanging vowels and ever word ending in “er” and “s” is heard crisp and clear. He has no accent when he rhymes and that’s perfectly okay when he’s spitting liquid on heartfelt and relevant songs like “Broken”,

“My entire life spans from a one-night stand/ Cuz I wasn’t quite planned and he wasn’t the right man/ To be a father, he couldn’t be bothered/ Turns out it takes more than pen and ink to be an author/ It’s like clockwork, when things get awkward/ Seems free drinks and (clear throat) was all he’s got to offer/  So he hits the road and she lifts the load/ but as the kiddo grows, you know he missed what’s owed/  It quickly shows with no male role model/ riding older boys coattails full throttle/ Off to Colorado at the age of eight/  Days stayed the same way despite the change of state/  I’d take the bait to bite hook, line, and sinker/  with a look no hands approach, like goodbye to my five fingers/  As time lingers on, it’s little better except that/  next to my step dad’s where moms rests her head at.”

Lyrics don’t get more gritty then that but when dude spits it doesn’t even come off as gritty, it’s just his heart on wax bidding your earwax closer to the speaker. Another track infused with his blood, sweat and even tears is one of my favorites “Bloodline” featuring Mellow Drum Addict & one of the most underrated artists in the game, Sev Statik. On this track Mellow Drum Addict sings on the hook and if you haven’t read my past reviews, I’m a sucker for a dope melody and even doper crooner. His style isn’t so much rhythm and blues as it is raw and almost eerie as the likes of Sonny from P.O.D. acclaim. However, with about twelve seconds left at the end the harmonizing has your hairs on end. In this case, you shouldn’t save the best for last…spread that all over the track to make it even more explosive. Throughout the album you find creative wordplay, puns, metaphors and just beautifully laced lyricism. Paradox is the type of dude that you’d secretly like to see battle any highly acclaimed CHH/HHH artist in a freestyle.

Production on this album is organic and home grown. The production was created perfectly for Paradox and whether it’s a chopped sample or stand-out instruments, both are welcomed with Paradox’ style (although I’m sure he’d flip anything and make it lovable.) Some stand outs in addition to what I have already listed are the jazzy “White Noise” featuring Common Child, Propoganda and Afaar, the clap-happy “Put ‘Em Together” (check out the hook for some crazy word play) and the violin and guitar infused “Let Your Life Speak” featuring Gina Chavez and the reggae guitar-whopped “Seeds” featuring Playdough. As you can see Paradox brought his friends along in addition such as Same Old Jake, Othello, Metermaidz, Jeremiah Bonds and Kaboose.

Overall, this effort is enjoyable and wonderful for those who like thought-provoking lyrics and classic boom-bap production. This is Hip-Hop full grown with it’s roots deeply rooted in the past, at least this is what is called to mind.

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