Malik Yusef:
The Greatest Chicago Fire

Release Date: 22 March 2005

Reviewed By: Alfie Pommels

1. Cold Day In Hell

2. Get Ready - ft, Carl Thomas

3. How Wild Are You

4. Auto Eroticism - ft, Chantay Savage

5. Conversations With God

6. Woman Where Is Your Soul

7. Mucho Amore

8. Wouldn't You Like To

9. Banned From TV

10. Revolutionary Words

11. Just W-R-ight For You

12. I Spit

13. Lie

14. The Game

15. Struggle

16. Get Reay (remix)

Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
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Chicago’s Malik Yusef aka "The WordSmyth" has developed a reputation not only as a rapper and hip hop musician, but also as an exemplary urban poet and word artist. His highly anticipated debut album ‘Malik Yusef presents The Great Chicago Fire… A Cold Day In Hell’ was originally scheduled to be released a couple of years ago around January 2003, but has taken a very long time to actually see light of day.

Now, anyone expecting frivolous lyrics over the top of catchy beats and samples will be sorely disappointed. That’s not to say that there’s not a decent assortment of the deep, the listenable and danceable, but the latter is definitely in a minority. ‘Get Ready’ was one of the picks of the independent hip hop tracks from last year. Carl Thomas provides the smooth R&B of the chorus and the lyrics are to die for. Probably more of a radio track than a club banger, this is the sort of sophisticated vibe that is easily overlooked, so it’s good to be able to get a second chance to get hold of it.

The title track ‘A Cold Day In Hell’ is, in all probability, more representative of the body of the album. Minimalist backing tracks and rappers spitting rhymes with the venom of cobras are not the mainstay of urban tracks in recent times, but everything has its place and poetry is no exception. The choruses occur with a lot less frequency than traditional tracks, but when they arrive they are usually well delivered and in perfect harmony with the lyrics. The album has a wealth of guests including production from Kanye, and features one of my favourite female artists Chantay Savage, as well as Common, Twista, Bigg Nastee’ and Jameisha Trice.

‘How Wild Are You’ features Big Nastee, Dasha Kelly and Feloney, and is a superb track. The Curtis Mayfield-like vocals on the chorus and the free-flowing lyrics are a delicious combination, but the banging backing track and spellbinding bass-line turn this into a must-have track. Chantay Savage provides the beatific vocals on ‘Auto-Eroticism’, and stripped back, almost jazzy piano and laid back drums accompany the improv’ poetry. Make sure you check it out in headphones as the stereo phases sexily between channels and while this may never receive commercial appreciation, is a beautiful track.

‘Conversations With God’ features Mikaela and Mr Mirajj, and is an upbeat track with a sung prayer as the catchy chorus. It provides an interesting view of the world through the eyes of The Almighty, (though I’m sure he doesn’t use the ‘f’ word as often). The first minute of ‘Mucho Amore’ is taken up with idle chit chat, but the track has a sweet Latino-jazz vibe that the hip hop lyrics integrate nicely into.

‘Wouldn’t You Like To….’ was the B-side to the ‘Get Ready’ single release and features Common, Kanye and JV. Another wicked track that deserves a re-release to see if the masses are ready for it yet. The blaxploitation feel of ‘Banned From TV’ has pimps and oversized cars jumping through your mind. Given the content, it will probably be banned from radio as well, but it’s irreverent and wonderfully so. ‘Lie’ is a great R&B track that suffers from the long stretch of unaccompanied lyrics that start it off, as many will skip it before giving it a chance.

Titles like ‘The Game’ and ‘Struggle’ are an indicator of the serious nature of other titles and are worth listening to when you feel like being reminded of the things that really matter in life. Definitely not for the mainstream, but it will be a ‘Cold Day in Hell’ when I let that bother me. Well worth buying.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Favourite Tracks:

Get Ready
How Wild Are You
Wouldn't You Like To

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