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  Release Date: March 8, 2005
  Website: Living Legends Website
  Label: Legendary Music

Living Legends “Classic” Album Review
There are a few reasons why you don’t see too many eight-man groups in hip-hop. Reason one would probably have to be egos. Despite all its ability to communicate thought, pain and sadness, personal reflection and love to the audiences, hip-hop is still inherently a rugged culture victim to masculine ideologies. As artists get on top of the world, it becomes harder for them to put aside money, sex and fame for the prosperity of the group.

Reason two is creativity. Anytime you have a group of ambitious artists together, it’s difficult to keep them all on the same train of thought necessary to create an album that is uniform and meaningful. All great rappers are destined to follow their own paths and make music that reflects their ever-changing lives.

And the third reason is situation. With so many busy schedules and side projects, it is almost impossible for eight men to come together and put in the blood, sweat and tears necessary to create a quality hip-hop album.

For some unknown reason, Living Legends is one of the few exceptions. The eight members of the group, who seem to be constantly developing their own individual albums, have always been able to come together and work as a unit while producing some of the best hip-hop of this era. In preparation for their latest album, “Classic,” Living Legends decided to spend a year in Maui, Hawaii, an act that brought them together in a situation from which they could learn, reflect and move forward in the production of their music. They put together an album of cohesive tracks, in which every verse was applicable to and descriptive of the themes of their respective songs, showing their ability to mesh creatively and produce thought-provoking material. And just by reading the track credits, it is obvious that the eight members have no problem with clashing egos or demanding excess airtime. All members made equally important contributions to the album, whether in direction, production or lyrics, in a way that demonstrates their combined humbleness as a group and as individuals.

Although I was initially a little skeptic about a group, even Living Legends, titling their album “Classic,” and thereby creating close-to-unreachable expectations, I came to the conclusion that there could be no better title for this album. While accomplishing the proper innovation and creativity in their production, lyrics and styles of flow that is essential in classic hip-hop music, the Living Legends simultaneously succeeded in adding to the meaning of “classic” as music that reflects some kind of classic lifestyle, in which people struggle, deal and advance. Living Legends reaches this level step by step by defining classic music, defining and reflecting upon classic experience, and bringing the three together to formulate conclusions that we could refer to as classic thought, while continuing to question the unknown, humbly admitting that although they are getting older, they still don’t have all the answers yet.

Defining Classic Music
The album begins with a simple definition of the word classic: “Classic . generally recognized as excellent or authoritative . defying time, criticism and fashion. Classic is something that stays cool no matter how old it gets.” The members of the group then made various attempts to follow up this statement and to define their music in their own words.

We make music for the times to come. The type of rhymes that shine all up in your like the golden sun. Futuristic mystic journey type of music. Making Gypsy type of movements. Moving through it when we doing it. The type of music that you playing. When you running from the man. Steering wheel is in cold hand and gas is almost done. Its pressure building type of music. You could lose it. If you knew that it’s clueless. Might hurt yourself trying to make rap who this is.

Excuse me hippies, computer nerds and gangsters. I’m thanking all of ya’ll. All aboard get involved. This is their rap on steroids. It’s the killjoy. For the wack shit. That’s practiced. And packaged. And acted.

Smooth shit. You get confused with the trueness. Though some of you know they living their lives stupid. Got a lot of plans but they never going to do shit. Till you get off your ass. Trying to make that music last. And make the ladies dance. Motivate your mind advance. Past the devilish plans.

I send you with ingenuitive lyrics to go. In exchange for your time spit the hottest show. When my company flows. The fire in which we burn slows. Competition we on a mission not a small time thing. This year’s most beautifulist lyricist freestyle or written. Was composed by the crew with the double L logos they lift ‘em. Yeah cars drive by with the booming system. But what be missin’. Is those legendary lyrics we spittin’.

Concoct a rhyme. Like it was moonshine. Homemade man. Take a sip and wind your waste to this baseline and. Fall deeper in love with this art form. That keeps your heart warm. Longing for more of that classic rap above the norm.

Extra large impression. Leave a piece of my energy anywhere, anyplace I step in. Shining like a diamond, rhyming my souls a secret weapon. Release what we playing for the whole world to accept then. Let it blow into the wind. Mother earth will take it in.

In their own words, the Living Legends aspire to create “their rap on steroids,” “futuristic mystic journey type of music” with “legendary lyrics.” Their ultimate goal is to “release what we playing for the whole world to accept” with an “extra large impression” that will help their fans “fall deeper in love with this art form.”

Defining Classic Experience
Once the group effectively set the stage for the understanding of what makes music classic, they began defining the things that make life classic. The group accomplished this in big part by telling stories of struggle. One of the things I loved most about this album was the storytelling. The Living Legends have always had a way of commenting on human lives and existence through stories.

Her baby’s coughing. Maybe the check will come today . the wait’s exhausting. She’s a pillar so she can’t be tilted. Give her sons the feeling as though. They got a million to blow. Need no stilts to reach the stars. Teach the kids to reach with their heads and they each should be yours. I’d give a piece of me for here to have a piece of mine. Or a piece of your chicken cause its Ramen all the time. She’s thin and getting scared but she never lets on. Many men will not fall because their mama’s head . strong.

Never laugh so dry. That’s why them cats so high. And now those old ass guys. Run the life you live. Future negative, refuse to have some kids. Cause every tax you give. Buys the guns. The runs. Our sons. Will make. Capitalist cake. A bake you in the face. Don’t care about the money they make. They sold the world for what deals? Oil kickbacks. Steel exports. Beef extracts. Vaccines laugh. The true antidope. Boxed like the pope. Feeling like jail without soap. On the rope. Live without hope. So we lift about dope. Till our own people cope.

Life ain’t no box of chocolates. When you got two empty pockets. Moving through life like a rocket’s strapped to your back and out of control. Hydroplaning, downward spiral, drugs, alcohol into the picture. Now you’re speaking to God for the answer. But he can’t speak back cause you won’t listen.

G is the way of the walk. Tell my homies throwing Ds and MCs on the block. Put a freeze on the glock. Please could we talk? And put an end to this beef. And have some peace on the streets.

No muscle in his hustle. Constantly caught up in some struggle. With what he says and what he means. What he means he never says. Party’s live he says it’s dead. Hella books he hasn’t read. Always laying in his bed. There’s something wrong with his head. Thinking about what he wants to do but he never will.

Cinematographer, oceanographer living in a fantasy. Running yourself in a pool of lies. Cruel disguise. Cruel intentions. Cool internal thermostat. Snake in the grass by the lake. Under a rock. Jack in the box. Minimal thought. Be your criminal scheme. And I seen the whole thing like a bad dream. Asking innocent folks. To put up the money to keep you afloat. On the under always on the rebound. Looking for a shortcut. Looking for the easy way out. Desperate times, desperate disposition. The man you never wanna be on a mission. With kids on the A train. Putting up his A game. Hustle the mainframe.

It began with the man and the God complex. I guess pompous promise. No honesty among thieves. When the land was free. Then the few individuals with greed. Succeed in the division. Driven by the vision. On the land mass. Never make the land last. Longer than the last laugh. Real estate agents are really fake agents of Satan. Quote that. Governments war path. Roll back boarders. Remaining controllers of most of our oceans. How do we condone it? Most of our oceans they never should own it.

In these examples, the group related many stories of real life experience, including a poor mother who’s “baby’s coughing,” men who have lost faith in society to a point where they “refuse to have some kids,” an “oceanographer living in a fantasy,” and “the few individuals with greed.” One major type of person the group seemed to focus on was lazy individuals and “MCs on the block” who are constantly “looking for a shortcut. Looking for the easy way out.” Everybody knows one of these cats who “hustle the mainframe” by “talking about what he wants to do but he never will” and asking innocent folks to put up the money to keep (him) afloat.” When reflecting on these individuals, the group members always seem to learn certain lessons, including that people “need no stilts to reach the stars,” and that “life ain’t no box of chocolates,” but that people should still “put an end to this beef and have some peace on the streets.”

Reflecting Upon Personal Experience
In addition to defining life through stories, the Living Legends told many tales of personal experience and struggle with important lessons. In these stories, the group succeeded in turning their lives into music, thus creating classic real-people music to which many individuals will always be able to relate.

Pick your feet on up. Why don’t you get on up? Lift your spirits up. Damn I know the shit is tough. I flunked in high school. My pops he left me young. I often lost my cool. Days I fear my mama’s gun. I lost my only son when my girl she almost died. A bad abortion haunted by a baby’s eyes. And every reason lies. Cause you know the truth inside. You feeling like a coward. Like the wrong person died. But still you gotta ride. Let the years pass on by. Never really knowing why. No question’s why I’m always high.

I was stuck in a situation that I could never forget. Couch surfing, I played it off like I was about to move quick. But accepting the realities I felt victim to doubt shit. Living in a basement washroom facing the facts . I had to ask. Is this the trails that I get for all the mistakes that I’ve made? All the slack that I gave. I fought back but I’m no slave. I struggled up out the grave. Survival was the instinct from the breath that I saved. Man it powered my heart. I went back to the start. God was playing her part. Now I’m still living through art.

Used to be a feen for nicotine. Alcohol I’m getting clean. Don’t gotta be wasted every time I hit the scene. Trying to have a great time while being straight laced. So I can look into the mirror and not hate my face. For damaging this temple I was blessed to be given.

The three to my one six. Yeah I was love sick. Even though on the reg we stay fighting about some dumb shit. Didn’t come this far to find out you’re not the one. Swear to God when we met you were the mother of my son. Just a little too young. Thinking love could conquer all. But without the right support, out of love you could fall. Can’t deny that it was pure. Just a little insecure. Always wonder what I’m doing when I’m out on a tour. What I’m the truest rap guy that you ever gonna meet. I told on myself the two times I did cheat. And we only made out. Still you had to break out. And do the same thing. But we wiped the slate clean. Even got rid of Jean. And it didn’t make it clear. Still so miserable without you it’s like having you here. Even though it didn’t last. Don’t a day go past. That I don’t think about getting back with your ass.

The group shared many personal struggles, including family issues such as “my pops he left me young,” drug problems such as being “a feen for nicotine, alcohol,” and down times when they were forced to do some “couch surfing.” Yet despite these struggles, the group remains positively optimistic about these dilemmas, indicating that “living through art” allows them to “let the years pass on by” and “have a great time while being straight laced.”

Learning, Growing and Coming to Conclusions
While reciting stories of their own and other’s troubles and experiences with the world, the Living Legends managed to come to many important conclusions that demonstrated their abilities to learn from these experiences and grow with age. One of the aspects that made this album superior was its overall positive theme. Though the group spoke of struggles, they remained positive about what they had experienced and the possibilities of what’s to come.

So I stay after shows. Feel with my fans. Just in case they missed a flow. I make sure they understand. That I’m just another man. Trying to figure out life. So I’m more than polite. When they purchase merchandise. Matter fact come and get it. Cause it helps to keep me breaded. And I hope that it shows in the shows when I’m sweating. In some crazy ass pants while I punk rock dance. Till your arms get soar from holding up your hands. And I really don’t mind. Anything you want signed. Cause my dudes back home pay out on the grind. With some work in the nine. And about to do mine. With a baby due in nine months. So why front? I stay humble. Humble is the way of the walk. When I stumble off stage and engage in a talk. Yeah I paid for the props. But famous I’m not. So when you see me on the streets. Go ahead and say peace.

Take a snapshot mental picture. If you got that camera Kodak. Know that time is stacking up on they old back. Memories I own that. Activities I did. Exposed us as a kid. Experience the love mama lives. Daddy did too. My little brother tall now, Jamal man I miss you. This world is a gift. Whoever would have thought through a crystal ball. We’d ball and see what I saw. Travel places and spaces that I’ve been has been raw. Can I say Milky Way and mean anything at all. This galaxy’s a cell. Motivate show and tell.

I’m hella irresponsible and possibly the cause. Of my subsequent downfall. Now I take a pause. And reflect on my karma and laws. I’ve ignored all the signs that could cause. A turn and direct my preferred course of action. Before they’re cursing my ashes. The rehabilitation of the baddest on the planet. Will set a mark, a milestone of progress. The life changing tones of why, heart and soul mean the most.

We’re all journeymen. Have been and will be. Dollar dirty? Nah, I was earthly filthy. Show my people that way, I hope they feel me. If I die today I got no regrets . what is is still me. Minus the shell I’m in, the wind and the trees. Legends to be told like mythology. And if all of those seeds go on to swallow you up. I’ll be right next to God here to follow through with what. I was called for. Broke the law for. Saved it all for. Cried my eyes and broke my jaw for. Call for my help, and I’m there. If only through my spirit, I’m gone but still here.

The group makes several attempts to make sense of their experiences and “reflect on my karma and laws,” admitting that they’re “just another man trying to figure out life,” due to the fact that “the life changing tones of why, heart and soul mean the most.” But they remain positive and humble, admitting that “but famous I’m not,” and “what is is still me.”

Contemplation of the Unknown
Despite showing all that they have learned in life, the members of Living Legends maintain a sense of uncertainty about their futures, the reasoning behind their lives and the things they do not understand. In several verses, they question the world and strive to learn as they move on.

You ever think about the sunrise and sunsets? Just another day, planet spinning on its axis. Gravitational poles. The moon and the stars. The tides are effected. And lives are connected. How bold we are. As bold as love. But only strong as our weakest link . push to shove. How many times we wasn’t tripping off it just because. The game was on. You see that same old song. We having family reunions, now that someone’s gone. I’m looking at what I’m doing like is something wrong? Can I bet on myself? For strength and health. And do the words that I say get played and someone felt? Or touched? Do I think too much? If I make my mama proud well is that just enough? She won’t land me a family with lots of stuff. I know that that’s on me. So I don’t just MC. I move in arts forms music niftily. You can package it up and use it, you’ll see. And when I’m done put fire to flame. Lift my ashes to the ocean and cry my name. After I’m gone.

Last night I took a field trip. Kinda bent. Hopped a fence. Cut across a playground and laid down in a cemetery. Reflecting on my past, present and current events. Speech slurring. I vented to the moon. Swear she was answering me. Not literal, but in a spiritual sense we spoke. Me, myself and I but I wasn’t alone. In fact it felt like that picture of a beach with footprints in the sand. You know that poem hanging around Grandmama’s house. Where does love come from? Where does it go when it’s gone? What takes its place and why does that space turn heart into stone? Another year I am older today. In many ways. I’ve grown. But in my head those questions still they roam. Riding a bike she said is like cycling in circles with your eyes closed. No hands. Blind faith is what she called it man. Said life’s an ocean. With a lot of commotion. Once you dive in yeah its deep by if you can swim it ain’t mattering.

I guess love’s unconditional. Even when it’s physical. Never when its him or her. Watch me take a hit and learn. The price to retaliate. Navigate. Get lost. But allocate with good cause. Sell everything you’re worked off. The arguments will jump off. From nothing but a small talk. When everything was Kosher. Just a minute ago I’m over. All the turbulence. Is permanent. Embedded in the circus tent. Now watch me walk the tight rope while I rope what’s evident. We don’t even get along. That’s a sad song. But I still love you baby doll that’s my action. I know it’s only simple words that’s my passion. No flashin’. I’m asking for peace if we lastin’.

As the Living Legends have aged, they seem to have more questions than they once did. They are “looking at what (they’re) doing like is something wrong?” wondering “what takes (love’s) place and why does that space turn heart into stone?” and hoping that “if I make my mama proud well is that just enough?” This contemplation of the misunderstood or unknown tells us that the group is not slowing down, but will continue to question life, learn, grow and report these advances to their fans.

This album is without a doubt the tightest I have heard this year. It contains something for all types of hip-hop fans . quality production, introspective lyrics, catchy tunes and choruses, and unique thought on important social topics. Although I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this work of art, I found it extremely difficult to accurately review this album, because the only real way to interpret the lyrics correctly would be to print each word out and let the fans read and understand. Each song revolved around some relevant topic, and each verse was applicable and descriptive of that topic. In fact, every single verse on this album was hot. Everyone should definitely check it out.

As far as the “Classic” title goes, I have found it to fit perfectly. I don’ t think the Living Legends are bragging or trying to floss their skills by referring to their music as classic hip-hop, even though in my opinion it is. I think this album defines some classic experience that each member of the group can relate to, whether it be love, drug use, financial struggle, etc. But in addition, with all these experiences, a person can either be angry and bitter, or grateful and optimistic. The Living Legends all come across as grateful and optimistic. Perhaps the life of struggle, uncertainty, contemplation, learning and acceptance is classic. Since this classic lifestyle seems to describe the members’ lives, and since they use music to describe this existence, then their music is, by definition, classic.