Rating:
  Review Date: January 1, 2007
  Website: Masai Bey Website
  Label: Uncommon Records

Masai Bey “The Panacea Goldmind” Album Review
Man, I hate being behind on shit. I try to stay up on all the new hip-hop, and normally refuse to listen to anything not recently released. Therefore, I was a little upset when I received Masai Bey’s “The Panacea Goldmind” in the mail. First, the album dropped back in October, which means it was quite a bit older than the other stacks of CDs we are trying to get around to. Second, it is apparently a remastered release of old Masai Bey material dating as far back as 2002.

In normal circumstances, this CD would have quickly been thrown into our “non-reviewable” stack. However, due to the high quality of the last Uncommon Records release, “We Are Vol. 1,” as well as my recollection of being impressed with Masai Bey’s performance on it, I decided to throw the album in and give it a try. After just one listen, I was even more annoyed … because as much as I hate being behind on shit, I REALLY hate being behind on HOT shit!

Although a little reminiscent of KRS-One in vocal sound and intonation, Masai Bey has a ridiculously unique flow, combining hard-hitting lyrics with and alternative rhyme patterns, often jumping all over the track and still managing to drop perfectly when the beat hits. I can’t tell you how many times I rewound the CD just to hear one or two lines at a time, almost in disbelief that someone could go so alternative yet remain so on point at the same time. And like all other Uncommon Records releases I’ve heard, the album rests on production that is refreshingly experimental and bumping, yet simultaneously serves the purpose of accentuating the lyricist’s voice, words and skill on the mic.

Regardless of the album’s age, it was worth the listen, and has been hard to take out of my CD player ever since. Definitely a permanent fixture on my iPod. Based on the promise of this album, I think we can expect a lot from Masai Bey’s upcoming release, “C87,” as well as the steadily growing Uncommon Records crew. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get my hands on a copy sometime relatively soon after it drops. Hint, Hint.

Album Track Listing:

1. Goldmind
2. Bey’s Theme
3. M73
4. Thugs Becuz
5. Quiet Riot
6. Old War Chant
7. Poorrichman
8. Reference Text
9. Mattafack
10. Missile Defense
11. Scarlut
12. Slave New World