Rating:
  Review Date: March 5, 2007
  Website: Chi-Rho Website
  Label: Optive Productions

Chi-Rho “Oralgami” Album Review
Many people first heard of Chicago-based rapper Chi-Rho back in 2003 when one of his songs was featured on Chappelle’s Show. Unfortunately, I don’t recall that track even though I know the episode well. Thus, the first time I heard of Chi-Rho was in mid-February, when I kept coming across a press release entitled, “Hip-Hop Fans Receive a Positively Conscious Boost.” The article was about the release of Chi-Rho’s debut album “Oralgami” and its goal of bringing conscious hip-hop back to the people.  

Now anyone who has ever visited this website knows there is no lack of conscious hip-hop around these days. However, most people also know that there is a war going on between conscious hip-hop and that bullshit you hear on the radio, with that bullshit you hear on the radio experiencing many early victorious battles. I guess that’s why I was so intrigued by Chi-Rho’s press release, in which they literally advertised their consciousness regardless of what effect it might have on record sales. Because with the current state of the hip-hop war, not many MCs seem to have the courage to run onto the battlefield waiving their conscious hip-hop flags for everyone to see.

Chi and Rho
However, upon doing some research, it all became clear to me. From a historical perspective, chi and rho are the first two Greek letters of the word Christ. These letters are displayed on a symbol called the Labarum, which was one of the earliest cruciform symbols used by Christians. The story of the Labarum is actually pretty interesting.

Back in days of the Roman Empire, a dispute was raging between Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius over who would control the western part of the Empire. Although the men were brothers-in-law, and hence family, they went to war in the year 312. Now Constantine was, as a hip-hop linguist might say, runnin’ thangs in the war, and soon had Maxentius pushed back to Rome. Instead of have the war rage into Rome, Maxentius decided to have his army meet Constantine’s army at the Milvian Bridge right outside of the city.

On the eve of the battle, Constantine had a vision in which God commanded him to put a sign denoting Christ on the shields of his soldiers. He displayed the Labarum, consisting of the Chi-Rho symbol, and won the battle, acquiring control of the Western Roman Empire. The symbol became a famous Christian standard after that, and now appears on the “Oralgami” album cover, insert and CD. It made me envision Chi-Rho the MC marching into battle, rocking the symbol, in the ongoing conscious hip-hop verses bullshit hip-hop battle. Great visual, huh?

And I must say, Chi-Rho does a decent job protecting that conscious hip-hop flag with his debut album “Oralgami.” “The Torches” is about the struggle of balancing school, work and a career in hip-hop. “Bacardiac Arrest” is a humorous look at drinking, rhyming and the social scenes that surround them. “Without Saying” is an instrumental track that seems to be intended for a mid-album smoke session. “Another Day in Paradise” is a storytelling track about the monotony and negativity that often surround daily life. “Thank you” gives props to everyone who has helped or supported Chi-Rho. And “Until She Doesn’t” demonstrates the aggravation experienced with relationships and meeting women. The rest basically talk about being a dope or conscious MC, but every album needs a couple of those, right?

The production was well done and there are definitely a couple head-nodders. But what impressed me most about Chi-Rho was his verbal skill. Perhaps that’s why he named the album after oralgami, the ancient Japanese art of folding words. Chi-Rho demonstrates several instances of skilled wordsmith, and has a potently poetic flow that he successfully folds over the myriad different beats he rhymes over. Overall, a chilled and laid back underground hip-hop record that is resposible for the preceeding “conscious boost.” So I guess the press release was right. Peace.