Rating:
  Review Date: March 21, 2007
  Website: Reason Website
  Label: Poorly Drawn People

Reason “Gemini Slang” Album Review
From my perspective, a large percentage of the younger hip-hop generation seems to show inadequate respect to their hip-hop elders … the cats that started this culture. I guess that’s why I liked Reason’s “Gemini Slang.” This kid seems to have a lot of love and respect for the history of hip-hop, often quoting, sampling or referencing the Old School.  

In the opening track, he even ridicules new school hip-hoppers for their lack of knowledge of the history of hip-hop:

Every cat I’m talking to they got an album coming out
But never heard of Native Tongues; what the fuck is that about?

The high point of this album is undoubtedly the production. Dox of the Poorly Drawn People crew created an album’s worth of smooth and often melodical beats, with DJ Joey Wonk offering quality scratches when appropriate. And Reason displays impressive lyrical balance, often combining an aggressive battle-style with storytelling and introspection. You can tell from the start that Reason has some pretty obvious skill on the mic.

However, the young emcee could use some development in terms of flow, as his rhyme style gets a little repetitive and monotonous after a handful of tracks, which tends to take away from his attempt to spit conscious and meaningful lyrics as well come across as a passionate rapper.

Nonetheless, I could definitely see Reason developing into a great emcee in the future. As a member of Poorly Drawn People Recordings, a crew that is home to the skilled MCs Storm Davis and Symmetry (review coming), Reason will have the opportunity to age his skills and develop his own voice as an artist and rapper. I look forward to watching the progress of the entire Poorly Drawn People crew in the years to come, and recommend checking out Reason and his album “Gemini Slang.”

Album Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Gemini Slang
3. He Said She Said
4. East Sun Rising ft. Symmetry
5. Saturday Rain
6. Chain Reactions
7. Let the People Know
8. Happy Drunk
9. Dust on my Phone (A Memoir)
10. Another Chapter ft. Need Not Worry
11. Wonkerlude
12. Stickball Kids
13. Do Something ft. Storm Davis
14. The Process
15. Mass Amount ft. Dox
16. The Vaccine
17. Where I Stand ft. Symmetry