Rating:
  Review Date: December 14, 2007
  Website: Buddy Leroy Website
  Label: Indie
 

Buddy Leroy + Jaz Infinite “Introspectrum” Album Review
An associate of mine recently shared his opinion on the difference between mainstream hip-hop and conscious hip-hop. He basically came to the conclusion that the mainstream sector is ‘feel good music’ while most conscious hip-hop is music from artists who feel everyone outside of their realm isn’t as intelligent, isn’t really playing their part in the growth of hip-hop, and pretty much present negative rhymes on how others in the game aren’t being positive enough.

As confusing as it seems, there may be some truth to his sentiments, but this truth doesn’t apply to all hip-hop. Take Buddy Leroy and Jaz Infinite for example. On “Introspectrum,” Buddy Leroy and Jaz Infinite seem to just want to drop quality hip-hop without being boxed into a corner of society’s opinions.

One line that really rings in my ear when I think on how some view conscious or real hip-hop is that of an artist featured on Without You, a track from the Little Brother “Justus For All” mixtape. The emcee stated, “…real rap don’t mean take them to school / I like bitches, cars and money / but I use my brain too.”

On “Introspectrum,” Buddy Leroy states as well that he may be “too negative to be a conscious rapper.” Breaking down these two quotes is a completely new essay, so I won’t attempt to analyze these in this review; but simply put, “Introspectrum” is the middle ground between those who consider themselves conscious and those who consider themselves street, using the head-nod factor and quality lyricism to keep you listening regardless what set or class you claim.

On other websites (and possibly by the group themselves), the duo behind “Introspectrum” has been compared to A Tribe Called Quest for their sound. But honestly, it’s only the beats that would trigger this notion. If anything, Jaz Infinite should be compared to Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Buddy Leroy to the likes of Black Thought and those who fall in this class of lyricism.

So really, this duo is a ‘transformer’ group and together they annihilate wack emcees and amateur producers. Bangers on this album include, Fire Burn, Can You Feel It?!?, and Kangols and Shelltoes. Check out the album – it has something for both conscious and street hip-hop fans.

- ScholarMan

Album Track Listing:

1. Fire Burn
2. Lil’ Bit
3. Clap Ya Hands
4. Black ft. Pax
5. Can Ya Feel It?!?
6. Freedom ft. Yadira
7. KKKapitalism ft. Sun Elo
8. Changes ft. Ibrahim
9. Music Into Colour
10. Kangols and Shelltoes
11. Tempstress ft. Tasz One
12. The Outro(Spectrum)