I’m still dwelling in the underground of hip-hop for this installment of Album of the Week, Cunninlynguists 3^rd studio album, A Piece of Strange (2005).  First off, if you haven’t heard of this group, you’re really missing out; they have a very distinctive style that rarely misses on any track they put together.  The group mainly consists of the producer Kno and the lyrical talents of Deacon (although they usually are officially listed with three members, with Mr. SOS in the mix for the first two albums, and Natti contributing on the later two so far).  Although I am a huge fan of this group in general, A Piece of Strange stands out as their best complete effort so far; every component of the album fit together seamlessly, making for an exceptional listen from front to back.

The album kicks off with an instrumental intro setting the tone for the entire album with a smooth electric guitar stringing in combination with a vocal overtone of “Where will you be tomorrow, if it ends today…” This intro, in combination with the album cover (an interpretive scene of Eve grasping the forbidden fruit) shows that this album takes a slightly religious vibe; however, religion doesn’t dominate the subject matter, it is merely one of many points of reflection used. The subject matter is an eye-opening look at life in general for the group, drifting from social commentary to self-reflection. The beats deployed by Kno display his signature style, using soft electric guitar as the foundation with the hip-hop snare and bass as highlights to create some of the smoothest tracks out. Even the instrumental interludes (which are generally a must skip on most hip-hop albums) are excellent. As far as lyrical style, Deacon brings the southern flavor to an intellectual, witty flow, and the features are chosen well to fit with each track, whether it is a chilling hook from Cee-Lo, a vicious verse from Immortal Technique, or a smooth back and forth between Deacon and Tonedeff.

Overall, this is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard, and highly recommend it to all who enjoy music. The creativity and smooth vibe displayed with this effort breaks down the barriers associated with a majority of underground hip-hop; there is no taste to acquire here, it is just good music with a solid message, so if you haven’t heard it yet, pick it up on Amazon, sit back, and enjoy.

Below are the track listings with my personal favorites in bold:

1. Where Will You Be
2. Since When
3. Nothing To Give
4. Caved In (ft. Cee-Lo Green)
5. Hourglass
6. Beautiful Girl
7. Inhale (Interlude)
8. Brain Cell
9. America Loves Gangsters (ft. Tim Means)
10. Never Know Why (ft. Immortal Technique)
11. The Gates (ft. Tonedeff)
12. Damnation (Interlude)
13. Hellfire
14. Remember Me (Abstract vs. Reality)
15. What’ll You Do
16. The Light (ft. Club Dub)

Related posts:

1. Album of the Week: Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
2. Album of the Week: Outkast – ATLiens
3. Album of the Week: Cannibal Ox – The Cold Vein