The Pirates of Staten Island bring that ol' soulful east coast hip hop back to the masses.

17 MP3 Songs
HIP HOP/RAP: East Coast, HIP HOP/RAP: Hip Hop



Details:
The brainchild of veteran producer and industry journeyman Cue Trax, T.M.I. Productions is a group of tried and true music lovers. Whether it be the hard hitting drum tracks punctuating the rock infested âGet it Together,â or the sultry soul ingrained within âYesterday,â the T.M.I. formula is plain to see- just make good music.

âWe try to give the people what they want,â says Cue Trax, the production front man of the Statements project. âLike we say in the beginning of the album- this is for the people. We just hope ya'll like it.â Judging by the buzz Statements has received, the people are responding to this attitude.

In addition to the outstanding backdrops crafted by T.M.I.'s three main boardsmen, Cue Trax, Scraps, and the Gooch, Statements showcases the emceeing talents of the group's front man- Paradox. Though the producers share double duty on tracks such as âFor Real,â and âDangerous,â it's plain to see that Paradox cherishes the spotlight just a little bit more than the others.

The aforementioned âYesterday,â Dox's heartfelt tribute to his mother, pulses with energy while at the same time hammers home the yin-yang relationship between the pain and love that Dox feels for her.

The semi-autobiographical âCycle Path,â is another standout track in which Paradox takes a step away from his rather boisterous style and crafts an all-too-real, yet miraculously Tarantino-esque story about inner city living.

Longtime M.E.N. (the group that evolved into T.M.I.) member Rigz, makes his sole appearance on âThe Biggest Part.â âIt's just a representation of me,â says the soft-spoken emcee. âIt conveys the pain I feel and how I deal with that pain.â Produced by the Gooch, the wailing vocal samples play hand in hand with Rigz rapid-fire delivery, while at the same remain consistent with the fluidity and overall feel of the album.

The dark horse emcee of the bunch, Scraps, makes a major bid for himself as the new lead-man on every track he appears. On the Cue Trax produced club banger âCaptain Chant,â Scraps all but steals the show from fellow group members Cue Trax and Paradox as he whimsically quips: âI got my game play well mastered/ I'm focused, I go at âitâ like playing tag backwards.â Scraps manages to bully the Gooch's sparse backdrop for âYa'll ain't fuckin,â and pleases the ladies just the same with his self-produced ode âStand Close.â Competition within the click? You bet.

Statements will please even the most anal-retentive lyricist nerd, but will, and seemingly has, received much love from the club DJ's and underground heads. The project comes off as well rounded and complete, leaving very little to be desired by the listener. Indeed, though there are minor appearances from the Gooch and T.M.I. manager Natural Justice, the album is musically adhesive and addictive nonetheless. The reason? It could be the love that the group members share with each other. It could be the hunger that is exemplified by every line and every snare hit. It could just be their desire to make music. Whatever it is, Statements is a more than solid release, and should put T.M.I. in a decent position as a leader in the old-school influenced new school of hip hop.

Recommended Tracks: The Best Pimp, Artists Meet the People, Yesterday, Wicked in Bed, Ya'll Ain't Fuckin