There is nothing more spectacular in the world of hip-hop than the integration between the DJ and the emcee. Many teams have prospered in the past due to their collective amalgamation of thoughts and actions. Eric B. & Rakim, DJ Premier & Guru, and Pete Rock & CL Smooth all perform with each other in a symbiotic way, while others collaborate without having much interaction with each other. Failure amongst DJ and emcee duos is high, but in the last year, many have risen to the challenge, such as RJD2 teaming up with Blueprint to release 8,000,000 Stories, a valiant effort for a debut disc. Next is a duo from Atlanta, Georgia called The Micranots, comprised of Kool Akiem as the DJ/Producer and I Self Devine on the mic.
The Micranots’ newest release is titled The Emperor & The Assassin, their third album since they began their career in 1996. Their personal resume is impressive and remarkable, having performed with many of hip-hop's elite, such as Company Flow, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, and Phife from A Tribe Called Quest. So most fans that are notably savvy with hip-hop and the players in the game should have no problem recognizing the success of The Micranots. Unfortunately, many don't, and there are several reasons why this is so.
Firstly, The Micranots are extremely linear. Even though they intricately intertwine the sounds and gimmicks of many influential hip-hop performers today, there is no sign of anything original being produced by the duo. The single "Glorious" may be their best offering on the record, yet it sounds strangely like the output of any labelmate on Rhymesayers. At times, they sound like an unintentional imitator of such artists like People Under the Stairs, Talib Kweli, or even Mos Def. Another reason for the inconsistency is the unevenness of the record on a whole. "Our Universe" is a disjointed song that showcases the inaccurate flow between the DJ and the emcee. While the bassline agrees with the lyrical tempo, the additional piano loop is too disorderly, creating a chaotic rhythm that sounds completely out of sync over time. With half of the tracks worth listening to, The Emperor & The Assassin is a failed attempt at hip-hop prowess and competency.
But the Micranots are not an awful DJ and emcee duo. Their ability to produce three records together is an accomplishment worth praising in itself. Yet The Emperor & The Assassin fails to show that the duo is improving on their ability to perform within each other, and without this, The Micranots may never become as "Micra" as they could potentially be.
1. The Intro
2. Glorious
3. The Origin feat. Mujaheed
4. Our Universe
5. Steele Toe vs. The Rookie
6. Heat
7. Ms. Gemini
8. Eight Days
9. Amerikalogy
10. One Eye Tilted
11. Elegant Ruggedness
12. Neutralize
13. Violence
14. Off Beats feat. Malcolm
15. Classic Literal
16. Out