Peanut Butter Wolf Presents 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War

Album Review by: John Burnett
Saturday, October 6, 2007

The tenet of cash rules everything around me has never been so prevalent in Hip Hop than now; partly, because it has become such a profitable commercial entity. If everyone’s about “gettin’ them dollars,” who’s going to actually put out quality music??? Simple, the eccentric minds over at boutique label Stones Throw will. Since their inception, founder of the label, Peanut Butter Wolf has continued to follow a simple business model, if he likes it, he puts it out. Following the same formula he’s been able to assemble one of the most talented, diverse, progressive label rosters. On 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War, Peanut Butter Wolf and company team up with 2K Sports (maker of 2K series videogames) to spawn a unique compilation of tracks that play an ode to the old school, new school and progressive side of Hip Hop.

B-Ball Zombie War really serves as a coming out party for Detroit up and comer and J-Dilla protégé, Guilty Simpson, who has a couple of notable tracks on the compilation including “Mash’s Revenge” where MF Doom and Guilty Simpson verbally style over one of the late J-Dilla’s masterful production efforts (originally found on J-Dilla’s Donuts); an ill piano sequence loop. Guilt Simpson effortlessly steals the limelight zoning out from the beginning of his verse with “…dude’s sick/I’m the medicine/storming in your residence when I’m in my element/no contest, I get hot and go unconscious/your boy is automatic…/now go play in traffic/the flow is graphic with no theatrics/still rock sold out shows for practice...” and the onslaught continues until the song fades out. Guilt also has a stellar showing on “Make It Fast.” In another rehash of J-Dilla’s Donuts, Talib Kweli and Q-Tip hop on the infamous “Lightworks” (played often on Adult Swim) beat on “Lightworking.” Kweli spazzes out, completely, while Q-Tip’s verse is a bit blah and jumps from topic to topic with no tangible connection. Nevertheless, it’s always a pleasure to hear a Dilla beat.

And what’s a Stones Throw mixtape without some memorable appearances from Madlib? DJ, producer, emcee, herbalist and all around music impresario, Madlib collaborates with newly signed emcee, Karriem Riggins, to form new group, Supreme Team, on “See.” Here, Madlib showcases his unfathomably deep record collection and obsession with finding rare movie and music samples as the two emcees serve up bars in the midst of a repetitive sample of a woman saying “see.” Karriem Riggins and Madlib use synergy bouncing various creative ways to use the sample; each one trying to outdo the other with their stanzas. The result is a funky, head-nodder with an old school feel. The album concludes with a collection of quirky instrumentals and break beats the B-Boys can wild out to putting the finishing touches on an interesting ride.

2K8: B-Ball Zombie War is strictly for Hip Hop heads. No YouTube dance moves will spring from this compilation. You probably won’t see any multi-million dollar videos with voluptuous chicks bouncing to and fro coming out of this tape either. But, if you like top notch production, emcees who take pride in their wordplay and artists who are not only willing to think outside the box but kick the ish down, you’re going to love 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War.

(4) Comments | Post a comment »