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Witchdoctor - The Diary Of An American WitchdoctorAlbum Review by:
John Burnett
Sunday, October 28, 2007
 Before Southern Hip Hop was synonymous with throwin’ bows or trappin’, it took on a much different sound; a sound that was championed by the Dungeon Family. The collective, which included the likes of Goodie Mob, Outkast, Organized Noise, Witchdoctor, Cool Breeze and several others, spawned a sound that was poetic, insightful, soulful and funky yet deeply spiritual and in many ways akin to the Blues.
The mainstream would lead you to believe that many of these artists’ movement came to a cease at the turn of the millennium but quiet is kept they’re more productive than ever. Take the multi-talented Erin Johnson better known as Witchdoctor for example who seemingly vanished off the map in the new millennium. Witchdoctor, “one of the first solo acts to emerge from Atlanta,” has been constantly working, creating his own label, Dezonly1 Records; 6 solo albums, a book of poetry, a tour with Ghostface Killah and a new deal with Adult Swim’s indie label, Williams Street Records. On his compilation, The Diary of an American Witchdoctor, Witchdoctor conjures up the roots of Southern 90s Hip Hop which provided fans with a full spectrum of country living.
Witchdoctor’s unique concoction on The Diary of an American Witchdoctor includes raps about God, guns and myriad other topics. The album opens with “God Iz Good.” Witchdoctor uses this 52-second intro to croon off praises to the Heavenly Father simultaneously petitioning the strength of God, which is needed to cope with the stress that is present on follow-up track “Just Like You” where Witchdoctor alongside with Earleybird tell the tale of the average man attempting to maintain in a cash above all society. Witchdoctor rattles off “I’m just like you/touch me and I will fight you/pull my gun even though I might not like to/I’m like you, I’m real too/stressed too, I’m late payin’ bills too/everybody tryin’ to build up they lumber/credit people calling from private number.” From spirituality and the day to day struggle, Witchdoctors transitions into a laid back track about his way with women on “Spell on Them Hoes” He lets the listener know “I’m not a pimp/I’m not a trick/but please believe me I can have any bitch” in a raspy Southern drawl.
Witchdoctor moves into a street suite towards the middle of this 18 track street-oriented sermon beginning with track, “The Barrel” and on this one, Witchdoctor lets listeners know “I been behind and in front of the barrel” on the chorus and drops “my appearance might make you think I won’t pull it/I kill wolf niggas with ice with silver bullets.” Then there’s “Semiautomatic” a cautionary tale about crooked cops and friends that turn on you as quick as the wind. Witchdoctors does a full exploration of drugs on “Jake Got Ya Body” where he discusses how whites in high places control the flow of dope, the things drugs make addicts do, the moneys involved in the dope game and the physical effects of drug abuse. This album’s balance of the sacred and profane is summed up on “Part of your Brain” featuring Khujo Goodie with the chorus. Witchdoctors relates, “part of your brain better be on some money/part of your brain better be on ya’ gurl/all of your brain better be on the one that’s keeping you in this world.”
The Diary of an American Witchdoctor is Southern Hip Hop before trapping was the topic du jour. Its balanced view of the world is a refreshing alternative to the nonstop trips to the strip club, ditties about popping pills and pistols and other typical fodder that’s put out of the mainstream Southern acts. This compilation meshes a nice mixture of Witchdoctor’s old, unreleased and new material providing just enough material to peak interest in the Dungeon Family alum.
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