Piece Of Strange [Explicit Lyrics]

After dropping 2 great albums, I can honestly say I didn't expect the Cunninlynguists to step their game up like this for their 3rd offering. 'A Piece Of Strange' is their first full length album since 2003's 'Southernunderground', which was followed by two volumes of 'Sloppy Seconds', both worthwhile offerings with some great standout tracks (including one of 2005's best tracks, 'Fear', off of Vol.2).

On this album, Kno tried to perfect his production, and as a result he almost gave up rapping alltogether. He only drops one verse the entire album (on the track 'Brain Cell), and it sort of makes you wish he would have taken the time to drop a couple more verses. But then you realize how much Kno has upped his production game for this release. 'Remember Me (Abstract Vs. Reality)' is probably the best example of this. As the only full legnth instrumental track on the album, Kno provides the listener with a beautiful piece of music, and as an INSTRUMENTAL this is one of the best songs on the album. That might be a first for me, when it comes to hip hop albums, as instrumental tracks are usually filler, or nowhere near the level of this song. On 'A Piece Of Strange', the beats are incredible. You can really tell Kno took his time perfecting this album.

The album is DEFINATELY on point lyrically. While I don't think Deacon & Natti are, or will ever be ELITE lyricists in the game, they're more than exceptional, especially when it comes to southern rap. Tracks like 'Hourglass', 'Caved In', 'Nothing To Give', 'Since When' & 'America Loves Gangsters' showcase their lyrical abilities the best, and are also some of the best overall songs on the album.

Ultimately, this is just an extremely dope album, and one of the best southern rap releases in YEARS. The lyrics, the production, the feel...Everything here was executed perfectly, and I would say this might just be the Cunninlynuists' best album so far (although 'Will Rap For Food' & 'Southernunderground' were both great, too), and they're quickly making their way into Hip Hop's elite groups.

Top 5 Songs (In Order):

1. The Gates (Featuring Tonedeff) - Just a GREAT song. Incredible piece of music with Tonedeff dropping one of his best songs.

2. Hourglass - Love the production here...Deacon & Natti also drop some great verses.

3. Hellfire - Great high energy song, and actually the only one on the CD.

4. Caved In (Featuring Cee-Lo) - The amazing Cee Lo provides the hook to an overall dope track.

5. Nothing To Give - One of the best beats and one of the best tracks lyrically.

Worst Track:

None. There isn't a song on this album I can classify as 'the worst'. All of them are great, and worth listening to.

Lyrics/Substance/Subject Matter - 9/10
Flow/Delivery - 9/10
Production - 10/10
Overall Feel - 9.5/10

Guest Apperances - Cee-Lo, Tim Means, Immortal Technique, Tonedeff & Club Dub - 9/10 - Tonedeff, on basically a solo song, produces one of the best lyrical performances of the album, and Cee Lo & Immortal Tech. really help this album succeed.
Overall Rating - 9/10 - The (very) early frontrunner for album of the year of 06, and HIGHLY reccomended to any hip hop fan.

With Kno's production, Deacon's rhyming and guests such as Tonedeff, Natti, Cee-Lo Green, Immortal Technigue and Club Dub this conceptual album most definately shows growth for the group CunninLynguists.

Although I was hoping to see a few more verses from Kno, his ill production more than makes up for his absence vocally.

My favorite tracks include:

Beautiful Girl

America Loves Gangsters (feat. the very talented Tim Means)

The Gates (feat. Tonedeff)

Remember Me (Abstact/Reality)

I believe this album is a must have!

I honestly can't believe how beautiful the music featured on this album is - everything from the first track until the last is masterfully laced by Kno, and spit over by immensely talented pair of emcees, Deacon the Villain and Natti. While Little Brother maybe viewed as the saviors of the South, the CunninLynguists are real group reviving the magic OutKast and Goodie MOb onced delivered the world; Southern soul in the form of hip-hop, with some of the tightest production found anywhere, and two ill brothers spitting introspective tales about the struggles found in their lives.

While a good handful of musical masterpieces require multiple listens to appreciate the brilliance of, A Piece of Strange will hit you full-force upon your first listen. While the album does have strong spiritual undertones, it's obvious that they're all in spirit only - this is no religious album, so don't let certain reviews from other sources discourage you from checking out this album. It's also conscious hip-hop, but more so in the De La Soul sense than the Mos Def - they produce music that is profound, and thought provoking, but isn't strictly positive; they literally go from heaven to hell on this release, providing some majestic moments, as well as some utterly terrifying ones.

With guest appearances coming from talented emcees like Immortal Technique and Tonedeff, as well as a crooning Cee-Lo Green, this album suffers not a single dull moment. Even the interludes add to the effect, and overall cohesiveness of this album; you won't find any urge to skip them, as they're all passages of elegant, albeit short, music. I would normally highlight the exceptional tracks, but the truth is, that everything found within this album is exceptional; it maybe hard for some to believe that such an original, and captivating album is able to be released in this day and age, and especially with little to no publicity. Even if you've followed the underground scene for years, how dope this album is may still come as a shock.

With extravagent samples found throughout the album, ranging from Spanish guitar chords to full-blown church choirs, this album is an epic journey into the minds of one very ill posse. A concept album in the truest sense, and the definition of 'instant classic,' the CunninLynguists' A Piece of Strange will be looked at in years to come as an obscure classic, and will influence those who have the opportunity to listen to it. It's too early to be seminal yet, but this release will be viewed in the same light as KMD's Mr. Hood, or Mic Geronimo's The Natural in years to come; a perfect album, which went fell far below the mainstream's radar. If you're reading this product's page, and are even vaguely intrigued by this album, do yourself a favor, and pick it up as soon as possible; these reviews aren't hype, they're truth. This is essential to your collection.

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