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4.0 out of 5 stars
Vancouver's Finest? {4 Stars}, Oct 28 2007
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not too keen on rap music from other countries. I do have a love for Canadian rap that I can't even explain though. When it comes to Canadian rap, there seems to be a sound and feel to it that draws me toward it. I mean, there's some wack Canadian rap out there, but that can be said about any place that puts out music. Either way, whenever I hear of a new Canadian cat, I automatically give it a shot because, with the exception of Sweatshop Union, none of it has let me down yet. I'm not really up on the Canada scene, but I do find myself looking north for new stuff quite a bit. Moka Only's '07 release, Vermilion, continues the streak for this listener. The production, handled by Moka himself, is smooth, but not boring. The lyrics are telling, but not preachy or self absorbed. There's a fine line that he walks and he walks it well.
I have a small gripe though. The biggest problem I have with this album is that some of the best songs are also the shortest. There aren't any songs that I would call wack, but the teasers do just that. Standouts like "Cheeka Cheeka", "Do", "Taste", and "Banana Pancakes" struggle to reach the the two minute mark. Also, I found joints like "Search", "Hibiscus", and "Let Me Down" to be kind of bland. And the bonus track after "Speakers" (I'm not sure of the name) was kind of lame. I'm all for 80's rock, but he should have left that to the pros. Outside of that, the rest of the album is great.
Vermilion is one of the better rap releases of 2007. Like I already mentioned, the production is mostly smooth and the lyrics engage without dragging on and becoming boring. I don't know much about Moka Only, but I'll definitely be looking out for more material from the guy in the future. I highly recommend grabbing this album if you see it in stores.
Standout Tracks: Shoofly, Vermilion, I Could Give A..., Shake Dat Neck, Banana Pancakes, Speakers, God Bless, Do, Cheeka Cheeka (My Favorite), So Kona, Taste, and When...?
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