send cds for review to: little village, po box 736, iowa city, ia 52244 have to go DiY top to bottom. In the case of Imperfekt, I can’t argue with the results. The beats are in the laid back, raw, breakbeat style pioneered by A Tribe Called Quest and DJ Premier, a style which has fallen out of favor with the mainstream beat-makers. But
must not know who you’re brunchin’ with,” from the song “Hunger.” “Home” stands out both for Afro Jesus’ memorable chorus and samples of news reports about the flood of 2008. As a former Cedar Rapidian, I can’t say I remember living there with much affection,
As a former Cedar Rapidian, I can’t say I remember living there with much affection, but Imperfekt makes me feel his love for the place.
Imperfekt
Tunes For Improvement MicHandRecordings.com
Imperfekt is a hip-hop MC that produces his own beats. Though locally there are several examples—Rahlan Kay and Coolzey come to mind—it isn’t a common thing. MCs and producers tend to specialize, but in the decidedly un-hip-hop environment of Iowa, perhaps these guys feel like they’re on their own and
Imperfekt doesn’t have any trouble finding some new twists within a well-worn tradition. There isn’t much variation in rhythm from track to track, but the samples provide enough differences in mood and texture to keep things interesting. The CD includes instrumentals for every track, which, minus the vocals, feels like a second album. Imperfekt’s vocal style shows years of practice paying off. He never stumbles out of the groove or tries to force an awkward line to fit. The album contains some gems like “food for thought authors grab your pot holders and oven mitts / smooth as butter is you
but Imperfekt makes me feel his love for the place. He’s a blue-collar, plain-speaking MC. His rhymes aren’t flashy or fashionably deranged, but they complement and mesh with the strong, musical beats. It’s a sum-is-greaterthan-the-parts thing. And he doesn’t waste any energy on hip hop’s cliche boasts—something that stopped feeling fresh 30 years ago. Calling himself ‘Imperfekt’ is an act of humility in a world of braggarts, but this is a CD he can be proud of. Kent Williams came to Iowa in 1970 on a three-hour tour and has been shipwrecked here ever since.
March 2012 | Little Village
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