Social issues have a voice in Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique
The 3rd World
After lyrically attacking the Bush administration, the war on drugs, the C.I.A., multinational corporations and popular culture on his 2003 release, Revolutionary Vol. 2, Immortal Technique has left the underground hip-hop scene hanging, releasing only singles, remixes and teasers of what he was working on for his third and most anticipated release.
Fans have been waiting for nearly five years, but Immortal Technique's The 3rd World, a full length, 14-track collaboration disc with DJ Green Lantern, is finally here.
As expected, Technique delivers punch line after punch line attacking the power structure, and uses metaphors to aggressively promote a radical perspective on issues of racism, poverty, gentrification, war, greed, the prison system, cops and Hollywood. However, this time around he also takes aim at the mainstream music industry after proudly turning down a record deal from a major label in order to keep creative control and publishing.
Not one to pull punches, Tech comes out swinging at the industry on the second track of the CD; “That's What It Is,” saying, “We tired of being on the outside looking in/ wondering what the fuck hip hop would have been /This is what it is as opposed to what it used to be / and this is your corporate tax ID eulogy.”
Later on in the album on a song named “Reverse Pimpology” about the karma in our social relations, Technique proudly claims, “I treat labels like the projects ‘cuz I'm a hater/Go to the Sony Building and piss in the elevator.”
Although Immortal Technique stayed independent from the majors, his production quality has dramatically improved since Revolutionary Vol. 2. The beats on this album actually do justice to the quality of the lyrics, and the back-up vocals fill it out perfectly. It is obvious that producers Green Lantern, Southpaw, Buckwild and Scram Jones put in a lot of hours on the boards to raise the bar for this one.
Produced by DJ Green Lantern, the title-track single, “The 3rd World,” mixes oriental strings with deep bass and fast-paced percussion, and complements Technique's rage as he successfully brings the issue of third world poverty and exploitation home with lyrics focusing exclusively on our assault on the Global South with a non-stop barrage of lyrical ammunition.
On a five-minute track called “Open Your Eyes”, in which Immortal Technique delivers one of the most powerful speeches I've ever heard anyone give, he breaks his radical perspective on everything from immigration to capitalism down, and compares the underground hip-hop scene to the third world in relation to the mainstream corporate superpowers.
This CD is hot from start to finish and includes absolutely no filler. Other notable songs include the freedom anthem, “Parole,” “Harlem Renaissance” and “Hollywood Drive-By.”
Immortal Technique has not only managed to keep his aggressive edge, he has sharpened it, while improving his lyrical flo, and production quality. The 3rd World is more than a breath of fresh air in a stale industry. It is a serious attempt at resurrecting hip-hop from its deathbed, while putting the powers that be on theirs.
So if you're in need of some solid underground hip-hop, I suggest taking a trip to The 3rd World.
The 3rd World
After lyrically attacking the Bush administration, the war on drugs, the C.I.A., multinational corporations and popular culture on his 2003 release, Revolutionary Vol. 2, Immortal Technique has left the underground hip-hop scene hanging, releasing only singles, remixes and teasers of what he was working on for his third and most anticipated release.
Fans have been waiting for nearly five years, but Immortal Technique's The 3rd World, a full length, 14-track collaboration disc with DJ Green Lantern, is finally here.
As expected, Technique delivers punch line after punch line attacking the power structure, and uses metaphors to aggressively promote a radical perspective on issues of racism, poverty, gentrification, war, greed, the prison system, cops and Hollywood. However, this time around he also takes aim at the mainstream music industry after proudly turning down a record deal from a major label in order to keep creative control and publishing.
Not one to pull punches, Tech comes out swinging at the industry on the second track of the CD; “That's What It Is,” saying, “We tired of being on the outside looking in/ wondering what the fuck hip hop would have been /This is what it is as opposed to what it used to be / and this is your corporate tax ID eulogy.”
Later on in the album on a song named “Reverse Pimpology” about the karma in our social relations, Technique proudly claims, “I treat labels like the projects ‘cuz I'm a hater/Go to the Sony Building and piss in the elevator.”
Although Immortal Technique stayed independent from the majors, his production quality has dramatically improved since Revolutionary Vol. 2. The beats on this album actually do justice to the quality of the lyrics, and the back-up vocals fill it out perfectly. It is obvious that producers Green Lantern, Southpaw, Buckwild and Scram Jones put in a lot of hours on the boards to raise the bar for this one.
Produced by DJ Green Lantern, the title-track single, “The 3rd World,” mixes oriental strings with deep bass and fast-paced percussion, and complements Technique's rage as he successfully brings the issue of third world poverty and exploitation home with lyrics focusing exclusively on our assault on the Global South with a non-stop barrage of lyrical ammunition.
On a five-minute track called “Open Your Eyes”, in which Immortal Technique delivers one of the most powerful speeches I've ever heard anyone give, he breaks his radical perspective on everything from immigration to capitalism down, and compares the underground hip-hop scene to the third world in relation to the mainstream corporate superpowers.
This CD is hot from start to finish and includes absolutely no filler. Other notable songs include the freedom anthem, “Parole,” “Harlem Renaissance” and “Hollywood Drive-By.”
Immortal Technique has not only managed to keep his aggressive edge, he has sharpened it, while improving his lyrical flo, and production quality. The 3rd World is more than a breath of fresh air in a stale industry. It is a serious attempt at resurrecting hip-hop from its deathbed, while putting the powers that be on theirs.
So if you're in need of some solid underground hip-hop, I suggest taking a trip to The 3rd World.
