Search - Braille :: Shades of Grey

A classic work from a great underground MC

Trey Palmisano | Baltimore, MD | 04/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of my first finds in the underground was rapper and spiritual lyricist Braille. Shades of Grey represents his sophomore work, which actually improves upon his first release (not largely unavailable except in digital download format). Unlike a comet's tail that burns its brightest only when you first see it, Braille's second album marks something of a transition. Unlike the basement beats that sound almost experimental and a bit lacking in his first album, Braille's coming-into-his-own as an artist is without question on Shades of Grey. There's no crib sheet he's using for this album. It's all personality. And it's all Braille.



The high energy flow of the artist from Oregon that everyone has come to know is crystallized on the second album. The title song "Shades of Grey," which has become itself something of an anthem and produced by underground sensation Tony Stone, may perhaps be one of the best hip hop songs ever made. Its catchy vocals, bruising delivery, and salient lyrics grab your attention and demand you answer the questions he poses. But this is true of the album. Braille's not only got an ear for beats, almost every song has a lyrical composition that outlasts even the artist's presence. You forget you're listening to a kid wise beyond his years and imagine you're walking with a tour guide, who is taking you through your own life's story and requiring you to see the greater purpose that we're all created for. That is Braille's program. And he pulls it off with class and demonstrative talent.



Again, this is one of those albums that compel a good review due to the marriage of beats and lyrics invested in each song. It's rare to find any album that performs so excellently that there is nothing wasted...no mindless interludes, no repetitive hooks, etc. The only thing wrong with the album is Braille doesn't leave the listener any time to break away from the music! No underground collection is complete without Shades of Grey.

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