Search - Lone Catalysts :: Hip Hop

Q&A

Travis McFetridge | New York, NY United States | 01/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Question...Who is Jermaine Sanders and Jason Rawls? Answer...The Lone Catalysts. The Lone Catalysts album Hip Hop is a pure testiment of what most hip-hop today should sound like. With J Sands blessing the mic with realistic, metaphor filled, intelligent rhymes and J Rawls bringing funky, jazz sampled beats to the table, the duo can pretty much do no wrong on this album. Tracks like "Q&A" and "Hip Hop" the title track display the duo's love and dedication for the original artform. The beats on these two tracks are great openers for the album as well, and will have you bobbing your head considerably. "The Place To Be" is an incredibly smooth party joint, which would get girls in the club dancing, while maintaining realistic lyrics that are not your everyday, played out party joints we hear on the radio. On "Settle The Score", J Sands rips the mic, asking why most emcees truly lack lyrical skills, originality, and think the charts are the only thing to shoot for. Lines like "If you don't protect your neck, then you'll just be head and shoulders" are just the tip of the iceberg. Upon listening to this album, you will be brought back to a time where hip hop was mostly found in the city, at block parties and bbq's, where emcees and DJs were not making records and millions of dollars, but merely entertaining themselves and their neighbors. The album also stresses the importance of keeping one's identity while struggling to make a living. The Japanese import of this album contains an extra track "Let It Soak" which features two guests, Dante and Holmskillit and contains a funky jazz sampled beat which displays Rawl's incredible production skills. Talib Kweli is also featured on the track "Due Process", and was partly responsible allowing this group to see the light of day! Thank god for us!"

This Is Hip Hop!!

Cuzz | Where Real Music Lives | 01/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With an album name like "Hip Hop" you get a feeling what sort of group Lone Catalysts is, one that is about the fundamentals of hip hop culture. They do just that on their debuts LP, composed of producer/Dj J.Rawls & MC J.Sands, they are part of the Wanna Battle crew consisting of Dj Hi-Tek, Rubix, Five Deez, Asheru & Talib Kweli based in Cincinnati. Over the years Hip Hop & Rap music has seen a lot of dues, from Pete Rock & CL Smooth and Gangstarr to Outkast and Tha Dogg Pound. J. Rawls production was introduced on Mos Def & Talib Kweli's Blackstar project on a couple of great cuts including "Brown Skin Lady" and he continues with this effort using clear head nodding drums, piano samples (like Pete Rock loved horns) and low yet interesting bass, but they keep a mid-tempo for the most part. J. Sands has competent, usually memorable rhymes, and a solid flow the only thing that detracts from his abilities is that his delivery isn't distinctive. Despite slight short comings these two work very well together, Sands indistinctive delivery doesn't matter because it allows for Rawl's groove to shine, while his speed fits Rawls beats perfectly and his lyrics always fit the vibe, whether it be solemn or upbeat. This cd is also a great value, there is an intro and two skits over 21 tracks (the last 6 are bonus tracks from their original EP), and even the two Words from BUKA skits have some interesting value in how the group thinks. Being that the group's music from song to song have a similar quality yet still remain captivating and the skits are even listenable it creates a quality consistence throughout the whole record. This is underground Hip-Hop but it has such a rich sound you wouldn't even notice this is part of a strong movement of underground artists that have cast away the totally grimey sound once associated underground rap and crafted a solid vibe around a raw earthy feel. Now I'll mention some stand out joints.......Q and A ~ this track is short but sweet introductory track to the group, with an entertaining call response type rap. The beat is made up of a thumping drum and what sounds a bit like upright bass, head nod factor is very high on this joint.Hip-Hop ~ another short track, this title track outlines the Catalysts views on the world of hip-hop and it's based around a trailing hi-pitched piano sample with not quite as head nodding drum and bass as "Q and A" but still pretty solidThe Pro's ~ this track has the first real catchy hook on the album and it's a heavy boasting track with a lot of wit based around heavy bass and understated percussion with a fast violin sounding sample for the hook portion of the songDue Process ft/ Talib Kweli & Rubix ~ the crown jewel of the album comes in here, everything is perfect the piano sample is catchy as well as the hook and bass is thumping and percussion is aptly spaced, the lyrics on the hook and verses always keep perfect tempo and are clever and intelligent, and it features the only guests on the album in fellow Wanna Battle crew members Talib Kweli & Rubix which freshens things up that extra little bit, Talib steals the show from the get goPolitix ~ bringing a social conscious view which they do on a few spots during the album to keep things engaging, but this one is perhaps the most entertaining, perhaps being the biggest highlight in terms of J. Sands showing his skills rather than being an afterthought for Rawl's energetic production, even so the beat on this is still great with a slow steady drum back beat over a distant eerie piano sample, that makes this the most down tempo solemn track on the album, despite being full of enthusiasm on the flow and beatAs whole this is a wonderfully crafted depute full of awesome beats and dopely intelligent rhymes. This is not only one of the best albums of the turn of the century it is one of the most promising debuts long players the hip-hop world in general has seen in a long time. With that said it gains the ability of having a very aptly named cd title and I would like to declare that Lone Catalysts' Hip Hop is a modern hip hop masterpiece that everyone with ears should enjoy. Another breath of fresh air into hip hop and I would say look out from more of these dudes and their crew and support them because they are solid indie artists. So in my view this album gets a full 5 stars and me saying get out and by this anyway you can because you will not regret it!!!!"

Stop Sleeping

Alex Hampton | Madison, Al | 08/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just picked this album up a few weeks ago and it has been in constant rotation ever since. Great beats, Good lyrics, the flows are good, it's just a really well balanced hip hop album for the heads. It's got a cool old school vibe to it, more about the music than anything else. If you dig Black Star, Dilated, J5, Blackalicious, Mood etc.. give this album a shot, you wont be disappointed."