End of the Beginning, the

For some reason this record sounds ever so slightly oldskool to me – not the beats but the rhymes. Not that Murs’ raps are awkward or dated, just that there’s a certain bounce to em, like he’s actually enjoying himself, even when he’s talking about day jobs, assholes and almost getting killed. A crew of guests provide rad beats (mostly Oh No, El-P and Belief) and rad rhymes (El-P, Aesop Rock), and Digital Underground’s Shock G takes over one whole track. Piles of throwaway cultural references (Harry Potter, Star Wars, Joy Division), nimble lyricism and catchy hooks make me a happy girl.

1. * intro > rapidfire rhymes
2. mainly instrumental – muttery samples and stuttery snare
3. singsong w/dreamy echoey beats
4. ferocious dis song – dig the ominous hook
5. sweet laid-back beat for a nearly-gangsta song
6. * clattery beats, about skating
7. * bouncy-bouncy headnod with funny dopey singalong chorus – guest vox Aesop Rock
8. we’re having a party! With girls! And Digital Underground!
9. * crazy quick rhyming w/El-P’s trademark dark and ominous production (and the man hisself on guest vox)
10. * day jobs suck ass, man. But Dr. Dre wooeeee keyboard noises are pretty rad.
11. and it’s 187 on you underground punks
12. harps and chimes like some 1950’s Disney soundtrack, and a chorus that goes “get the fuck out, get the fuck out.” (Note: this is the clean version, no fear.)
13. sci-fi beats by RJD2
14. * stuttery soundtrack sounds (horns, strings) and a funny rhyme about shopping
15. * sweet little twangy singsong that reminds me a bit of Blackalicious somehow
16. anti-peer pressure pop-culture thuggery
17. indie/political dilemma – stuck between failure and sellout – and the racial politics of underground hiphop
18. sweet little ditty with laid-back guitary beats