X-Clan - Return from Mecca: Album Review
X-Clan, Return from Mecca (Suburban Noize, 2007)
Speaking of humourously failed protests, the X-Clan sent me this a while ago after I wrote about their plan to boycott the Oliver Stone 9/11 movie because there weren't enough black firefighters or some such. It's the first X-Clan album since 1992's Xodus and a good half of the group has died in the interim. Who's even in X-Clan at this point? That's a good question!
INTRO
A substitute Professor X over some vaguely eastern-sounding background noise.
ARAGORD
Sounds more or less like old X-Clan sans Prof X over new fangled West Coast (i.e. budget Dre) beats. Obviously someone's got their finger firmly on the pulse of modern day hip-hop. Nullus.
3RD EYE
A not half-bad soul sample and a chorus that seems to make reference to an old 'Pac record. Better!
HOVERCRAFT
A kinda silly skit that leads into this next track.
WHY YOU DOIN' THAT
A strident tirade against such modern evils as terrorism and, um, ringtones. I can dig the whininess.
VOODOO
Another decent enough track by the guy that did "3rd Eye." You miss Prof X on the chorus though.
WEAPON X
The big D-Nice-sounding lead single. See video below.
MECCA
Another one of the more Dre-esque tracks, with some reggae fellow on the chorus.
SPEAK THE TRUTH
The one with KRS-One, with whom they had beef back in the day. Sounds kinda Return of the Boom Bap-ish, but not as good.
SELF DESTRUCT
Self-destruction, we're heading for self-destruction.
POSITRONS
I'm not that into Timbaland beats anyway, but budget Timbaland beats are almost always a bad idea.
PRISONS
Prisons = the new slavery. Word? The production's kind of a mess, but otherwise this is one of J's more inspired moments.
ATONEMENT
Another moment where it all kinda comes together. Brother J gets all introspective on shit. The production is suitably reflective-sounding.
FUNKY FOR YOU
Not on the level of the Common track its named after.
VERBAL PIMPIN'
A good half of these tracks recycle hooks from the To the East, Blackwards era. I can see why they do, but I kinda wish they didn't.
TRUMP CARD
Ooh, a sample from a Malcolm X speech. It's like the early '90s all over again. Similarly, this beat sounds like they might have had it on the shelf for a minute.
TO THE EAST
An ode to copping hand jobs from Asian broads? Sadly, no.
SPACE PEOPLE
The most ill-advised of the album's numerous forays into modern West Coast rap.
AMERICA
A pretty ridonkulous rap meets rock cover of David Bowie's mid '90s fake NIN number "I'm Afraid of Americans" featuring the guy from Papa Roach. Need I say more?
COMMENTS: Brother J handles the bulk of the rappin' here and he's still kind of a beast, but there's a few other dudes on here I didn't really care for as much. Similarly, the production is kind of a mixed bag ranging from decent enough to pretty shitty. And you really do miss Professor X.
BEST TRACKS: "3rd Eye" "Weapon X" "Atonement"
BONUS VIDEO: Peep this clip for "Weapon X."
