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It’s been a few years and roads have been traveled. Now the Grand Verbalizer, Brotha J, along with DJ Fat Cat and the X Clan Soldiers reppin the red, black, and green are back with the awakening of hip-hop from the source itself, the streets. With the remark of Nas claiming hip-hop is dead has driven this brotha away from the mecca of hip-hop, NY, and go into the heart of Houston, TX for a change of environment to show how alive this creature you and I would call hip-hop really is.

About a year deep into the journey we are presented with this project, X Clans sophomore album on Suburban Noize; Mainstream Outlawz. Starting with a previously released track on Strange Noize 2, “Down by Law”, this freedom fighter grabs you by the vertebra and inching up to your mind opening it up and planting the seeds of enlightenment. Rolling right along through the adventurous album of hip-hop you’ll notice that the guest spots on this CD wouldn’t be what you’d expect on a Suburban Noize production. Then again it’s not only that, it’s an X Clan installment in the Tru-School Movement and the anomalies shown are what makes it that much better and influential to the music itself.

With the likes of Tony Henry, Bun B, Poppa Doc, J-Napp, Bobby Fine, Medusa, Phoneix Orion and Supernatural gives this album a flavor not really tasted, but one that is musically thirst quenching. One track with a featured guest that stands out mostly is “Still up in the Game ft. Poppa Doc & J-Napp”, because it’s taking it back to the old school through the new, yet still remaining true to their natural spit roots. Brotha J made the comment about how hip-hop needs to be more versatile and open minded like how the underground scene has become. I think that this ideology not only comes from the current state of “rap” now-a-days but also with the people he’s been touring with since resurfacing as X Clan; ICP, MF Doom, Tech N9ne, the Living Legends, and of course the KMK.

This album, like their last, is a battle cry. It’s a cry for the music listening world to head to the East Blackwards and pick up this album with the re-awakening of your hip-hop knowledge. Heed the message and know what the X Clan holler about, what Brotha J is spittin about, and get up get out and peep this.

Tracklisting

01. Down By Law
02. Night 2 Day
03. Thru My Eyez (w/ Tony Henry & Bun B)
04. Prime Time Lyrics
05. The Lord Spits
06. Piper’s Poetry
07. Orientation
08. Still Up In The Game (w/ Poppa Doc & J-Napp)
09. They Wanna Know
10. Do It Like You?! (w/ Bobby Fine)
11. Keys To Ur City (w/ Medusa)
12. Wiz Degrees
13. Armageddon DNA (w/ Phoenix Orion & Supernatural)
14. Stop Look Recognize

Websites

XClanMusic.com
MySpace.com/XClanMusic
SuburbanNoizeRecords.com

Record Label:

• Suburban Noize Records

Release Date:

• 01/27/2009

Reviewer:

• Whipstick