Yo Majesty - Futuristically Speaking...Never Be Afraid

  by Mark Rowland

published: 9 / 10 / 2008

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Review

Okay, so Christian lesbian booty-hop probably isn't going to get its own section in HMV, but Florida's Yo Majesty have been busy putting it on the map, getting lumped in with the latest generation of intelligent hip hoppers coming out of the states. It's fair to say that 'Futuristically Speaking...Never Be Afraid' is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's fairly explicit for one thing, but they're Christians, which manifests itself in a moralistic air that is present throughout the album. But look past the lesbianism, Christianity and the 'booty' label that have been the main talking points for Yo Majesty in the mainstream press, and you'll find some of the most forward thinking beats in modern hip hop. Take opener 'Fucked Up' for example. It's essentially a rap version of riot grrl, even featuring some guitar fuzz. Take the synthetic beats away, and it's not hard to imagine Kathleen Hanna yelling it out in the early 90's. Or 'Get Down on the Floor', a bouncy electronic pop song with a very catchy chorus that almost sounds like vintage Prince. Many tracks build on the deep south crunk sound – dirty sounding synths, stuttering beats and claps – but takes it somewhere that sounds genuinely fresh and honest, particularly for a genre that sticks to a formula and runs with it, at least in the mainstream. Hip hop, punk, garage(the dance kind), electropop and rnb (the modern kind), reggae and blues are all chucked into Yo Majesty's pot, and the noise that comes out at the end works surprisingly well. Perhaps it is because it is delivered with some conviction, that Yo Majesty are clearly making this music for their own enjoyment. It is also refreshing that they aren't afraid to sound vulnerable as well as tough, as tracks like 'Buy Love' prove. For hip hop fans who are fed up with mainstream rap's posturing, Yo Majesty, as well as their contemporaries in the new wave hip hop, are a breath of fresh air.

Track Listing:-

1 Fucked Up
2 Night Riders
3 Blame It On The Change
4 Never Be Afraid
5 Don't Let Go (New Mix)
6 Booty Klap
7 Buy Love
8 Get Down On The Floor
9 Hott
10 Leather Jacket
11 Grindin' And Shakin'
12 Party Hardy
13 Club Action
14 Take It Away

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