 Theory Hazit - Extra Credit (HipHop Is Music)
The Hip Hop IS Music label has built a quick following thus far by releasing a few solid albums since its inception. Case in point: Surreal & DJ Balance - Future Classic, Sivion - Spring of the Songbird, and the label mix cd called Heavy Rotation. Now comes a project called Extra Credit by the former Holy Culture Radio dj, and Scribble Jam Beat Champion Theory Hazit. An award winning producer, a vinyl cutting dj, a mic personality, and a phenomenal emcee to boot. A short glance at Theo's resume and you can see this guy has allot going for him so I expected this to be a pretty interesting album. This being my ears debut aside from his dj days holding down the HCR show he hosted for a brief stint... I was interested to see what Theory had to offer an album listening audience.
Before checking out the album I did happen to swing by his myspace page and I noticed that Extra Credit was definitely not his first album. However, it did seam like this is his first label project. Theo has quite a few indie projects floating around. Mostly mix cd's featuring his production and some older works he's done. From the looks of the art though it was all pretty much low key and self produced leisure stuff. Nothing on the level of this which as far as I can tell is his most significant work to date.
So what does Extra Credit have to offer? At first listen I was immediately taken back by the calibre of the projects apparent attention to solid, anti-commercial underground beats and clever wordplay. A definite underground sound with dirty drums and sub bass lines bouncing to vinyl crackling samples. Well mixed and mastered... the sonic value was definitely on-point. That was a pleasure to hear because allot of times you hear these basement beats (not produced in big studios with an ultra-clean sound) yet they are mixed roughly and make listening to very hard to say the least. Extra Credit did not suffer that same fate and for that I'm thankful because the lyrical content is something you really want to get down with.
Theory has a distinctive laid-back flow but still intellectual and easy to comprehend and digest. A meal best served chill... Theory comes correct with great wordplay and vocal calisthenics doing his thing on the layering and diversity in delivery. His flow is not your average mundane 1-2 on pattern in monotone hip-hop structure. I like that his music never feels disingenuous or planned. His music is just that, MUSIC. Each track doesn't feel structured to a pattern or standard hip-hop formula. He's not afraid to experiment with changes in his delivery or vocal emphasis on key words. You never feel like his verses are rushed either. There is allot of artists that speak fast to flex their ability to "speed-rap" yet content gets blurred and its hard to actually sink in. I like that Theory's lyrics are easy to repeat back and he lets you feel where he's going with them. A great summer driving album... this one's full of system pumping tracks you can feel good to be kicking out of your
speakers with the windows down and even rap along.
Production on the album was handled by a barrage of talent including: Tony Stone, Just Me, Roxstar, Vintage, The Are, Lost Mind, Re:Flex the Architect, and of course himself! Guest features include: K-Drama, Sojourn, Just Me, Braille, Sivion, Holmskillit, and Sharlok Poems.
Another key mention on the album was its upbeat humor spliced with light-hearted subject matter. Songs like "Gossip Synopsis" pits Theo against every critic slamming him on message boards or talkin smack behind his back. A clowning set of voices trash talking him cut in and out randomly as Theory Hazit rips back indirectly with verses that counteract the negativity with cunning lyrics basically driving home the point of the song. A track with a similar theme was "Dumb Dunces" feat. K-Drama that contained samples of the Scooby Doo theme song over a boom-bap faster paced beat scratch tapped with appropriate cuts and jabs making references to everything from bad emcee's to Napolean Dynomite. I had to laugh out loud a few times with some of the lines on this one. A battle track wrapped in a take you back to high school vibe... I guess to deal with the corny drama making comparisons to teach these whack emcee's to step their game up, or get schooled!
Now Extra Credit is not without its serious points to take note of either. As a matter of fact those are the ones that stand out to me the most. The second single "I Just Wanna Go Home" is just that. An excellent track featuring Vintage on the beat and Theory delivery insightful lyrics about his testimony and faith. The track takes us through Theory's troubled adolescence whereby he lands himself in a jail cell on his knees calling out to God... then in comes the multiple-meaning chorus and vocals of Barry Hampton to say it all "I just want... I just wanna go home". Very dope track. The video is equally as cool as a cartoon version of Theory Hazit plays out the scenarios of the song in simplistic South Park-like animation style. Check the video out on Sphereofhiphoptv.com
Now every album has its own critique but to say this one lacks something considerable would not be honest. Full of underground beats that are beautifully mixed and mastered... this is one for dirty drum fanatics and crispy sample heads alike. What the album did lack however wasn't a sense of diversity but somewhat uniformity in overall play. Moving from one song to another in a full album listening experience wasn't without its awkward points here and there. Noteworthy to a small degree is the select underground production which is un-doubtebly both a strong suit of the album, but possibly a slight drawback as well. As Extra Credit will break ground in the underground scene no doubt. There was only one song that I could see breaking ground on commercial or college radio and that being the second single I mentioned in detail above. Theory has the potential to change up his style like very few can so to say this is the only sound I foresee him pursuing wouldn't do him justice. I'd definitely like to see more diversity in his production soundscape to cater to his maximum potential lyrically and creatively. Moving to less basement beats and more on something like a DJ Hi-Tek type sound, or Primo vibe would I bet do allot to get peoples attention on a broader level.
My overall take on the album. You better stay after school and pick up some... well... Extra Credit. Or fail the test of a real underground banger here. If you don't have this... make sure you head on over to the Sphere store and get yourself a copy. This is a great, solid album. Plenty of feel good tracks and weighty lyrics you can keep playing over again. A high contrast to the commercial syth-keyboard beats and monotonous delivery way too often heard today. Christian and secular alike. This is a breath of fresh air and my ears thank you.
For fans of: Sivion, Surreal, Scribbling Idiots, Deepspace 5, Mars ill, Braille, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, fans of underground hip-hop and the purists of the genre.
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Prince Malachi is the founder of The Oracle Network and the Streetwear brand Y.A.H. Apparel
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