April 25, 2007
It’s not everyday that I’m floored by a hip hop record. The last time it happened was with Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor.
But I think it may be happening again, this time with El-P’s new album I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead. Everything about this LP rocks: the lyrics are thought-provoking, the production is inventive, and the beats are infectious.
“The Overly Dramatic Truth,” despite its title, is about as honest as a hip hop song can get. It is the amazing centerpiece of a consistently excellent record. Fans of inventive underground rap will definitely enjoy this.
I actually heard this as the background music on an adultswim commercial recently. I was surprised, but I’m not sure why, because the beat is great. The lyrics weren’t played, most likely because the content is depressing.