DM & Jemini - 'Ghetto Pop Life' (Lex)
4/5
By: Clara Burtenshaw
Now proving ever-prolific, Lex - which provided us one of the year's underground-monsters of a record, via Tes' 'X2' - is seemingly a provider of the essential street-soundtrack for '03.
And, aptly, 'Ghetto Pop Life', the label's latest spawn, is a slickly produced collaboration between one of NY's eminent emcees, Jemini, and DJ/super-producer deluxe, Dangermouse. The fruit of this creative match is a sound that cuts across genres, and an album that reflects the wealth and talent achingly pregnant within the New York hip-hop scene at present.
A broad range of sounds are referenced, from Medieval choir-sections to sped-up soul vocals, guitar-loops and strings both juxtaposed beside DM's bounce-filled beats. Jemini makes a welcome return from the wilderness to deliver lyrics and conceited mannerisms that are sharp and relevant to modern-society - thus spanning war, poverty, the US government and of course, the meat of much hip-hop: women and parties.
Characteristically, Jemini is not afraid to shock, and lyrics such as: 'Spitting while I'm holding my dick' are delivered with a dexterity that darts between high and low registers for an idiosyncratic narrative effect.
Naturally, such an intoxicating resonance seems inevitable to infect every club and house-party in the hood, and initiate a host of copycat samples of its own. Not that anyone will be complaining.
Artists in this article: DM & Jemini
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