As the World Burns

Album Review

Rising from the ashes of New York's dog-eat-dog underground scene were the five spontaneously combustible members making up Arsonists: Q-Unique, D-Stroy, Freestyle, Swel Boogie, and Jise One. Fundamentally sound and immersed in hip-hop's old-school heritage, Arsonists amiably keep everything in-house for their debut (which is nearly unheard of nowadays), as there is no outside production or industry-related collaborations. A sumptuously diverse group, each of Arsonists brings differentiating lyrical styles, yet together they manage to mesh into a group setting. Arsonists burn the competition with the expedited cadences of "Blaze," while upholding their vowel to preserve hip-hop's four essential elements with "Flashback." Dispensing a plethora of spit-boxing exhibitions, they give a consummate New York verbal flogging to "Shaboing," the flame-broiled "Venom," and the slow-burning "Worlds Collide." Arsonists have not arrived — they have emerged, and hip-hop is undeniably a purer place because of it.