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Mbugout City

Blestenation

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Album Review

The year 2010 could arguably be described as the 26th anniversary of rap-rock. It was back in 1984 that the merging of rock guitars and hip-hop beats started with two seminal recordings: Run-D.M.C.'s "Rock Box" and the Beastie Boys' "Rock Hard," both of which helped to pave the way for all the rock/hip-hop fusion that took place in the ‘90s and 2000s. Countless alterna-rockers are incorporating hip-hop in the 21st century, but what transpires on BLESTeNATION's Mbugout City isn't rock being influenced by hip-hop — it is hardcore rap being influenced by rock. This New York City-based trio (rappers Various and Werdplay and DJ/producer Fafu) shouldn't be lumped in with Rage Against the Machine, (hed) p.e., Limp Bizkit, or any of the other rap-metal bands that emerged in the '90s because that isn't where they are coming from on this 2010 release. Rather, Mbugout City is the work of a hardcore rap group with a serious craving for rock guitars, and there are plenty of them on tracks like "Witness," "Like It or Not," "Never Let Your Guard Down," "730 Strong," and "We'll Die." But not everything on Mbugout City is overtly rock-influenced. Some of the tunes don't have a really prominent rock guitar — for example, the eerie "Sally," which is about the horrors of methamphetamine addiction and describes the types of things that tweakers (meth addicts) go through. Mbugout City isn't an album with a huge sociopolitical agenda, but when BLESTeNATION do address social issues on a few tracks (including "Sally" and "Don't Let Your Guard Down"), the results are engaging — which is not to say that the rest of this 60-minute disc isn't worthwhile. Although not groundbreaking, Mbugout City is a likable reminder of the fact that rock can still have a positive effect on hardcore rap.

Customer Reviews

Wow, huge surprise!

I recently saw a tweet for the music video to "We'll die" and it definitely intruiged me. I wasn't sure how a relatively unknown group could put together such a creative and awesome video. Plus the song itself is a fusion of rock better than most modern rock out today, but at the same time the hip-hop element is even more dope than most rappers. I had to get this release and was VERY pleasantly surprised. Overall just an all-around amazing release.

I expected at least a few filler tracks but song to song to song is just intenseness. I popped this onto my ipod before my workout, and the energy never left the music or me for my entire workout.

Great first release, hopefully they can come back with another sophomore masterpiece.

Blest-e-Nation...

I have waited more then a decade for this album. I have followed this group since their humble beginnings as a part of the very talented Nuclear Family. Various and Werdplay soon out-grew Nuc Fam and began releasing Mix tapes with DJ/Producer Fafu.
With one listen you can quickly understand that this group is a serious force. Various has a lyrical style that is unmatched. The way he forms verses challenges the limits of the English language and is incredible to hear roll out with an effortless perfection. Coupled with the energy and aggression of Werdplay, who is a bit more simple then Various but just as effective, the two balance each other well on tracks. They pull from real life and create stories of drama and the fight of human existence. If more MC's had this kind of tenacity the music world would be a better place.
Production, well, Fafu beats bang. He has proven himself in my mind as one of the great un-sung producers in hip-hop. I often find that the beats evolve the way a movie score might. They are dark and deep and portray an ambience that is very cinematic and fills a room.
Although this group has evolved stylistically into a rock/rap hybrid (Which is not nearly as successful as the straight rap joints) they have remained true to an aesthetic they established in the beginning of their career. This is that they dwell in Mbugout the City in a Bubble. This is a place that has been described in countless songs as a world where that possesses the tortured inhabitants who live their life through the appreciation of vice and feed off of life’s trials and tribulations. It is great when artists actually make art, pulling from their own life to let something out and not just deliver an easily digested food for the masses. This is the most powerful part about this group’s aesthetic to me. It is also the weakest part of this album because in this project it sits as an undeveloped idea yet it is the title.
BlesteNation makes the mistake in thinking that their music is enough in a world where image is everything. They should have developed these ideas for the new listener rather then assuming the audience knows about them and the world they created. Unfortunately without understanding the group history a new listener might be scared away by the fact that it follows in the tradition of Limp Bizkit or the unfortunate sound of La Coka Nostra (Who are also very talented yet failed on their last release... Thanks Everlast).
Rock and rap have long been tied to each other in amazing ways, Run DMC and the efforts of Rick Rubin are a testament to this. Although Bleste are amazing rappers they are mediocre rockers. It is easy to be critical when a rock song uses rap as a gimmick, yet people often overlook poor rock accompaniments in hip-hop. Bleste could have grown to be an amazing rap group heavily influenced by rock but with Werdplay dominating the hooks as some new version of Epic from Crazy Town (R.I.P. DJ AM) they become a talented group with a poorly crafted gimmick thus making the music less notable. It would have been better if Bleste realized that this is the first real introduction to the world (as a major label release) and rebuilt Mbug with that in mind. A skit or two to help the new listener understand the meaning behind all of this would have helped. Perhaps an interlude by Fafu really illustrating the world that is Mbugout City could have helped. Without this it is just a nonsensical title. This is done well on the first EP from these guys titled Zombie Slave County, which you should go all cop.
I like these guys but I am disappointed with this album. I would not recommend this to a new listener. Go back to the mix tapes and EP before stepping to the full-length album.

playin with werds

straight east coast reppin. these guys did it again. they need to be bigger! BUY THIS ALBUM AND SPREAD THE LOVE

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