When anyone brings up the idea of a punk-rock scene or a hip-hop movement, Minneapolis isn’t necessarily the first city that comes to mind.
However, in the past few years, P.O.S., along with acts like Atmosphere, Dessa, Lazerbeak and other artists affiliated with the collectives known as Doomtree and Rhymesayers have relentlessly made an effort to put Minneapolis on the map.
Bridging the gap between two contrasting genres such as punk-rock and hip-hop doesn’t seem like such a great idea, nor is it an easy task. P.O.S. hasn’t necessarily broken through to the masses, but with Tuesday’s release of his third full-length album, Never Better, he may be starting to turn many more heads.
P.O.S.’s approach to hip-hop is abrasive and unfriendly. He’s known for his brash and verbose delivery, set to the tune of lively, aggressive drumming and heavy bass chops. With Never Better, he has fine-tuned the formula he’s used on past releases, such as 2006’s Audition, and has created a socially conscious and uplifting work of art.
With the opener ‘Let it Rattle,’ P.O.S. uses minimalist rhythms and his signature hard-hitting drums to express his own political and social concerns. Other songs like ‘Savion Glover’ explore familiar hip-hop territory with sampled beats and disc jockey scratches. Songs like ‘Graves’ and ‘Goodbye,’ the album’s lead single, are among the album’s finest gems, while ‘Low Light Low Life,’ which features the crooning vocals of label-mate Dessa, may be the single best track on Never Better.
P.O.S. and Doomtree artist Lazerbeak worked together to produce Never Better. P.O.S also plays the guitar and keyboard, showcasing talents in all aspects.
The album does have a few slip-ups. The repetitious nature of ‘Out Of Category’ and the way-too-metal ‘Terrorish’ are definite blips, halting the flow of the album. At times, the music tends to feel a bit cluttered, as heard on ‘Purexed.’ It wouldn’t hurt to clear out a bit of the noise, which can get overwhelming for the casual listener.
The overload of subject matter, not to mention wordiness, may turn listeners away. Songs like ‘Graves’ and ‘Get Smokes’ aren’t easy to listen to. It is definitely more moody than you’d imagine or want, which may be its biggest setback, but at the same time could be its biggest attraction.’
In short, P.O.S. has released his finest album to date. It’s haunting and prolific and an antithesis of what many people know as hip-hop.’ Never Better is a testament of what one can do without the boundaries and restrictions of genres.
P.O.S.
Never Better
Doomtree/Rhymesayers
Verdict: This is hip-hop that can’t be dumbed down.
