CORPORATE LINE: All City is Northern State’s new full-length album and the first to be recorded for a major label. (The group released two independent EP s prior to recording All City, the second of which, Dying in Stereo, was eventually released by Star Time in June 2003.) A stellar group of producers–among them Cypress Hill’s Muggs, the Roots’ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, and turntable legend Pete Rock–together with Northern State, crafted the sound of All City, which also features performances by the High and Mighty, Har Mar Superstar and Martin Luther. The result is both feminist and fun, a rock-steady rallying cry to anyone who knows that hip-hop can change, if not the world, then at least your place in it.
OUR OPENING LINE: The female Beastie Boys? Hardly
THE GREAT: Blah!
THE AVERAGE:
“Times To Rhyme” – As close as Northern State are almost average.
“Girl For All Seasons” – Sure to be used in a Target or Old Navy commercial— doesn’t make it good.
THE BAD:
“Ignite” – “We might be hiding in cages with all seven sleepers”: oh really? This is quite possibly the worst thing ever released on a national record label.
FRANKLY: There is nothing good about Northern State—in all actuality it might be as easy to pull any three white girls off the street, ask them to rap them, and get a better outcome.
+ CC Morris
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.