Guru Album: “Street Soul”

On the first two Jazzmatazz records Guru presented us with some first rate eclectic street jazz with beats and rhymes. This time around he dips into the well of guest star friends (Macy Gray, Roots, Herbie Hancock) to name a few. All of the tracks stand on their own as nice radio ditties but upon closer listening you will hear the hard work and thoughtfullness put into this album lyrically and musically. If you enjoyed the first two or are looking for some refreshing smart hip hop buy it now.

Alright I can't lie... I am really not feeling this album I bought it with high hopes but surely I was let down... Yet I have to admit the tracks "Keep Your Worries", "All I said" and "Plenty" were plenty tight... but that was only due to the featuring artists... His rap style is simple which I like but at the same time it is not advance, not very articulate and not enticiing... it doesn't pull me in with head banging lyrics, it doesn't capture me with the nicest compilation of eclectic (electric) rhythms. His style is like that of the 80's , kind of monotonous, kind of boring if you ask me... but that is my opinion don't let what I say stop you... Most people who bought this album were fans of his previous releases and dig his sytle but I can't say the same.

I'm down with the jazzier hybrids. I'm down with the cool guest stars. I'm down with Guru's deadpan rapping style. And I'm definitely down with Jazzmatazz Vol. I, which was plenty of good fun.

What I'm NOT down with is this album because, frankly, the rhythms are so limp. Laid back is okay once in a while but there is not one cut here that I would spin live while deejaying--it's all so damn sleepy. Nothing ever rises above midtempo at best, and the downside of having lots of "jazz" all over it is that there are no hooks--just lots of watery, bland music.