Disco de Saul Williams: “Amethyst Rock Star”

If you are not used to the underground world of hip hop and indie films or spoken word poetry, you have probably slept on Saul Williams. On this album Amethyst rock Star, Williams delivers a verbal assault that is as mind numbing as it is incredible. From the beginning, Williams shows his listeners that he isn't going to give you an average idea of hip hop. A good taste of his musical voice would be the spoken work piece oohm that is available on the Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1 or on the Rhino word beat album our souls have grown deep like the rivers. The best known example besides the album you are reading the review for now is his Sha Clack Clack that was featured on the soundtrack to the film Slam, featuring another terrific poet Sonja Sohn. Overall this album is not easily digestable for hip hop purists, but completely untouchable by the generation that thinks that Jay z invented hip hop, or that can't remember before Biggie or 2pac. If you are a listener who likes albums that are released by Rawkus records, or enjoy artists like Me'shell N'degeocello, pick it up, you won't be sorry.

Saul is mad, very mad. This is a good thing because he specializes in conveying his emotion in his lyrics and delivery. It is hard to describe if Saul is rapping or yelling or doing spoken word, but whatever it is, he has his own unique style that makes you bob your head to his intelligent lyrics. "Tao of Now" is a good first song to check out if Saul is foreign to you. There is no argument that Saul is extremely talented. I just gave this album a 4 because what he is doing is a new and unheard style of hip hop but not every track on the album is worth a listen. A definite recommendation though.

This man truly has a gift when it comes to word usage. Simply put, I love this CD. It comes off very different(I think thats why I like it so much). Something like a combination of Slam Poetry, Hip Hop, and Rock. If your growing tired of mainstream music and looking for something new, refreshing, and different... look no further.

I first heard of Saul Williams while watching HBO presents Def Poetry, and his name stuck in my head. Next, I heard his words on a Blackalicious track (Release) and I decided I couldn't go without hearing more. So I first went in search of his poetry, but instead found an album.

I have found quite a few good poets and rappers from watching Def Poetry, but Saul is the top of them all (which may be why they sample his tracks in all the segues in the show). He stuck out from the cream of the crop as diamond shines in the dirt. The amazing power behind his lyrics, all twisted with socio-political leanings, allow a new avenue into the underside of American society. Following in the footsteps of KRS-One, he gives a highly educated and intelligent veiw of our society that most people are afraid to even look at. The strings and deep base that go along with the 'rap' (poetry) fits perfectly, giving the feeling of a more stripped down, higher brow version of Rage Against the machine. A must have for any fan of 'underground' hiphop or fan of great lyrical art.

Hype aside--Saul Williams deserves to be cut some slack. Brother's got an original poetic style that impressed almost everybody back in his New York slam days...brother took his big break as a featured actor in a low budget indie as far as it could go while showcasing not only his acting skills but his spoken word verbal skills, winning some highly esteemed awards along the way. Now let's deal with the CD. Lots of cool experiments--lots of risk taking--and unfortunately, too much singing (in Saul's case, ANY singing at all is TOO MUCH). Poets are rarely rock stars, and rock stars are rarely poets. There have been many rock stars who were POETIC--but that did not make them poets. And there have been a few poets/recording artists who were also gifted musically or whose verbal style went well with music. Last Poets, Gil Scott Heron (a poet as well as a GIFTED MUSICIAN) are obvious references--Ursula Rucker and Carl Hancock Rux (a poet as well as a GIFTED SINGER) are contemporary examples. Saul, in fact--could take a note from Rucker and Rux on cool...translation: you can't be all things to all people and your first cd doesn't have to reach far beyond the realms of what you know, and what you do--WELL. Over-stating is always a turn off. Less is more. Even on the best rock or hip-hop albums. Proving you are a rock star before you prove you are a musician is a regressive act. I'm not saying Williams has no musical inclinations--but so does my Aunt Nina, that doesn't mean she'll make a record that anybody else will appreciate other than the folk who already know and love her. Ultimately, this cd will please die hard Williams fans--but it's not for die hard music fans (even if they also happen to be die hard fans of poetry, like me). I dig the hip-hop music commentary and the galactic metaphors, but on the real--the whole thing comes off as a little disengenuous, as if Saul is performing the role of the rock star poet--(and maybe that's his point). However, it would be a better cd if Williams actually CONVINCED us that he was rock star poet... Next go-round, I say the emporer should acknowledge he has no clothes, and until he gets some--allow us to appreciate his nudity.