Baraka Noel
The Mixtape Philosophies Of Mushroom Black
© 2006 Baraka Noel (634479316074)
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severely lyrical hip hop
tracks
- 1 road trip visions
- 2 all right
- 3 the missing
- 4 lost lines
- 5 europe's not a continent
- 6 best in the game
- 7 rhyme philosophy
- 8 hypochondriac
- 9 new year
- 10 emmett
- 11 religion
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BARAKANOEL.COM = lots of ill music. Hear for yourself.
myspace.com/barakanoel
mad love from Okayplayer.com:
"I got this record in a cracked slim line jewel case with nothing but a free vistaprint.com business card inside that said, “check out my new album.” The disc the same reflective blue green of my favorite Memorex bootlegs and I’d put money on the off center label being a home printed Avery sticker. It sat on my counter for days before I got up what I felt like was the patience that would be required to listen to what I assumed would be home demoed ramblings passed off as an album. The Hip Hop requisite movie clip introduces the album, the movie of choice Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Okay, I’m not excited, I walk off to grab something from the other room and then…BAMM! It takes 54 seconds to hear that this record has the potential to say something entirely new in the coming tracks.
Maybe that shouldn’t surprise me from a kid that earned a full ride to Oberlin College to study theater. Baraka Noel isn’t an emcee. Or rather, it would be ignorant to pigeonhole him in such an obvious way because his record is sitting in front of you. Check out his CDBaby.com page and find out that he is also the author/director of a one man show used as a companion piece to the record. The idea of Hip Hop expanding into performance art beyond the boundaries of Jay-Z’s bikini clad video vixens is nearly unheard of.
That said, it seems obvious that Baraka is an extremely literate man. He links vowels together like the best of Rakim or Nas’ first record but he does it with a vocabulary that will leave Hot 97 artists reaching for their Roget’s. Even the unassailable “mine is bigger than yours” bragging rights so synonymous with rap get turned on their head in the Puff Daddy meets Shaft “All Right” when he quips, “length of my penis proportionate to willingness to be evil.”
I hear Mixtape Philosophies… as a step out from the ever-present shadow of A Tribe Called Quest. Low-key jazzy productions laced with intelligent topical lyrics that stretch the stereotypical limitations of hip hop. Take “Europe’s Not A Continent,” which screams about the US violations of the Geneva Convention and name drops Cornell West (See The Matrix’s elder advisory board or Harvard’s liberal messiah) while proclaiming “they keep our freedom safe by taking it away. Till the one right remaining is the right to remain silent.” These genre-bending themes are consistent. Ecological concerns, the lingering mentality of a nation that murdered Emmett Till, the list just goes on.
I couldn’t find any kind of bio on Baraka Noel, and the record doesn’t even list a label. My take on it is this is a college kid (maybe recent graduate) who is pedaling homespun records on CDBaby.com and at a corner table in the lobby after performing his play at small university theaters. The music here is well above average but won’t revolutionize hip-hop’s sound. The lyrics however will change your perception of what intelligent hip-hop could be."
– Brian Hull
Baraka Noel is an interdisciplinary writer/performer from Wheaton, MD and a founding member of Freestyle Theater and Citizens of Sleep. He has worked in a variety of forms; including improv, sketch comedy, traditional theater, literary poetry, spoken word, and Hip Hop. Baraka's original and collaborative work has been featured at Oberlin College, Kenyon College, Tufts University, the University of MD, Miami University of Ohio, UC Santa Cruz; and at the Mocha Lounge in Washington, DC; Epic Arts in Berkeley, California; Vox Pop in Brooklyn, NY; Bent Lens Cinema in Denver, Colorado; Toronto Pride 2007, and at Fremont High School and AK Press, in Oakland, California. Baraka's debut album, The Mixtape Philosophies of Mushroom Black, acts as a companion piece to his one man show.
Freestyle Theater is a collaborative music and theater company based in Oberlin, OH. Their releases include Static, an original semi-improvised two man show, and The Stolen Time EP, available for free download at barakanoel.com. Citizens of Sleep's debut album, Sometimes I Just Can't Get Outraged Over Copyright Law, is also available for download at BARAKANOEL.COM. Baraka is a member of the DeepDickollective family and will appear on their forthcoming album, On Some Other.
Citizens of Sleep
Sometimes I Just Can’t Get Outraged Over Copyright Law
n/a; 2007
"Intelligent lyrics, clever rhymes and brilliant production are what make up one of this year's most intriguing albums. On Sometimes I Just Can't Get Outraged Over Copyright Law, Citizens of Sleep show a level of promise on their debut that is sure to catch the attention of hip-hop heads the world over.
The album’s strong start is perhaps why it’s so hard to press the stop or next button. “The Exodus” and “Lullaby” both pull you in without any signs of restraint. It doesn’t hurt that the production on both tracks is topnotch and reminiscent of Kno from the CunninLynguists and Dan the Automator, respectively.
It’s clear at this point that Citizens of Sleep aren’t messing around. The group raps passionately about love, deadbeat dads and the problems in our country without once sounding contrived. As Baraka Noel, one of the group’s emcees, said in one of his MySpace blogs, “It’s mad honest and some of these flows are ridiculous.”
Arguing with Noel would be pointless, especially when listening to tracks like “What Happens.” Fittingly, the cut calls itself a “fucked-up love song,” probably because the lyrics flirt with necrophilia. Another lovesick track sticks out, but not for its somewhat disturbing content. “By Your Side,” both the original and remix, features a gripping sample that sticks with you for hours.
The group continues to bare its soul on the aforementioned deadbeat dad anthem “Photographs and Letters.” While this is a somewhat familiar subject for artists with lyrical content akin to Citizens of Sleep, the three rappers uses their wit to mix things up. Instead of endlessly throwing insults and sounding whiny, they thank their fathers for showing them exactly how not to act.
There are very rare instances of when the group misses the mark on this album. “Neverlove,” another lovelorn song, is the only standout misstep. While the chopped sample works on its own, it overpowers the emcees’ flows, making some of the lyrics unintelligible.
With an album like Sometimes I Just…, it’s difficult not to go on and on about what will make you want to listen. From the fervor of the emcees to the creativity of the producers, this is, simply put, an impressive debut."
- Andrew Martin
Citizens of Sleep :: Sometimes I Just Can't Get Outraged Over Copyright Law ::
"Citizens of Sleep are an indie hip-hop act out of Oberlin, Ohio. They are comprised of emcees Sacrifice, !nk, Baraka Noel, and UR$, with production work by The Economy of China, Sean Blaze, G the Future and UR$. Baraka and Sacrifice are also founders of Freestyle Theater, a hip-hop theater company. I won't lie – I was really scared when I read the words "hip-hop theater", and I was anticipating the worst. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find 13 tracks of thoughtful, progressive hip-hop that would not be out of place on Anticon or Def Jux.
The beats are strong throughout the disc. The opener "Exodus" has a gentle piano loop with a haunting female voice. "Lullaby" has pounding, off-kilter piano with maniacal laughter that adds tension as Baraka drops lyrics like:
"I know bombs are dropping, but damn
Abstract concepts are not what I want to talk about
Let's slow down
I know now my privilege is such
I ain't really had to deal with too much"
Other highlights include a beat built around an old soul riff on "Neverlove", the mellow and introspective "Apollo and Tappan", and "Battle Cry for the End of the World" which has an intensity that reminds me of Public Enemy.
This disc also features some of the better lyrics I've heard in a while, with all the emcees showcasing some serious verbal calisthenics. They bring a much-needed infusion of intelligent wordplay to hip-hop, and move miles beyond the standard "jewels, guns and hos" subject matter that a lot of rappers are mired in. They tackle the Iraq war, the Virgina Tech shootings, depression, relationships, absent fathers, white privilege, and of course, the state of hip-hop. The Citizens avoid being preachy or sounding too full of their own brilliance, which is a problem some conscious rappers have. Instead, they spit lines like:
"Had to call my mother just to wonder what to call my father
When I was seven years old someone told me
What heaven is and how life packages end in severance
And how benevolence comes to those who bend to it
Later found out that's bullshit
Just medicine for how the world gets
Linked to fears of the afterlife"
Like the best hip-hop songs, the lyrics stick with you, and each listen provides an opportunity to unravel their language and discover something new. The Citizens put the poetry back in hip-hop. They also have a sense of humor, and sex, weed and food all get the proper respect here. One of my favorite tracks was "Breakfast", which is basically a seven-minute freestyle with all of the members getting a chance to goof off. Another great track is "By Your Side" which appears twice on the album, with different lyrics. It features a lonely piano chord with a ticking beat, and an old-timey singer on the hook. On the remix, Sacrifice raps:
"Excessive regret used to cheat
Disrespected my ex
Expect contempt
It's complex to express
I resent that I can't ever repent
Condemned to get remembered for events I'd rather forget
Have to admit I want a child but can't begin to commit
I don't want to keep with monogamy or misogyny
Here's my apology
I fall between
Not fond of either"
This disc isn't without its drawbacks. On "City of Sleep", the levels on the vocals are messed up, they bungle some of their verses, and it sounds amateurish. The title track is a little too precious for its own good, and sees the crew falling into self-righteous territory. Also, while I admire the lack of macho posturing, sometimes they get a little too "emo" for their own good. They occasionally cross that fine line between being sensitive and being whiney, harping a little too much on their insecurities and personal issues.
For the most part, however, this is a great disc. It's available free on "BarakaNoel.com," so there is no reason not to cop it. Citizens of Sleep is a promising group, and I'm looking forward to checking out their future releases."
as reviewed by Patrick Taylor
Music Vibes: 8 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 8 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 8 of 10
Originally posted: July 10, 2007
source: www.RapReviews.com
Citizens of Sleep “Sometimes I Just Can’t Get Outraged Over Copyright Law” Album Review
I found myself doing Spring cleaning in the Fall. Yeah, at times I can be a pack rat so I was forced to purge a few things. While browsing through my various belongings, of course I had to stop and look through my collection of classic hip-hop music. Most of the cd’s brought back many memories; just by looking at the cover art of some I was able to reminisce on what life was like when I first bought the albums. When listening to Citizens of Sleep’s Sometimes I Just Cant Get Outraged Over Copyright Law I was able to reach back into my adolescent years in hip-hop in the same manner.
I truly believe it takes a lot of soul to create music that people hold tight to for over ten years…shoot, even five years. I was thinking to myself recently, what makes an artist legendary? What makes a song legendary? What characteristics does one need to be remembered over a long period of time? It’s an easy answer: soul, creativity, innovation, originality. Only a small amount of emcees and producers possess these traits. Citizens of Sleep is destined to be apart of this collective with works like their latest. With beats that hit me as Wu-Tang and Beat Nuts inspired, Citizens of Sleep seem to resurrect the golden era of hip-hop on their latest effort.
With jazz layered samples and chops I even hear a bit of DJ Premier’s early production style during the Gangstarr run. Sometimes I Just cant Get Outraged Over Copyright Law definitely stimulates a head-nod reaction with every track.
COS shines on City of Sleep, my favorite on the album, on The Fallen they redirect your attention to those who have fallen to the evil hands of injustice and on Apollo and Tappan they provide you with a bit of a hip-hop love song; creativity at its best.
- ScholarMan @ hiphoplinguistics.com
My 10 Favorite Rap Albums of 2007
by Patrick Taylor @ RapReviews.com
9. Citizens of Sleep - "Sometimes I Just Can't Get Outraged Over Copyright Law"
The best discovery I made as a writer at Rap Reviews was Citizens of Sleep, aka Baraka Noel and the Pineapple Liberation Front. They meld intelligent and thoughtful lyrics with interesting and banging beats. My favorite track on this album is "By Your Side," which samples freak folk duo CocoRosie. The album is available free at www. Barakanoel.com, so you have no reason not to check it out.
Top 100 Albums of 2007 #24
Citizens of Sleep - Sometimes I Just Can’t Get Outraged Over Copyright Law
It’s also time for the world to wake up to the effortlessly layered and nearly perfect lyrical stylings of Citizens of Sleep, fronted by underground legend waiting to happen, Baraka Noel. This is raw energy at its best and in its natural essence. It is something fresh and new, but it will also bring back fond memories of a time when hip hop was fun and when rapid-fire, tag team vocals were practically a prerequisite for becoming part of the game.
It’s a shame how people keep whining about the demise of rap music when stuff like these 2 albums exists. Instead of doing some research and approaching the light at the end of the underground tunnel, they concentrate on the negativity that dominates the majority of mainstream rap. That’s their problem. I’ll be over here whether you decide to join me or not. And by the time you get here, you’re going to have a lot of catching up to do.
- Jon X. Bangs
For fans of: Arsonists, Atmosphere, El-P, Oddjobs, Funkdoobiest
Citizens of Sleep - "Copyright Law"
There aren't enough unabashedly content hip-hop tracks these days (Think Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day" or DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's "Summertime"). We're talking about stuff to crank on a sunny day, after all. This mellow, keyboard-heavy track about being blunted and feeling nonchalant about copyright law will make you want to drive about 15 mph below the speed limit, even if the speed limit is 20.
-Posted by Grant Valdes at Friday, June 15, 2007
reviews
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A Rarity Today...Really Good Music!
author: BrandonAn unbelievable find. Conscious lyrics that aren't overstated with a flow that matches the production beatifully. Think Lupe Fiasco, mixed with Nas, and a KRS-One chaser.
Unapologitically smart, lyrically clever, and with the fire of a phoenix!
author: Tim'mMPoMB is brilliant... but I'm biased. It's nice to know Baraka personally. The project reflects his humility. Baraka is an understated emcee who playfully injects what most emcees would need a rap glossary to understand. His strengths are that 1. he has a sense of hip hop history well beyond his years and 2. he passionately channels a myriad of questions and concerns that (often) don't even appear on the cliche hip hop landscape. An emcee who is rightly jaded by what gets radio-play, it's nice to have shared the stage and encouraged the development of someone who is sure to have staying power. A big DDC big up to Baraka Noel. "all right" and "rhyme philosophy" are my favorites. And if you don't know... now you know. Also, Check him out on Deep Dickollective's forthcoming "On Some Other"
Buy It
author: Tiger M. GalesPowerful & Entrancing. Indeed--a masterpiece.
- author: CD Baby
You know funk is done right when it brings a big cheesy smile to your face but his man doesn't stop there; he's one helluva king of retro brought inside the cozy but constantly challenged boundaries of hip hop. Double-dipping into jazz, funk, disco, and anything and everything retro, buzzy, crackly and grooooovy, Baraka Noel stuns us with his equally-versed talent for knowing deeply the ropes of modern underground hip hop and old school music. In a day and age where flashier is often thought of as better, this album takes that precedence to task and spits all over it. Simply put, if you're a hip hop fan, stop reading and just buy it.
I'm speechless
author: James (www.rex-radio.com)A masterpiece. That's all I can write. One of the most powerful rap albums I've ever heard.