Eddie Meeks
Cappuccino’s Unauthorized Records
[Asylum Entertainment, 2011]
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As far as emcee skills go, Eddie Meeks has a lot going for him. His flow is effortless, rolling out of his mouth and cascading down tracks with a steady, percussive gush. The words seem to roll naturally off his tongue and his rhythm is like the steady rat-a-tat of machine gun fire. With a plethora of releases and projects spanning almost 10 years of active service, it’s evident that Meeks came, saw and is conquering his small corner of the rap map. This Atlanta via Memphis rapper is a veteran of the Southeastern hip hop scene and has solidified into a stellar artist with the experience.
The hard work he’s been putting in is definitely evident in the level of professionalism on his latest joint, Cappuccino’s Unauthorized Records. The 20-song release is a polished trip through the often disturbing mind of Eddie Meeks. He dresses himself up in the alias of Cappuccino and lets the listener into another part of his persona.
Delivering this story is where Meeks really shows his stripes and demonstrates his senior status. A lot of emcees let the minute details slide on the music they are putting out, and while hip hop is often about swagger, it seems to me that many artists forget to walk what they talk. That’s what I really dig about this release. Meeks exhibits a true entrepreneur’s field vision and makes sure his music is solid down to the finer details. Not only are his lyrics well thought-out but the tracks are tight, the production is tight and the overall presentation from start to finish is tight. While he may not be exploring new frontiers for rap with his music, he is doing hip hop extremely well.
Bouncing off of that is my one complaint about this record. Though I’ve faded out of the genre in the last few years, I spent my younger years listening more to hip hop then punk and rock. What always pulled me in was how it was a completely different approach to music then conventional pop and rock music. Hip hop doesn’t always rely on melody or actually instrumental compositions. It relies on percussion and cadence, and the cutting up and mashing together of different pieces of music to create something new and original. So when I put on a hip hop track I expect to be wowed and to hear something groundbreaking. And while Cappuccino’s Unauthorized Records is undoubtedly a well-constructed hip hop record, it’s nothing much more than that. It doesn’t raise the bar for the genre or progress past what other emcees have been putting out for years.
In a nutshell, if you’re a listener who has always loved hip hop, this album will be probably make a solid rotation on your playlist. Those in this camp won’t want to miss checking the release out; there’s a lot to love about it. However, if you are looking for a game changer, you’ll probably need to go elsewhere. Eddie Meeks is oozing with talent, I’d just like to see him step it up a little as far as pushing the game forward goes. The raw materials are there, and the experience is there, but this album doesn’t try to take hip hop to a whole new plane. And, in the end, this may not be a bad thing to most fans. But I know what hip hop can do and I think Meeks has more in him. I just want to hear him do it.
More Info:
Bandcamp: www.eddiemeeks.bandcamp.com
Twitter:
I thank you for this. It’s my first one… Great job Evan Andree!!!