Rating: NNNNN
Here’s the formula: French hiphop equals amazing production and average MCing, and Le Peuple de l’Herbe’s new album proves that theorum. Yet for all its pluses and minuses, it’s still quite the discovery. History Goes sounds like producers Spagg and Psychostick marinated the beat in Prefuse 73’s secret sauce, and vocalist JC 001, growling out his somewhat pedestrian protest slogans, has been perfecting those inebriated Buck 65-isms. It’s an acquired taste that some Canadians outside Quebec may still enjoy.
Judge Not features one of those faux dancehall chatters that cause some listeners excruciating pain, but the Ja-fakin’ accent can’t conceal the good intentions behind the futuristic track. When they switch gears to their strength, instrumental production, on the James Bondish Traces, they get the blood boiling with insistent horns and jittery drums. The beats continue to bang something serious, instrumental or not, but the lyrics leave something to be desired.
