Grab three underground hip hop acts, put together some rough and rugged styles and spit out this conglomerate and you get The Goondox and their new album Welcome To the Goondox. Renowned emcee PMD of EPMD, producer duo Snowgoons and hardcore rapper Sean Strange collaborate as this small collective to dish out some stereotypical hardcore, underground hip hop.
While PMD’s voice smooths out the wrinkles on this album with his cool flow and thoughtful bars, such as when he reminisces on his glory days, conversely, Sean Strange has a rough-edged and very hard-toned voice that cuts through the music with razor sharp haste. In a way to create a yin-and-yang effect, PMD and Strange work against each other so that it creates a double-edged blade of smooth and rough vocals and delivery styles when they trade verses.
The Snowgoons have notable production credits, including everyone from Boot Camp Click to La Coka Nostra. While they always feature that hardcore, underground hip hop sound – punching kicks, spooky melodies, sometimes cheesy harmonies and a very modern sound – the trend tends to get boring as the album drags on. Not that every song sounds the same, but the vibe is pretty linear throughout the duration of the record, eliminating any possibility of stand-out tracks and personal favorites.
Both emcees can rhyme, definitely, and the Snowgoons know how to make a beat, but ultimately, the effort is unimpressive. This lack of intended effect can be attributed to the fact that this sound has been done before…many, many times. The trend of “this is hip hop not rap,” which was actually a line cited on “Forever [Til the Death] (feat. Swifty McVay, N.O. the God, Tom J., Chief Kamachi, El Toro & Gustapo),” is so played out that it’d be an interesting change for someone to say the opposite. While tracks do stand out to some extent, such as “No Time To Look Out,” which is a PMD solo, most tracks blend into a blur of similar sounds, superfluous auras and unimaginative lyrical and production ventures.
Welcome To the Goondox is your average, everyday, hardcore, underground hip hop record, and though I’ve said that probably one too many times, it is the truth. Plain and simple, if that is your thing and what you fancy, this album is right for you. But as far as bringing hip hop to a new level, exhibiting an attempt and hopeful succession at creativity and/or enlightening to a greater sound, this album surely falls short. So, my rating…
5/10
I recommend this album to any fan of hardcore, underground hip hop and acts such as Vinnie Paz, Jedi Mind Tricks, Apathy and Army of the Pharoahs.
Tracklisting:
1) Intro (Hit Squad Airlines)
2) Welcome To the Goondox
3) All Around the War
4) New Box (feat. Sicknature)
5) No Time To Look Back
6) Bang Out [Remix] (feat. Smoothe Da Hustler & N.O. the God)
7) Weather the Storm (feat. Scott G)
8) Forever [Til the Death] (feat. Swifty McVay, N.O. the God, Tom J., Chief Kamachi, El Toro & Gustapo)
9) Stand Up (For the Love of Hip Hop)
10) All or Nothing
11) Goondox Saints (feat. Meth Mouth, Scott G, Odoub, Bundy, Reef the Lost Cauze & Esoteric)
12) The Chase
13) Raps of Titans (feat. Swollen Members, Jus Allah, Impakt, Odoub, Klee Magor, Virtuoso, Meth Mouth, Psych Ward & Jaysaun)
14) Living the Life
***Notable Mentions:
Lyrical A.J.: Cinematic 0.5: The Pursuit of Happiness
