Posted on 09/30/2005

 

Part 2 is one of the many UK artists with a growing resume. Having produced for such hip-hop big names as Roots Manuva, Killah Priest, and Saul Williams, Part 2 finds himself in a pretty damn good position. Poised to drop his first album, Live from the Breadline, Part 2 is ready to introduce his original brand of "UK Urban" music to the rest of the world. So what exactly does Part 2's "UK Urban" music production sound like? I was expecting some hard hitting hip hop, and though all of his instrumentals are dripping with shades of hip hop, Part 2 injects just as much (or more) dancehall, electronica, drum & bass, and reggae into his beats. This makes for interesting listening. His keyboard driven synth-sounds and techno bass make many of the tracks sound more fit for a rave than an MC's vocal booth. This, however, does not detract from the success of each song. While the production is the main focus, Live from the Breadline's best songs all feature strong vocals.

Vocally, Part 2 enlists a number of guests—primarily rappers and reggae vocalists—to help round out the album. Fallacy appears on "One of Them Days" and "Get Square", where his rhymes match Part 2's bass heavy production. "Rose Tinted Glasses" is another great track with a reggae inspired beat, a hook sung by LSK, and rhymes courtesy of Tomo and Lotek. "Concrete Jungle" also features LSK on what is definitely Part 2's high watermark production-wise. Sandra Melody makes her presence known throughout the album, appearing on the bookends, "Will it Ever", the album's dancehall jump-off track, and "Inna Crisis", the hidden track. Sandra Melody's reggae vocals appear on three other tracks as well, adding even more diversity to Live from the Breadline's melting pot.

While Part 2 does a great job combining a number of different genres, there are some places where loose ends inevitably show. The back end of the album veers more towards dance music and away from hip hop, which—based on the strength of the album's hip-hop collaborations—might not have been the best move. Also, "Inna Crisis" uses the exact instrumental as "Concrete Jungle". While the music is the best work on the album…damn, what's up with this same song as a new song as a hidden song? You can't do that to a listener. If just feels cheap.

Small complaints aside, the album accomplishes what it sets out to do. Part 2 manages to do a lot of things well behind the boards, and his diverse talent shines on Live from the Breadline.