All Natural (DJ
Tone B. Nimble and
MC capital D) has become a legend in
the hip-hop underground. Respected as one
of the most solid and consistent hip-hop acts
of the late 1990s and early 21st century,
All Natural has raised the bar with every
release.
Vintage
certifies them as hip-hop icons. Featuring
the lyrical skills of
The Jungle Brothers and
El da Sensai, as well as the production
work of Dug Infinite
(Common), Andy C
(Mary J. Blige) and newcomers Kenny
Keys and Veto
Money, the album exhibits modern hip-hop
at its finest. Intelligent lyrics that reverberate
in the head, heart and street are laid over
a variety of grooves ranging from the neo-soulful
stylings of “This
Is Our Time” to straight-up b-boy
flavor on “Down
4Ever” featuring a classic Run
DMC hook.
But
the album’s first single, “Keep
It Movin” b/w “Southside
(Chicago)” best displays All
Natural’s essence and range. “Keep
It Movin” is an upbeat, party-movin
posse cut featuring El da Sensai formerly
of the Artifacts
and Allstar of
the Daily Plannet.
Teamed up with capital D, the three man supergroup
brings you the “bonafide fly, supply
sh*t from the Chi.” And the 12-inch’s
b-side steps it up a notch. Over a catchy
mid-tempo beat, capital D crafts a half-story,
half-Chicago anthem that keeps the head nodding
while simultaneously making the mind think.
“I
figure like this, why can’t you spit
razors over accessible beats? And why can’t
you spin stories that actually say something
relevant?” asks capital D rhetorically.
He and Tone B. put their money where their
mouths and minds are…All Natural shows
by example, and delivers a hip-hop classic
in the process.
All
Natural has completed 3 European tours of
The Netherlands, England, Scotland, Portugal,
Sweden and France. In terms of both their
music and live show, the group is the essence
of a classic Hip-Hop duo. In the modern
mode of Eric B & Rakim, Pete Rock &
CL Smooth and Gang Starr, All Nat builds
off two essential elements of Hip-Hop (the
DJ & MC). The name All Natural describes
their demeanor, lifestyle and approach to
music, in which they drop Hip-Hop music
in its purest form.
The
duo are also founders of the successful
independent hip-hop label, All
Natural, Inc. The company has released
more than 30 projects in its 7 year existence
and is home to fellow label-mates
Family Tree, Daily
Plannet, Iomos
Marad and Mr.
Greenweedz. All Natural puts it down
in a way that only polished veterans can,
but with a freshness and hunger seldom seem
in a group’s third album. Hip-Hop
is very much alive and still breaking new
ground.
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