Posted on 10/21/2009
The beatmaking twosome of Beatnick & K-Salaam's debut album, The World Is Ours, attempted to tackle the simple task of changing the world. Though slightly narrower in scope, Where the Streets Have No Name employs the same cohesion and star power. Guests such as Dead Prez, Mos Def and Papoose give way for Young Buck, Lil Wayne and K'naan. The theme of social change is substituted by one of Hip Hop's oldest friends: the street anthem. In addition to tipping their hand in regards to the album's subject matter, Where the Streets Have No Name also refers to the duo's aversion to labels. That's a shame since we reviewers love to label things.

The pair's uprooting from Minnesota to NYC symbolizes their worldly approach to the production game. Where better to relocate than the center of America's musical universe? Though they dabble in the arenas of Reggae and Dancehall, Where the Streets Have No Name is primarily a Hip Hop affair. An international Hip Hop affair to be exact. B & K's strengths lie in catering and adapting, whether it's the Latin flavor of Chavito & Pabey's “You Already Know,” or when Somalia meets Bucktown with K'naan & Buckshot's “In Jamaica.” Apart from the island-themed tracks and Demarco's drug dealer anthem “Chasin' It,” the album takes on a fairly gritty undertone. Thriving under these conditions is former G-Unit soldier, Young Buck, for whom painting a picture of street life is second nature. Buck collabs with Lil Wayne and Glasses Malone separately, but the album's true gem is the optimistic “I'm Fine” featuring Colin Munroe. The Canadian Pop crooner also pulls double duty, joining Talib Kweli and Bun B's survival tale, “Don't Die.”

The album is rounded out by solid appearances from U-N-I, Tabi Bonney, Haziq, Truck North and Mikkey Halsted, spread across three other songs. While Beatnick plays the self-proclaimed Dr. Dre role of guiding and overseeing, K-Salaam's DJ experience and craftsmanship completes the equation. This may very well be the behind the scenes arrangement, but the shared billing results in more of a symbiotic, Ed Lover & Doctor Dre style relationship. Their chemistry with Young Buck leads me to believe the two-way should become a threesome in the future, collaboratively speaking of course. Where the Streets Have No Name is a free project and part of Beatnick & K-Salaam's new school marketing approach. So basically the time spent reading this review could have been used to download the album at no cost.

-Andrew Jones