Posted on 09/08/2009
Energy. Excitement. Passion. These are more than the empty promises of a Vitamin Water ad, they're the ingredients to one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums of 2009. From the bumping "Prelude" to the gospel-infused "Something to Believe," Blitz the Ambassador's third release, Stereotype, delivers the strongest 1-2 (add in "Breathe" and make it 1-2-3) punch on a hip-hop album in a long time. There are few stereotypes played to on this unified vision of hip-hop from Ghana's Ambassador that at once takes a fond look at hip-hop's fabled past while pushing the genre forward.

Even after dropping Suicide from the album's title, Stereotype still sets its sights on killing the expectations of a typical hip-hop record. Familiar homages to Black men in prison and street corner life are present, but in no way dominate the cross-cultural, earthy imagery Blitz employs. "Nothing to Lose" featuring Kate Mattison's seductive wail is a great example of hip-hop colliding with indie rock without sounding like a tacky mash-up. Spoken word can be a false friend to hip-hop, but J. Ivy's turn on "Beyond the Clouds" perfectly fits with the album's mood as he manipulates the tenuous relationship between straight rapping and rhythmic poetics without providing disservice to either craft. The skillful implementation of a live band (the crack Embassy Ensemble) is nothing new to fans of The Roots, but with its emphasis on horns, listening to the Embassy Ensemble is more like hip-hop accompanied by Antibalas rather than just another house band.

Stereotype is what a lot of hip-hop fans have been waiting for - solid lyricism, hard beats and creative flair that builds anticipation for expansion beyond the sample taste this album provides.

- Candace L.