Lyrics Born

Ever since he dropped the remarkable "I Changed My Mind” with the Poets of Rhythm, there’s been great anticipation for a solo Lyrics Born record. The combination of LB’s crooning with the Poets’ funky orchestration was a winning combination, and the blueprint for Later That Day, an impressive debut that seems misleading, since Lyrics has been dropping jewels for over ten years. The greatest cuts tend to occur during the first half of the record, with "Bad Dreams” starting things off on the right foot and displaying LB’s ability to generate his distinctive singing/rapping flow. Some cleverness and humour is found in a back to back combination of phone call frustration; "U Ass Bank” has LB being played like a chump by his automated banking service and "Cold Call” is a lyrical conversation with Gift of Gab via the telephone. It’s moments like this, where the MC has a little fun and comes loose, that Later That Day really shines. Like most of the material coming from the Quannum camp, things get a little ambitious and somewhat pretentious like the tribal vibe laid down on "Last Trumpet” that’s heavy with the chanting and light on the flow. "Love Me So Bad” is also a bit much to handle as things get a little too sexy and dub rhythms are on the menu to accompany Joyo Velarde’s sensuous vocals. Credit has to be given to Lyrics though for coming at us with something different, though it’s the more direct approach that tends to light things on fire.