Maspyke

The Blackout

BY Del F. CowiePublished Jan 1, 2006

While they hail from Springfield, Massachusetts and not fictional Springfield, USA, Maspyke, much like the animated characters in The Simpsons, cast a critical eye on society, albeit without the satirical humour. Instead, producer Roddy Rod and MCs H-Bomb and Tableek have been purveying a low-down gritty and grimy steelo showcasing their brand of "Far East Politics” over a series of 12-inches gradually converting more heads. The potent trio come off like they reside somewhere in the nether region between the Boot Camp Clik and Brand Nubian; early ’90s entities one feels Maspyke have a kinship with given their decade-long existence and requisite back-in-the-day yarn "Spirit of ’92.” Even this track’s deceptively simple jazzy bounce reveals Roddy Rod’s minimalist yet meticulous approach that judiciously deploys quake-inducing bass lines and buzz saws cutting down trees just when you think it’s safe. The latter aural obscurity appears on "All Things Fall” where H-Bomb and Tableek present a sober meditation on the inevitability of death through verses discussing suicide and dysfunctional families. Further thought-provoking rhymes stress the importance of self-determination that resists tempting paths taken and flaunted by blinging rappers and eye candy video girls. Their only misstep comes when they rightfully rail against anti-Islamic sentiments on "Lost In Belief,” but do so after having just shown some heavy-handed intolerance of their own. Aside from this, Maspyke avoid coming off as stuffy and preachy, a fate they ward off with Roddy Rod’s exceptional production and battle-ready mic skills, so when Tableek declares "Where’s the light?/In a world turning so dark/This is how the mic sparks,” it’s with the knowledge that a balance of beats and thought-provoking rhymes is truly evident.
(Bukarance)

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