Reks

Reks has built an underground rep with candid autobiographical lyrics and a purist-worthy technique. On sixth album Rebelutionary, the Boston, MA rapper fixes a critical eye on America's troubles. Producer Numonics supplies the album's soulful backdrops ― Reks's technique has few peers and he attacks these instrumentals with ferocity and velocity. However, Reks lacks hooks and personality, and he struggles to redeem topics exhausted by his predecessors, as the genre isn't wanting for songs about shallow women ("Avarice") or negative depictions of black folk ("Ignorance is Bliss"). Rebelutionary's best tracks transcend topical exhaustion: Reks and J. Nics breathlessly dissect black-on-black violence over loping blues on "Bang Bang." On "Gepeto," Reks contrasts the cases of Troy Davis and Casey Anthony to examine the unseen hand behind injustice, while "Obedient Workers" supports the rapper's thesis on American passivity with the perfect George Carlin quote. Treat Rebelutionary as an entertaining poli-sci lecture: dip out for the dull parts and savour the jewels.