PHAROAHE MONCH – W.A.R. (WE ARE RENEGADES)

Dramatic is one word for it. Idris Elba (of HBO’s The Wire) ushers in this third studio album by New York’s Pharoahe Monch with a post-apocalyptic warning about sinister covert something or others, basically setting the tone for another typically dark Monch record. But don’t let over the top cover art and militaristic first tracks put you off – the intensity simmers down to Motown-inspired soulful hip hop with Black Hand Side and moves through gospel, jazz and drum ‘n’ bass feels in the subsequent tunes – including the beautifully broken Haile Selassie Karate. While the urban warfare themes  become draining after the first ten gunshot sounds, it’s always a joy to hear Monch’s complex approach to syllabic delivery and rhyme schemes, however macabre: “grade school mathematics examinin’ thugs, they discuss bloods, crips, tits, jammin’ and drugs…” is tumbled cleverly into a few short measures in the somewhat violent Evolve. The production is sound as usual, with notable contributions by Melbourne’s M Phazes amongst big names like Samiyam, Diamond D and Adam Deitch. W.A.R. errs on the side of “more of the same” compared to Monch’s previous releases, but when that “same” is finely crafted hip hop from one of New York’s most underrated MCs, there’s not much to complain about.

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