February 6, 2008 -

X-Clan and Potluck will be performing live at Mezzanine on 2/15/2008 – read more about the show in the OvaHere.com Events Calendar!   X-Clan – Return from Mecca The album cover says it all, “Protected by Red, Black, and Green,” and the prevailing theme and mantra expressed by X-Clan with their most recent offering, Return From Mecca, is one of dissonance.  As one would guess from the album title, the topically political rhymes about terrorists and kids on Prozac are part of the new stand Clan has taken against the status quo.  This is nothing new from X-Clan.  They pioneered the East Coast version of politically questioning music in the 90’s in the same way The Coup brought the issues to light from Oakland.  After taking a decade-plus hiatus they are back with a similar vision and modern interpretation of East Coast Hip Hop.     The collaborators on Return to Mecca are hip-hop luminaries such as Chali 2NA (of J-5 fame), Damian Marley, and Tech N9ne.  Like many guest-driven tracks, the collaborations work to varying degrees, some work and some really don’t.  KRS-One definitely jells with X-Clan on “Speak the Truth,” and Mr. Marley is his father’s son on the Ragga track, “Culture United.”     However, their independent track, “Positrons,” is the most bombastic of all the songs on Mecca and may be the most dynamic hip-hop song to come out in years.  Fusing electro-beats with early 90’s synth base, the song clocks in at less than 3 minutes, but makes a serious impact in that short time.  Instrumentation is a big part of the X-Clan sound and jazzy horns can be heard on multiple tracks, but the bread and butter of X-Clan are the lyrics.  This album doesn’t disappoint with the melding of words that matter with beats and rhythm that move even the most staid.      Favorite:  “Positrons”   Least Favorite:  the futuristic (meeps n’ beeps) combined with minimalist beats and recycled lyrics on “Voodoo”

*****************     Potluck – Straight Outta Humboldt Even the densest person in the world could take one look at the inside jacket Humboldt County’s Potluck and realize what these guys are all about.  The image features MC’s 1 Ton and UnderRated surrounded by Ganja plants, the staple of home county Humboldt’s fame as well as Potluck’s aura.  In case you couldn’t tell (or aren’t from California), these guys love the green.  It’s nothing new for a hip hop outfit to express their undying love for weed, but Potluck is unabashedly and exclusively about their love for it - it’s all they can talk about.  This weed-love “strategy” has been successful in its ability to mobilize other bud-lovers, both in their fan base and other big-name rappers.     The love of buds might have been a determining factor with some of the big-name rappers contributing to the album:  E40, Tech N9ne, The Luniz, and Kottonmouth Kings to name a few.  The group’s infectious indie enthusiasm for the sweet leaf is eclipsed only by their weed braggadocio.  At one point 1 Ton raps, “gimme a half an ounce and pack a swisher sweets,” letting people know he can roll with the best of them.  Both he and his fellow MC, UnderRated, are gifted lyricists.  Combine that vocal artillery and pinache with their niche (every song about smoke variety), and they are destined to be crowd pleasers at any live show.  Don’t forget to check them out in February at Mezzanine Folsom here in San Francisco (with X-CLAN).     Favorite Track:  “Money Makes the World Go Round” is SOH’s best song, and is reminiscent of some of Bone-Thugs-n-Harmony’s older stuff.  The track allows UnderRated a chance to display his vocal range, a rapping tenor reminiscent of Crazy Bone, mixed with I Ton’s basso profundo.    Least Favorite:  the rest sound very similar (one not particularly better or worse than the other – but maybe I wasn’t high enough when I listened to them…)     If you go to the show at Mezzanine coming up on February 15th – make sure to yell “Fire” – as in track 2’s title and Potluck’s personal expression of appreciation (read the liner notes and you’ll understand).