Company Flow: Funcrusher Plus (Rawkus) It's getting hard to find new ways of talking about Company Flow, either in terms of their concept, their lyrics, or their music. Writers have all been emphasizing the same things, namely, "These kids are the sh*t". Co Flow is the reigning darling of independent hip hop, getting critical love in many a hip hop publication, and no doubt, in other music mags too. Their "independent as f---" attitude makes them heroes for the "true heads", plus it doesn't hurt to have good rhymes by El-P and Big Jus, powered by Co Flow's very rough n' ready beats. It's a formula that's worked very well for them on their last several singles, especially their ever-dope "8 Steps to Perfection" and their recent pairing with the other Indelible MCs on "Collude/Intrude". With the "Funcrusher" LP about to blow up the spot from East New York to West Oakland, all eyes are on Co Flow to be the first big indie album to emerge from the new "4th Gen" of indies. Not to start off with a disparaging word, but the main liability of the album, for heads who've been down with Co Flow since Day One, is that it's 20 cuts, 8 of which you've heard. Sure, that still leaves with you with a standard album's worth of new songs: 12, but when 2/5ths of your album is already familiar to loyal fans, it's easy to get just a little bored. Of course, tracks like "Eight Steps to Perfection" still sound as good as always and I can deal with listening to "Vital Nerve" more than once, however, I know where Co Flow's been. What I want to know is where are they going? That being said, the album's still one of the better releases I've heard all year. On one hand, it's been a bad year, but outside of that, I found Co Flow's angle of attack engaging and creative. Like I said, a lot's been said about this already so I feel like I'm just looping the chorus, but "Funcrusher Plus" is quite unlike anything else you're likely to hear this year. For those who thought Rza's beats on "Wu Tang Forever" were too clean, Co Flow comes with tracks dirtier than Osirus. For those who are tired of gun clap and bubble gum rhymes, there's definitely some deep lyricism (peep "Last Good Sleep" for an ill joint about domestic violence) and much of the album slices with enough braggadocio to make KRS blush. "Corners" is one of the best new tracks, though (un?)surprisingly, it's also one of the most conventional in terms of music and lyrics (braggadocio beat down). Enough non-gimmicky punchlines to leave even Chino in a daze. I also thought "Krazy Kings" was crazy nice...real butter rhymes and beat. On that note, a quick word about "Blind" and "Tragedy", the new Co-Flow single..."Blind" is sick, if only for this line, "If I had to live on this earth without sight, I'd be the illest blind bastard to ever touch the mic." Don't ask me why I like it...I just do. "Tragedy of War" is good too, I wasn't feeling it so much in the beginning, but the way the track switches up made me a fan by song's end. Co Flow also get props for giving DJ Len some time to cut it up on "Lencorism" parts 1 and 2. It's nice to know that the new DIY aesthetic isn't leaving behind the wheels of steel like everybody else. Joint of the year? Harder to say. Company Flow are talented, they have unorthodox music and enough metaphoric shots to fill a banana clip. They emphasize a very non-commercial sound and attitude and believe strongly, it seems, in being iconoclasts in the age of cloning. However, there were a couple of points of dissent that I need to raise. First of all, El-P, Lenn and friends deserve credit for music that comes sushi-raw, but as a DJ, there's probably no more than two or three cuts that I'd even remotely be tempted to toss into the mix. I'm not talking about some uptempo, dance bullsh*t, I just mean something with some dope basslines and clean drum breaks. From my viewpoint, Co Flow is about dope lyricism and the beats are designed to accentuate verbal interaction, moving minds, not butts. But ayo, there's nothing wrong with trying to move mind and space AND spines in the same moments. Musically, this album just wasn't interesting enough for me, track to track. Pop quiz! Who remembers the beat from "Bad Touch Example"? That's what I'm saying kid. This has been one of common critiques I've heard from other folks who've had a chance to peep the advance (that and the aforementioned overabundance of old songs). Of course, maybe we're all beat heads and just not knowing...I'm just putting this out there. Lastly, I would suggest (and this is directed at the writers out there) that just become something is different from the norm doesn't automatically qualify it for hip hop sainthood. I don't say this to detract from Co Flow's achievements, but I get wary (as should they) when writers start to tout something as the "next big thing" simply b/c it isn't the old sh*tty thing. Nevertheless, a listen to "Funcrusher Plus" makes me certain that the majors have yet to put up equal competition...as far as quality goes, independents in 1997 have been balling like the NFC in the Superbowl (guess which conference the majors are in then?). Where I think other groups might give Co Flow a run for the money would have to be from other independents who are, likewise, taking chances and trying to rise above. If those things sound good to you, then on July 15th, the rule is simple kid: go with the Flow. review by DJ O-D.U.B.