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.