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spotlight! lyrical lessons and brilliant beats
By Brandon Martinez
bmart106@mscd.edu

Soul Position Things Go Better With RJ and AL (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2006)

Soul Position might be the first notable hip-hop act out of Columbus, Ohio. While hip-hop from the heartland often gives reason for caution, Soul Position proves with their sophomore effort, Things Go Better With RJ and AL, that hometowns do not define talent. Producer RJD2 and lyricist Blueprint mix socially conscious lyrics with creative beat-making, saving them from the dreaded second-album-jinx.

Most of the album is based around the use of horns. The usual hip-hop bass and drums are still there, though they’re not as prevalent as on most hip-hop records. While horns are becoming a valuable tool for contemporary producers, RJD2’s approach is a little different; he uses his horns to create rather than merely complement the beat.

The conscious rap begins with “Hand-Me-Downs,” continues with “The Extra Mile” and ends with “Priceless.” In each of these tracks Blueprint calls out the mainstream media and rap music for the lack of morality within the genre.

“I Need My Minutes” is the only flaw on the CD. It starts with a classic producing trick: a slow beat underneath a fast emcee flow. What puts a sour taste to the track is the dull, resounding chorus of “I need my minutes.” The droning chorus slows the song down, and by the time the next verse starts, it’s not worth listening to the rest.

Blueprint’s finest moment comes on the track “The Cool Thing To Do,” a message to his niece, Savannah Shepard. Two verses long and right to the point, the track stresses the pressures of teenage angst and the decisions a young woman must make. The beat stays out of the limelight on this track with some background guitar and drums, even as its gentle malaise makes it easier to focus on Blueprint’s unique flow and rhyming style.

Things Go Better With RJ and AL may be disorienting for the average listener, as most of the tracks are short and only last about two verses, as opposed to most rap songs, which typically have at least three verses and stronger choruses and melodies. However, the beat-making and lyrical content on this album can rival anything on the radio today, making it notable not just for Ohio, but also for the conscious hip-hop movement.