Chicago hip-hop group Eulorhythmics attempts to walk a fine line between popular dance-driven rap and underground credibility on its album “Green Street & Avers.” A wider line would have come in handy.
On one hand, the group makes an attempt to steer away from the “gangsta” cliché during its last few tracks by lamenting and criticizing violence and the tough attitudes present in hip-hop culture. Although the message comes through loud and clear in the title track, listeners might interpret the song “Waterbug” in the exact opposite way if they don’t pay close enough attention to the lyrics.
On the other hand, the group’s approach to sex is on par with the current state of music. On the first single “Hot N’ Nasty,” vocalist Adad repeats the song’s title over and over again during the hook so that the listener ends up feeling nastier than hot. A little help from beat supplier Kenny Keys might have helped. The laid back jazz drumbeats provided as backing hardly get anyone in the mood Adad is presumably aiming for.
Fellow Chicagoan Kanye West can get away with misogyny because he does it in such a catchy fashion. If the Eulorhythmics aim to reach anywhere near his status, either the hooks need to get wittier or the beats need to get groovier.
