Hyenas in the Desert - Die Laughing

"We be yo' MANS on the OTHER side of MIDNIGHT!" (3.5/5)

Hyenas in the Desert, a very obscure Long Island group briefly signed to Chuck D's record label Slam Jamz, dropped their only release, the "Die Laughing" EP, in 1997. This album's cover really caught my attention, with the rappers wearing Jason masks, and I expected some sort of deranged horrorcore. Really though, this album is much more conventional than the cover would suggest, and Hyenas provide a cool rugged East Coast hip hop product. The group's leader MC Kendo is a talented lyricist and has delivery a little reminiscent of some Wu rappers. A lot of the time it's a little hard to tell what they're rapping about, and many of their verses come off as mysterious descriptions of urban chaos and violent details, but this appealed to me. The songs tend to be structured with nice hooks that you might even find yourself singing along to even if you don't understand them. The beats are really cool, though, and they have a suitable rugged and raw feel to them, a lot of the time they're a bit unsettled and creepy sounding. However, the songs all sound extremely similar, with one exception. Overall it has a mysterious and mystical feel to it, which is enhanced by the skits which really add to this quality. At nine tracks, the EP clocks in at just over 20 minutes so it's a manageable listen, and it's a purchase I recommend for rap listeners looking for something a little different.

After a good intro, the album opens with "Can You Feel It," which has some tight production and good, effective verses that set the stage for the album. "Wild Dogs" is another rough, rugged track with a mysterious edge to it. "Concubinez" was this album's single, and there was even a video for it. It's an appealing song that represents the album well, it has a nice hook and the mystical feel Hyenas bring that I like. The track that stands out among the rest is "Why Me," which breaks from the mold and provides some emotional insight into urban life and struggle, it's a highlight. "Hyenas in the Desert" is a solid late-album track, and the disc closes with "The Other Side of Midnight," a well-executed highlight.

This album is out of print, but still can be found used for very cheap. It's a really obscure album and will not appeal to everybody, but for that 90s East Coast fan who has an extensive collection or remembers the "Concubinez" single, this album might be one for purchase. It's got an entertaining selection and is definitely unique. October 28, 2007

Solid, Dark hip hop album

Hyenas in the Desert are a rather obscure group associated with Chuck D's slam jamz label. However, this album is more similar to Mobb Deep or Jedi Mind Tricks's earlier albums. its dark, huanting, and nicely menacing. The emcees are all very capable, and overall this is an enjoyable, if not highly innovative album.
Considering the price, this is a worthy addition to the collection. April 27, 2005

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