Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 2

Despite the popular perception that the death knell has already rung for political hip-hop, Immortal Technique jams a shot of adrenaline through the chest plate into hip-hop's conscious heart. Tackling topics from America's complicity in the drug trade ("Peruvian Cocaine") to the cycles of inner-city poverty ("Harlem Streets") to the global military complex ("The 4th Branch"), Immortal Technique unabashedly radiates his radicalism in a time of apathy. There's a thin line between passion and didacticism, and, at times, he forces rhymes that sacrifice style in service of content, but most of the time his delivery is as razor sharp as his politics. The beats are mostly understated and minimalist, armed with just enough punch to accent the rhymes. "You Never Know" drifts sweetly on jazz-guitar strums while "Crossing the Boundary" snaps with a hard, funk edge. Clearly though, Immortal Technique is the strongest sonic force on the album, a claxon alarm that shatters the complacent silence. --Oliver Wang Amazon.com

Almost but not quite perfect

In an age where somebody as banal as Kanye West passes as "innovative" and rappers actually expect us to care about them because they sell lots of records, I.T. is a blast of fresh air and without a doubt the smartest thing since Public Enemy.

The guy has killer flow, great beats and above all something to talk about other than his sexual prowess or the size of his bank account. He takes on conservatives, corporations, bling-blinded rappers, the military, gangsta wannabes, you name it. The lyrical dexterity here is frequently supple-- "I'm dirty like herpes but harder to catch"-- as if to balance the sheer shock of his message; it hasn't been since Biggie and Chuck D.that a rapper got this much data into one funky line. Acting as a kind of Derrick Jensen of rap, Technique lays the state of the world out like he's dissecting a corpse: open, ugly and strangely mesmerising.

This is so much better than anything else I've heard in years-- great. The only hassle is that Technique can't avoid the stupid sexism and homophobia that seem to be a part of the tough guy rapper persona he at once adopts and blows apart. Standing up to corporations and the government and calling for revolution is easy, but Technique needs to remember that revolution, like Bob Mould once said, starts at home, preferably in the bathroom mirror. October 27, 2007

Buck The System

This album is great as far as getting the message through to people about how the goverment likes to pull your leg. I also like the style this guy has about how he flows. Truly innovative !!! October 18, 2007

Another Fantastic Album!

Just as good as the first, if not better. Maybe a bit more mainstream, with more hooks on the tracks--but still far, far away & above anything else you hear on any rap station. You can now get your jam on without feeling as if the music is killing your brain cells. July 21, 2007

Do Sweat The Technique

I heard about Immortal Technique through some friends and decided to pick up this album. Im pleasantly surprised. Immortal Technique not only has a killer flow but he's quite conscious of things that most zombies would pass off as lunacy. The albums kicks off with a great track Point Of No Return. Then then next track Peruvian Cocaine breaks down like a well acted out play. If you think he only has two or three songs of substance on this album guess again. Harlem Streets, 4th Branch, Internal Bleeding, The Cause Of Death, Leaving The Past are all tight tracks that prove otherwise. Immortal Technique keeps it true to the hip hop side of him with the humorous Obnoxious, which is his f*** all ya'll style track, Industrial Revolution and Crossing The Boundary. I'm still laughing at that track Freedom Of Speech. Even though its a deep cut, the funny part is the sampling of Pinochio and his sarcasm on the song. Immortal Technique teams up with Jean Grae on the deepest song on the album, You Never Know. On this song Immortal Technique tells a very vivid story of a girl he once loved who dies of aids. The album ends with the One Remix with Akir. The only track that is not a song is The Message & The Money. Its basically him telling other up and coming underground MCs that they need to know the ins and outs of the industry. Not bad but its not a song. Bottom Line: Immortal Technique's Revolutionary Vol. 2 is a must have for any fan of political hip hop. His lyrics were as truthful as they were phenomenal, the production was great and the guest appearances were a nice touch. All in all it was a beautifully put together album. 5 stars! June 30, 2007

A History Lesson you'll never get from the estabishment

Tech isn't rapping, he's teaching.
Setting a foundation for liberating minds.
Things that sound crazy aren't, they're real and you can see for yourself.
Many of the lyrics are the keywords to revealing a truth that has been buried. Don't take his word for it, find out for yourself.

June 10, 2007

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