Cash Crew - when you hear the group's name you might be misled into thinking they are all about cashing large cheques, but no, they are far from it ...
... because you should pay more attention to the name of their debut album "Will It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?" as issues of race and afro-centricity are much closer to where they are at - although in much smaller doses than a PE or Black Radical as this group brings a range of styles and themes to the turntable.
"Tables Have Turned" starts things off in a nice way. A very funky track with underlying scratching providing as much rhythm to the track as the rolling bassline and guitars do. Topically the song is nothing much more than a great intro to the group with some typical bragging from the MC's Trim and Champain who both have quite heavy UK accents with words like "mate" being used often which obviously adds to the distinctive and natural unique UK sound of the MC's (and something which aussies like myself can identify with as well).
The rather skippable "Back for More" comes next. Generic terrible "R&B female oversung chorus" laces a track all about the chasing the ladies. The sort of track that has been done 1000 times in hip hop and i've probably hated 999 of those attempts and this one sits in amongst those 999. Some people might be able to accept this type of song but it's nothing more than a pet hip hop dislike of mine.
The smile comes back to my face though with "Lay Low Lickin". Another funky, funky track in the vein of the opener. Basslines and guitar stabs run and jump all over this one in a messy yet catchy style. Braggadocious battle type lyrics are the feature here and, as he does in the first track, DJ Loose is quite busy yet again.
Believe it or not "i'm in the mood for food glorious food" is a lyric and the theme of the very appropriately titled "Munchies" jammy. Next time someone tells you that hip hop is all about bitches, blunts, cars and cash just play them this track. The DJ even cuts up the word "hungry" in the breaks ! Food imagery aside this is a top notch track musically with truly addictive head nodding busy beats and catchy funk samples in charge of things with DJ Loose again living up to his name on the cuts. The Fat Boys would've been jealous of a song like this !
The lightweight comedy of the last track is quickly forgotten as we are finally given the promise suggested by the album cover (the crew in native African clothing staring at silhouetted versions of themselves in modern day suits) and it's title with the black knowledge laden "Ghetto Circumstances". Probably the most hardcore track on the album and is rather reminiscent of Katch 22 in themes and sound. Heavy drums, rapid fire MC deliveries, DJ Loose burning holes in the vinyl and of course justifiably angry and intense lyrics focusing on the concealment of black history throughout the education system and other ill, evil treatment by the white man - "of course you'll start taxing only taught the good old white history, where they hid the black history remains a mystery ...". Another highlight of this track is the MC's working together at times on the mics in a RunDMC back and forth style (albeit in an infrequent subtle way).
Harder edged sounds continue with the rough, rugged and dramatic ragga infused "Ting Called Crack". The lyrics here stand true to the title with the message being that crack will screw you up. I've always had a love/hate relationship with ragga styles in hip hop and thankfully i'd give this track red roses on Valentines Day as i am very fond of it. Purely four and half minutes of hardcore ragga handled well by the MC's who don't actually press the ragga button elsewhere on the album. As Melle Mel famously rapped (and Cash Crew in the liner notes) in reference to crack, "Don't Do It".
My equal numero uno song on this LP erupts here in the form of "Bouquet of Barbed Wire". Another rapid, hard track that Katch 22 or Son of Noise would be proud of, this one is an aggressive diss, battle track which this time goes to the extent of calling out various other groups such as Tribe Called Quest, Dream Warriors and SNAP. Not sure whether the mentioned groups ever knew of Cash Crew but I wouldn't disagree with the need to diss their wackness. Of greater note is the very impressive performance of the MC's on this one, especially Champain. Both speed up their flows and really deliver their pinnacle of mic performances on this one. Very interesting that angry, diss track often brings out the best from MC's. Love when the fire within is released.
"Make us realise that mother nature is angry and vexed with us, man sabotaged the gifts that thorugh her god gave us" is the heart of the mellow, reflective and moody "Green Grass". A rare environmentally focused track which is one of those "sit back and listen" type songs. A far more "tolerable and subtle" female singer appears on this one and the sample scientists out there would be able to recognise the lovely "what can i do" soul sample used throughout this one. A very nice song with a meaningful and vital theme which adds to the diversity of this album.
You'd be unlikely to find a song called "Mates" on an Amercian album but there's one here on this UK gem. Although mates are not friends on this track, in fact his "mate" is his jimmy hat and the track is a tale about how he didn't bother with one and ended up burnt for it. Another familiar sample runs through the background of this mellow track (it's another of those frustrating "where do i know this sample from?" tracks). KRS's "Jimmy" vocal sample in the chorus is instantly apparent to me though. Not a particularly exciting or interesting track with sporadic and annoying touches of 1980's electric guitar amongst it all but i've heard worse.
These guys certainly won't lose marks for lack of topic creativity as "Taxi" brings us the plight of the black man simply trying to catch a cab but getting overlooked for his colour of skin. A slightly dark menacing bassline mixed with very funky strings (that make me think of BDP for some reason) brings a mixed feel to this one although it leans more towards harder sounds. With subject matter that is 100% on point in it's frustration created by prejudice there's no way to deny the appeal and importance of this track. The Kane chorus sample states "taxi cabs don't even come my way" and it's nice to see the end of the song delivers a f*** you to those racist scum drivers with Cash Crew chanting "black cab, why don't you wait, now you stopped at the lights, we win, checkmate".
"Freestyle's Pumping" attacks us next with a fast tempo freestyle posse type cut. A simple bassline and beat drives this one smoothly and nicely. I have no idea who the other MC's are and if they were of any significance in the UK scene but they are all solid without being outstanding. Interesting is the sound of the people in the background cheering em on as if they're all standing in a cipher on a street corner dropping their rhymes. Nice, nice, nice.
My second number one track (if a 2nd winner is possible) "You're Forgiven" closes out the album. A 100% no holes barred angry afro centric track running us through the history of black people's plight and torment through slavery right to the narcotic epidemic of more recent history. The song has an absolutely huge earth-shaking beat, which is almost slightly double tracked at times for greater effect, and there's a dirty handclappy funk feel to it which in some ways makes me think of a rougher "Steady Mobbin" by Ice Cube (or it might just me be clutching at straws in search of a good point of reference to describe the track). Anyway it's certainly a classic track and one of the most passionate afro centrically themed tracks i've heard from British shores - "you're in debt, you're forgiven but we'll never forget".
Overall an excellent album (minus one corny R&B induced hiccup) with the diversity in topics and sounds shining through as a significant standout. Musically - hardcore, ragga, funk - it's all here. Lyrically - knowledge, humour, bragging - it's all here. Solid MC's, busy DJ with skils - indeed. Nothing missing really is there ?
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