By Odeisel

North Carolina rap group Kooley High has named their debut LP David Thompson in an attempt to leap into the public consciousness. The album doesn’t jump out of the gym, but there are enough joints on here to at least make the playoffs.

“David Thompson” opens the album in a somber, post-dream haze and the crackle of wax. There is a Little Brother feel to the track with the soul vocal sample and the basic drum program and the members fall into the same pedestrian pattern. The aptly-titled “Regular Shit” follows the same pattern with an oft-used rhyme scheme over a minimalist rhythm.

Charlie Smarts leads off the first interesting track on the album, “Big Headed.” The hard drum, the scratched up break and the high tonal atmospheric adds a funk missing on the album’s intro and gives you a chance to look at the group with fresh eyes. That little brother vibe returns on “Drop A Dime,” as the group drops back to the well-traveled road. The soul sample vocal that hangs over the track adds some flavor. There is an air of “we made it” confidence on the tract( you that isn’t harnessed by the rappers for higher energy.

That energy is present on the Skyzoo-assisted “For the Record.” Sky drops his normal densely packed rhymes for those who likes to peel back verses. Kooley High takes his lead on the loop-driven track with different rhyme schemes and stronger connectivity in their verse. The track is basic but it allows the group to step their bars up.

“Dear Raleigh” is the first point on the album where you get a look at who this group is. The track is substantially heavier with a dense yet muffled drum and soft brass accented by strings. The group talks their humble beginnings in a love letter to the city that birthed them, with shouts to the late great Jim Valvano and regional reference that speaks to hometown love. Distaff member Rapsody makes her first appearance as she kisses the group goodbye (half of them reside in Brooklyn now)n and completes the Little Brother connect with her closing note, “Are you listening?”

“Same Ol Thang” features haphazard shower singing as the group references the single drunk life, the stale rap game and other stuck in the rut things we try to break from. DJ Prince places a harp atop a slow pounding drum on the spitter track “Freak It,” with a slick appearance from the Kid Daytona. King Mez features on the digitally fresh “Skyview” which bangs with rubberband blinging guitars and hard drums that knock. Here is where you feel that fresh youth and get a taste of what they should be.

It gets eclectic with “Unfound” with its poignant piano and a guest spot by the enigmatic Homeboy Sandman. The crew is fluid on here as well, with energy that contrasts with Sandman’s deadpan delivery. “Laid Off” is about the honeys, drawing repeated comparison between work and “play.””Days Passed Me By” is softer in sentiment and slower in pace, with two perspectives of love that got away.

“Let It Rock On You” is unfocused and rambles too late in the album to not lead towards the close.Median guest raps on “Yeah Yeah Yeah” over a loosely constructed jazzy track. The bassline is Digable Planets cool while the random intercession of atmospherics disrupts the rhythm of the song.Bonus track “48” is more of the same. The title is a direct reference to David Thompson’s reported vertical and ends the album on a middling note.

David Thompson is closer to college than the pros. Kooley High ignores the strong points of their identity to create retread songs that lack the fire of youth. They will learn that recalling bygone eras only works when you can come close to matching that spirit. The crew has two options, either feed their youth or improve their interpolation. Either route could make their next outing a slam dunk.
out of 5

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