By Zach Gase
The Return of the Backpack unites Heiroglyphics emcee Casual and the Seattle-based, indie rap beat maker Jake One. The 13 tracks that make up this project are various recordings the two have made since 2009 and is not the long-awaited Casual and Jake One album. Backpack is, however, a seamless, cohesive album from an emcee and a producer with great chemistry.
The album celebrates underground Hip-Hop in an era where several rappers are trying to shed the label. “Backpack” and “conscious rapper” have become anathema to technically proficient, uncharismatic rappers who don’t appeal to a large audience. Casual however, wears his backpack proudly because he is not only lyrically as strong as they come, but his huge personality resonates on every track he spits on and his range of topics is expansive.
On the opener, “Father Figure” he talks about how he and Hieroglyphics helped pave the way for underground acts like the Living Legends and Little Brother. Her Lil Sister is one of the best tracks on the record and serves as the centerpiece for The Return of the Backpack. The track is a follow up to Common’s classic “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” which personified Hip-Hop as a woman. Many rappers have done some sort of alteration or sequel to this track, but few have executed it well. Casual illustrates how he fell in love with Hip-Hop initially, but eventually he started to develop feelings for her little sister, underground Hip-Hop, whom he first met at a De La Soul concert.
Casual displays his versatility on tracks like strip club anthem Head Jerk (Gimme Boss), which also shows Jake One’s ability to execute many different styles of production. Jake One has always been able to gear his sound to match whomever he is working with, and Backpack is a great example of the different styles Jake can play with, all on one record. Father Figure has your standard, hard-hitting snare and chopped sample while tracks like Rock Wit Us and Times Done Changed are great horn-driven beats, and Thinkin Bout My Paper is carried by a stellar vocal sample. Jake effortlessly pulls off the California sound on Just Like Oakland and Don’t Come to the West Coast, where Casual raps: “Hate beautiful chicks, your budget is fixed, and can’t stand silicone tits, don’t come to the West Coast.”
Casual, who also released a pair of albums in 2012, remains one of the most consistent and prolific spitters in the underground. For a project that was released for free on Casual’s bandcamp page, The Return of the Backpack is a strong release. It is certainly a fun listen from top to bottom, and it shows that Casual and Jake One work great together. If these are the tracks that did not make the cut for the duo’s upcoming LP, then Hip-Hop fans can expect a lot from their album.
3.25 Out of 5
Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill
Become a citizen of Planet Ill. Join our Forums
Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion
Follow us on Networked Blogs
