Review Summary: Intelligence is the word that best describes P.O.S.'s latest release.
In modern music there there are 2 (or 4) major genres that have been labeled as opposites, enemies, etc.: Rap/Hip-Hop & Rock/Metal. Not only does the overall sound of the genres differ, but almost everything about them. There have been several attempts to mix the genres; from which came the short-lived, but very popular "nu-metal" & "rapcore" genres. In the end, though, both genres' fan-bases dwindled & the few bands that remained to stay big accepted that they were rock at heart more than rap (Slipknot,Linkin Park,P.O.D.).
We live in a world where Rap & Hip-Hop are destabilizing & depending on degrading women & ethnicities for airtime, while Metal & some rock is stabilizing, having lyrics less dependent on mutilation & "evil" & more on self-trials, & more complex song structures.
So maybe you can understand my surprise when I saw P.O.S. perform at Underoath concert.
It was probably narrow-mindedness that made me hate P.O.S. while he was on stage. I drove to Atlanta to see Underoath, not some rapper. Looking back now, I see that I should've respected him more, & so should the rest of the crowd. There was something I liked about him, even in my narrow-mindedness:he did not dress like a generic rapper, he had an actual intelligent look to him & his motto. His motto contradicts everything that mainstream hip-hop/rap is:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by P.O.S.
I'm here to represent a new generation of hip-hop. A generation where women aren't degraded and treated as ****ing sex toys.
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I've kept that in mind & when I saw the P.O.S. was streaming his new album, I decided to check it out.
Never Better is like an album that spits at the mainstream rap/hip-hop industry. P.O.S. isn't scared to speak what's
really happening. He's not scared to talked about things like poverty & child abuse. He not scared to not degrade a woman once on
Never Better. He talks about the government, about Bush, about how the mainstream rap/hip-hop industry is destabilizing. That's what
Never Better revolves around. There are times when the lyrics could be better, but they are overall very solid.
Every track here runs together to
Never Better. I say that because some albums have songs that make up the album, but don't run together. Every track here runs together so well it almost sounds like the album is one large song. On top of the lyrics, the beats & sounds used are great. They fit with the tracks & don't feel repetitive.
Unfortunately, I must say that while this is quality hip-hop, this won't get much mainstream success. It won't be nominated for a Grammy & even if it did would be beaten by Lil' Wayne. The lyrics won't appeal to the mainstream & the tracks aren't necessarily radio-friendly. Still, it represents something that is all but gone in modern mainstream rap/hip hop:intelligence. So if you are sick of "bathin' bapes" or being "licked like a lollipop", I suggest you pick this up.
