Review Summary: Pour one out for the slick tongue bums
Dälek's 1998 seminal debut not only teems with mystery and intrigue, but illustrates a very promising road of hip-hop that was yet to be paved. A lyrical architect of the highest order, Will Brooks constructs an intricate pantheon of rhythmic storytelling and pensive stanzas. With the added compositional genius of Alap Momin and Joshua Booth, "Negro Necro Nekros" is a cornerstone release of experimental hip-hop.
As the title suggests, there's a certain nightmarish flair to this album. The horror elements would continue to develop as Dälek's career progressed, but the talent for conjuring an eerie and unsettling atmosphere remains immediately apparent. This record is astoundingly ahead of it's time, with production and dark samples that still hold up almost three decades later. Take for instance the track "And Hell Is Coming With Us", a droning, pulsating machine of harrowing squalor. Developers could've placed this piece in a Silent Hill game and you'd never think twice. It's like being trapped in an elevator descending into Hell, unable to clear your mind of the macabre as Brooks' narrates your imminent doom. "Praise Be the Man" is another brilliant exhibition, reveling in grandiose percussion stabs, mechanical samples, and stylistic blends that almost overwhelm the lyrics. This track illustrates the attention to production detail, as the direction shifts repeatedly without any leaf unturned. From the loud sonar pulsations, to the thunderous rhythm arrangements, to the unprecedented induction of sitar and reeds - every element brims with clarity.
While the instrumentals and sheer cadence of the vocals are horrific on their own, the lyrics add even further dynamics, covering themes of alcoholism, social issues, religion, poverty and more. "Three Rocks Blessed" is a very contemplative letter to the status quo, which is sadly just as relevant now as it was then, for example:
"Known to utter ramblings of winos off of straight head
Young, poor and hated, a darker shade kid
Caught them eye sores, mad jaded, kept my vocals gated
Recessive traits emerge when resting on crates
Sipping ancient grapes, altering mindstates
This life on crumbled papes of a street poet"
We're left to wonder if perhaps ancient grapes represent more than a delectable intoxicating beverage, but rather stories untold and brushed over. Maybe drunkenness symbolizes more of an existential crisis, rather than an ephemeral implosive catharsis. Perhaps this reflects a perpetual cycle in poverty, substance abuse, and marginalization. Regardless of your reading, there's plenty to chew on for lyrical enthusiasts, and this is only a small sample of what the record has to offer.
"Negro Necro Nekros", although not Dälek's strongest effort, is certainly an impressive kickoff to what would become a highly influential and intriguing career. The fully realized atmosphere and blend of styles is a bouquet for the senses, giving you so much to discover and interpret with repeated listens. I'd recommend this to anyone with an appreciation for experimental music, and I could see a lot of hip-hop skeptics enjoying this unusual spin on the genre. Thank you for reading!
