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| Braille - Box Of Rhymes |
| Release: | Box Of Rhymes |
|  | | MyHHHdb | |
| Media: | [Audio CD] | | Released: | 2006 [ Listen to HHH from this era on Spotify ] |
| Recordlabel: | HipHop Is Music |
| Info: | The album is released on October 31st, 2006 through
specialty shops. The international release date is November
28th, 2006. The album will contain 4 new tracks and 2
remixes, which weren't available on the Japan version.
Beats by
- DJ Essence : 1, 10
- Tony Stone : 2, 5, 7, 8
- Dert : 3
- Relic : 4
- Stro : 6, 15
- Ohmega Watts : 9, 11, 13
- Theory Hazit : 12
- Kontant and Exampler : 14
1. This Year - (remix exclusive)
2. Pour It Out
3. I Wouldn't Do It - featuring Sivion, Theory Hazit,
BigRec and Surreal
4. Everything Changed - (exclusive)
5. Antenna - featuring Speech and Nehemiah Booker
6. Evacuate
7. Box of Rhymes
8. The Breakout
9. Humility
10. Together Not Alone - featuring Olivia Warfield
11. Fresh Coast - (solo remix exclusive)
12. Leave Behind - (exclusive)
13. Survival Movement - (exclusive)
14. Enter-Gritty - (exclusive)
15. End of the World |
| Rating: | Our users rated this release: 6.4 out of 10
(Number of votes: 5) Sign up or login to submit your vote |
|
Add a review
| | Review: | Written by John Book
If Braille was talked about on a daily basis as much as
Jay-Z and Kanye West are, he would be considered one of
today's hip-hop greats. If you consider someone great
today, when they still have years of good music ahead of
them, does that slow down their integrity and passion to
make new music? In other words, if you automatically call
someone great, will they just try to repeat the kind of
formula that gave them that credibility? If so, then I hope
Braille will be capable of creating penultimate hip-hop for
many years to come, as Box Of Rhymes (HipHopIsMusic) may be
one of the best hip-hop albums of 2006 that no one knows
about. Yet.
Box Of Rhymes is determination, skill, hunger, love, and
respect for this thing we call hip-hop, and I say that with
the kind of attitude deserving of a great album like this.
Seven years ago when he released Life First: Half The
Battle, he was working with such people as Deeskee, DJ Kno,
Sixtoo, and Celph Titled. Despite some of the limitations I
felt the album had at the time, there was something that
kept me listening. He then came out with Shades Of Grey and
the progress between projects was obvious. A lot of time had
passed, but this was stil the same guy who was talking about
his "Delusive Decorum". 2006 presents us with Box Of
Rhymes. In hip-hop circles, there is pride in the elusive
"third album", and Braille now has the kind of confidence
and pride that he now puts into his music full time, and I
will say this right now before I get into the songs: all
hip-hop artists should look and listen to this as an example
of how to properly produce, mix, and master your album.
Enough gloating, the pudding is here and thus I try to
describe the proof I have obtained. Braille has made this
album into his own Box Of Rhymes, and he's delivering the
type of music that a lot of rappers on major labels would
love to be able to say, if they had the skills to do so.
"This Year" has him putting his agenda on the table for
the next 365 days, defining who he is as a person and as a
rapper, (I'm makin' power moves, but not power
trippin'/I'm seeking God for directions and wisdom). Once
the seeds are planted, he begins his journey with "Pour It
Out", layered over a laid back soulful track and a sped up
vocal sample. As the chorus states, he has soaked in and now
wants to pour it out, a nice way of saying he is going to
drop and share the knowledge he has accumulated. Rather than
drift and change the topic, the listener is allowed to ride
the journey and perhaps see themselves in the lyrics.
I know the term "emo-rap" exists, but I've ignored it
because it sounds corny. But from what I'm lead to believe,
it has to do with a rapper who speaks emotionally, from the
heart. Which is sad, because does that suggest that there
are a lot of rappers who are making music without emotion?
The one thing I like about Braille is that he isn't afraid
to wear his emotions on his sleeve, whether it's about
helping out his fellow man, or trying to cope with life
presented to him. His spirituality is a major part of his
music, it's a running theme throughout all of his songs but
it's not in your face. The odd thing is that I'm making it
out as if it is the exception, and maybe these days it
is.
There was a time when rappers were not afraid to praise God,
Jesus, or Allah, and sadly it got to a point of disrespect
where rappers were willing to smoke Buddha. Then again, it
was Ghostface Killah who once talked about slapboxing with
Jesus and licking shots with Joseph. No crazy religious
metaphors with Braille, his spirituality is on his side,
even on the most hardcore-sounding track of the bunch, the
Dert-produced "I Wouldn't Do It". The song also allows
him to show off his friends in his crew, including Sivion,
Surreal, Theory Hazit, and Big Rec, and together they define
their mission in their music, which is to create music with
integrity where selling out is not (and will never be) an
option. Imagine if Xzibit hit a few rhymes with Mos Def, A
Tribe Called Quest, and Lloyd Banks, and you got one of the
best posse tracks in recent years with the kind of intensity
that makes it an instant classic.
Braille's power on the mic is to be admired, offering
verbal slashes while remaining humble, now try to find that
on MTV Jams. What is it that they say, "kill them with
kindness"? He's definitely killing people with his lyrics,
making quick references to singers from Aerosmith and
talking about taking time out of his day to worship, and
then daring to confront anyone who dares to tell him he
can't rhyme or write. Just when you think you have him all
figured out, the album leads to a track that finds him in
Ninja Tune/Tru-Thoughts territory, with the Ohmega
Watts-produced "Fresh Coast". The track has a different
vibe to it, I often call it a British sensibility where
something unique and different is added to a familiar
formula. The song is a slight throwback to the era when
rappers like Rakim were doing uptempo tracks, and while some
were moving in the direction of slower BPM's, artists in
Europe were flirting with the idea of keeping it funky and
dancable without fear or embarrassment. It works very well
for Braille, and it puts him in the position of being able
to work with anything that is thrown his way, without any
limitations. With lyrics such as Make way 'cause I rock the
floor/Make noise if you want more/It feels so great to be on
tour/Many new places to explore, this could easily gain some
club airplay.
On the bottom of his box of rhymes is his evaluation, the
moral in the form of "End Of The World". The darkness of
the title is immediately felt with the strings sample. If
the entire album was on the positive vibe, this time the
clouds return to the familiar "shades of grey" and line by
line the listener feels as if they are about to be closed
in. References to his family, friends, his wife, and the
witnessing of a miracle turns everything upsidedown. Or is
it that we've been in the box of rhymes for almost an hour,
that instead of of being closed in, we're being let out
into the world again? There's a huge question mark by the
time the song fades, things are open-ended but that is the
benefit of the album experience. He's allowed you into his
world, but the reality is we're all together in the same
world, and the moral (if any) is one you'll have to figure
out for yourself. That's what I like about it too, it's
not just a unidirectional listen, part of his music extends
even after the music is over. In other words, thought
provoking lyrics does its task by making the listener not
only think of how funky the music is, but wanting to hear a
level of positivity that isn't watered down or weakened.
I would consider this to be a mirror image of The Roots'
Game Theory, an album that was mostly omninous but you had
to go through the storm in order to find the sun again. In
the case of Box Of Rhymes, it's the opposite. In fact, play
both albums back to back and see if you're able to hear
what I hear. It's very much playing the world like a
chessboard, trying to understand yin and yang, good and
evil, and coping with a time in history where anxiety and
fear are at an all time high. Braille explores that through
writing, using incredible wordplay, and coming up with
stories that aren't disposable. He writes in a way that
doesn't exclude, instead opening his experiences to show
that there's a lot more to this life than going for
self.
Sonically, this is one of the best sounding albums I've
heard this year. I'm a big audio nut, and I can't stand it
when an artist creates more of a budget for their music
video than for the sound quality of their music. I know it
seems that the powers that be would prefer to make music
second rate, but don't second rate your musical legacy.
That is, if you care about "crap" like that. There's a
lot of punch and texture to these tracks; the vocals are
very open, they do not sound clustered as if they were
recorded in a closet, or as if the microphone was taped to
the bottom of a metal can. Even with the wide range of
producers on the project (including Stro of The
Procussions), the sound remains consistent throughout, and
that is a testament to how Braille wants to define himself
as an artist. There is still craft if you know how to apply
it, and Braille is on his way to becoming one of this
decade's premier MC's. | | source: musicforamerica.org, added: Dec 08, 2006 |  |
| Review: | Braille :: Box of Rhymes :: Hip Hop Is Music
as reviewed by Pedro 'DJ Complejo' Hernandez
Braille has a hard job in the rap game. With a genre of
music that is becoming more about escape and fantasy, it's
difficult to pitch a CD from a guy who's living a regular
life. While every young gun is bragging about the millions
of kilos they've moved and bodies they've buried, Braille
revels in the joy of being a husband, father, and finding
Christ. As much as I love Scarface I really have no dreams
of participating in the cut throat world of slangin' dope,
yet at the same time I'm in no rush to experience the
thrills of marriage or fatherhood. But despite no wishes to
actually deal drugs, I can enjoy both the extraordinary and
reflective aspects of cocaine raps. With Braille though, is
there anything I can gain out of his experience?
Braille answers any questions one may have about the
universal nature of his music right off the bat. "Box of
Rhymes" is full of relevant songs that anyone could relate
too. Though he doesn't live an exciting lifestyle (at least
comparatively, since being a rapper would be exciting to
many), Braille still finds a way to make his music worth
peeping thanks to his insightful nature. "Pour It Out"
finds Braille releasing all his thoughts and regrets about a
variety of things, from missing home to being homeless. His
honesty is commendable, but it's the approach that makes
the track stand out since it captures a side of life that we
all experience at some point. "I Wouldn't Do It" is a
track that reflects Braille's refusal to compromise his
morals or beliefs regardless of the pay off. At times the
track sounds too much like the "I won't sell out and go
commercial" whining that a lot of underground rappers make,
but Braille and the guest rappers throw in enough social
commentary to make it good. "Humility" is almost an
unnecessary song as it's hard to imagine a guy like Braille
not being humble, but still he makes a relevant track about
not taking things for granted. "Leave Behind" is religious
track where Braille focuses on doing good while you're
alive so you'll have no doubts about your faith afterwards.
It's a track that may alienate those who don't believe in
the after life, but even if you can't relate directly you
can feel the emotion and passion Braille expresses.
The only real complaint on "Box of Rhymes" is the fact
that he can be too serious too much of the time. He does
switch things up occasionally on tracks like "Box of
Rhymes," "Fresh Coast," and "Evacuate," but overall the
album is a bit too much on the heavy side. The same can be
said on the beats as they all maintain a very high level of
quality but can be too much on the organic and soulful tip.
To some the heavy sampling and boom-bap drums are right up
their alley, but I would have preferred some more variety.
Braille manages to make a dope rap album despite several
things going against him. I've criticized non-secular music
in the past because I think that focusing on any one thing
too much, whether it be god or anything else, limits the
success of music. Braille makes music that has heavy
religious tones but does not focus specifically on it.
Because of this balance Braille is able to make music that
has the same message that Christian rap tries to convey but
that is more universally appealing. On top of that he gets
dope beats from popular underground producers like Ohmega
Watts and Stro of The Procussions, which also helps elevate
his music above your usual Christian rap offerings. With
that said, "Box of Rhymes" is not a Christian rap album.
It's an album by a guy who is going through life and trying
to leave a mark on the world. He has a positive message and
one which will leave a positive mark on the world once more
people listen.
Music Vibes: 8 of 10
Lyric Vibes: 8 of 10
TOTAL Vibes: 8 of 10 | | source: rapreviews.com, added: Dec 08, 2006 | |
| Review: | Braille - Box of Rhymes (US)
(HipHop Is Music)
Written by Ahnon Knomis
Friday, 09 March 2007
As Braille's catalog grows with each new release, so does
this artists' talent for word play and craft as an emcee.
Box of Rhymes is jam packed with mental pictorials backed by
passionate lyricism and exceptional production, which
accentuates his verbal calisthenics and natural intensity.
Box of Rhymes was originally released in Japan while Braille
was still touring off his sophomore release Shades of Gray
in the US market. Towards the end of 2006, just before the
Holiday Season kicked off US customers finally got their
hands on the much anticipated follow-up to Braille's
sophomore heat. The US version comes to us with a few
variations from its Japanese counterpart. This review will
focus solely on the US product.
Lets talk about production for a moment. Braille is
noticeably consistent with the level of production he
chooses for his projects so this is no different. On 'Box
of Rhymes' fans can expect production contributions from
the likes of: Tony Stone, Relic, Dert, Stro of The
Procussions, Ohmega Watts, DJ Essence, Theory Hazit, and a
new duo for my ears in Exampler and Kontant. Guest features
are held to a very minimum on this album. Don't expect a
feature-flooded album where the main artist gets lost.
Instead, Braille has contrastingly held the guest list to a
meager 3 songs out of 15 on the total track listing. Sivion,
Theory Hazit, Big Reconcile, and Surreal each participate
along side Braille on the monster track "I Wouldn't Do
It". A Dert produced cadence-like anthem about
steadfastness and adversity. What? Sell out!? "I'm not
gonna do it! Not for a million dollars... I wouldn't do
it!". The pairing of gritty drums and sampled child vocals
with a stern message makes this one a unique track that will
certainly grow on you.
Okay, so even though Braille has kept his guest list to a
minimum I'm not going to shield the fact that yes those are
the ones I've found myself calling out as highlights in
this review. That being said, there is plenty of heat on
this album and diversity in his solo tracks. However, I
would not do justice to those reading this review if I did
not mention a pair of contributing artists on one particular
song. Remember a group called 'Arrested Development'? The
Grammy Award winning group who brought you songs like:
"Tennessee", People Everyday" and Mr. Wendal"? Well two
A.D. members lent their vocal presence as guest features on
none other than Braille's Box of Rhymes. The track titled
'Antenna' features Speech & Nehemiah Booker over a
beautiful Tony Stone produced beat with a laid back and
smooth R&B presence. The song premiss reflects on Braille's
perspective of life by way of his last few years on the
road, struggles in the music industry, perseverance, and
clearly his faith. The positive tone of the vocals and
soulful voices on this track are in-deed a highlight worth
listening often. If I could quote one verse that sums it up
its Braille's as he states "I'm not giving in I know this
life's infinite so I could never act like my time is
insignificant... what we need is a brand new perspective...
and our reception comes from the heart... antenna".
Quite possibly my favorite song on the album is titled
"Everything Changed". This smooth, piercing, melodious
track cuts right into the heart. Its a self reflection by
Braille whom through-out the song cries out to God for Him
to show anything in his heart that needs to be addressed and
help him see it, feel it, and overcome the shortcomings. The
song easily makes you look inwards at your own life while a
sense of humility and relief overcomes you knowing that if
you are in a similar situation and share the same concerns
you can be comforted that you are not alone. Braille is both
revealing and relevant in his works. That is greatly evident
with this track and in my opinion a sign of a true artist.
When an emcee can share his life... and a fan can relate on
a personal level... that is where a die-hard fan base is
earned.
On the downside, and believe me there is few related to this
album, I have to admit it is somewhat different from his
debut album 'Shades of Grey'. Some may suggest that the
production is more underground than his first and that there
is less presence in the mixes. While others may contest that
the Chorus's are more simplistic and choppy on beats like
'End of the World' than most expect to hear. Nevertheless,
I believe its money well spent to pick up this album today
and add it to your collection. The album is an excellent
progression in Braille's career as an emcee and yet another
solid release from him. Box of Rhymes is worthy of your ear
play with plenty of selections for heavy iPod playlist
rotation.
For fans of: Light Headed, Ohmega Watts, Sivion, Surreal,
The Procussions, Little Brother.
4.5 of 5 stars
| | source: Sphereofhiphop.com, added: Mar 09, 2007 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: Feb 04, 2015 | |
| Review: | 1 | | source: -1', added: Mar 06, 2015 | |
| Review: | 1 | | source: -1', added: Mar 14, 2015 | |
| Review: | 1 | | source: -1', added: Apr 28, 2015 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: May 30, 2015 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: Jun 01, 2015 | |
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