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| Procussions - 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents (US version) |
| Release: | 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents (US version) |
|  | | MyHHHdb | |
| Media: | [Audio CD] [7/12inch Vinyl] | | Released: | 2006 [ Listen to HHH from this era on Spotify ] |
| Recordlabel: | Rawkus Entertainment |
| Info: | The album is released on May 30th, 2006.
The double vinyl album misses track 1 and 17.
1. Opening Meditation
2. Shabach
3. Anybody
4. Simple Song - featuring DJ Vajra
5. Fight Here - featuring Afrobot and Ahmad
6. Miss January - featuring Talib Kweli
7. The Storm
8. Rain Dance
9. I'll Fly - featuring Tara Ellis
10. Untitled
11. Little People
12. Carousel
13. For The Camera
14. Vader March
15. Jiminy Cricket
16. American Fado - featuring Rennee Alston
17. Mars |
| Rating: | Our users rated this release: 8.7 out of 10
(Number of votes: 3) Sign up or login to submit your vote |
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| | Review: | The Procussions have been moving. A few years ago, they were
an unknown hip-hop group in Colorado Springs, CO. They put
out their strong debut, ...As Iron Sharpens Iron, and not
enough people listened. I thought the Christian backpacker
routine they did at the time wasn’t marketable, but
apparently those with the right ears have heard, because now
the trio is set to bring Rawkus back to life. For the new
disc, 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents, the group's kept the
spiritual (but restrained) attitude, but re-vamped the
production from throwback to throwdown, lessening the jazz
influences in favor of a harder sound. Everything is more
reckless this time out, and the more the group veers toward
chaos, the better they sound.
Even so, the Procussions know that life is a struggle in the
midst of chaos, and they want to help the members of their
community move with purpose, even if that means staying
still. First single "The Storm" announces it: "My people,
you hear the rain coming? / You gonna stand fast or just
keep running?" The three MCs spin the track's metaphor
around until you can't be sure if the battles take place
over progressive politics, vapid pop culture, or the warfare
of Ephesians. The group's approach could be boiled down to
one line: "Rebel music for my people who've been swimming
upstream." As Iron suggested conflict with its title, but 5
Sparrows is part of conflict.
Fortunately, the trio know enough to keep the party alive.
"The Storm" precedes "Rain Dance," an electro-influenced
number meant solely to shoot down inhibitions and turn the
dancers loose. Stro's production builds around a simple 808
riff, using drums to bounce around the groove as Mr. J.
Medeiros periodically screams at us through the track. The
group uses the same sort of juxtaposition later when they
place "Track 10" right before "Little People." The
former mocks the vacuity of pop music ("this is the track
where we rap about this, about that, and material crap")
before indulging in more playful childishness and even nap
resistance. Just as it seems like the kids are in charge,
the Procussions deliver "Little People," encouraging you
to dance until you catch lyrics about the cause and effects
of child abuse and negligence.
Know this: dancing is an important way to combat evil. If it
sounds silly, dance harder.
The driving "For the Camera" takes on the pursuit of
stardom and our culture's fascination with the visual (with
its resultant objectification of young girls). Even in the
middle of the discussion, the Procussions use the object of
their critique for some clever wordplay: "Folks are chasing
stars while they throw away their wonder years / It's
savage." The humor doesn't detract from the message—we
"turn our women into mannequins"—or the solution (knowing
"you're beautiful without the camera on").
I might be getting a little heavy, but the Procussions have
important things to say, and they aren't slowing down. The
youth prostitution track "American Fado" (I said it
wasn't getting lighter) even brings on Renee Altson, the
author of the abuse memoir Stumbling Toward Faith, when
"there were no more prayers." Down low enough? Then just
skip ahead to the emotional lift-off of "Mars." Forget it
all and focus on the flute and the wah-guitar and do that
little boogie you save for when you're home alone.
The Procussions have a religion and they have some messages,
but they don't proselytize and they don't sermonize—they
lay out narrative instead of instruction. They want to party
and they want to scream and they want you to fight and they
want you to get down and get lifted. They're going off in
whatever directions their needs lead them, making 5 Sparrows
a complex and engaging work. And those directions have the
added benefit of being able to keep you moving.
B+
Reviewed by: Justin Cober-Lake
Reviewed on: 2006-06-06 | | source: stylusmagazine.com, added: Jul 13, 2006 |  |
| Review: | **1/2 of 5
Under the rap section of an online music store I frequent, I
was recently surprised by a new sub-category titled
"conscious rap." The artists thrown into this section come
in a variety of political styles. From the more
overt-militant radicalisms of groups such as the Coup and
Paris, to the warm and fuzzy gender politics of Common, the
artists have their own representational strategies for
conveying their brand of politics: some use guns, some use
threesomes. For Mr. J Medeiros, Rez, and Stro the 89th Key,
together known as the Procussions, politics is far from the
sign-waving protest parades of Public Enemy or, say,
Jadakiss. Instead, on 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents, the
Procussions urge people to adopt more moral cultural
values.
Although hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado (maybe best
known for being the setting for the Dr. Quinn, Medicine
Woman television series), the Procussions aren't
stylistically provincial. The group's playful tru-skool
polyphonic harmonies recall throwback groups such as
Jurassic 5, Pharcyde and even older acts such as the
Treacherous Three. Musically, this is a blend of live jazz
instrumentation with soul and funk aesthetics (imagine the
Roots meets Tribe Called Quest circa pre-Jay Dee
production). Content-wise, however, the general political
themes are vaguely reminiscent of Bill Cosby's recent
social critiques. Known to be "Christian rap," the members
of the Procussions are far from proselytizing. Yet these
religious inflections are unavoidable in their brand of
social commentary.
For a group that claims to make "rebel music," the
album's political standpoint might seem rather conservative
to liberal camps that seek institutional change. On "I'll
Fly," Medeiros opens with "You gotta break through this
monotony/ material monopoly/ the modern day idolatry
philosophy./ People putting faith in a lottery/ … Who walks
on top of the sea?/ It's not me." Cliché didactics and
universal humanisms continue on "Little People," "Jiminy
Crickett" and "American Fado." Touching on topics such as
poverty, homelessness and sexism, the trio reduces "the
system" to an ambiguous and agent-less monster where
victimized people fall between the cracks because they
choose the wrong values to live by, or as if their problems
are a natural situation of unfair life chances.
They offer thoughtful poetics ("If you want the flower to
bloom/ you gotta put it out in the rain/ …When it rains, we
all get wet"), but labeling these tracks as "feel-good"
is accurate largely because the music isn't unsettling.
"The Storm," featuring aggressive kicks, claps and guitar
licks a la Just Blaze, epitomizes the group's thematic
banalities: "I was born in a violent storm/ in an endless
fight between right and wrong." Although the collaboration
with Talib Kweli works wonderfully on "Miss January," the
Procussions' generic anthems about positive living need to
be left for the after-school specials.
by Brian Su-Jen Chung | | source: prefixmag.com, added: Jul 13, 2006 | |
| Review: | ****** of 10
Competent. If I had to write this review with only one word,
it would be “competent”. Nothing more.
Remember when Rawkus Records had the great hip-hop music
with substance? Company Flow, Black Star, Pharaohe Monch?
The Procussions do, and they use this to their advantage.
“Rawkus went against the grain… they signed MCs who pushed
the musical envelope,” they say on their website.”... Rawkus
is back on the scene to push The Procussions into the
forefront.” They try their very best to fulfill the
impressive legacy: their lyrics are conscious without coming
across as overly preachy, and the in-house production from
Stro does carry its own distinctive sound. But as their
latest release (and first on Rawkus) 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents,
demonstrates, the problem remains that the Procussions
are—wait for it—simply, sadly, boring.
Let’s start with the production. Stro is a competent
producer, making solid vibes of beats that each have their
own individual feel but retain the essence of his
overarching style. “Miss January” is a lightly poppy guitar
beat, “The Storm” is heavier electric guitars and squealing
high-pitched electronic noise, “Carousel” puts the guitars
in chaotic reverse before proceeding to add warbly synths
and fuzz. But just like everything else with the
Procussions, while the production is skilled and solid, it’s
hardly memorable. None of these beats will stick in your
head, and their overtly-poppy, Black-Eyed-Peas-lite flavor
ends up feeling like somewhat of a disappointment coming
from the new flag-bearers of what was once the home of so
much dusty, underground boom-bap.
The MCs here are even less interesting. They flow decently
but are, once again, completely indistinguishable from the
legions of other merely “good” rappers. They have a
generally positive message, just like all those other
neo-soul head-bobbers, and they seem like they enjoy what
they’re doing, judging from their easy enthusiasm. Hell, I
wouldn’t mind letting any one of them date my daughter. On
the other hand, I could not find any truly memorable quotes
to include in this review. None. This is not remarkably
uncommon, but neither is it a good sign at all.
They can do some things impressively; the track “Little
People” is a highlight, rappers Rez and Mr. J. Medeiros
doing some of their best work for the album over a strongly
atmospheric beat with high-pitched sampling from Stro. It
holds promise, but not enough to justify the rest of the
songs here. Songs that don’t go wrong, that make no
mistakes, but at the same time perfectly self-efface—which
is fatal, especially for a group with this much slick
financial backing (see the elaborately stylish album
artwork). It took so many listens to write this review
precisely because, after each spin of the album, I could
remember so little of distinct interest.
The Procussions are entirely harmless, and there’s no doubt
that what they’re doing is healthier than any number of the
poison-mouthed studio gangstas flooding traditional media
outlets. Is it so bad to be unexceptional, then? In a world
with so many beautifully idiosyncratic, interesting artists
suffering below the surface without the attention they
deserve, the answer for music fans is yes.
by Michael Frauenhofer | | source: popmatters.com, added: Jul 13, 2006 | |
| Review: | Backpackers everywhere unite, because the prodigal label,
Rawkus, has returned. The same label that helped launch the
careers of Talib Kweli and Mos Def is back with the the
Procussions and the release of their album 5 Sparrows For 2
Cents (Rawkus). Hailing from Colorado Springs and now
repping LA, the group is not like your typical underground
New York MCs that spawned their aforementioned label home.
However, change may good for the razor logo, because the
Procussion’s debut is a solid start for the new old
label.
After listening to the album, its hard not to compare the
Procussions to Jurassic 5, albeit with a touch of the
Beastie Boys. Mr. J. Medeiros, Stro and Rez are not going to
beat Jay-Z or Canibus with battle rhymes, but their style is
pleasantly effective and works well with Stro’s percussion
heavy production. The lead single, “The Storm”, is energetic
and full of J5esque rhymes, with Mr. J. Medeiros’ (think
Zach De La Rocha) vocals giving the hook that extra
something to keep listeners hyped. Songs like “Shabach”,
“Anybody”, and “Rain Dance” demonstrate the Procussions at
their best with lively beats and no frills lyrics.
When the group veers from that sound, the album becomes a
little hit or miss. On the hit side, “Little People”, is a
sentimental song about parents and their failure to pay
attention to their children. However, “Carousel” is a song
that misses with disjointed PE rhymes mixed with corny
carnival sounds and a lazy hook. In between the hit and
miss, first generation Rawkus member, Talib Kweli, comes
through on “Miss January” a song about lost loves
accompanied by Stro’s brilliant guitar and sample loops.
Sadly Kweli is not at his best and Medeiros’ lyrics sound a
little contrived, with lines like “True I grew from the pain
and the days where I’d pay anything / Standing there like
John Cusak in Say Anything”.
Fans clamoring for the return of Rawkus Records should be
pleasantly surprised by the debut of the Procussions and
their refreshing sound. Just don’t hold your breath if you
are waiting for the next Black Star.
Rating: *** of 5
Reviewed by: Angus Crawford | | source: Allhiphop.com, added: Jul 13, 2006 | |
| Review: | Written by Ahnon Knomis
Tuesday, 01 August 2006
The Procussions - 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents
(Rawkus Records)
What do you get if you took Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against
The Machine, added him to the mid 90's Tribe Called Quest
line-up of emcee's and vibe, plus ?st Love from The Roots
crew? Answer? The Procussions. Something different but at
the same time familiar. Rooted with inspiration from what
was good about the golden era of hip-hop with a modern
twist.
It's kind of ironic that I come to review this album from
the perspective of the rest of those whom are unfamiliar
with The Procussions music. I had to ask myself if this is a
positive or negative? The conclusion, I can honestly say I
think is that this is a good point of view. An un-biased
review of an established group from a fresh perspective.
Also, for most of the secular hip-hop fans out there that
never followed this niche Christian hip-hop underground
scene this IS their introduction to The Procussions music.
So this review comes to you not from the perspective of a
long time fan of the group, but instead how the rest of the
world might perceive the group's mainstream introduction.
Very unique.
This album is under license to the world renowned Rawkus
Records whom helped define the underground hip-hop scene in
the mid 90's and brought you artists such as Talib Kweli &
Mos Def individually (also together as Black Star), Pharoahe
Monch, DJ Hi-Tek, Big L, and a host of other notable alumni.
Through this release comes a rebirth of the label in 2006
and a new release in "5 Sparrows for 2 Cents" by none
other than The Procussions.
With a push from Rawkus and a unique energetic live set, The
Procussions offers something refreshing to the hip-hop
scene. With Roots-esq qualities in that their organic beats
(produced by Stro "the 89th key"; a studied musician and
emcee himself) and two other emcee's (Mr. J & Rez) who
possess a gift for mic control and clever punch lines that
offer something left to ponder when the music stops.
Its apparent to me that The Procussions are on another level
of creative effectiveness than normal hip-hop acts. Almost
to the point as if it seams they are among a new breed of
hip-hop groups emerging these days. From a mainstream
perspective (one striving to acheive the goal of acceptance
from a mainstream audience and give fans positive music they
can enjoy light heartedly) and from a Christian perspective
(dropping spiritually insightful lines that plant seeds of
faith through life experiences in rhyme form based on
Biblical morals and relevant edification of God)... This is
a unique release for both cultures within the hip-hop
medium. It also proves that the two can coincide and be
acceptable to the masses.
The Procussions is arguably among the only 2 Christian
hip-hop artists to successfully cross over to the mainstream
and not compromise their music. The second being Mars ill
who also has achieved cross over appeal although has never
had the backing of a label with as much reputation and pull
as Rawkus has. I say this not to undermine anyone whom may
have also crossed over. Yet, to the best of my knowledge and
opinion I have not seen another group gain this much respect
and acceptance in such a short amount of time with just
cause and quality in their project. Even as I write this
review The Procussions are the current "Single of the
Week" on Apple iTunes as the single "The Storm" is
currently available thru free download to millions of iTunes
patrons all over the world. A feet no other Christian
hip-hop act has reached to date.
Okay, enough about the state of the music industry what
about the music?
Like I said... this is the first time I have ever heard The
Procussions so this is my introduction to the group. Being
unfamiliar with their sound I was unsure of what to expect.
However, being familiar with Rawkus Records and their
certain criteria for music I had a basic idea that this
would not be some superficial hip-hop lyrics over crunk
keyboard beats.
I was plesantly greated with some quality tunes.
The first single hit my ear, "Miss January" which features
none other than Talib Kweli. Now Talib's verse seamed
heavily edited to me. This may have been to keep the lyrics
clear of an explicit sticker but it was pretty blatantly
edited and ironically not half as good as the groups verses
on the song. Smooth jazzy guitar licks and a nice cold bass
line flow like a pitcher of sweet southern style tea over
ice cubes into a glass on a hot summer day. Refreshing
lyrics that have some great visuals on a feel good vibe wet
your pallette. A summer anthem at a perfect time for release
contrasting to what's out right now and a world above.
Great song. Great vibe.
"Miss January" has been on heavy rotation in my cd player
with lines like "...standing there like John Cusak from Say
Anything" and "there was so many things... there was so
many signs... now I'm chasing wings... knowing its a waste
of time... until my God reminds me of what I truly need".
If you can't figure it out by those lines "Miss January"
is a song about relationships, heartbreaks, and love. It's
a fitting single with a notable feature emcee that
un-doubtably caught some eyes from Kweli's presance on the
track and then some ears to introduce the group to a new
audience and prepare these new fans for a follow-up hit.
The follow-up single comes in the form of "The Storm".
Backed by a very cool video which made its rounds across the
internet intelligently marketed before the album ever hit
stores. "The Storm" hits with hard kicks and piercing
snares that are beautifully arranged with stellar samples
that are hard to describe but are high in energy. The bass
line in this song is crazy! Hard hitting and it doesn't let
up. The song never gets monotonous, and accentuates lyrics
that stick in your head. Lyrics like "I was born in a
violent storm, in an endless fight between right and wrong.
I write songs like letters to war. Stuff a message in a
bottle then I send it to shore." and "Rebel music from my
people who've been swimmin up stream. Some things are not
what they seam. Who you thought was the peasant... might
just be the king!". This is un-doubtably a battle song. No
killing of emcee's here though. Their weaponry is word play
and their battle is against struggles of life with words to
uplift and encourage you to keep on moving and not give up
the fight. A breath of fresh air in hip-hop and a good
message for those who are down and out.
There are a few spots on the album that were a bit
experimental that I really didn't think fit the level of
the other songs. One of these songs was "Anybody" that had
a yelling chorus and an awkward break down between verses
that didn't feel right to me. The beat was also a bit
strange and reminded me of an old 90's club song that had
the synth sound of a baritone frog-like voice as the bass
line. While this track will find its way to appease fans of
experimental hip-hop I personally felt like this was one of
the weaker tracks on the album. There are a few of these
experimental songs spread through-out the album but with
enough strong songs in-between they were more interesting to
me than annoying. But bordering on nuisance
none-the-less.
Two songs stood out to me as similar concept songs that
although the message was clear, the music at times didn't
quite work and seamed awkward. "Carousel" plays out as a
song about the current state of hip-hop and being in the
whirl-wind business of the music industry. The verses here
were well crafted and the message was delivered but the
chorus break downs which had the odd music of an actual
carousel followed by the screaming of "Get me off this
thing!!" although clever just seamed a bit forced and
awkward. The other similar song "For The Camera" had a
solid drum kit and deep oboe line below the simple rifts and
was a great beat. Again, the message was delivered well and
spoke on the superficiality of fame as well as video girls
and exploitation of sex in the media. The chorus however
again seamed like "Carousel" awkward and a bit forced.
Both songs fit a similar formula but neither one were quite
on the level as the rest of the album as a whole.
5 Sparrows for 2 Cents touches on several issues of topic,
one of which was family. The song "Little People" features
a sped up vocal sample that sounds like a child's voice
which un-doubtably inspired the words of the song. Lyrically
"Little People" spoke from a 3rd party and a child's
perspective to parents about how their parental neglect has
affected the lives of their children. The songs lyrics plead
with parents for the conscious effort of love and affection
and the paying of more attention to the way our children are
raised. Its has some touching words that any parent hearing
it will do a self evaluation of their own family situation
which is ultimately the goal of the song to begin with. A
chorus like "Hear me, See me, Do you even know I'm still
breathing? I listen to the sounds of a TV. The only thing
that really wants to reach me. Daddy listen, Mommy please,
There must be a better way to raise me! I'm yelling til my
ears can't hear me. Into a silence that kills me." Some
gripping stuff.
There's plenty of laid back funk to ride to on a summer day
in the car with the windows down and feel good about. But
there's also some deeper tracks too. One of the best songs
on the album comes from one of the last on the album. The
song "American Fado" is a story song. Without ruining the
ending for you I'll give you a taste of the story. Its
features a solo performance by Mr. J telling his touching
story of a girl on the streets whom he has befriended and
who falls victim to some violence that has nobody willing to
help her but him. This unlikely new friend ends up being the
last person she sees before the lights dim in her life.
Everything that leads up to this point draws you into the
story and breaks your heart... but nothing could have
prepared me for the end of the song and the final words
spoken. A twist in the story that I never seen coming. But
you will need to pay close attention to the lyrics in the
song. They all come together in the end. Several repeats and
you'll find new meaning in the lyrics like replaying a
movie will do. Its songs like this one that stick with you
for life. The extended portion of the track leads you out on
a deep note and really pulls at the heart strings. The
visual imagery thru this song is amazing and completely
catches you off guard from the rest of the album. A good way
to end a project.
The Procussions has a new fan as a result of listening to 5
Sparrows for 2 Cents. My advice is to pick this up now. Show
your support for quality music and tell a friend or two to
do the same. This one is an instant classic!
For fans of: A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, LA Symphony,
Pigeon John, LightHeaded, Sivion, Braille, Ohmega Watts
4.5 of 5 stars | | source: Sphereofhiphop.com, added: Aug 12, 2006 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: Dec 23, 2014 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: Dec 15, 2014 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: Jun 28, 2015 | |
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