Crayon Sky Music

I could introduce Classified, but the Canadian MC is just like the title of his latest album, Self Explanatory – “I’ve dropped 12 albums with at least 12 songs in the last 12 years”- thanks Class for doing my work for me! Not only that, his album is easily the album of the year for anybody who is serious about their Hip Hop.

If you are not yet hip to Class, familiarize yourself with the antique of one’s perfect balance between style and substance. Themes range from growing up (Up All Night) to attitudes towards music (Use To Be) and patriotism (Oh…Canada) to social consciousness (Anybody Listening, which samples Genesis’ classic No Reply At All). And you can throw in a some good ol’ traditional Hip Hop. The only possible shortcoming is that at various points when Classified’s flow falls off, though he quickly picks it back up.

Where Are You, the collaborative cut with Saukrates addresses the blues of society with a fitting blues-y beat. “The system ain’t workin’, so how we supposed to get along/If this is life, tell me where the fuck we went wrong!” only emphasizes his sincerity in these much-needed songs in Hip Hop.

Posse cuts are three and are one, two, three times a winner! Quit While You’re Ahead and Loonie with the presence of fellow Canadian legends Choclair and Buck 65 are gold, whilst They Call This (Hip Hop) sees a crossing of borders as Royce Da 5’9″ and B.o.B. accompany Classified in making an ode to Hip Hop for the books – Class spitting “[Hip Hop] never taught me to shoot a gun or go and buy drugs/It taught me how to keep it real and not be scared of who I was”.

Like the lyrics, the production is also absolutely top-notch. With a subtle approach in its genre-crossing, Classified has crafted each of his multi-instrumented beats (especially with sweet, blues guitar licks) to blend between soul, funk, blues and even a bit of folk rock, yet all the while keeping it Hip Hop. Notable cuts representing this are Still Got It, Breaking Up and One Track Mind, which also features Canada’s own Joel Plaskett.

At this point you’re probably thinking to yourself “Yeah, this should be good” only from what you have so far assumed to be based on the conventions of a regular album; let’s smash that! What makes Self Explanatory different from your average album is the inclusion of choosing your own adventure within the music! Confused? It’s rather simple; indulge in CYOA1 and at the end of the track, you choose your path by skipping to the CYOA which continues Classified’s day-in-the-life story in the direction you have decided he take. Though the actual story may not be psychotically original, the idea nonetheless is and so is his narration of it.

He’s been at it since 1995 and with Self Explanatory, it is obvious that Classified does not intend on stopping. Perfectly balanced, it does not overflow with generic guest appearances and it content touches on all aspects that Hip Hop should without getting too hedonistic yet not too gloomy. Simply put, this is EXACTLY what Hip Hop should sound like! An absolute must-have!

Hook R-20 Amp Demo with Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique