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Nappy Roots – Wooden Leather

Categories : Music Reviews.

Rating: 4/5 Released: August 26, 2003 Reviewer: Jason Zalmanowitz

During the year of 2002, the governor of Kentucky, Paul Patton, declared Nappy Roots Day. It’s a shame that it was only Kentucky. Nappy Roots is the kind of music that can end world hunger, solve the problems of war, cure all bits of poverty, and unite the world as one nation under a groove – much like Bill and Ted once did.

Roll it back one year to 2002, specifically to when those six MCs cut their first studio album with Atlantic Records entitled “Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz.” Soon after it hit store shelves, it went Platinum – which was no surprise. Skinny Deville, Ron Clutch, Big V, R. Prophet, Fish Scales, and B. Stille have been blending southern style and hip-hop stylez (yes, with a ‘z’) since the latter part of 1996. It was with ‘Country Fried Cess’ that the boys managed to slowly swim up the stream of hip-hop, following up with two more indie releases to drive their point home.

Coming back for their second major label release, “Wooden Leather” opens with a Magoo style cut, giving us a full run down of what’s goin’ on. It’s quite a humorous bit – if you actually don’t just skip it like other dialogue that occurs on other Rap discs. Less then a minute after you slide this little piece of plastic into your player, you know you’re in for a great ride… “Nappy Roots are more than just southern boys,” proclaims Big V. “This time we want to express that a little more in our music. We’re still the voice of the po’ folks, we’re still country folks, but we’ve seen more now. We can’t just rap about that po’ corner. We’ve seen the world. That’s making us more diverse as MCs.”

The first single off of this 69 minute disc, “Roun’ the Globe”, opens with the phrase ‘The Whole Damn World is a Country’. Ron Clutch explains, “We’ve been to so many different places around the country and other parts of the world. Even though you may experience different cultures, there’s something that always ties everyone together. Whether it be the love for music or the struggles we go through in our everyday lives.” And as if the one original mix of this track wasn’t enough, the last track is a destined-for-club-greatness with special guests Ying/Yang. The remix adds a raw hip-hop loop to the background and inspires more audience participation. ‘Is the Northside in this mother-f’er? Hell ya!’

And like every other southern hip-hop disc, the single is not the only thing to focus on. If a music-video is made for “Nappy Roots Day” (the track, not the actual day), it’s going to obviously contain a cute little 10 year old girl featured singing the hook, and the boys riding a float down Main St., Kentucky. “Nappy Roots Day” was written expertly as an anthem – as everyone will know Nappy’s coming with this joint blaring. Special guests Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton grace this disc with their presence. Unfortunately, both were only brought on to sing hooks for their respective tracks. Of the 16 tracks, each track has been expertly mixed which becomes blatantly obvious when the disc winds up its last track. The only hindrance to be heard is the feel of “Twang”. Eminem shouldn’t be imitated, no matter how good or bad you think he is. “Twang” brings on a twangy loop and vocals that feel exactly like Eminem’s “Superman”. Don’t discount this track though, as is still a groove to be enjoyed.

One track draws special attention, as it differs in the overall impression from the rest of the tracks. “These Walls” comes out with vocal melodies unmatched by most lyrical vocalists (Nate Dogg comes to mind), but lyrics somber enough to be confused with Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise”. “These Walls” ends with the historic quote ‘Martin Luther King has been shot and killed tonight’. As the screams of the recorded audience subside, the track comes to a close and leaves you hanging.

For Nappy Roots day this year, the group made their way to the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium where they performed a free show. The proceeds of the show went to ‘the 100 Black Men of Louisville’, a charity that promotes education for at-risk youth. In a nutshell, they’re the shizzy.