I Have An Eyedea and Abilities

Rhymesayers has consistently proved itself to be the most up front, honest, and coolest hip hop label around today. They've done a heck of a job of setting themselves apart from the mainstream; from fantastic packaging that borders more on art than a CD cover to signing artists that blur the lines between everything related to hip hop. They're simply put: awesome and amongst their flag carriers, are Eyedea and Abilities who live up to the credo of pushing things forward and doing things differently and well. Eyedea and Abilities album, By the Throat is an abstract work that borders on being so many different things but always comes back to being a hip hop album.

By the Throat is loaded with a gritty guitar feel and an urban landscape of destruction and it's that atmosphere that gives this record it's edge. It's a dirty, tarnished record that hides the fact that is intelligent, emotional, and pushes just what hip hop can be. This is an album and a duo that has no problem talking about empathy one second and quantum mechanics the next all the while dropping a beat. If those sorts of things doesn't set them apart from the mainstream then who knows what will?

Eyedea and Abilities have created a very good record and while at times it's not the most melodic thing you're going to hear, By the Throat's progressive nature keeps you glued to your headphones. Having no fear in using fuzzed out guitars, trip hop like rhythms, melodies and motormouth rhymes E&A are masters at what they do. This is a duo that can take just about anything and manipulate it into something that's smart and packs a punch and that's why I think they're so great at what they do. E& A simply have no fear and their prowess behind the mic and decks constantly carries them into new territory so many other hip hoppers are afraid to venture into and that's awesome.

By the Throat is an original record that's coated with a grungy metallic feel and then mixed with an urban consciousness. That folks, is a combination that's just about deadly and Eyedea and Abilities are so good at controlling it and creating it they can't help themselves. By the Throat is yet another excellent record for this duo and props have to be given to Rhymesayers who once again prove why they are the leaders of independent hip hop music.