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What if Kool G Rap's second album came out approximately eight years after his first? That would be a period long enough to leap from Road to the Riches to Roots of Evil, over Wanted: Dead or Alive, Live and Let Die, and 4, 5, 6. While it's an unfair analogy to make -- for many reasons -- when talking about the frustrating lag between Internal Affairs and Desire, it's a helpful one to think about if you're approaching Desire with the expectation of hearing Internal Affairs, Vol. 2. On Internal Affairs, a track-to-track strongarm tactic to reach more ears without too many creative concessions, Pharoahe Monch toughened up. It paid off to an extent: "Simon Says" and "Right Here" were loved by plenty of people who didn't know Organized Konfusion from Organized Noize. Pharoahe could've attempted to capitalize on the momentum, but he crept low, releasing the occasional single and compilation track (like "Agent Orange" and "What Is the Law"), and collaborating when the right situation presented itself (like Talib Kweli's "Guerrilla Monsoon Rap" and J Dilla's "Love"). As a result, Desire is a taut and focused work that energizes, packed densely with typically Monch-like quotables that might take a couple listens to catch. Production-wise, it's quite different from Internal Affairs, incorporating gritty gospel, anthemic funk, and laid-back soul (not to mention an ambitious, sprawling, three-part finale), along with a measured amount of material that sounds more like a logical extension of Pharoahe's past. Altogether, it's a brighter, bolder set of tracks. The lone trip-up is a well-intentioned cover of Public Enemy's "Welcome to the Terrordome"; despite a relevant added verse, no one can reinterpret Chuck D and the Bomb Squad at the peak of their powers without coming up a little short. This is the kind of album that could only be made by a veteran who knows the difference between running your mouth and speaking when you have something to say, and not many elder MCs can say they were as vital in their mid-thirties as they were in their early twenties.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Blair Wells, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Christos Tsantilis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Troy Donald Jamerson, Producer
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Millie Jackson, ComposerLyricist - D. McKenzie, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Davel McKenzie, Producer - Rob, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blair Wells, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Christos Tsantilis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sprague Williams, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - M. St. Juste, ComposerLyricist - Levi Monroe, ComposerLyricist - Kirk FORD, ComposerLyricist - J. Clyde, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - St. Juste, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kellen Ford, Producer, Co-Producer - 99 Fingaz, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Brian Stanley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Alchemist, Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Holland-Dozier-Holland, ComposerLyricist - MeLa Machinko, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Maman, ComposerLyricist - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - Showtyme, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - L. Brooks, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
D. Matthews, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tower Of Power, Unknown, Other - Christos Tsantilis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - MeLa Machinko, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Keith M Boxley, ComposerLyricist - Troy Donald Jamerson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Josef Zawinul, ComposerLyricist - Showtyme, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - L Coppin, ComposerLyricist - C. Ridennour, ComposerLyricist - Harlan D. Rogers, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2006 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
D. Matthews, ComposerLyricist - Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - LV, Drums, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Wilson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Blair Wells, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean C, Drums, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Arden Altino, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Grind Music, Producer - Keith M Boxley, ComposerLyricist - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - L Coppin, ComposerLyricist - C. Ridennour, ComposerLyricist - Harlan D. Rogers, ComposerLyricist - Boogie Blind, Unknown, Other
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Lee Stone, Producer, Co-Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Stanley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Troy Donald Jamerson, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - L. Stone, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
D. PORTER, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Chav, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mr. Porter, Producer, Programming, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - Collin Dupuis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Brian Stanley, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Blair Wells, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. Cross, ComposerLyricist - MeLa Machinko, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - Black Milk, Programmer - Blind Boogie, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist
℗ 2006 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
D. PORTER, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Lee Stone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lenesha Randolph, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Candice Anderson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - MeLa Machinko, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Chav, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mr. Porter, Producer, Additional Producer - Troy Donald Jamerson, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
L. Conner, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Brian Stanley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Blair Wells, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. Cross, ComposerLyricist - MeLa Machinko, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - Black Milk, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Lee Stone, Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bonnie Pointer, ComposerLyricist - Don Grusin, ComposerLyricist - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Erykah Badu, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - E. Badu, ComposerLyricist - L. Stone, ComposerLyricist - Malvin Ragin, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Craig Brockman, ComposerLyricist - Charlene Keys, ComposerLyricist - Brian Stanley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nissan Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Christos Tsantilis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Chav, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Donald Jamerson, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
D. PORTER, ComposerLyricist - A. Davis, ComposerLyricist - Pharoahe Monch, MainArtist - Tone, FeaturedArtist - M. Rutherford, ComposerLyricist - Dwele, Horn, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Chav, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mr. Porter, Producer, Synthesizer, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Melanie Rutherford, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - Collin Dupuis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bamm Davis, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
Album review
What if Kool G Rap's second album came out approximately eight years after his first? That would be a period long enough to leap from Road to the Riches to Roots of Evil, over Wanted: Dead or Alive, Live and Let Die, and 4, 5, 6. While it's an unfair analogy to make -- for many reasons -- when talking about the frustrating lag between Internal Affairs and Desire, it's a helpful one to think about if you're approaching Desire with the expectation of hearing Internal Affairs, Vol. 2. On Internal Affairs, a track-to-track strongarm tactic to reach more ears without too many creative concessions, Pharoahe Monch toughened up. It paid off to an extent: "Simon Says" and "Right Here" were loved by plenty of people who didn't know Organized Konfusion from Organized Noize. Pharoahe could've attempted to capitalize on the momentum, but he crept low, releasing the occasional single and compilation track (like "Agent Orange" and "What Is the Law"), and collaborating when the right situation presented itself (like Talib Kweli's "Guerrilla Monsoon Rap" and J Dilla's "Love"). As a result, Desire is a taut and focused work that energizes, packed densely with typically Monch-like quotables that might take a couple listens to catch. Production-wise, it's quite different from Internal Affairs, incorporating gritty gospel, anthemic funk, and laid-back soul (not to mention an ambitious, sprawling, three-part finale), along with a measured amount of material that sounds more like a logical extension of Pharoahe's past. Altogether, it's a brighter, bolder set of tracks. The lone trip-up is a well-intentioned cover of Public Enemy's "Welcome to the Terrordome"; despite a relevant added verse, no one can reinterpret Chuck D and the Bomb Squad at the peak of their powers without coming up a little short. This is the kind of album that could only be made by a veteran who knows the difference between running your mouth and speaking when you have something to say, and not many elder MCs can say they were as vital in their mid-thirties as they were in their early twenties.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:47:16
- Main artists: Pharoahe Monch
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: SRC Records
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2007 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc. ℗ 2007 Universal Records & SRC Records Inc., a division of UMG Recordings
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