Spins: Album reviews

Hanif-Jamiyl – Krushed Grapes

Artist: Hanif-Jamiyl
Title: Krushed Grapes
Label: Bukurance
Genre: Hip-Hop/Electronica/Soul

“Have you ever had your grapes crushed before?”

“Have I ever had my grapes crushed? Well I’ve been juiced before but I don’t know if I’ve had my grapes crushed before.”

Laced with smooth jazz rap influences that date back to the sleek and sporadic vocal delivery of hip hop super group A Tribe Called Quest, Hanif-Jamiyl delivers Krushed Grapes, a slinky, cat-like BUKARANCE Records contemporary album that definitely has sex on the brain.

A sound that may draw comparisons to hip hop legends LL Cool J, Rakim and Q-tip, Hanif-Jamiyl’s sound journeys to the mid 90s smooth hip-hop movement with sexy R&B funk grooves and hip-hop electronica backbeats. Tracks like “Take It off,” and “Insatiable Rose,” could make even an old school LL Cool J blush. “Insatiable Rose,” what could easily be seen as a sequel to the 1995 smash “Hey Lover,” takes Hanif-Jamiyl from the urban glitz seen in several radio everymen of the moment to supernatural ladies’ man when he coos and brings out the bass in his quasi-poetic baritone.

It is the song “She Got It all,” which samples Shelia E’s “The Glamorous Life” that brings the listener to their knees. With its quiet synths and electronic tinkles Hanif-Jamiyl is allowed to truly shine. His causal delivery blows him out of sync with several artists and makes one wonder if he found success in his craft a generation too late.

Who knows? But maybe it doesn’t hurt to get your grapes crushed.

- Marcus Scott

www.myspace.com/krushedgrapes

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