Packo’s Piece on Creed Chameleon’s “SIQ of Lazy”

With a fearless opening sequence and an active conscience, the hunger is crystal clear here. Creed Chameleon’s new attitude is everything but lazy.

Just as eager as he was to release his third album, I was just as much looking forward to hearing it. The determination is evident throughout the album. From one track to the next, non-idleness prevails. PAUSE. breathe. Before all the goody-two-shoes-boost-me-up-5-mic-reviews-prejudiceness occurs, I’m gonna be straight up and honest. I have a big opportunity here. Since, we’re both crewmates, I feel I should roast’im at my leisure. I will be as vague as possible, careful as to not disturb the image we have of his wonderful self. I’ll pick pocket the unpleasant areas as needed. Pardon Creed as Packo becomes partisan.

Here I sit in the dim spotlight, with my meticulous mean mug on, previewing the new album, “SIQ of Lazy”. Altogether, to say the least, the great thing about this album is that you can expect the Creed Chameleon we’ve all come to know. Unfortunately you can also expect the same Creed Chameleon we’ve all come to know. Same ol’ creedentials. Boh!

In any case, aside from other local artists with their own releases, there aren’t many that can compare to Creed Chameleon’s status and accomplishments thus far. With that, I guess I expected a little more from a third-season wordsmith. I sort of see it as him being the voice for us as artists and everyone else that would follow-up with products shortly after. He’s like the spokesperson for us in the entourage. He is our prototype, he should live up to it.

Undoubtedly improving from the past two albums, “Defy” and “Love Potion Cyanide”, I still wanted more. Lyrically, his delivery falls a bit short and a number of the hooks aren’t to my liking. They are not melodic enough for me to grab a hold of and recite in mid-sentence to a homie or two. (which is a fun thing to do, by the way) Isn’t worth it to single out which tracks, so decide for yourself. The cadences are unfavorable in minimal areas throughout the album, I noticed. A broken flow definitely throws me off from time to time. But, he picks himself up and jumps back on track as expected. Now, unless he’s going for the broken-bebop-rap-static-glitch-hitchhiker technique, then it’s understandable. Or is it? Again, this is my dogmatic principles on my wants and needs, so it doesn’t matter what you really think of it.

Creed Chameleon is a veteran in the game and he’s great and spectacular at what he does. Actually, he’s one of my favorite MC’s reppin’ Hawaii, but I want an album that is near perfection if he’s willing to represent us. I am a Taurean baby, so that’s what I always want. Perfection, or at least a rendition of it. I’m not the type of hip hop fan that listens to a whole lot of albums front to back, frequently. Most times, a lot of the filler songs, if not all, are just trash. Do ya feels me? But you know how it goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Gotta sift through the sand dunes

Right now, I’ll morph into a hippo. Going against my own judgment, I can honestly say, “SIQ of Lazy” is one of the fewer albums from Hawaii that contains actual quality from horn to tail. It’s hard to find a decent album coming out of the 808 worth more than anything incomparable to Waikiki pigeons. Though it may be worth 2-3 listen sessions to fully understand his words and messages, just in case you missed it the first time around, do it anyway. Maybe you’ll catch something I missed. Speaking of messages, seriously, a bit superfluous with the voicemails, huh? A little overboard for me. A bit difficult to vibe out when deterred with skits midway through song. Perhaps the idea of placing the listener in his skin to experience his feelings of pain, joy, hatred, and love was the intention…which works. But don’t burden a quality album like that. Storytelling with Mr. C. Oh well, make of it as you will. Don’t ever let me discourage you.

I think if being a critic was my profession, no one would make it in the industry. Probably because I hate everything. I tease Creed because I like him.

OK, enough of the bullshit talkin’. You know I’m just mad because I’m not featured on the album, nor left him any voicemails. *darn* On that note, I’m gonna switch in a total 180 degree direction now. Overall, I think it’s a great, well-produced, quality album. The samples chosen are probably the highlight for me throughout the tracks. Guerilla radios and sampled hooks. The beats are Beijing-opening-ceremonial-style flame torch fire on this album, and a beat can only be as good as an MC is. So everything meshes well together. Everything falls where it needs to, like that straight piece you needed to complete a game of Tetris. Or the bird crap that seems to always finds your shoulder, “SIQ of Lazy” will find your ears. Maybe even your heart, who knows. To further commend the chameleon, he is complimented wonderfully by a handful of local artists. Some of the most well- and un-well-known intermediary influences are here to display their definitions of lazy. Artists include Mox, Krystillez, NoMasterBacks, Ion Myke, Meiso, Everybody Knows, TKO, and Joe Dub, just to name a few. Their contribution truly blesses this surreal, siq-ening session of laziness. Overall satisfaction with the mix of styles and delivery.

The production is A+. Blessed beats by Ion Myke, Observ, Slapp Symphony, CyrusFX, Nomadd, Joe Dub and more, busted my eardrums but a few times. The variety in production adds to the ever-changing versatility throughout the album. The moods are vast and various. One minute you got your balls in a vice grip, the next you got a doll on the dizznick. The album displays the Chameleon’s adaptable features we’ve longed to hear on record. “SIQ of Lazy” really shows his compatibility as an artist. I’ve always enjoyed a well-rounded, diversified album in my everyday rotation of music. Emotions switch from one temperament to the next. From head to toe, from truth in the voice messages, this is one from Hawaii’s underground that you probably don’t want to let pass up, like a free shot of patron to the dome.

I really hate to pick apart the selections and have a favorite, or two, or three. But I will, unapologetically. The opening, and title track is a definite theatrical grand entrance no matter which way you look at it, hear it or feel it. With DJ Observ on the production, those two are clearly meant to be. Invisible is a very atmospheric track that is smooth on the head noddin’. Emo-rap at its finest. With tracks like Hell, consider yourself his b*tch in his world. Don’t let go of his pocket, you’ll be sorry. On the other side, you got tracks like Choke, Tonight and Much More To Say, laced with beats by the noteworthy MC/producer, Ion Myke. Continuously killin’ it with the ill samples and grittiness across half the album. Additionally aiding Creed, vocally, in his quest over a few tracks as well. Another highlight for me are the final two tracks, Eat Sh*t & Die into See You Again. You may not enjoy it, but I love how it’s all about my foot on your face in the dirt, then segueing beautifully into a heartfelt rap ballad. It’s tragic art. Juxtaposition of epic proportions. I am sadistic and I love the anger over Part 2. Then, I am sad because I can feel the emptiness, the seclusion. I’ve always been a fan of his lighter, reminiscent side, and this one is for the books. Lowie does some sweet justice indefinitely.

I’m sure it’s hard to stay focused on all the good things I have to say after that mash, previously. But, hey, stop being human for a second and look past the nonsensical talk. See the truth behind the curtains and forget the bad things that stand out like ugly babies in daylight. Think of how far Hawaii has really come for this thing we live as Hip Hop. You don’t see folks on their charming number 3 much in our day and age, and location in fact. It is truly an honor to know someone, personally, who’s started from earthworms and crickets, now living in the treetops, deservingly devouring anything in its path. I’m glad to be on his good side, or green side, figuratively speaking. This may be the Chameleon’s vindication and perhaps his complimentary counteraction of how Hawaii is depicted in the media. At least stereotypically; lazy. Maybe we give them the impression that we are. Time to make a difference. Why not have a spokesperson from the underground say what it’s like? If it takes one individual at a time to change the view of a people, so be it. I’m behind it all the way. The Hip Hop community in Hawaii is something worth striving for, right? Keep the credibility strong and unbreakable. From the Heisman to the Decathlon, Hawaii is continuously erupting. Judging by the tropical atmosphere, Kilauea is soon to explode again, and when it does, we’ll be there, riding Pele’s angel dust across the Pacific into the cracks and crevices of the unwilling. They’ll understand us more than ever, whether they want to or not. Creed’s the front line on the newfound Hokulea, unofficially dubbed, the Siqulea.

When Creed Chameleon says he’s sick of lazy, he means you. So quit sleepin’. Hawaii needs you. Wake up and achieve.

Pick up a copy and see for yourself, what all my wallowing is about. Swallow this review and poop it on your neighbor. Let it cleanse and rid you of the musical indigestion you’ve had trouble with for years. Think of it as you must. Just don’t think too hard, because I am a biased bastid. Peace, fam.

Hope to see you and your Mom on August 30th.
Why is that you ask? “SIQ of Lazy” Release Party, peanut butter breath!
E&O Trading Company, Honolulu, HI

With Love,
SirPartisanPacster

LinkUp:

CreedChameleon.com

Prototype

August 29, 2008 | Categories: Reviews | Tags: Chameleon, Creed, DJ, Hawaii, Hip Hop, Packo, Review, SIQ Records | 1 Comment »