Kentucky hip-hop sextet Nappy Roots return August 26th with Wooden Leather, the follow-up to their platinum-plus 2002 major-label debut, Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz.
The homespun rhymes and jangly pop hooks that characterized Watermelon are still bountiful, but this time around they are backed by fuller, denser beats. "We wanted to be a lot more musical with this CD," R. Prophet says. "We have a lot more instruments -- live instruments, rather than just a keyboard."
Besides creating a more rocking feel, the eclectic instrumentation produces some intriguing tracks -- ominous grooves lurk just under the surface of "Lac Dogs and Hogs," and the distorted "Twang" is introduced by a swirling organ.
Guest vocalist Anthony Hamilton, who appeared on Watermelon, returns for "Push On," and Raphael Saadiq lends his talents to "Leave This Morning." Saadiq also produced two tracks, while Lil' Jon (Too $hort) and David Banner (Ruff Ryders) also contributed production.
One innovative producer who didn't make this album is electronic music guru William Orbit, with whom the group recently collaborated in London. The resulting track will appear on Orbit's next album, and Nappy Roots are eyeing a future collaboration for their third record . . . scheduled for February.
"We got number three done," Big V says. "You're going to hear the group growing older, confident, just putting their heart and soul into the lyrics -- still hungry, still craving for the other level."
STEVE BALTIN
(August 21, 2003)