7L & Esoteric - A New Dope
Label: Babygrande Records
Grade: D
Highlight: Take Note
Overview: It’s been 10 years since the group then known as God Complex released their first single. However, if this is 7L & Eso’s definition of A New Dope, I wish they’d go back to the old formula. I’m just not feeling this “indie-rock” record, and I say that as someone who really appreciated their earlier work. This album is experimental to say the least. The beats are very electronica, mixed with some old school breakbeats, but lacking that true hip hop boom bap. The lead single, “Get Dumb” is just way too alternative (and corny) for me. It doesn’t get much better from there. The beats are out there and the lyrics are intriguing at times, but forgettable in general. “Feel the Velvet” brings back the played out Paul Revere-style back-scratch. “Eso Ain’t Shit” sounds like it was on the cutting floor of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. “Daisycutta” featuring Kool Keith is on some fast-rap vibe that I can’t get down with. “Reggie Lewis Is Watching” has a good story-telling concept, but Len Bias would have been the better posthumous Celtic tribute. “Take Note” is probably the closest example to a true hip hop record, with odes to Boston sports and culture. You can argue that 7L and Eso are challenging hip hop’s norm, but they are leaving a lot of their fans scratching their heads, wondering what has come of Boston’s dream team.
