Chords - The Garden Around The Mansion
Label: JuJu Records
Grade: B+
Highlight: Searchin’ For Dreams
Overview: From the land of Abba and Ikea comes Sweden’s newest hip hop import. What, you didn’t know? More albums like this, and JButters will definitely have to add Sweden to the Hip Hop International series. Chords’ The Garden Around The Mansion is a real pleasant surprise. While Swedish hip hop heads (Hej, y’all) know all about his clever punchlines and story-telling style, he is still an unknown to most. The album is effectively produced by Breakmachanix and Domingo and features guest appearances from Timbuktu, Rantoboko, Promoe, and Masta Ace and Punchline on the dope “Get u awn.” The first single, “Wrap Your Chops” is getting some world-wide play and rightfully so as it’s one of the hottest tracks on the album. I hesitate to say that one artist sounds like another, but damn, Chords sounds like Mr. Eon’s voice mixed with Redman’s over-enunciated grimy delivery. He must have Whut? Thee Album on permanent rotation. Disagree if you choose, but the comparison is uncanny. Standout tracks include “Schmack,” the reggae-infused “Chillin’,” and the ill throwback joint, “Searchin’ For Dreams.” The album is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s tight lyrics with a fluent delivery, hot production and creative sampling. It does suffer from the repetitious-beat factor at times, but it’s an above average record and makes Swedish hip hop almost as tasty as Swedish fish.
