I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind — Killer Mike
Grind Time
2006
Rating:


Now that "Hell Hath No Fury" has finally dropped, it's time for Clipse to pass on the torch of record label stifling to Killer Mike. Atlanta native Killer Mike broke through with the help of fellow ATLiens OutKast, appearing on the duo's tracks "The Whole World" and "Snappin' & Tappin'" and being signed to Big Boi's Purple Ribbon label. But, like Clipse, Killer Mike has been unable to release an album in the three years since 2003's "Monster."

The ferocious double album "I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind" is a retaliation against Purple Ribbon's interference (or mere lack of interest), with Killer Mike forming his own label, Grind Time, and personally delivering copies of the record to Best Buys across the country.

But, as Killer Mike says, don't call "I Pledge" a mixtape. Unlike most underground albums, "I Pledge" features stunning original production — mostly from Chaotic Beats and Smiff & Cash — that's as polished and hard-hitting as anything released by the mainstream hip-hop community.

Though arguably in a far direr situation, Killer Mike notably spends less time lamenting his label troubles than other ostracized artists like Joe Budden and the oddly whiny The Game. Killer Mike takes advantage of his freedom to hunt much more dangerous game.

Over the pounding horns of the "X-Men" referencing "The Juggernaut," Killer Mike vows that "lyrically I will abolish thee stunningly." Killer Mike lives up to that promise over most of "I Pledge's" tracks, but it's "That's Life" that's a true evisceration.

"That's Life" establishes Killer Mike as a force to be reckoned with. Taking on no less than Oprah, Bill Cosby, two Clintons and three Bushes, the infinitely quotable "That's Life" is the social awareness of The Legendary K.O.'s "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People" taken to the nth degree.

Killer Mike lyrically decapitates Oprah and Cosby, taking them to task for criticizing black athletes and hip-hop artists for not setting better examples, even though, Killer Mike says, basketball players and rappers are "the new Robin Hoods" while what Michael Eric Dyson calls the "Afristocracy" can only be bothered to care about the "ghettocracy" after disasters like Hurricane Katrina. Kanye West didn't go far enough with his comments about George W. Bush as far as Killer Mike is concerned: "Bush hates poor people be they black or white." After references to Dyson and Cornell West, it's hard to refute Killer Mike's claim that "you'd be hard pressed to find another rapper smart as me."

Killer Mike is a dragon to be sure. Unleashed to a larger audience, his fire might just consume the world.

Posted Thursday, December 14, 2006

Link to this review:
http://filmzeus.pressbin.com/music/killer.mike/i.pledge.allegiance.to.the.grind