Mike Control

      Never listen to the first track and judge a CD or band. That is a lesson you must learn when reviewing CDs. I almost forgot this lesson when I popped in the introduction CD for the underground rap group, Mike Control. I didn't like the opening skit at all. It made no sense to me and I immediately thought, this is going to suck. I was totally wrong. Mike Control took control of my mind, had my head bobbing, and my adrenaline pumping from track 2 to the very last one.

Give me the microphone/Mics I grab/Lyrics like the art/rip rap apart.

      Mike Control definitely rips rap apart, sounding totally different from anything you hear on the mainstream stations. They have some great beats and a killer underground sound, putting them in the category of such legendary underground stars like Cage, although not as twisted.

      Maurice, using the DJ name Grey Ghost, teamed with his friend Jon Bro and Mike "The Oscillator" to create the killer sounds they started together in 1998. The Brooklyn duo are masters at looping and constructing original beats. Through their combined efforts, Mike Control created a smooth sound, matched by lyrical perfection.

Ride you with my rap/My own tongue the frequent flyer.
Puddles turn to oceans/With a drop of my saliva.

      These guys are lyrical geniuses. I couldn't believe some of the words they spit out of their mouths and every time I heard a line that was cool, I had to write it down. By the time I was finished I had a list too long to print here. Those are smart rappers, a lot smarter than the crappy shit we hear all the time on MTV or Hot 97. Anyone can rap about sex, drugs and murder. These guys rap about a lot more than that. They create music that is reminiscent of the old school rap style that the duo grew up loving. What I heard is music that we should hear more on the radio.

      One of those songs, Rhyme Killers, especially kicked ass with phat background music. The good beats combined with a cool siren sound and three well placed piano strokes, played throughout the track, made for a bumpin', eerie sound. Mind Bending continues the onslaught as Mike Control verbally abuses their listeners with their slang and combine it again with some killer beats.

I be this bomb atomic/Roll with my crew Supersonic/I be bionic/
Reminiscent of Steve Austin/6 million styles and one mic/I exhaust them/
Pass me the shit and I toss them.

      Mike Control does what many of their contemporaries can't-they have learned to combine great lyrics with killer beats, great background music, and some fantastic production, without one factor overshadowing the other. Their lyrics are dark, catchy and inspiring. Almost mind bending.

It's mind bending/We ain't pretending/We lace the track with a verse that's never ending/It's never ending.

      It is never ending. The journey to the top of the charts is just beginning. Mike Control hits you with a never-ending amount of material that never gets tiresome. They don't need to copy other people's sounds, rhymes or hooks. Six million ways to make a hit and I think they hit it every time. Be on the lookout. This group will be on everyone's top ten lists soon. Comments and or questions about this article can be sent to JMinners@ybfree.com.

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