Phi Life Cypher

      I just listened to Belles in Monica, a hip hop band from New Dawn Records and I was incredibly turned off to this UK Hip Hop sound that I was listening to. However, I didn't let one bad apple spoil the bunch and gave Phi Life Cypher, another hip hop UK band, from Jazz Fudge a listen. No constructive criticism here. I liked this band better than some of the American hip hop bands out there.

      Phi Life Cypher is very reminiscent of the band Public Enemy, as they attack political systems and voice their opinions on how the government deals with the citizens of the country. Besides political rap, Cypher also hits us with some very entertaining rhymes all combined with some phat beats.

      I was only able to get a CD containing four songs from their debut album, Millennium Metaphor, but I can all ready see why this group has taken the UK by storm. The very first track I listened to set the tone for the next four with some faster than the speed of light rhymes, that acted in a beat all their own. Phi Life Cypher reminded me of the old days when rappers tried to rap as fast as they could and really tore shit up. I couldn't even keep up with the rhymes on Drop Bombs, but I can tell you that what I was able to comprehend in this slow brain of mine- mad catchy lyrics and worthy of repeating over and over again.

I got lyrics by the sackful, or I flex like a funkmaster, or the best one yet, I be the rap kung fu master. Yeah, Rap Kung Fu Master-That kicks ass!

      The best thing about this song is their ability to take the tired trend of dropping names of other rappers and doing it in a way that is both entertaining and very witty. My hat goes off to these guys all ready and we have only discussed the first track.

      The next song on this CD, Fat Cats really demonstrates what I mean by political rap. Phi Life Cypher really demonstrates a killer underground hip hop sound that can definitely reach the mainstream radio waves here in the States. All they need is a good marketing strategy and using their political raps is certainly the way to go. Here, the group attacks the notion that the rich are always getting richer and the poor stay poor or get worse, made evident by the line, There are people making more in a day than I can make in a year. Phi Life Cypher sounds at their best in this style of rap, but besides sounding good, they also put forth a message that is both thought provoking and pretty damn cool at that. My head is bobbing just thinking of the song while I write this review down.

I worked for so many agency jobs that are more than boring/where I try to save for a rainy day, but it seems it's always pouring/I can't afford the clothes/they cost me an arm and a leg/Besides the bills and the rent there's barely enough for eggs.

(Beginning to the chorus):Government tax and cutbacks/feeding the fat cats/ houses and parliament members cruising around in polished jags.

      This type of political attacks continues in Crazy Balheads, a track that with a reggae influence, attacks the church system as well as government institutions. I didn't like the fact that at one point it appears he is comparing himself to Christ, but the rhymes are cool so I guess I can forgive him for that. The fact that there is even reggae in this song really adds to its appeal.

      Finally in the title track, Millennium Metaphors, the group shows that they can get downright nasty as well with some really cool, and cruel rhymes such as the following two:

Take your mind hostage/get the ransom and kill you anyway/If I can murder when I am happy/imagine me on a bad day.

I went to area 51 and taught the aliens mathematics/You better believe I can teach Christopher Reeves acrobatics

      Despite how mean it is, I had to laugh. This is a six minute track, so imagine the verbal barrage they laid out in this song. It is actually the first really long rap song that didn't grow tired after the first two verses. Phi Life Cypher really demonstrates an ability to spit out rhymes with the best of them and perform any style at all, from political rap to the kind you would hear come from Jay-Z.

      Send your comments and or questions about this article to JenniferJ@ybfree.com.

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