Rhymefest

A cursory listen to Rhymefest's Blue Collar reveals why it was delayed for nearly a year before finally seeing the light of day. Many of its songs feature unnecessary R&B singers trilling in the background, while Rhymefest spits lower-middle-class aspirations like "If King was alive, this is how he would...

By Mosi Reeves

August 3, 2006

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

A cursory listen to Rhymefest's Blue Collar reveals why it was delayed for nearly a year before finally seeing the light of day. Many of its songs feature unnecessary R&B singers trilling in the background, while Rhymefest spits lower-middle-class aspirations like "If King was alive, this is how he would sound." He and executive producers No ID and Mark Ronson work hard to replicate the slick, overproduced qualities that made his onetime Chicago friend Kanye West a star. But "Fever" is a near-miss that oddly falls flat. Eventually, however, Rhymefest stops trying to make hits and settles into a number of topical, issue-based songs like "Sister," a ballad about a crack-addicted woman; and "Bullet," which sympathizes with young men ensnared by early death. Blue Collar's second half demonstrates Rhymefest's potential as a thought-provoking artist, even if he's unlikely to match Kanye's swagger.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Miami New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.