ArtOfficial's The Payback

To close out the year, Crossfade is picking out its favorite albums by 305 artists. Read the full list of Miami's Best Albums of 2010 here.ArtOfficial The Payback (Self-Released) Ahhh, the cover song. Sure, bands can master one or two tracks by a legendary counterpart. But putting together an entire...

By Christine Borges

December 29, 2010

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To close out the year, Crossfade is picking out its favorite albums by 305 artists. Read the full list of Miami's Best Albums of 2010 here.

ArtOfficial

The Payback

(Self-Released)

Ahhh, the cover song.

Sure, bands can master one or two tracks by a legendary counterpart. But putting together an entire album seems like it might be a bit too daunting for most, even local hip-hop greats ArtOfficial.

Skeptical to say the least, we drank in each track slowly, absorbed each piano key, smooth saxophone toot, and each heavy-spittin' rhyme wanting more.

From instrumental recreations of classic cuts by Led Zeppelin ("The Ocean" and "Black Dog") and Jimi Hendrix ("Voodoo Child,") to the Beatles ("Happiness is a Warm Gun"), the ArtOfficial crew leaves pretty much no musical stone unturned and no foot untapped.

The result? A killer covers album that turns even Radiohead's "Talk Show Host" into a funky, jazz-driven hip-hop and R&B anthem.

Download: ArtOfficial's The Payback

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Christine Borges is an award-winning writer and editor from Miami. She has over a decade of experience reporting on music, fashion, and the arts. When she’s not exploring new scenes and cultures, she’s petting dogs.

Contact: Christine Borges