From time to time, it is nice to listen to music that is just plain fun. As we get farther and farther away from the 1990s, it seems that many artists in the music industry forget about making music for the sake of music; they don’t take risks and many in rap do not play their own instruments.
The Knux and their debut album, Remind Me In 3 Days, is a breath of fresh air hailing from the alternative rap genre.
Originally from New Orleans, The Knux consists of brothers Kentrell “Krispy Kream” and Alvin “Rah Al Millio” Lindsey. Though this is their debut album, you may have heard of them before, as their song “Bang Bang!” was used to advertise the television show Entourage for its 5th season, and the song “Cappuccino” was featured in the film “Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.”
Immediately, one notices the instrumentals; a fusion of reggae-bass, heavy-metal guitar, and a little bit of electronica.
Even more interesting is the fact that the brothers play their own instruments, suggesting a musical aptitude outside of the computer and the recording studio. The song “Life in a Cage (electric)” starts with an electronic pulsation, then suggests a heavier melody, followed by turntables and drums. “Playboy’s” starts with bass, drum and guitar that would make one do a double-take had he been openly aware he was listening to rap.
The brothers also included a more thoughtful track, “The True.” This song includes some of the instruments mentioned above as well as a wind instrument, and the chorus rings, “It’s got to be white, its got to be black, it can’t be gray, it’s a matter of fact when you’re dealing with the true.” Even when not keeping the context of the song in mind, there is a deep thought process that can be triggered from these words alone.
If I had to pick something to draw issue with, it would be that I do not particularly care about the sexual activity of the artists I listen to. But that’s exactly what you get with the track “Parking Lot.” One lousy track out of a total 17 isn’t bad though. It’s actually really good.
They may not receive a lot of radio play and might be basically unheard of, but it is genuinely relieving to hear another rap group that doesn’t quite fit into the mold I associate with mainstream rap and hip-hop. If you are looking for rap with a different sound, check out Remind Me In 3 Days.
