PackFM - WhutduzFMstand4? (Review: Dan)

It's no mystery that I'm not an expert on hip-hop. I like bits of Jay-Z and what I've heard from Tonedeff and Immortal Technique. And I like most of what I know of Eminem...but who doesn't?

I reviewed Cunninlynguists earlier in the year and didn't really like it. But I am determined to get more involved in hip-hop, so the more that is recommended to me then the happier I'll be.

This is the first I've heard of PackFM before. I know nothing about him or his history. A quick search on wikipedia to do some research provides me with nothing so I have to jump in with both feet.

The album opens with 'The Fuck'. It's quick, and PackFm is basically just telling me who he is. It's a good song actually.

One thing that I've grown to admire about hip-hop is that unlike any other genre is that it's all about the lyrics and their delivery. Tracks rely on samples taken from other songs, and you'll find that a hip-hop artist (or certainly PackFM) has the ability to put their own work over the top to create a great song. This is an admirable attribute to PackFM's album, because even the simplest musical tracks can make some of the better songs - 'Stomp' springs to mind.

I love PackFM's rapping, I think it's clever and it's hard-hitting at the same time. He conveys his lyrics with flow and rythm that I didn't notice with Cunninlynguists.
Although I find a lot of what he is saying cringey and embarrassing he seems to do his job with so much conviction that he comes across very cool. Especially in the song 'Click, Clack & Spray'. I think my problem is that I'm not a hip-hop fan, I don't circle with the same type of person and so it's just like a different language to me.

Nigga Pass is what I'd call a skit (although correct me if I'm wrong). Although I don't see it's value on the album. I've listened to the track twice now, and never want to listen to it again. Not because I didn't like it (though I didn't) but because it's just a bit useless. It's like an ad-break.

Overall 'WhutduzFMstand4?' is a really good album. It's changed my perspective on hip-hop and I want to listen to more of it until I can rap along when I'm listening. The album isn't perfect though, there are several tracks I think the lyrics are poor, or I just don't like the music samples or the way the words have been made to fit over it. Suzie and Ugly Woman are probably the two worst in this way. I think I'm going to re-listen to Cunninlynguists with my new appreciation, just to see if I need to take back some previous comments. One last point I want to make is that the production is nothing short of brilliant on the album, and it's something that seems consistent in hip-hop. I like what PackFM has done here, I look forward to hearing more hip-hop (hopefully a tonedeff or immortal technique album is on the way) and I'm going to carry on listening to my favourite tracks from this album. 4.5/5

Highlights:
I Can't Win
Lessons
Forevershine

Dan