Alltruisms - Clusterbombs

Genre rap Publisher Gravel Records External Links Alltruisms MySpace Gravel Records Website

The title for Alltruisms' solo album, Clusterbombs, results from a trip that he took to Laos. While walking through a field of unexploded ordinances, it occurred to him that cluster bombs are like rappers – “we drop, we get spins, some blow on contact…”

Clusterbombs is a refreshing addition to rap's littered landscape of mindless and endless odes to materialism and misogyny. Alltruisms speaks intelligently and bravely about a series of topics that are not about the bling and sexual conquests that have become the norm in hip-hop.

This is never more evident than on my favorite song on the album, "Nine Digit Number" featuring Verbal Kent. This is the type of song that reminds me of the activist vigor that Public Enemy displayed when they erupted on the hip-hop scene in the 80s. In a line, Alltruisms chants: “So long to donkeys, so long to elephants, I want peace, I’m militant...” Furthermore, the production backing this track is completely on fire. A blazing piano riff carries his message through to completion. Thought provoking vocals and a strong delivery. Yes, yes, yes. How I have missed this.

Alltruisms’ political insight is refreshing. One of the reasons I fell in love with hip-hop is because of its unique ability to honestly and frankly speak about the totality of the human condition. From his unique vantage point, Alltruisms' ability and desire to advance hip-hop’s conversation about important issues which touch us all is right on point.

This is good music straight from the school of Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, and Mos Def. Clusterbombs makes me proud to be a fan of hip-hop. Alltruisms' rhyming style reminds me a little of Marshall Mathers. He displays a unique ability to rhyme about unconventional topics yet his beats and cadence keep your head nodding.

On "Rocket’s Red Glare," a blazing horn opens the track. Then come the once again thought provoking politically infused lyrics. Wow, this guy can write and think. What the hell? Doesn’t he know that he is a rapper? Where is the swagger, the bragging about the big cars and chains that he owns, his gun toting adventures, the threats of imminent ass whippings he’s going to administer? Instead, Alltruisms is speaking about lack of health care, poverty, did he use the word proletariat? And there goes that riffin horn. Man, yes, yes, yes.

But for those who must have it, he does rap for the fellas. On “Dry Spell,” Alltruisms speaks just about that, a dry spell. Guy’s we’ve all been there with the ladies. As Alltruisms professes, “…I know it’s all wrong to write a song about it, but I’ve gone too long without it.” "Dry Spell" took me back to freshman year. That bright line in the sand by which we all measured our dating prowess was whether or not you scored before Thanksgiving break. Let’s just say that I hit a “Dry Spell.” Even here, Alltruisms comes at the topic of sex from a thought provoking and not vulgar point of few. Lyrically playful, yet still on point.

Another playful track is "Jalopy." Instead of bragging about his Mercedes or his shiny new Rolls, Alltruisms talks about his rusted 89 Celica. This song reminds me of the first car that I had. A yellow beetle that made anyone who rode in it smell like gasoline. This is my hip-hop. Something that I can relate too. Not this superstar world of fools who drink $200 bottles of Champagne and drive cars that cost more than most could ever dream of affording.

Alltruisms’ Clusterbombs is a much needed break from the rut that has become rap music. If you want to experience what hip-hop should be then this is an album that you will appreciate.