Radioinactive Pyramidi Rarlab
Soundtrack to a Book Label: Stranger Touch US Release Date: 2006-05-16 UK Release Date: Available as importKamal Humphrey de Inetagoyena, known to the world as Radioinactive, has a long history of hovering at the fringes of the hip-hop scene, gaining renown and cult admiration on the underground circuit but remaining too obtuse to ever be accepted by the mainstream.
Radioinactive Pyramidi Rarlabs
While 2001's was labeled 'American made avant hip-hop,' calls, his '04 effort for Mush/Dirty Loop, 'art rap.' What's the difference? Codejock 16 crackers. The answer might be in that torrent of syllables and left field rhymes flying sideways from the MC's mouth. He doesn't own his off-kilter style outright; its wordiness and occasional impenetrability can suggest, and seems like a forebear.
But on, continues to bring the positivity and activism alongside the fantastical lyrical rides. The album features the beats and arranging work of fellow Dirty Loop member, who really keeps us guessing. 'With Light Within' flows from a tropicalia/funk well, as raps humanistic directives in his clipped, sardonic tone. 'Borrow no money,' he urges. 'Cut up your credit cards/And spend less time on the computer/Call up your mother.'
Over the bass-heavy, Casio beat-driven vibe of 'Movin' Truck,' imagines the titular vehicle as a motivator for drastic life change. Arranges 'First World Jusice System' as a detached dub lilt complete with rattling percussion echo, and 'Stop Me Equals Death' scrapes the pop fringes with its driving acoustic guitar and vocal sample. There are a few more traditionally hip-hop moments on. 'Citrus,' for example, suggests the work of the Bay Area's Solesides crew with its dreamy backgrounds and more rhythmic, -like approach from (Best line: 'Realign your chakras 'cause Chewbacca's at the helm.' ), and 'Running With Scissors' could be a particularly inventive slice of New York City hip-hop. Later, 'Dinosaur Eggs' returns to its funny vibe of busy flows and fluid beats, with rhyming 'minimalism' with 'animal jism' over a crushed groove of what sounds like samples from old film noir soundtracks, and 'Folding Dirty Laundry' is a flurry of effortlessly wacky non sequiturs over an uplifting piano melody.
And certainly haven't taken the accessible route with. But the album's engaging, intriguing beats and blizzard of odd bird erudite raps makes it inviting all the same.