The Equinox Clean by Organized Konfusion

The Equinox Clean

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The Equinox Clean

Reader Reviews
This is the best & most creative concept album ever made, hands down - no question (Prince Paul's "A Prince Among Thieves" comes close). How can you true Hip-Hop heads & loyal OK fans (casual listeners & bandwagon jumpers have no say in this matter) possibly believe that a duo as intelligent & ingenious as Pharoahe Monch & Prince Po (former art school students) would produce a 'failed' concept album? If you know OK, you know that failed albums simply aren't in the cards. You REALLY have to read between the lines to see & understand it (as you do w/ deciphering ALOT of their tracks & lyrics), but if & when you do - you'll see how truly brilliant this concept-album is. 99.5% of Hip-Hop albums are just collections of tracks (nothing wrong w/ that). The other .5% step outside the norm and try to create something abstract & different ie, the concept album. These albums are usually met w/ confusion, disdain, whatever, the point is we as Hip-Hop heads are so used to one way of doing things, that to experience something so familiar in a different light is sometimes hard to digest. When I first heard "The Equinox" I knew something was up, but I had idea what they were trying to do. Like most of the other reviewers, I just enjoyed the tracks and ignored (and was annoyed by) the skits and intros. It doesn't help that 90% of skits on Hip-Hop albums are pointless and intrusive...so naturally we've learned to ignore and skip-over them. It wasn't until I committed myself to ACTUALLY LISTENING to the album in it's entirety w/ an open mind, that I fully understood and appreciated what it was OK was trying to do here. Take for example, a movie. Now chop it up into 21 scenes. Now watch only 14 of the scenes, in any random sequence. This is what you're doing if you listen to "The Equinox" just for the tracks. There's nothing wrong w/ this, I do it all the time, 'cause sometimes I just wanna hear certain dope cuts off the album. BUT if this is what you do w/ this album, then you have no right to call it a 'failure' of a concept-album 'cause you don't get it. It's easy to see why people think the tracks have nothing to do w/ the plot of the story. OK wanted to make a movie outta "The Equinox," but didn't have the support or resources to do it, so they opted to make the album as movie like as possible - check the front and back covers for instance. Each track is like a scene in a movie, where each individual track means very little on it's own. But as a collective, each track builds on the story and thickens the plot. See what I'm sayin'? "The Equinox," follows the lives of Life (OK's manager, Xtreme) & Malice (D.I.T.C. member O.C). The two wily young hustlers, one good, one bad, are followed as they grow from young punks into men. Basically, it's a Hip-Hop coming of age story. A prominent concept within the concept is the album's narration by a older voice, the character Life reflecting back on his youth. The equinox is the two times of the year when light and dark are in perfect balance in a day. This is the sustained-metaphor in a the story which indulges itself in the duality of good and evil and the balance of morality in one's life. The quick synopsis is this; the two kids start out by just livin' like young punks, doin' drive-bys, rebelling against authority figures, goin' to clubs, etc. As they grow-up they decide to go into the money-makin' business (a corrupt cheque-cashing store). The "light" side of the album ends at track #11 "Shugah Shorty" a classic track about flippin' it on girls, but this is where the fun ends. The following skit, track #12 opens the "dark" side of the album. They get deeply involved in the underworld as other problem's arise in their lives, pregnancies, betrayal by a crew member, the provocation of self-hatred between two best-friends and eventually gettin' driven-by. A voilent lesson nails down the moral, and w/ "Somehow, Someway" the two are presented w/ a fork in the road and emerge changed and (luckily) alive into men. The "Epilogue," tells of how they've come 180 degrees, realizing there's more important things in life. The hidden final track "United as One," combines Pharoahe (the world's best asthmatic MC), Prince Po and the characters Life (Xtreme) & Malice (O.C.). I think of this as the track they'd play over the closing credits. So that's that. As for the musical content of the album, I've never heard OK better than this. The often dark production is stellar and fits the album's vibe perfectly. Lyrically, OK are at their best, bringing supremely intelligent and creative lyrics we've come to expect. My favorite cuts are "Questions," "Hate" & "Invetro." Even through the concept, OK still keeps it true to form, "Questions" contains my favorite hook that I've ever heard them spit: "Yo Pharoahe, brother why don't you explain, how did Hip-Hop get caught up in this ill rap game? I got a question, in Hip-Hop, who they followin'? Them n*gga's with skills or them n*gga's who be hollarin'? Them n*gga's that be hollarin' is subject to modelin' n*gga's with skills, always and forever keeps a followin', swallowin' pride - never, we be imperialistic, who rips sh*t w/o being materialistic?" Classic. "Hate," has the two MC's flippin' perspectives and rhyming from the viewpoint of racist Aryan skinheads commenting on the black community. It's severely powerful and disturbing, especially Prince's last verse. The track figures into their severe depression in the story. My favorite cut on the album, has to be "Invetro." This track is mind-blowing in it's originality and effectiveness. They rap from the perspective of a fetus in the belly of a cracked-out single mom, each MC taking half the soul: Monch, w/ the chip on his shoulder, wishing he wasn't going to be born and Prince as the optimist just lookin' for a chance at life. It's incredibly moving, and done over a beautiful Buckwild beat. Bottom Line: This album is a breath of fresh air. It's unique, has a great underlying meaning and is lyrically perfect. I think it's their best work ever. Call it a home-run, it's outta the park and it's over ya head...but hopefully now you can appreciate it in all it's glory. It's time OK got the full props they deserve for this epic. A 5 star masterpiece, Peace.

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