Ascension by Pep Love

Ascension

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Ascension

Features

Audio CD (July 24, 2001)

Original Release Date: 2001

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Red Urban Records

Reader Reviews
Pep Love from the Hieroglyphics is an underrated and superb MC. I've heard great stuff from him on the two Hiero crew albums, but he takes it even further on "Ascensions." The thing is, I think he can do even better on a whole album, and this is one of the best albums I own! I think he can do better because there are a few songs ("Fight Club," "Karma," "If You Can't Beat 'Em") where he's cussing more and trying to act hard that just feel out of place on the album. The rest of the cd he's spitting enlightment, peace, and upliftment with one of the best vocabs in the business. Seriously! Maybe even stronger than Del's... The album starts out well and "Living Is Beautiful" is just like it sounds and a memorable early moment. He reaches for something different with "Da Grind" but pulls it off in the end. Actually, I like the battle rhymes found in "Fight Club," but it still feels out of place on this cd. From there, tracks 5-12 are impeccable! "U.S." is uplifting and easily a standout, and "The Onus"(w/ Tajai) is a little brazen, but too soulful to be forgotten. I have to mention "T.A.M.I" which has a great message and one of the best beats. "My Energy" has the digital sounds, but I like it, and the title track is a winner. He rocks a party-beat on "Act.Phenom" without watering down the lyrics. "My Religion" with the Grouch(of the Living Legends) is lyrically superior as they compare emceeing to an underground religion and the Grouch spits one of the best verses I've ever heard from him. This track is still memorable despite a boring beat. "Pacific Heights" is a nice ode to Cali and the West Coast. "The Snake Charmer" is a little bitter, but I like it though mostly because of the beat and how Pep rides it, despite the incomprehensible lyrics added by Major Terror. So that leaves "If You Can't Beat 'Em" as the only one I'm not feeling, but Casual actually comes nice on that one. "Different" is definitely old-school, and decent, but a little more raw than most of the album. He tops it all off with "Black People(Melanin Magnetic)" where he stands up for his race and drops 4 great verses over one of the tightest beats. By the way, I'm feeling most of the beats on "Ascensions." Some may say they're too boring, but I think they definitely fit with Pep's deep and mystical style. I think they're exactly how Pep wants them, invoking thought rather than dancing. There were a couple beats that failed, admittedly. So this is one of the most essential albums you can have. Pep Love is undeniably one of the best MC's...not just today, but in all of Hiphop. Once he gets a few more albums under his belt, that will probably be unanimous. Some are saying that Pep has done better, and I can see that, but it still don't get much better than this! His flow may be a little stagnant, but Pep is one of the most learned and enlightened MC's with an extensive vocab, and I think in the end people will be praising him over his Hiero mate Del (IMO). He's just that good! In fact I would be calling him the best MC from the West Coast, if it weren't for some dude named Aceyalone. Ever heard him?

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