フォーマット |
CD |
---|---|
構成数 |
1 |
国内/輸入 |
輸入 (International Version) |
パッケージ仕様 |
- |
発売日 |
2018年11月10日 |
---|---|
規格品番 |
7711277 |
レーベル |
|
SKU |
602577112775 |
全米シングル・チャート26週連続1位という金字塔を打ち立てたヒップホップ界のスーパーグループ=ブラック・アイド・ピーズ、遂に再始動!豪華ゲストと共にヒップホップの原点に回帰したオリジナル・ニュー・アルバム堂々の完成!元2NE1のCLも参加!参加ゲスト:NAS(言わずと知れた大物MC、ヒップホップ界最高の"リリシスト"と呼ばれる) / エステロ(カナダ出身の女性アーティスト) / スリック・リック(80年代後半に大ヒットを放ったベテラン・ラッパー) / CL(韓国を代表する元2NE1のメンバー。2017年サマーソニックでも共演していた) / ファイフ・ドーグ(ア・トライブ・コールド・クエストのメンバー、2016年に死去) / アリ・シャヒード・ムハマド(ア・トライブ・コールド・クエストのメンバー) / ポスドゥヌス(デ・ラ・ソウルのメンバー) / ニコール・シャージンガー(元プッシー・キャット・ドールズのメンバーでソロでも活躍した女性アーティスト)
構成数 | 1枚
合計収録時間 | 00:00:00
Nearly a decade after the release of their previous album, 2010's The Beginning, the Black Eyed Peas truly take it back to the start on their triumphant seventh set, Masters of the Sun, Vol. 1. A lot changed in their eight-year absence: Fergie left the group, reducing BEP to the original trio of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, while the former pair spent time on solo music and judging television singing competitions and the latter beat cancer. Throw in a turbulent period of American politics and social turmoil and the Peas finally had something to say beyond mindlessly repetitive, party-starting platitudes and odes to "My Humps." A return to their roots, Masters of the Sun reclaims their late-'90s boom-bap sound -- recruiting an iconic crew of New York MCs to really drive the point home -- on a satisfying (and surprising) set that is cohesive both in theme and sound. The acid jazz throwback production is strong, with a soulful downbeat vibe flowing throughout, while the three BEP rappers tackle topics such as race relations, gun violence, police brutality, and social media addiction ("RING THE ALARM" and "BIG LOVE"), with a touch of hip-hop boasting for good measure. They sound revitalized and refreshed like a post-millennial Digable Planets or Tribe, pushing these head-bobbing beats and dexterous lyrics like the 2000s never happened. Godzilla-stomp horns herald the time warp back to the Golden Era on "BACK 2 HIPHOP" with Nas, continuing with enough soul and jazz-sampled tracks to bring a tear to the eye of any self-professed old head. Later, Slick Rick drops in on "CONSTANT" -- via a "La Di Da Di" sample -- and the late Phife Dawg and his Tribe brother Ali Shaheed Muhammad join forces with De La Soul's Posdnuos on "ALL AROUND THE WORLD," a dizzying talent cypher that BEP bill as "A Tribe Called De La Pea." On these standouts, the sonic familiarity and focus on verbal skill is utterly refreshing, especially in the world of 2018 trap and mumble rap. Elsewhere, pop-leaning guests provide mainstream polish without distracting from the hip-hop focus. In an obvious callback, trip-hop chanteuse Esthero reprises her role from BEP's 2000 single "Weekends," appearing on the jazzy bossa nova "4EVER." Nicole Scherzinger -- originally approached for the position before it went to Fergie and also once considered as her replacement -- delivers sultry vocals and a "Tom's Diner" hook to "WINGS," while K-pop rapper CL contributes an aggressive verse that stands tall beside the Peas on "DOPENESS." Without the electro distractions of The E.N.D. and The Beginning, or the pop-rap jock jams of Elephunk and Monkey Business, the Black Eyed Peas remind listeners of the pure skill and talent preceding all their radio-dominating chart hits from the 2000s, bridging the proverbial gap back to a time when will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo simply spit over a great beat. Masters of the Sun, Vol. 1 is a welcome and gratifying return to form, a catalog highlight decades into their careers. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
-
1.[CD]
-
1.BACK 2 HIPHOP
-
2.YES OR NO
-
3.GET READY
-
4.4EVER
-
5.CONSTANT pt.1 pt.2
-
6.DOPENESS
-
7.ALL AROUND THE WORLD
-
8.NEW WAVE
-
9.VIBRATIONS pt.1 pt.2
-
10.WINGS
-
11.RING THE ALARM pt.1 pt.2 pt.3
-
12.BIG LOVE
-
-
8年ぶりの新作にファーギーは不在……ってことで、2作目『Bridging The Gap』(2000年)以来18年ぶりのトリオ作品。そもそも持ち前の貪欲さでエレクトロ路線へ至り、EDM躍進を助けてUSアーバン界隈の様相を変えたのはまさに彼ら自身だったわけだが、ここにきてブーンバップを主軸に選んだのはもちろんコンシャス路線への回帰を意味している。どうせなら"Yesterday"(2015年)もこの並びで聴きたかったけど、そうでなくても往年の音楽への愛と敬意は随所から滲んでくるはずだ。"Back 2 HipHop"を象徴するナズから、アリとファイフとポス、スリック・リック、さらにCLやニコール、18年ぶりに組むエステロまで多彩な顔ぶれを迎えつつ全編は実にタイト。ラストを飾る"Big Love"の意図と効果は説明不要!
bounce (C)轟ひろみタワーレコード (vol.421(2018年11月25日発行号)掲載)