2008 Woodie Awards
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The Scene
Music notes
2/5/07
Tim Fite
"Over the Counter Culture"
(Anti)
Grade: A
Sounds like: Successful atonement for the creation of "Shaniqua don't live here no mo'."
"Always replenish your blood supply, never clear your samples and never spend more than a buck." These words of wisdom come from Tim Fite, the Brooklynite who is responsible for the notorious line, "Shaniqua don't live here no mo'." Five years after this lyrical blunder, Fite has come out with the far superior "Over the Counter Culture."
A matchless album that is sure to attract many fans, "Over the Counter Culture" is an inventive hip-hop masterpiece that keeps the listener engaged with unexpected violin vignettes and occasional comic interludes. The record is relentless in its intentions foremost as an overtly political outcry. The second track, "It's All Right Here," is an immaculate example of this. Fite sarcastically preaches, "I want you to buy my record, so I can sell out in 60 seconds." In the title track, Fite sermonizes about the U.S. health care system with, "Medicaid with third-rate medicine determined to murder us." "I've Been Shot" is a blatant attack on infamous rapper 50 Cent, who allegedly travels no place without his bulletproof vest. "Just shoot me a little bit man, make it look good. Well, not every rapper does it, but every rapper should. It's a good career move, just wait, you'll see. When everybody goes and gets shot like me."
"Over the Counter Culture" is one of the best sincerely political opuses that have emerged from our so-called "lazy generation." Aside from providing an excellent hip-hop beat with cleverly mixed samplings, all from CDs found in the Bargain Bin, Fite has taken on the role of a poised spokesman for anti-commercialism, especially in the big business of hip-hop. The best news, of course, is that Fite practices what he preaches: The entire album is free on his Web site.
-ILIANA IMBERMAN BERKOWITZ
The Arcade Fire
"Over the Counter Culture"
(Anti)
Grade: A
Sounds like: Successful atonement for the creation of "Shaniqua don't live here no mo'."
"Always replenish your blood supply, never clear your samples and never spend more than a buck." These words of wisdom come from Tim Fite, the Brooklynite who is responsible for the notorious line, "Shaniqua don't live here no mo'." Five years after this lyrical blunder, Fite has come out with the far superior "Over the Counter Culture."
A matchless album that is sure to attract many fans, "Over the Counter Culture" is an inventive hip-hop masterpiece that keeps the listener engaged with unexpected violin vignettes and occasional comic interludes. The record is relentless in its intentions foremost as an overtly political outcry. The second track, "It's All Right Here," is an immaculate example of this. Fite sarcastically preaches, "I want you to buy my record, so I can sell out in 60 seconds." In the title track, Fite sermonizes about the U.S. health care system with, "Medicaid with third-rate medicine determined to murder us." "I've Been Shot" is a blatant attack on infamous rapper 50 Cent, who allegedly travels no place without his bulletproof vest. "Just shoot me a little bit man, make it look good. Well, not every rapper does it, but every rapper should. It's a good career move, just wait, you'll see. When everybody goes and gets shot like me."
"Over the Counter Culture" is one of the best sincerely political opuses that have emerged from our so-called "lazy generation." Aside from providing an excellent hip-hop beat with cleverly mixed samplings, all from CDs found in the Bargain Bin, Fite has taken on the role of a poised spokesman for anti-commercialism, especially in the big business of hip-hop. The best news, of course, is that Fite practices what he preaches: The entire album is free on his Web site.
-ILIANA IMBERMAN BERKOWITZ
The Arcade Fire
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