Independent (August 17, 2010)
Review by Larosa J.
When you look at a guy like Wut Metaphysical, things like rapper, wordsmith, and lyricist probably aren’t the first words that come to your mind. Well, as a lesson in not judging a book by its cover, this guy is all of the above and does a very good job at it. As an emcee that rolls with Dirt and Shadow of the Locust, Wut released his debut album Last of the Metaphysical Poets back in 2006, and has been pretty silent since then. Now the locust affiliate is back with a sophomore offering that he’s titled Lay Down the Law.
Coming into this album, you have to know what to expect, which is an album with dark beats (courtesy of Pinnacle Rhythms, Calmplex, and Apex Projects) and heady lyricism that leaves you scratching your head at times. The album starts off with the title track “Lay Down the Law” and it serves to set the tone for the entire album. Over an eerie Apex Projects beat, Wut Metaphysical spits bars that tell how this world is dying & needs to put its focus on Zion (heaven) and puts the thoughts of the psalmist in Psalm 1 into lyrical form. The rest of the album rides this same vibe and gives the listener much to think about, while also giving them plenty of nod worthy beats to pump their fist to.
Lay Down the Law offers a lot for the listener to enjoy. With guest appearances from emcees like Theory Hazit (Five Pointed Palm Exploding Heart Technique) and Drastic (Mystique), this album was album was sure to have its high points. One song in particular that is especially noteworthy is “Inheritance” featuring Prefekt & Calmplex. This is a song that speaks to all the mothers who stuck it out and chose to not have an abortion. It’s a powerful song and should serve as an encouragement for people to think twice before they decide to abort a pregnancy. Another track that stands out is the full version of “The Brasilian Connection,” which was previously split in two parts, with half of the song featured on Wut’s first album & the second half on Emcee Noiz’s project. It was nice hearing the song in its entirety.
There really isn’t a lot to dislike about this album. Wut Metaphysical does a good job at doing what he does best. If there’s anything that you can knock this album for is probably that it’s sometimes a little hard to make sense of the songs and understand the point that he’s trying to get across. If you’re not used to his lyricism, it’s easy to get lost; it definitely takes an attentive ear to make sense of Wut Metaphysical’s music. Other than that, this album fulfills its purpose and gets the job done.
In all, Lay Down the Law is a very strong album from start to finish. The beats bang and the lyricism is witting and thought provoking. It’s hard to imagine that it’s been four years between albums for Wut, but it was well worth the wait. If you’re a fan of Dirt and Shadow of the Locust, then this is an album to have in your collection. If you’ve never heard of him before, I’d recommend taking a chance & picking it up; you might find yourself pleasantly surprised.