Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Album Review: Adam Bomb – Wasted Talent



            Up until recently, Toronto hip hop MC Adam Bomb (aka “The Legend”) was known mostly for his work in collaboration with the group Empire. His contributions of hard-hitting punch-lines, witty lyricism, and raw delivery have garnered him a reputable name for himself, standing out even among his talented peers. With what seems to be a break-off from his involvement with Empire and joining the ranks of the newly form T-Dot super-group Freedom Writers, it’s no wonder that Bomb touches on his career struggles and transitions in outlook and focus on his solo album, Wasted Talent.
            The Legend sets the tone of this album – heavy, deep, and self-reflective – with the first track (and my personal favourite on the entire record), Wouldn’t Understand. Touching on his views of stardom, staying true to his craft, and ultimately the fallout with Empire, Adam Bomb elegantly paints a picture of the mental landscape in which he finds himself. The second verse of this track particularly stands out as it reveals the reasoning behind his recent career choices: “This one-man route’s new to me/ wasn’t planned out yet it panned out beautifully/ hold up – before fans shout mutiny/ and ask about the band, ask the band about unity.” It seems from these lines that while Bomb didn’t want to separate from the group, he found it hard to find agreement in career choices from his peers. He confirms his reluctance and reasons for leaving as he spits: “hate to see the day when an ‘A’ substitutes an ‘E’ on the jewellery/ but I refuse to keep waiting patient ‘till dudes agree.” Adam Bomb is clearly hungry and ambitious to pursue his career as an artist and push himself musically, and it seems he feels he wasn’t getting the same kind of dedication from the rest of the rest of the Empire crew. In the last verse, the artist reveals the underlying motivation and the need he has to push himself forward in life, as he writes: “The problem is depression/ the solution is constant positive progression.” Adam Bomb is an artist with an internal hunger and need to achieve and push his music out into the world, and it’s clear from the way he’s spitting on Wasted Talent that he’s ready to take on the world.
            Cue to track #3, the title track of the album, where Bomb ferociously spits one of his first tracks released under the Freedom Writers banner, laced over intense percussions and samples supplied by Big Sproxx. While always one to inject a healthy dose of socially-conscious lyrics amidst his rugged and raw content, Legend has definitely taken his new affiliation seriously, delivering some intelligent and harsh criticism of the powers that be in capitalist society: “Unless you into serving they need/ I suggest you second-guess every word that you read/ they ain’t concerned if you bleed, they ain’t concerned if you breathe/ they’re only concerned tryna feed their own personal greed/ and the succeed…” He also explains his rationale behind remaining an independent artist and not signing to a label (as they are part of the same corrupt system that he’s criticizing): “I stay independent and get paid independent/ ‘cause if I’m broke, ain’t nobody walking away with a check.” Bomb absolutely murders this track, and if anybody needed evidence that The Legend hasn’t lost his touch – this track is it (video below):


            Wasted Talent is a not a conceptually limited album, touching on a variety of topics that Adam Bomb gives a proper treatment to. On track #4, Not Me, the MC puts a final nail in the coffin of those trying to portray the façade of being “gangsters and killers” in their music despite having no street credibility. He dispels the illusions of young lust feigning as love in track #6, Running Scared, addressing the issue of pregnancies out of wedlock and taking runaway fathers down a notch with his insightful anecdotes. Let Me Down Easy (track #5), a song about the complications of relationships and the heartaches of breakups, has some banging production provided by Phat Tony. Hearing Bomb switch up from his regular delivery over a smooth rhythmic beat to a rough, accusational tone over a busy, trumpet-filled instrumental, and back again, makes for a very entertaining listen. Adam Bomb sums his cynical view on relationships well when he spits: “you only get left tryna treat a chick right.”
            There’s no shortage of features and collaborations on this album (tracks #7, #8, #10, #11, and #13). It’s nice to see that Bomb still chose to include his Empire crew on the album, with Tekman on track #7, The Balance, and more crew members on track #10, Silly Rabbits (the second track on the album criticising the “tricks” that women can play on men in relationships). Freedom Writers features definitely stand out on the album as well. Track #8, No More, is a homage to Biggie Smalls with dope production supplied by Rich Kidd, a well-crafted verse by Freedom Writers member Tona, and a great attack on rappers not holding their own weight in the game. Wake Up (track #13), featuring Freedom Writers members Frankie Payne and Theo3 and produced by Big Sproxx, is another socially-conscious track, and is a great teaser for upcoming FW projects, leaving the listener wanting to hear more. Anyone who works somewhat of a dead-end job or simply is working just to pay the bills and is looking for an uplifting track and some motivation should put track #12, My People, on repeat (shout-outs to Big Sproxx for the lovely production). Video:


            As the title of the album suggests, Adam Bomb likely wasn’t thinking too highly of himself at the time he put out Wasted Talent. The album cover shows The Legend passed out/leaning on a toilet drunk with a bottle in his hand, and he touches on his struggles with alcohol addiction a couple times throughout the album. While seeming to be down on himself and having a cynical and morose attitude throughout the record, there is also a tone of determination and a bit of a paradigm shift occurring in the artists’ psyche. On Black Limoz (track #11, complete with hypnotic vocals by Monique), Bomb talks about the various factors in his life that he thinks are keeping him down (lack of money, too much drinking, women, lack of professional appreciation for his music, family issues, etc.). It’s clear that he’s hard on himself and reached a point of being fed up with the state of his life as he spits: “I guess I’m not the man I’m supposed to be/ man, I’m supposed to be THE MAN!” Bomb even goes as far as expressing thoughts of being ready to die in the second verse. Even within this track, however, the shift in Bomb’s perspective from downtrodden to focused and determined is evident, as he starts off saying he’s “giving up” and flips the script after the second verse, recalling all the people he knows who refuse to give up living despite their own struggles. The artist seems to find some much needed inspiration in the strength of the people in his life, and as a result finds the strength in himself to keep on going: “I guess it ain’t as bad as it seems/ and I ain’t ready for these black limousines/ please – I’m not giving up.”
            There’s no doubt that Adam Bomb is an all-around powerhouse of an MC. His vocal presence on tracks is booming and his voice is distinct. His flows are on point and his delivery is powerful. He’s lyrically witty, with both socially conscious insights and punch-lines and wordplay that rank him with some of the best on the mic. After listening to Wasted Talent several times, I really started rooting for the artist – he’s got an honest charisma, despite his sometimes blatant negativity, that makes the listener want him to win. If anything is lacking on this album, it’s perhaps a bit more of an explanation on the artist’s part as to how he can overcome the struggle’s and adversity he’s facing, which would give the listener a bit of hope as well. Adam Bomb is clearly intelligent and keen enough to see the problems in the world around him and express them eloquently on wax. It’s my hope that The Legend can begin to articulate his perspective on the solutions to the problems he perceives in the world around him and in his own life on future releases. Keep on moving Bomb – we’re glad you’re not giving up.



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