July 29, 2004 @ 12:01 pm

Erick Sermon - Chilltown New York (Universal)

by: Alvin Blanco

An essential contributor to hip hop’s golden era as a member of EPMD, Erick Sermon hopes to come off as a skilled veteran rather than a relic on his self-produced fifth solo album, Chilltown New York.

An essential contributor to hip hop’s golden era as a member of EPMD, Erick Sermon hopes to come off as a skilled veteran rather than a relic on his self-produced fifth solo album, Chilltown New York. The Green-Eyed Bandit starts arguing his case on the intense “Relentless,” as crashing cymbal effects anchor his lyrical reply to rumors and industry skepticism about his longevity. And he carries that theme throughout the album, especially on tracks like “God Sent” and “I’m Not Him.” The lead single, “Feel It,” tries to follow the blueprint of the 2001 hit “Music,” this time sampling a living artist—snippets of Sean Paul’s vocals from “Like Glue” are intermittently looped throughout the track’s pulsing bass line—instead of Marvin Gaye. Sermon’s crisp production maintains a chill vibe, but the tight network of guests (including Keith Murray and Talib Kweli) can’t make up for his inadequate skills on the mike. Sermon often points out, correctly, that his accomplishments dwarf his sales. But instead of making his new album a post-EPMD PR campaign, his time would have been better spent solidifying his future sound.

Article tags: Erick, Sermon, Chilltown, New, York, Universal 

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