May 24, 2005 @ 10:00 am

Allfrumtha I - Larger Than Life

Emale Gray

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Back for the third time, rhyming duo Binky Mac and Squeak Ru are ready for the big time. With

Aft I's introduction is like that of any Eminem album - declaratory yet humorous. Their first song, "Runnin' This," shows their courage not only with bold lyrics, but also with an electrically charged background, and then the album proceeds to the club-ready hit "Lil' Momma." "Can't Get Enuff" revives their static vibe and adds an ingenious funk to create one gritty tune. Aft I take over the world soon after in their victorious "Hero," while "Why They Wanna Keep Me Down" appends Latin to Aft I's list of genres to cover, giving listeners another song to duly praise. Also, their lyrical content is admirable, as they stray from the common vulgarities found in mainstream hip hop and aim for cleaner, more inspirational tunes. By contrast, Aft I sometimes prove too audacious in their experimentation. For example, in the title track, they try too hard to add diversity while overlooking one serious flaw - the wholly flat bass line, which distracts listeners from an otherwise decent song. "Pump Ya Fist" though upright on its own, sounds merely average after hearing its predecessors, and the smooth groove of "Cognac" is unfortunately countered by its undeniable simplicity. "Dangerous," while somewhat imaginative, is overly synthesized and could use a dramatic violin accompaniment - something to contrast the backbeat better than that worn-out synthesizer. "Iz U Wit It" furthers this same downfall of Aft I and by the time one makes it to "12 Bars," it seems the duo has fizzled out. Overall, while Allfrumtha I may have succeeded in creating one truly "Larger Than Life" album, at times their excitement to create a whole new world keeps them from focusing on important details that could make their songs sound so much more prolific. In the end though, Binky Mac and Squeak Ru finally generated an album that will leave a mark on listeners, and hopefully earn them the recognition they've been working so hard to attain.

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