A strong white female takes a bold step into hip hop
Written: Aug 21 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A nice variety of styles and messages; plot based songs; etc.
Cons: It's Official
The Bottom Line: Inside review. :)
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| itztru's Full Review: The Original by Sarai (Rap) |
I am white.
I am female.
I like rap.
I am a byproduct of hip-pop, wrapped up and packaged to you in the form of Nelly, Ja Rule, P.Diddy, etc. To those who have delved into and surrounded themselves with "real" hip hop, these artists are a disgrace to true rap culture.
To me, and millions like me, they have opened up the once very confined and segregated world of rap and hip hop music. They have popularized and brought rap to the mainstream, and guess what? I love 'em.
I will never claim to know everything about hip hop's history or the African American culture. In discussions in which I've declared myself a fan of rap music, I have been mocked and looked down upon. Why? Well, I have the wrong color of skin. So therefore, I will never ever claim to be a fan of all things hip hop. Because I'm not. And also because I'd prefer not to hear the b!tching that comes along with being a white girl who likes rap music.
With that said, here I am reviewing this artist named Sarai and her album The Original. Who is she? Why have I said all this in a review for her album?
She is white.
She is female.
She raps.
Sarai: The Girl
The thing I like about this artist is that she was raised in upstate New York, and did not live in the "ghetto." Her parents were divorced and she lived with her single mother, but that is about the extent of her childhood story. She doesn't claim to be "ghetto," and yet she still has this skill, which tells me that this form of music has crossed many lines and boundaries that were probably once thought to be unbreakable.
Sarai: The Original
The album opens up with a great Intro. The beat is great, and she raps/sings in a higher octave than she does on pretty much the rest of the album. The production is slick and leaves you wanting more than 29 seconds. I wish it had been a full song.
You know, I am a little confused as to why I Know kicked off the album. I have very little interest in the lyrics, the beat, production, etc. The chorus is almost (but not quite) good enough. It's okay I guess.
Luckily the quality slightly picks up with an extremely Missy Elliot tinged song called Mind Ya Business. The chorus is definitely the best, though the lyrics are a bit trite at times. Although it is better than the last track, I am not too impressed yet.
Ladies. One of the catchiest tracks on the whole album, without a doubt. For some reason, I am very strongly reminded of Take It To Da House by Trick Daddy. Is there some profound lyrical depth here? Of course not. Can you shake your booty to it? Of course! I love this song. One of the best on this album!
My ears are pleased by the Latin-influenced beat on What Mama Told Me. To say this song is sexually suggestive is an understatement. It's blatantly sexual but cleverly done at the same time. Tasteful? No, not really. lol. Cover the kiddie ears for this one. She sounds decent singing on the chorus. This is one of my favorites on the album as well.
The story of a pregnant teen in It's Not a Fairytale is impressive, smart, and convincing. This particular scenario is not one that Sarai went through herself, but she is convincing nonetheless. The slow, haunting beat is reflective of the storyline and emotions that Sarai delivers through her lyrics and rhymes. Near the end I distinctively hear a little bit of Eminem's The Way I Am in her angry tone. I hate to make that Sarai/Eminem comparison, but it's undeniable. Definitely one of my favorites and worth listening to. Great message.
I'd heard Pack Ya Bags before The Original was released (ah, the wonders of KaZaA!), and I was somewhat disappointed because I had found it after hearing Ladies and Pack Ya Bags is not nearly as good. To me, the sound is very Missy Elliot-ish (again!). The lyrics are okay, but the theme/story has been done a million times. There's no originality here, but I don't think it's the worst on the album.
Swear has an amazing beat. Beau Dozier lends to the chorus with a male/female call and return between him and Sarai. The lyrics are clever and hard-hitting against a cheating man. She is fed up, and she's letting her man know. I love the attitude and sarcasm she emanates in her voice. As you listen to the song you can almost imagine the music video that could come from this. ;)
The next song, You Could Never, might as well be a continuation of I Know. She is reiterating and regurgitating what she said in track two. She's letting you know she's a great rapper no matter who dislikes her and criticizes her. I can say the beat and vocal arrangement leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not impressed.
L.I.F.E. is a little awkward to me. It has gotten a lot of praise by fans of hers, but I am not feeling any kind of spark from this song. Nothing about it grabs me and makes me pay attention. The chorus features Jaguar, and is pretty uninspiring. The song is okay. Nothing to get excited over in my opinion.
Okay, It's Official is probably the only track I strongly dislike. I hate the way it begins with those long, drawn out, nagging notes. Unfortunately, what makes it worse is that these notes are found in the chorus as well. I'm just not feeling this track at all. Blah.
I love Mary Anne. It's a beautiful song with a great beat, accompanied by an electric guitar. Black Coffey contributes by singing the chorus, and I am very truly impressed. The lyrics tell a story of an abused girl, from preschool to high school. This is an amazing song with a great story and message, even though it is quite sad. One of the best.
The album finishes with another song dealing with the fact that Sarai must overcome the adversity of being a white female working hard to breakthrough the barriers of hip hop. Black & White has a great beat and clever, biting lyrics. People like me?/What the f*ck? People like you/That prejudge/And can't get beyond the color lines/Corrupt children/And their children's minds/Spread through bloodlines/Hatred is not an instinct/Get some education for your a**/Then tell me what you think. Just a very small portion of a brutally honest song.
Overall Recommendation
If you're a rap fan, get the album! This is something everybody needs to hear. There are lyrics and messages on this album that people need to get into their minds. The album is exceptional. I love it. Go out and get it. The girl is Sarai, the album is The Original. That's all that needs to be said.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Driving
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Epinions.com ID:
itztru
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Member: Cindy Park
Location: North Carolina
Reviews written: 212
Trusted by: 57 members
About Me:
To speak without thinking is to shoot without aiming.
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