Bay Area underground rap hero
Motion Man, known as a regular on the Wake up Show and as a rhyming partner of
Kool Keith, delivers an album of grand proportions with
Clearing the Field. With a refreshing and wholly original style on the mic,
Motion Man proves that uniqueness in rap can still be obtained without veering into other genres. Beats provided by
KutMasta Kurt are presented from the perspective of a seasoned DJ, with especially hard drum kicks and frequent sample stabs leading the charge. His use of the opening line from
Don Drummond's ska classic "Man in the Streets" to enhance "Hold Up," a song that also features the antics of
Biz Markie, is very characteristic of
KutMasta Kurt's in-your-face production style. Other guest appearances by the likes of
Kool Keith and LC on "We Work Styles,"
Planet Asia on "Face 2 Face," and
E-40 on "Reason 2 Panic" really help elevate the album into the realm of an overlooked classic. Indeed, hearing
E-40 effectively spit lyrics over what many would consider to be a traditional backpacker beat is something that should surprise many of his naysayers. But lest you forget the extreme talents of
Motion Man, an artist with so much personality that he should be dubbed as the black
Eminem. Tracks such as "Straight Flowin' on Em," "Clearing the Field," "Loose Cannon," and "Come on Y'all" are so filled with clever wordplay and punch lines that
Motion Man could easily be considered a comedian as well as an MC. On his
Too Short appreciation track called "Beotches," he even does an impressive job rhyming in Spanglish. And, unlike those found on so many other rap albums, his skits and interludes are actually hilarious. All in all,
Clearing the Field is an album that presents everything that is right about West Coast hip-hop. ~ Robert Gabriel