As excellent a rapper as
Nonchalant is, she wasn't without her critics in the 1990s. Some hip-hop hardliners felt that the sleek, melodic tracks she rapped to (many of which would have been at home on a
Dr. Dre or
Too Short album) were too R&B-minded, and others found some of her more socio-political lyrics preachy. But those critics can say what they will;
Until the Day is an album that, for the most part, is as solid lyrically as it is musically and rhythmically. The R&B-drenched tracks are consistently appealing, and
Nonchalant's lyrics are memorable whether she's rapping about relationships or addressing socio-political concerns on "Lights N' Sirens," "Crab Rappers," and her hit "Five O'Clock." The latter pulls no punches when it comes to the subject of black-on-black crime, which, she asserts, poses as great a threat to inner-city residents as racism. Like
L.L. Cool J's "Illegal Search," "Lights N' Sirens" is a fairly reasonable commentary on police who she feels are pulling over young black motorists at random. The song could have done without
Nonchalant's crack about cops spending too much time in doughnut shops, but even so,
Nonchalant avoids condemning law enforcement in general a la
N.W.A's "Fuck Tha Police." It's ironic that the MC calls herself
Nonchalant, for on this album, she comes across as someone who cares a lot. ~ Alex Henderson